Whizzo, a Bengaluru-based materials science startup, has successfully raised $4.2 million in a seed funding round led by Lightspeed, with additional participation from BEENEXT. Founded in 2024 by Shrestha Kukreja, a former executive at Zetwerk, Whizzo is poised to transform the textile industry through innovation, sustainability, and advanced materials science.
Advancing Materials Science and Innovation
The newly acquired capital will be utilized to enhance Whizzo’s research and development capabilities in materials science. The company plans to establish a state-of-the-art design lab for fashion-engineered textiles, enabling clients to experience and select textile blends, thereby reducing execution timelines from two years to just one day.
Expanding Global Reach
Whizzo aims to strengthen its supply chain infrastructure across key manufacturing regions, including India, Vietnam, China, Bangladesh, and Indonesia. The company is also targeting expansion into the U.S., European, and Japanese markets, focusing on high-performance and sustainable textiles for various applications.
Vision for the Future
Shrestha Kukreja, Founder of Whizzo, emphasized the company’s mission to become an IP-driven leader in fashion-engineered and technical textiles. By creating proprietary blends and adopting a cross-border Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) model, Whizzo aims to address critical gaps and transform the textile industry through innovation, sustainability, and global connectivity.
Industry Support and Market Potential
Romit Mehta, Vice President of Investments at Lightspeed, highlighted that technical textiles and man-made fibers represent the future of the textile market. He believes India is poised to become a global epicenter of innovation in this sector, driven by strong government support and visionary entrepreneurs.
Saksham Pant, Principal at BEENEXT, noted that India’s textile industry, being one of its oldest, demands innovation to meet modern challenges like sustainability and efficiency. He commended Whizzo for leading this transformation through advanced technology and eco-conscious practices.
Looking Ahead
With a projected growth of India’s technical textiles market from $45 billion in 2026 to $123 billion by 2035, driven by sectors such as healthcare, infrastructure, and defense, Whizzo is strategically positioned to cater to industries like agriculture, automotive, and industrial manufacturing.
As Whizzo embarks on this transformative journey, the company is set to play a pivotal role in reshaping the global textile landscape through innovation, sustainability, and advanced materials science.