Funding Led by Zeropearl VC; Prominent Angel Investors Join Round

Indian sneaker startup Gully Labs, known for its culturally inspired and handcrafted sneakers, has raised ₹8.7 crore in a seed funding round, reinforcing investor confidence in homegrown consumer brands. The round includes ₹7.6 crore in equity and ₹1.1 crore in venture debt.

The equity investment was led by Zeropearl VC, a firm focused on backing premium Indian consumer brands. The round also saw participation from Untitled Ventures, Atrium Ventures, and a group of notable angel investors including:

• Vivekananda Hallekere (Co-founder & CEO, Bounce)
• Suhasini Sampath (Co-founder, YogaBar)
• Nishchay AG (CEO, Jar)
• Ashutosh Valani (Founder, Renee Cosmetics)
• Anurag Ramadasan
• Rahul Seth

The venture debt portion was led by Stride Ventures, a firm known for supporting early-stage startups with structured debt financing.

Early Backing and Brand Genesis

This latest funding round follows Gully Labs’ earlier pre-seed round in 2024, where it raised ₹1.1 crore in equity.

Founded in 2023 by Arjun Singh and Animesh Mishra, the Delhi-based startup emerged from a vision to combine modern streetwear with India’s rich cultural identity. Both co-founders come from engineering backgrounds and aimed to create a unique footwear brand that celebrated Indian traditions with a global appeal.

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Cultural Craftsmanship: A Unique Market Proposition

Gully Labs specializes in handcrafted sneakers that incorporate traditional Indian art forms and stories. Its collection features designs such as:

• Phulkari-embroidered trainers, inspired by the traditional embroidery style from Punjab
• Onam-themed sneakers, reflecting the vibrant festival of Kerala
• Other limited-edition drops rooted in Indian festivals, crafts, and folklore

This unique blend of storytelling and craftsmanship has helped Gully Labs carve out a distinct niche in the increasingly competitive Indian lifestyle and footwear space.

Plans for Expansion and Product Diversification

In a press release, Gully Labs stated that the fresh capital will be utilized to:

• Diversify its product line across different sneaker categories
• Expand sales channels, both online and offline
• Build a larger production facility to meet growing demand
• Open exclusive retail stores in key metro cities, strengthening its omni-channel strategy

The brand currently sells its products through its official website and selected partner outlets in major Indian cities.

Investor Confidence in India-Centric Premium Brands

Bipin Shah, Managing Partner at Zeropearl VC, shared his enthusiasm for Gully Labs’ mission, saying:

“Gully Labs is a brand that authentically blends India’s diverse cultural roots with world-class product design. At Zeropearl, our ‘Indiluxe’ thesis is about supporting Indian premium brands that can stand alongside global giants. Gully Labs represents that ethos and has the potential to take Indian stories to the global fashion map.”

Growing Demand for Indigenous Fashion Brands

Gully Labs’ success represents a larger shift in Indian demand for homegrown, culturally relevant brands. According to the Invest India report, the Indian footwear market will reach USD 15 billion by 2026 and premium and casual sneakers remain the fastest growing segments.

Moreover, the ‘Make in India’ movement has given an additional boost to startups like Gully Labs that manufacture entirely in India while appealing to urban and global consumers alike.

Global Ambitions on the Horizon

In the future, Gully Labs has plans to take its brand globally starting with markets that have strong Indian diasporas, and explore opportunities to collaborate with Indian artists and designers to strengthen the cultural narratives embedded in the sneaker designs.

With a mission to put Indian heritage on the global sneaker map, Gully Labs’ latest funding round positions it to become one of the leading names in the premium streetwear space, not just in India, but worldwide.

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