Startup Originals Team
New Delhi–based watch startup Rotoris has raised $3 million in a seed funding round, marking a significant step toward its ambition of creating India’s first truly global analog watch brand. Backed by some of India’s most prominent entrepreneurs and investors, Rotoris aims to redefine Indian watchmaking by combining global-grade engineering with modern design and storytelling.
Strong Backing from India’s Leading Investors
The seed round was supported by an impressive lineup of investors, including Nikhil Kamath (Zerodha), Vivek Anand Oberoi, Venture Catalysts, 100 Unicorns, and Tanmay Bhat.
The round also saw participation from over 30 well-known Indian founders, such as Varun Alagh (Mamaearth), Gaurav Khatri (Noise), Siddharth Dungarwal (Snitch), Nitin Jain (OfBusiness), Vishesh Khurana (Shiprocket), Chirag Taneja (GoKwik), Akash Gupta (Zypp), and Arjun Vaidya (Dr. Vaidya’s).
This strong backing reflects growing confidence in India’s ability to build premium consumer brands with global appeal.
Founders with Proven Entrepreneurial Track Record
Rotoris is co-founded by Aakash Anand, best known for scaling Bella Vita Organic into one of India’s largest fragrance companies. He is joined by Prerna Gupta, along with founding partners Anant Narula and Kunal Kapania.
Together, the founding team brings deep experience in brand-building, manufacturing, and scaling consumer businesses—key ingredients for taking an Indian luxury brand global.
What Rotoris Is Building
Set to launch in January 2026, Rotoris will debut with five distinct watch collections, Auriqua, Monarch, Astonia, Arvion, and Manifesta.
The watches feature Swiss-level specifications, including sapphire crystal, 316L surgical-grade stainless steel, automatic and proprietary Q-matic™ movements. Each timepiece will be limited and numbered, designed as a collector’s item symbolising ambition, progress, and precision.
Rotoris positions itself not just as a watch company, but as a modern horology brand rooted in engineering, craftsmanship, and narrative.
Use of Funds and Expansion Plans
The newly raised capital will be used to:
- Deepen manufacturing and assembly capabilities
- Upgrade engineering and quality processes
- Strengthen the supply chain and inventory
- Build the flagship Rotoris Experience Store in New Delhi
- Hire top-tier talent across product, design, and brand
The upcoming Rotoris Experience Store will function as a hybrid engineering gallery and brand space, offering customers an immersive look into the brand’s craftsmanship and mechanical storytelling.
Investor Confidence in Indian Luxury Manufacturing
Speaking about the brand, Vivek Anand Oberoi said that Rotoris blends “the soul of Indian ambition with the finesse of global engineering,” calling it proof that India can build luxury products, not just import them.
Investor Tanmay Bhat described Rotoris as a brand driven by ambition, emotion, and bold thinking, while Dr. Apoorv Sharma of 100 Unicorns noted that Rotoris is challenging a watch industry that has remained largely unchanged for decades.
Conclusion: A New Chapter for Indian Watchmaking
With strong investor backing, a seasoned founding team, and a clear focus on engineering-led luxury, Rotoris is positioning itself to put India on the global watchmaking map. As the brand prepares for its 2026 launch, it represents a broader shift, where Indian startups are no longer just competing on price or scale, but on craftsmanship, design, and global aspiration.
