Startup Originals Team
India’s startup ecosystem has witnessed countless success stories, but every once in a while, a venture stands out for attempting something truly bold. Rotoris, a new-age analogue watch startup founded by Aakash Anand, is one such story. Backed by marquee investors like Nithin Kamath, Tanmay Bhat, and Vivek Anand Oberoi, Rotoris has raised ₹27 crore in seed funding, signalling strong confidence in its ambition to build India’s first truly global watch brand.
The Founder’s Leap into a New Category
Aakash Anand is no stranger to building consumer brands. He previously scaled Bella Vita Organic into one of India’s largest fragrance companies. With Rotoris, Anand is stepping into an entirely different arena—premium analogue watchmaking. His motivation stemmed from a simple but powerful question: why should Indian consumers always pay global prices for global craftsmanship, without having a homegrown brand competing at the same level? Rotoris was born out of this desire to combine Indian ambition with world-class engineering.
Strong Backing from India’s Startup Elite
The ₹27 crore seed round saw participation not just from high-profile names like Nithin Kamath, Tanmay Bhat, and Vivek Oberoi, but also from over 30 prominent Indian startup founders. This collective backing reflects a shared belief that Rotoris has the potential to challenge long-established global watchmakers. The investors see the brand as more than a product play, it is an attempt to create a new category led from India.
What Makes Rotoris Different
Rotoris positions itself as an engineering-driven analogue watch brand. The company plans to launch multiple collections featuring Swiss-level specifications, including sapphire crystal, precision movements, and surgical-grade stainless steel. Each watch is designed not just as an accessory, but as a statement of progress and ambition, targeting consumers who value craftsmanship, storytelling, and long-term value.
Using Capital to Build a Global Brand
The freshly raised capital will be deployed to deepen manufacturing and assembly capabilities, upgrade engineering processes, and strengthen the supply chain. Rotoris also plans to invest in top-tier talent across product design, branding, and operations. A key milestone on its roadmap is the launch of its flagship Rotoris Experience Store, envisioned as a space that blends retail with storytelling and mechanical artistry.
A Bigger Vision for Indian Manufacturing
At its core, Rotoris is not just about watches. It represents a broader vision of India-led manufacturing in premium lifestyle categories. By focusing on strong unit economics, in-house capabilities, and global-quality standards, the startup aims to prove that India can export luxury, not just import it.
Conclusion
Rotoris’ journey is a classic startup story of conviction and reinvention. With a proven founder, strong investor backing, and a bold mission to put India on the global watchmaking map, Rotoris is setting out to challenge long-held assumptions about where premium craftsmanship can come from. If successful, it could mark the beginning of a new chapter in India’s consumer brand success stories.
