Akshay Kumar and Karan Johar Backed Fashion Entrepreneur Fund Opens ₹100 Crore Season 2
Startups selected for FEF Season 2 will get the opportunity to pitch on "Pitch to Get Rich" Season 2 on JioHotstar.
The Fashion Entrepreneur Fund (FEF) has opened applications for the second edition of its ₹100 crore investment programme, inviting fashion and lifestyle startups from across India to apply for funding, mentorship, and business acceleration.
Backed by industry leaders and supported by strategic partners including Akshay Kumar and Karan Johar, the initiative is among India’s largest startup-focused platforms dedicated exclusively to the fashion ecosystem.
The programme is open to founders building businesses across apparel, footwear, accessories, jewellery, beauty, couture, direct-to-consumer (D2C), sustainable fashion, textile innovation, and emerging lifestyle brands. Through its venture studio model, FEF aims to support entrepreneurs not only with capital but also with mentorship, strategic guidance, branding, manufacturing support, retail expansion, and access to an extensive network of industry leaders.
Founded by Sanjay Nigam, the Fashion Entrepreneur Fund was established to address the funding and mentorship gap faced by India’s fashion entrepreneurs. Unlike traditional venture capital firms, FEF combines investment with operational support by connecting founders with experienced investors, designers, retailers, manufacturers, and business leaders.
The initiative is supported by prominent business leaders including Ravi Jaipuria, Naveen Jindal, Gaurav Dalmia, Darpan Sanghvi, Sonali Dugar, and Manju Yagnik, among others, providing participating startups with access to experienced entrepreneurs, investors, and industry mentors. Selected startups will receive tailored support to accelerate product development, strengthen brand positioning, optimise operations, and scale their businesses.
According to FEF, startups from its inaugural cohort have delivered notable growth. Banana Club has crossed ₹105 crore in annual revenue, Love, Kiki recorded 227% growth while expanding into Saudi Arabia, and Stylox Fashion increased its retail footprint from 25 stores to 58 stores, reflecting the programme’s emphasis on helping brands scale both domestically and internationally.
As part of Season 2, shortlisted entrepreneurs will also have the opportunity to pitch their ventures on “Pitch to Get Rich” Season 2, a startup reality show that will stream on JioHotstar. The platform is designed to combine fundraising opportunities with nationwide visibility, enabling founders to present their businesses to investors while simultaneously building consumer awareness.