India’s advanced manufacturing and technical textiles ecosystem has received a significant boost as Whizzo, an IP-driven manufacturer of high-performance technical textiles, raised $15 million in a Series A funding round led by Fundamentum. The round also saw participation from Korea-based LB Investment, marking its first direct investment in India, alongside continued backing from Lightspeed and BEENEXT. The fresh capital will be deployed to deepen materials-science research, develop in-house intellectual property, and expand R&D and supply-chain operations across Asia.

The funding comes at a time when global demand for advanced technical textiles is accelerating across industrial applications. Whizzo plans to use the capital to scale its materials-science capabilities, strengthen its manufacturing network, and onboard specialised talent across nonwoven technologies and advanced composites.

“With nearly 40 per cent of our revenue already coming from exports, this funding will enable us to further accelerate our materials science initiatives and scale our manufacturing network to meet global demand,” said Shrestha Kukreja, Founder of Whizzo. “Today, we work with over 120 SME and MSME manufacturers and expect to expand this to over 200 by the end of the financial year. We are also doubling down on our exports, moving from 15 markets to over 30 in the next 12 months.”

Technical textiles—engineered materials used across sectors such as infrastructure, mobility, industrial manufacturing, and geotextiles—represent a $250 billion-plus global market, growing at 12–14 per cent annually and projected to exceed $400 billion by 2030. Despite this scale, the sector has traditionally been constrained by limited early-stage innovation and rigid manufacturing models, resulting in longer product development cycles.

Whizzo addresses this gap through its CDMO (Contract Development and Manufacturing Organisation) model, which integrates research, prototyping, and large-scale manufacturing on a single platform. This approach significantly reduces the time from concept to commercial production, enabling delivery cycles that are up to four times faster than industry norms.

Founded in 2024 by former Zetwerk executive Shrestha Kukreja, Whizzo is India’s first dedicated CDMO for technical textiles. The company serves B2B customers across a wide range of applications, from geotextiles and industrial composites to specialised nonwoven materials, positioning itself as a critical partner for global brands seeking speed, scalability, and innovation.

Whizzo currently employs a 65-member team, with nearly 10 per cent focused on research across polymer science, process engineering, and advanced textile technologies. Its materials-science laboratory in Gurgaon anchors its R&D efforts, with multiple patent filings expected as core research initiatives mature.

Commenting on the investment, Ashish Kumar, Co-founder and General Partner at Fundamentum, said, “Whizzo is a standout example of Fundamentum’s Applied DeepTech thesis in the B2B supply-chain domain—a business that is scaling rapidly while building defensible innovation at its core. The materials-science lab, in particular, is Whizzo’s long-term moat, enabling upstream research, rapid iteration, and IP creation. This capability has the potential to place India firmly on the global map for innovation in technical textiles.” Ashish Kumar will also be joining Whizzo’s board as part of the investment."

Alex Lee, Head of Global Investment at LB Investment, added, “As a Korea-based deep-tech investor, we see Whizzo’s growing materials-science capabilities and IP-focused mindset as critical foundations for building long-term differentiation. Whizzo reflects how technology-enabled manufacturing can evolve into a globally competitive business.”

With a strong export orientation, a scalable manufacturing model, and a deep focus on intellectual property, Whizzo is positioning itself at the intersection of materials science, advanced manufacturing, and global supply chains, reinforcing India’s emerging role as a hub for next-generation technical textile innovation.