India’s D2C ecosystem continues to witness strong investor interest as impulse lifestyle retail brand Uni Seoul has raised ₹35 crore (approximately $3.7 million) in a Series A funding round led by Riverwalk Holdings and Sauce. The round also saw participation from Panthera Peak Ventures and several existing angel investors, making it one of the notable D2C funding rounds and D2C startup news developments in India’s fast-growing lifestyle and gifting market.
Founded by Gaurav Karmani and Mohit Khurana, Pune-based Uni Seoul operates in the impulse lifestyle retail segment, offering a wide range of products across plush toys, stationery, home and living, bags, travel accessories, beauty and personal care, gifting products, and lifestyle essentials. The brand has emerged as one of the latest D2C startups creating a unique retail experience by combining affordability, discovery, and trend-led merchandising.
The fresh capital will be deployed towards accelerating D2C expansion plans, strengthening supply chain capabilities, expanding the company’s private-label portfolio, and building a stronger presence across quick commerce platforms. As quick commerce D2C continues to reshape consumer purchasing behaviour in India, Uni Seoul is positioning itself to capture growing demand for impulse-driven lifestyle and gifting products.
Currently operating 15 stores across Bengaluru, Mumbai, Pune, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Kochi, and Nashik, Uni Seoul plans to scale aggressively from 15 stores to more than 50 outlets in the near term. Over the next five years, the company aims to build more than 500 retail touchpoints, highlighting its ambitious omnichannel D2C strategy and long-term vision within India’s expanding retail landscape.
The brand offers more than 1,000 SKUs across categories, with products priced between ₹99 and ₹2,999, making it accessible to a wide consumer base. This broad assortment strategy has helped Uni Seoul create a differentiated position in India’s growing impulse retail and gifting segment, which continues to benefit from evolving D2C consumer behavior India and rising discretionary spending among younger consumers.
According to industry estimates, India’s gifting market was valued at nearly $75 billion in 2024, creating significant opportunities for D2C fashion and lifestyle brands, premium D2C brands India, and emerging retail concepts. The rapid growth of quick commerce platforms has further accelerated product discovery and purchasing frequency, creating favorable tailwinds for businesses operating within the impulse buying category.
The funding round also reflects increasing investor confidence in category-defining D2C brands India that are building strong offline and online ecosystems simultaneously. While many startups focus solely on digital channels, Uni Seoul’s retail-first approach combined with future quick commerce integration positions it uniquely within the D2C business India landscape.
Co-founder Mohit Khurana stated that the company will focus on expanding its retail footprint, strengthening customer access, and building a leading impulse lifestyle retail brand across India. The company’s growth roadmap aligns closely with broader D2C market trends 2025, where consumers are increasingly seeking affordable lifestyle products, experiential shopping environments, and convenient purchasing options across channels.
As Indian D2C updates continue to highlight the emergence of new retail formats, Uni Seoul’s latest fundraising milestone stands out as a strong example of how modern lifestyle brands are attracting institutional capital to fuel scale. With fresh funding, expanding retail presence, growing product categories, and planned quick commerce integration, Uni Seoul is well-positioned to become one of the fastest-growing D2C brands in India’s lifestyle and gifting ecosystem.
The funding marks an important chapter in the company’s journey as it looks to strengthen its position in one of the country’s largest consumer opportunity segments while building a scalable and category-leading D2C brand for the next generation of Indian shoppers.
