Lifestyle brand Uni Seoul raises Rs 5 crore in a seed funding round

Uni Seoul, a contemporary lifestyle brand, has raised Rs 5 crore (approximately $585,000) in a seed funding round led by early-stage consumer investor Sauce VC. The round also saw participation from Panthera Peak Ventures, alongside individual investors including Arun Venkatachalam, Sangeet Agrawal, Navin Parwal, and Yogesh Kabra.

The startup plans to use the raised capital to strengthen its offline footprint in tier I cities, including plans to open new stores in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Chennai. 

Beyond brick-and-mortar expansion, the brand will also invest in launching new private labels, enhancing its direct-to-consumer (D2C) platform, boosting marketing initiatives, and optimising its supply chain infrastructure.

Uni Seoul's market presence

Founded by Gaurav Karmani and Mohit Khurana, Uni Seoul operates across various categories, including home and living, personal care, gifting, and fashion accessories. The brand currently manages four profitable offline stores located in Pune, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Nashik, and has steadily expanded its presence in India's growing lifestyle retail sector.

Currently offering a catalogue of over 700 stock-keeping units (SKUs), Uni Seoul sources about 40% of its inventory through domestic contract manufacturing, while the remainder is imported from vendors in South Korea, India, China, and Vietnam.

In October 2023, the startup launched its online store, which now accounts for approximately 27% of the overall revenue, despite limited formal marketing efforts. It aims to triple its growth over the next year by leveraging an omnichannel approach and scaling operational capacities.

Leadership comments

“We're building Uni Seoul to make everyday living more joyful through design-first, affordable products. Being backed by Sauce VC-known for nurturing some of India's most loved consumer brands is a huge validation of our vision and with the support of experienced D2C pioneers and established angels, we're excited to channel that experience into scaling the brand that brings joy to millions, every single day,” Mohit Khurana, Co-founder and CEO, Uni Seoul.

The lifestyle brand is positioning itself to cater to India's young and aspirational consumer base, offering quality-driven, design-forward product experiences at accessible price points. 

“Gaurav and Mohit, with their extensive retail experience, have set out on a mission to bring joy to shoppers seeking well-designed, affordable, and globally aesthetic products across multiple categories, often purchased on impulse. This format has seen immense success across Asia, and with rising incomes, we anticipate a similar trajectory in India,” said Manu Chandra, Founder & Partner, Sauce VC.