Amazon venture fund leads $104m round of India’s FreshToHome

FreshToHome co-founder and CEO Shan Kadavil / Photo credit: Shan Kadavil

FreshToHome, a startup selling fresh meat and fish, has plans to enter Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia in the next two years, the company’s co-founder and CEO Shan Kadavil told Tech in Asia.

The India-based company already sources fish from Indonesia to export to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Kadavil added.

The firm has just banked US$104 million in a round led by Amazon Smbhav, a US$250 million India-dedicated venture fund for startups.

Existing and new investors including Iron Pillar, Investcorp, Investment Corporation of Dubai, Ascent Capital, and E20 Investment joined the fundraise.

Founded in 2015 by Kadavil and Matthew Joseph, FreshToHome enables customers in India and UAE to buy fish, seafood, meat, and meat products that are free from preservatives and antibiotic residues.

The startup has a flagship commodities exchange platform that empowers over 4,000 fishers and farmers to electronically auction their produce for sale on the FreshToHome website. Supported by a robust supply chain, this process ensures that customers get the products within 24 to 36 hours of sourcing.

Kadavil said the firm is already operationally profitable.

Other players in India’s fresh meat and fish sector include Licious and TenderCuts.

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