Ace International Limited is starting a new phase of growth, having secured $35 million (₹305 crore) in funding. This important investment round was led by FMO, responsAbility, Incofin, and Fiedlin Ventures, with Inval Capital as the advisor.
This is Ace International’s first time getting funds from institutions, positioning the company to greatly impact India’s dairy nutrition and food scene. With more attention on D2C (direct-to-consumer) news in India, D2C funding rounds, and Indian D2C updates, this shows a big change in how food ingredient brands are growing from India to the rest of the world.
The money will go toward a new nutrition and dairy ingredients complex in Kuppam, Andhra Pradesh. This project brings advanced dairy tech to Asia for the first time. With this complex, Ace International can produce high-quality nutrition ingredients for things like baby food, sports nutrition, and drinks, allowing India to be a part of global nutrition value chains with strong tech.
Because imports have historically dominated this industry, this move supports the D2C business in India by encouraging local production, new premium ingredients, and category creation. These things will increase India’s role in the global food-tech market.
In addition to tech and production, the project will positively impact rural areas. The Kuppam facility is expected to work with over 40,000 farmers, many of whom are women, through sourcing that improves livelihoods and encourages formalization across India’s dairy industry. This fits with the D2C idea in India, where sustainability, farmer benefits, and supply-chain transparency are factors in brand building, consumer behavior, and investor confidence.
According to founder Sanjeev Goyal, this funding is a key step aligned with their mission. Ace International was founded on the principle that food tech can improve both nutrition and business results. Now, with long-term funding and trust from global investors, the company is ready to apply its experience from India to the rest of the world. The institutional investors agree, with FMO, responsAbility, Incofin, and Fiedlin Ventures all emphasizing Ace’s unique way of doing things, its focus on sustainability, and its ability to create customized food products.
From a family-run business to a nutrition player that serves over 49,000 smallholders today and plans to reach 80,000 by 2030, Ace International shows what D2C startups want to achieve: being globally relevant, locally connected, and technologically ready for the future. With custom ingredients, sustainability investments, and eco-friendly sourcing, the brand is in a great position regarding D2C market trends in 2025, government support, and consumer demand for fortified and functional foods.
As global nutrition markets become more consolidated and innovation picks up speed, Ace International is building more than just a factory; it is building a platform where Indian food science, responsible sourcing, and advanced processing come together. This funding round will not only increase capacity, but also possibilities. What started as a family business is becoming a food ingredient player that is expected to change India’s position in the global nutrition market. With science, sustainability, and scale working together, Ace International is ready to start a new chapter for direct-to-consumer business in India, and serves as an example of how ingredient brands can help India succeed on the global stage.
