Gulf Islamic Investments And Rajeev Misra Back Footwear Startup
Direct-to-consumer footwear brand Yoho has raised a fresh funding round comprising Rs 15 crore in equity and Rs 8 crore in debt from new and existing investors.
The round was led by Gulf Islamic Investments and Rajeev Misra. Existing investors, including Vijay Shekhar Sharma, also participated in the round.
The latest investment comes as India’s direct-to-consumer footwear and sneaker market continues witnessing strong growth driven by rising online shopping, premiumisation trends and increasing demand for affordable lifestyle footwear.
Startup Plans Offline Expansion And Product Growth
According to the company, the fresh capital will primarily be used to strengthen its offline retail presence and scale its performance running footwear category.
Founded in 2021 by Ahmad Hushsham and Prateek Singhal, Yoho operates as a digitally native footwear brand focused on sneakers, casual footwear and comfort-led designs.
The Delhi-based startup has rapidly expanded over the last few years through a multi-channel distribution strategy spanning direct-to-consumer sales, e-commerce marketplaces and quick commerce platforms.
Yoho claims to have sold more than three million pairs of footwear through its own platform and marketplaces including Amazon, Myntra, Flipkart, Ajio and Nykaa.
The company has also established distribution presence across quick commerce platforms including Blinkit, Zepto and Swiggy Instamart.
India’s Sneaker Market Witnesses Rapid Growth
Industry estimates suggest India’s sneaker market could reach nearly $6 billion by FY32 as younger consumers increasingly adopt casual footwear, athleisure trends and fashion-focused sneaker culture.
The growth opportunity has attracted strong investor interest across footwear startups and D2C consumer brands over the past few years.
Analysts believe brands capable of balancing affordability, design innovation and omnichannel distribution are likely to emerge as strong long-term players within India’s competitive footwear market.
Yoho Expands Offline Retail Presence
Alongside online growth, Yoho is now aggressively expanding its offline retail footprint across tier I and tier II cities.
The company aims to establish partnerships with nearly 2,500 multi-brand outlets while also increasing its presence through exclusive brand outlets.
According to the company, the offline expansion strategy will integrate AI-driven solutions designed to address sizing and fitting challenges, reduce product returns and optimise inventory management.
Industry experts believe technology-enabled retail experiences are increasingly becoming a key differentiator for consumer brands operating across fashion and footwear categories.
Investors Continue Backing D2C Consumer Brands
Yoho had previously raised Rs 20 crore in its Series A round in October 2022 from investors including Rajeev Misra, Rukam Capital and Vijay Shekhar Sharma.
In October 2024, the company also secured Rs 27 crore in a pre-Series B funding round led by Gulf Islamic Investments.
The latest funding reflects continued investor confidence in India’s growing direct-to-consumer consumer goods ecosystem despite broader funding moderation across the startup market.
