Zerocircle, a materials startup focused on deep tech, just scored ₹5 crore in a pre-Series A funding round. The round was co-led by 3one4 Capital and Rainmatter Capital, plus other investors chipped in.
The cash will go toward speeding up their deep tech research and growing Zerocircle’s plan to swap out plastic in food and product packaging with natural stuff. This is a big deal in the D2C scene in India and for general sustainability.
Neha Jain founded Zerocircle in 2020. They’re working where material science, sustainability, and big impact meet. They’re creating next-gen packaging from seaweed and other totally natural stuff. The idea is to ditch plastics made from oil in stuff we use a lot. D2C brands in India and global businesses are feeling the heat from rules and customers who know plastic waste is a problem. Zerocircle’s tech could be a key part of the D2C world in India.
This funding comes as packaging that doesn’t hurt the planet is getting vital. Zerocircle is targeting areas where regular plastics or even those eco-friendly plastics don’t cut it in terms of recycling, how they work, or following the rules. Think foodservice packaging, coated paper, cups, and wraps. These areas represent massive demand worldwide.
According to Nruthya Madappa from 3one4 Capital, Zerocircle is building a top-notch plastic alternatives platform and teaming up with some giant companies to push adoption on a large scale. This fits well with how new D2C startups and big brands are starting to build eco-friendly supply chains into their main plans.
Rainmatter Capital’s support shows more confidence in Zerocircle’s big picture. Nithin Kamath, who is the CEO and founder of Zerodha, mentioned that Zerocircle’s coatings use all-natural stuff, so there’s no need for plastic at all. He mentioned that sustainable packaging is almost as cheap as regular plastics now, which removes a huge barrier and helps make sustainability more important.
Zerocircle already has hamburger boxes, fried food containers, bakery packaging, and food trays—common items that cause a lot of plastic waste. The startup is important for both companies and D2C brands in India because it tackles the issue of microplastic by making sure they make cleaner, safer packaging for consumers.
The new funding will boost Zerocircle’s R&D, helping them make their materials better, easier to produce, and expand production.
