Specialty coffee brand First Coffee has secured $1.2 million in a seed funding round led by BEENEXT.
The funding round also attracted notable investors, including Ashish Gupta of Helion Venture Partners, AngelList India, Dr. Ritesh Malik (founder of Innov8), Sahil Malik (founder of Da Milano), Chandini Purnesh (Owner, Harley Coffee Estate), Aman Arora (co-founder of Keventers), Agastya Dalmia (director, Keventers), Aman Bahel of Apex Group, Nakul Dev Chawla of Art Mumbai, and Dr. Shriram Nene.
The funds will be used to drive First Coffee’s expansion and enhance its premium specialty coffee offerings.
The company is targeting key urban locations across New Delhi, NCR, and Tier I cities in North India. A primary focus will be on establishing small-format quick-service restaurant (QSR) outlets in high-traffic areas such as malls, corporate parks, high streets, and metro stations.
According to a press release, the company plans to open 35 new stores by the second quarter of the next fiscal year.
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The capital will also be allocated toward expanding the team and amplifying marketing efforts to build a stronger brand presence across the region.
Founded in 2023 by Sohrab Sitaram and Shiv Dhawan, First Coffee integrates design, culture, and technology to create a unique customer experience. The company leverages big data analytics powered by AI to inform a technology-driven retail model, elevating its premium coffee experience.
First Coffee prides itself on offering sustainably sourced coffee. The brand uses shade-grown coffee and employs eco-friendly methods like man-made lakes for irrigation and traditional insect traps to ensure quality and sustainability in its coffee production.
