High-tech farming startup Fragaria Fruits raises $4 million to scale operations in Bengaluru

Fragaria Fruits, a high-tech farming startup, has raised $2 million in a seed funding round led by WEH Ventures, with participation from Rainmatter, Spiral Ventures, and angel investors such as Sashi Kumar, CEO of Akshayakalpa Organic.

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Fragaria Fruits was founded in 2024 by Harish Varadharajan, Damian Lopez-Salazar, and Timothy Van Niekerk, who collectively bring 25 years of agriculture experience across six countries, with the aim of solving a critical problem in India’s fruit industry.

The startup aims to redefine the fruit-eating experience for Indian consumers by delivering premium, sustainably grown produce using world-class farming techniques.

Its flagship brand, Oh! Fruits offers European strawberries grown in Chennai with advanced vertical farming technology, which it claims is twice as sweet as conventional Indian varieties, pesticide-free, and have a shelf life up to three times longer than typical market options.

Timothy Van Niekerk, Co-founder, Fragaria Fruits, said, “This funding will allow us to scale our operations and reach a larger consumer base with consistently high-quality fruit. It’s a key step forward in our mission to build India’s most trusted and beloved fruit brand, providing fresh, year-round produce to millions of people across the country.”

Rohit Krishna, Partner, WEH Ventures, said: “We believe Fragaria is addressing a critical inefficiency in India’s fruit supply chain. Their model blends cutting-edge farming technology with sustainable practices, which is a game-changer for India’s premium fruit market. We are supporting them in providing consumers with fresh, year-round fruit, without compromising on quality or sustainability.”

Fragaria will use the raised capital to scale its operations in Bengaluru, expand its premium fruit portfolio to blueberries and raspberries, and provide a year-round supply of high-quality, sustainable produce to the Indian market.