Whizzo, a materials science manufacturing company in engineered fashion and technical textiles, has raised $4.2 million in a seed funding round led by Lightspeed, with participation from BEENEXT.
The funds raised will be used for materials science R&D, establishing a design lab for fashion-engineered textiles, and strengthening its supply chain infrastructure across India, Vietnam, China, Bangladesh, and Indonesia.
Shrestha Kukreja, Founder, Whizzo, said, “Our vision is to establish Whizzo as an IP-driven leader in fashion-engineered and technical textiles. By creating proprietary blends and leveraging a cross-border Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) model, we aim to address critical gaps and transform the textile industry through innovation, sustainability, and global connectivity.”
Romit Mehta, VP-Investments, Lightspeed, said, “Technical textiles and man-made fibers represent the future of the textile market. India is poised to become a global epicenter of innovation in this sector, driven by strong government support and visionary entrepreneurs. Shrestha is a standout leader, demonstrating the ambition and expertise needed to build an ‘India to the world’ story in this space. We are thrilled to partner with Shrestha and the Whizzo team on this transformative journey, as they leverage advanced materials science and a full-stack manufacturing approach to position India at the forefront of technical textiles.”
Saksham Pant, Principal, BEENEXT said, “India’s textile industry is one of its oldest, and hence demands innovation to meet modern challenges like sustainability and efficiency. Whizzo is leading this transformation through advanced technology and eco-conscious practices. Backed by Shrestha’s vision and expertise, the company is set to position India as a leader in technical textiles within the next decade.”
Founded in 2024 by Shrestha Kukreja, Whizzo is a materials science-based manufacturing company in the domain of engineered and technical textiles.
The company creates proprietary textile blends, including cellulosic and polymer-based fibers, that are tailored to diverse industry needs, significantly reducing time-to-market.