Awsum Secures Rs 1 Crore Investment on Shark Tank India Season 5; Partners with Namita Thapar and Ritesh Agarwal to Scale ‘Better Bakes’ Across India

New Delhi, Jan 29: Awsum, a new-age functional bakery brand, has secured a Rs 1 crore investment on Shark Tank India Season 5 from Namita Thapar, Executive Director of Emcure Pharmaceuticals, and Ritesh Agarwal, Founder & Group CEO of OYO, at a Rs 75 crore valuation. The partnership marks a major milestone in Awsum’s mission to build India’s first “Better Bakes” category—everyday cakes and brownies made with wholesome, functional ingredients.

Founded by Pranav Sharma, Awsum is redefining the Rs 11,000+ crore packaged cake market by replacing refined flour, white sugar, and heavily processed ingredients with traditional Indian staples such as atta (whole wheat), gur (jaggery), and honey. Its 100% eggless portfolio is enriched with Ayurvedic ingredients like Brahmi, Ashwagandha, and Ginseng, offering indulgence alongside functional benefits that support focus, immunity, and overall wellness.

“For decades, consumers have had to choose between taste and health. With Awsum, we’re levelling that playing field,” said Pranav Sharma, Founder, Awsum. “Today’s young India reads labels, cares about ingredients, and wants mindful choices without compromising on flavour. Our goal is to make better-for-you baking mainstream, not premium or niche. Partnering with Namita and Ritesh accelerates that mission and helps us bring wholesome indulgence to every shelf across the country.”

Awsum strategically partnered with Namita Thapar and Ritesh Agarwal for their complementary expertise across health, wellness, and large-scale consumer businesses. The collaboration combines health-focused consumer brand insights with proven experience in nationwide distribution networks, positioning Awsum to accelerate retail expansion and strengthen brand reach.

The fresh capital will be used to:

• Expand distribution across Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities

• Deepen presence in retail and quick-commerce platforms

• Strengthen manufacturing capacity to meet rising demand

• Introduce new functional SKUs under the Better Bakes portfolio

• Invest in supply chain and technology infrastructure for consistent freshness, quality, and scale

Awsum has already achieved over Rs 3.4 crore in monthly revenue, with a growing presence across leading quick-commerce platforms and modern retail outlets. Operating from an in-house manufacturing facility in Noida, the company maintains tight control over production, enabling faster innovation cycles and just-in-time manufacturing that ensures freshness while minimizing inventory waste.

The brand’s portfolio includes brownies and cakes in contemporary flavours such as Orange Pistachio, Lemon Blueberry, Banana Walnut, and Carrot Cake, all packaged in ready-to-eat formats for on-the-go consumption. Awsum is steadily trending toward profitability while championing the functional, better-for-you bakery segment in India.