Textile Manufacturing Startup Whizzo Raises $4.2 Mn in Seed Funding Led by Lightspeed

• The funding round also saw participation from BEENEXT
• Funds will be utilized to advance R&D, establish a design lab for fashion-engineered textiles, and expand supply chain capabilities across Asia

Whizzo, a materials science manufacturing company pioneering innovation in engineered fashion and technical textiles, has raised $4.2 million in seed funding led by Lightspeed, with participation from BEENEXT. The investment will support Whizzo’s efforts to drive advancements in materials science R&D, establish a state-of-the-art design lab for fashion-engineered textiles, and strengthen its supply chain infrastructure across India, Vietnam, China, Bangladesh, and Indonesia.

Founded in 2024 by a former Zetwerk executive and an IRMA alumnus and gold medalist Shrestha Kukreja, Whizzo is redefining textile manufacturing with a full-stack approach combining innovation, sustainability, and advanced materials science. The company creates proprietary textile blends, including cellulosic and polymer-based fibers, that are tailored to diverse industry needs, significantly reducing time-to-market.

Commenting on the brand’s unique offerings, Shrestha Kukreja, Founder, Whizzo, said, 

Our vision is to establish Whizzo as an IP-driven leader in fashion-engineered and technical textiles. By creating proprietary blends and leveraging a cross-border Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) model, we aim to address critical gaps and transform the textile industry through innovation, sustainability, and global connectivity.

Romit Mehta, VP-Investments, Lightspeed, while sharing his perspective on the transformative potential of Whizzo’s approach, said, "Technical textiles and man-made fibers represent the future of the textile market. India is poised to become a global epicenter of innovation in this sector, driven by strong government support and visionary entrepreneurs. Shrestha is a standout leader, demonstrating the ambition and expertise needed to build an ‘India to the world’ story in this space. We are thrilled to partner with Shrestha and the Whizzo team on this transformative journey, as they leverage advanced materials science and a full-stack manufacturing approach to position India at the forefront of technical textiles.”

Commenting on the funding, Saksham Pant, Principal, BEENEXT highlighted, “India’s textile industry is one of its oldest, and hence demands innovation to meet modern challenges like sustainability and efficiency. Whizzo is leading this transformation through advanced technology and eco-conscious practices. Backed by Shrestha’s vision and expertise, the company is set to position India as a leader in technical textiles within the next decade.”

India’s technical textiles market, valued at $45 billion in 2026, is projected to grow to $123 billion by 2035, driven by sectors such as healthcare, infrastructure, and defense. With products spanning clothtech, mobiltech, packtech, and agrotech, Whizzo is uniquely positioned to cater to industries like agriculture, automotive, and industrial manufacturing.

Last month, the Ministry of Textiles has approved two start-ups in the field of Technical Textiles under the National Technical Textiles Mission (NTTM). These start-ups have received a grant of approximately INR 50 lakhs each under the 'Grant for Research & Entrepreneurship across Aspiring Innovators in Technical Textiles (GREAT)' scheme.

Whizzo is a Bengaluru-based materials science manufacturing company founded in 2024. It specializes in engineered and technical textiles, leveraging woven, non-woven, and composite technologies to deliver innovative solutions across industries like Medtech, Packtech, Indutech, and Clothtech. With a robust supply chain spanning India, China, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Bangladesh, Whizzo is committed to delivering groundbreaking textile solutions at speed and scale.

Lightspeed is a global multi-stage venture capital firm focused on accelerating disruptive innovations and trends in the Enterprise, Consumer, Health, and Fintech sectors. Over the past two decades, the Lightspeed team has backed hundreds of entrepreneurs and helped build more than 500 companies globally including Affirm, Acceldata, Carta, Cato Networks, Darwinbox, Epic Games, Faire, Innovaccer, Guardant Health, Mulesoft, Navan, Netskope, Nutanix, Physics Wallah, Razorpay, Rubrik, Sharechat, Snap, OYO Rooms, Ultima Genomics, Zepto and more. Lightspeed and its global team currently manage $25B in AUM across the Lightspeed platform, with investment professionals and advisors in the U.S., Europe, India, Israel, and Southeast Asia.