D2C footwear startup CHK has raised $2.5 million (INR 21.6 crore) in its seed funding round, led by Accel.
This latest infusion of capital follows an earlier pre-seed funding round from BlueStone Jewellery and Lifestyle Ltd., which invested around ₹12 crore (approximately $1.3 million) in the company.
The newly raised funds will be utilized to accelerate production and enhance CHK’s go-to-market strategy as the startup gears up for its official market launch in April.
Founded in 2024 by Sankar Bora, Deepan Babu, Bharat Mahajan, and Deepak Patil, CHK offers lifestyle footwear featuring innovative, trend-driven styles tailored for fashion-forward millennials and style-conscious Gen-Z consumers in India.
CHK is targeting an average price point of around ₹4,500 and currently employs around 25 team members across Bengaluru and Tamil Nadu, with plans to expand to 100 employees by April.
With its manufacturing facility in Tamil Nadu, the brand plans to launch sales through its own D2C website before expanding into offline retail channels.
CHK’s “concept to creation” approach ensures full control over the production process—from design studio to finished product—allowing for faster turnaround times and better cost efficiency.
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Sankar Bora, who previously served as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of DealShare, exited the firm in 2023 following significant business restructuring and multiple rounds of job cuts.
With this strategic funding and a strong founding team, CHK is set to disrupt India’s footwear market with its premium yet accessible designs.
