A year ago, Mumbai-based Atomic Capital quietly signaled its intent to become a serious player in India’s consumer investment landscape. With an initial close of ₹155 crore in 2024, the early growth investment firm began its journey toward building a focused portfolio of high-potential Indian brands. Today, that journey reaches a major milestone: the final close of its maiden fund at over ₹400 crore, one of the largest debut funds dedicated entirely to India’s consumer, consumer-tech, and consumer-enabler sectors.
From the outset, the fund’s mandate has been sharply defined — invest in Pre-Series A to Series A startups that have achieved product–market fit and are poised for scalable growth. The focus spans Food & Beverages, Nutraceuticals, Personal Care & Beauty, Jewelry, Apparel & Footwear, Pet Care, Travel & Accessories, Electronics Accessories, Home Furnishing, Logistics, Financial Services, e-Commerce SaaS, Omnichannel Infrastructure, and Manufacturing. Atomic aims to build a select portfolio of 10–12 companies, with first cheques of ₹10–30 crore and a portion of capital set aside for follow-on investments.
In the past twelve months, Atomic has already deployed nearly ₹50 crore across four brands that mirror its investment thesis:
- ConsciousChemist – a Gurgaon-based beauty and personal care brand
- Doodhvale Farms – a Delhi-based dairy and foods brand
- Rio Beverages – a Pune/Mumbai-based beverage brand
- Anny – a Gurgaon-based women’s western apparel brand
What sets Atomic apart is its “Operating VC” philosophy — a hands-on approach where investment is just the beginning. The team actively works with portfolio founders on senior leadership hiring, strategic partnerships, go-to-market initiatives, and financial structuring. The fund also places Distributions to Paid-In (DPI) at the heart of its decision-making, aligning investments and exits to maximize tangible returns.
Reflecting on the milestone, Apoorv Gautam, Founder and Managing Partner, shared:
“At Atomic Capital, we are not just investors — we are partners for the long haul, bound by a shared mission to shape the future of Indian consumption. Our commitment goes beyond capital; we bring hands-on support, strategic know-how, and the conviction that building enduring brands can transform lives and unlock significant value. Our focus is on capital-efficient businesses addressing large and expanding markets. Additionally, our investment decisions are driven by a strong rapport with the founding team, clear revenue momentum, and disciplined capital efficiency. We are firm believers in sustainable, capital-efficient growth — it’s the cornerstone of building enduring businesses.”
With an eight-year fund life, Atomic plans to deploy both initial and follow-on capital over the next two to three years. The investment pipeline is already active, with more than 20 companies under evaluation and a term sheet issued for the fifth investment.
Founded in 2024, Atomic Capital is led by Apoorv Gautam, who brings over 18 years of experience in investing, consulting, and strategic leadership, with prior roles at Rivigo, McKinsey, Bain, and a leading VC fund. His vision for Atomic is clear — back ambitious founders in consumer and consumer-tech, and combine capital with operating expertise to help them scale sustainably.
With its fund fully closed, Atomic Capital is now positioned to help define the next generation of enduring consumer brands in India’s fast-evolving market.