R&D-led specialty chemicals platform Distil raises $3.1 million in funding; Know about the startup

Distil, an R&D-led specialty chemicals platform, has raised $3.1 million in a seed funding round led by Jungle Ventures and India Quotient, with participation from other prominent investors and operators. 

This is Jungle’s first India Seed investment since the launch of First Cheque@Jungle, its bespoke program for partnering with second-time entrepreneurs and seasoned operators at ideas, pre-seed, and seed stages.

"At Distil, we recognize a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build a global leader in R&D-led specialty chemicals from India. The support from our partners and investors, particularly Jungle Ventures and India Quotient, marks a significant milestone as we scale our operations," said Atanuu Agarrwal, Co-founder and CEO of Distil.

What does Distil do?

Founded by IIT Bombay alumni Atanuu Agarrwal, Karan Hirani, and Viraj Shah, Distil offers fully customisable and scalable solutions through a tech-enabled platform for procurement of  specialty chemicals.

The specialty chemicals value chain has traditionally been plagued with inefficiencies, including fragmentation with multiple intermediaries, unreliable quality, long lead times, challenges posed by minimum order quantities, and lack of alternatives, among others.

Distil said it addresses these pain points at each stage of the value chain by leveraging the expertise of its founding team spanning specialty chemicals, supply chain, and finance.

Helping manufacturers meet specific performance

The startup's offerings, which include tailored formulations and custom manufacturing, are designed to help manufacturers meet specific performance and regulatory requirements.

The platform also provides a seamless, tech-enabled purchasing process, ensuring consistent product quality, meeting quantity requirements, and reducing lead times and MOQs through a robust network of stock points across the country. 

Distil’s team currently includes dedicated scientists, engineers, and after-sales support staff, the release notes.

Utilizing the funds to expand the team

The startup will use the raised capital to expand its teams across sales, R&D, technical/procurement, marketing, and technology development. 

Additionally, It plans to develop proprietary products and establish itself as a trusted specialty chemicals franchise in the life sciences segment, including flavours and fragrances, food ingredients, pharma, and personal care, across India and key international markets such as the US, EU, and MENA region.

“Our deep understanding of the sector, combined with our entrepreneurial experience, equips us to build Distil on a foundation of innovation and customer-focused solutions. We appreciate our partners and investors' confidence in our vision to deliver exceptional products and services globally," said Viraj Shah, Co-founder and COO of Distil.