Startup Originals Team
D2C watch brand Bruno Milano has raised ₹7.5 crore in a funding round led by Sauce VC, marking its first institutional funding since the startup was launched.
The Noida-based company plans to use the fresh capital to expand its presence across India, launch new watch collections and strengthen its distribution across ecommerce and quick-commerce platforms.
The round also saw participation from Titan Capital and angel investors including Arjun Purkayastha, Unacademy co-founder Roman Saini and Info Edge Ventures partner Kitty Agarwal.
Founded in 2024 by Rachit Jain and Saurabh Agarwal, Bruno Milano had been bootstrapped since its inception. The new funding gives the young brand capital to accelerate its expansion in India’s competitive fashion and lifestyle market.
Bruno Milano Raises ₹7.5 Crore to Accelerate Expansion
Bruno Milano will use the funding primarily to increase its market presence across India.
The startup plans to introduce new watch collections and designs while expanding availability through major ecommerce and quick-commerce platforms.
The company currently sells its products through its own website as well as online marketplaces and quick-commerce channels.
Its watches are generally priced between ₹2,000 and ₹5,000, placing the brand in an accessible segment of India’s fashion watch market.
The funding also marks a new phase for Bruno Milano after operating without institutional capital since its launch.
Building a Design-Focused Watch Brand
Bruno Milano was founded with a focus on combining international-style watch designs with pricing aimed at Indian consumers.
The company offers quartz and chronograph watches across collections such as Vittorio Chrono, Ambrosiana Chic and Duomo Heritage.
Alongside its consumer products, the startup also offers customised watches for corporate gifting.
According to co-founder Rachit Jain, the company saw a gap between Indian consumers’ growing preference for global designs and the options available to them at accessible prices.
The founders believe consumers in both major cities and smaller towns are increasingly comfortable with global fashion trends.
Founders Bring Experience to the Business
Although Bruno Milano is a relatively new company, its founders bring significant experience from the watch industry.
The startup said it draws on more than 30 years of combined experience in watch design and manufacturing, while Saurabh Agarwal has more than two decades of experience in the sector.
This industry background has helped the company build its product range around design, manufacturing and consumer preferences.
The founders’ approach is focused on creating a contemporary watch brand rather than competing solely on price.
From Bootstrapping to Institutional Funding
Bruno Milano’s funding journey is notable because the company remained bootstrapped after its launch in 2024.
The ₹7.5 crore investment from Sauce VC and other investors therefore represents its first major external capital infusion.
For an early-stage D2C brand, institutional funding can provide resources to invest in inventory, product development, marketing and distribution.
Bruno Milano’s decision to raise capital at this stage comes as India’s online-first consumer brands increasingly look beyond metro cities for growth.
Ecommerce and Quick Commerce Become Key Channels
Digital distribution is expected to play an important role in Bruno Milano’s expansion strategy.
The company already sells through its own website and ecommerce marketplaces. It now plans to strengthen its availability across major online commerce and quick-commerce platforms.
Quick commerce could provide another route for consumers looking for fashion accessories with shorter delivery times.
For a D2C brand, wider digital availability can also help increase visibility without requiring a large network of physical stores.
Why the Funding Matters
The funding gives Bruno Milano an opportunity to move from an early-stage, bootstrapped operation toward a more aggressively scaled consumer brand.
The Indian watch market includes established companies as well as a growing number of digital-first brands.
Competing successfully requires more than launching attractive products. Brands must manage pricing, product design, inventory, distribution and customer acquisition while building recognition among consumers.
Bruno Milano will now have to use its fresh capital to establish a stronger position in this competitive market.
What’s Next for Bruno Milano?
The company plans to expand its presence across India and introduce additional watch collections and designs.
Strengthening distribution across ecommerce and quick-commerce platforms will also remain a major focus.
The startup’s ability to convert its design-led positioning into repeat purchases and sustainable growth will be important as it scales.
The new funding provides Bruno Milano with the resources to move faster, but the next stage will be about proving whether the brand can build a sizeable and sustainable consumer business.
Conclusion
Bruno Milano’s ₹7.5 crore funding round marks an important milestone for the two-year-old D2C watch brand.
Led by Sauce VC, with participation from Titan Capital and prominent angel investors, the round gives the startup fresh capital to expand its product portfolio and distribution network.
From starting as a bootstrapped venture in 2024 to securing institutional backing, Bruno Milano is now entering its next phase of growth.
Its success will depend on how effectively it can combine design, accessible pricing and digital distribution to build a recognisable watch brand for consumers across India.
