Laani, a high-performance body and personal care brand, today announced that it has raised Rs 9.1 crore pre-seed funding round led by V3 Ventures and Saama Capital.
The round also saw participation from a group of angels including Arjun Purkayastha (Managing Director, Reckitt), Manish Taneja (Founder and CEO, Purplle), Kunal Bahl (Founder, Snapdeal), and Dr. Aneesh Sheth (Founder, Dr. Sheth’s Skincare), among others.
Laani was founded by Nirja Bhatt, a Harvard Business School MBA graduate and Columbia University alumna, who previously co-founded Recove.
Laani is entering the market with a focus on what it describes as “high-performance” body and personal care products. Its first launch is a clear deodorant stick, positioned as an alternative to traditional roll-ons and aerosol sprays.
The startup said the product is designed to apply dry and leave no visible marks or residue, while offering up to 24 hours of odour protection through clinically tested formulations.
“At Laani we are on a mission to reinvent personal care through innovative formats and form factors that are as effective as they are effortless. It’s high-performance, highly functional care that matches ambition, and never asks women to slow down,” said Nirja Bhatt, Founder and CEO, Laani.
“I have been in touch with Nirja since her days at HBS and always found her to be a deep consumer thinker. When she said body care, we were in. This category is brand starved and Laani is coming up with some very cool, new age solutions. Wait for what’s in store,” said Arjun Vaidya, Co-Founder and Managing Partner, V3 Ventures.