In a pre-Series A funding round, Mumbai-based beverage startup Kathy’s Beverages, which runs the bubble tea and beverage brand Bobakat, raised Rs 6 crore.
The money raised will go toward marketing, team growth, offline expansion throughout India, and product innovation. At the moment, Bobakat runs small-format stores in high streets and food courts.
Dr. Rupali Ambegaonkar and Sannjeev Rao founded Bobakat in 2024 with the goal of catering to urban consumers with bubble tea and other drinks. Over 10 lakh customers have reportedly been served by the brand, and over the next 36 months, it hopes to reach a net sales value of Rs 100 crore.
The company projects that the beverage market in India will increase from $80 billion in 2025 to approximately $155 billion by 2035.
Tea Culture of the World (TCW), a tea retail chain with more than 200 locations throughout India, was previously founded by Dr. Rupali Ambegaonkar. Future Group, Aditya Birla Retail, Landmark Dubai, Raymond, and Being Human are just a few of the businesses where Rao has held executive positions.
Bobakat prioritizes audience-focused branding, carefully chosen in-store experiences, scalable store formats, and high-quality products.
The startup intends to open 35 stores in FY27 and then 50 stores in each of the following two fiscal years. Both emerging urban markets and metropolitan areas will be included in the expansion.
