India’s dynamic and fast-growing QSR coffee chain, Nothing Before Coffee (NBC), has raised $ 2.3 million in a Pre-Series A funding round, led by Prath Ventures. The round also saw participation from SYL Investments. This marks a major milestone in NBC’s journey as it continues to redefine India’s café culture by focusing on Tier-II and Tier-III cities—a segment largely untapped by premium coffee players. Additionally, NBC is pleased to report its “Best-ever Fiscal year 2025.” Fueled by new store launches, innovative offerings, and growing brand loyalty. The brand’s seasonal offerings and unique brews have been particularly well
received, contributing to this growth.
Founded in 2017 in Jaipur by Ankesh Jain, Anand Jain, Akshay Kedia, and Shubham Bhandari, Nothing Before Coffee has rapidly evolved from a small, cozy café into a national brand with a footprint of 85+ outlets across India. At the heart of NBC’s success is its mission to serve high-quality, affordable coffee in vibrant spaces that resonate with India’s youth.
While most players are concentrating on Tier-I cities and premium offerings, NBC is disrupting the market with accessible pricing, India-centric coffee innovations like the ‘Shrappe’ (a desi twist on a frappe), and aspirational café spaces that serve as community hubs for young consumers.
This funding milestone is a strong validation of our vision and operating model. At Nothing Before Coffee, we’ve built a brand that combines affordability, quality, and deep cultural resonance—especially in India’s Tier-II and Tier-III markets. With strong unit economics and consistent consumer love, we are now well-positioned to scale rapidly. The capital will help us deepen our presence, invest in technology and talent, and unlock the next phase of growth as we work towards becoming India’s most loved and accessible coffee chain, said — Ankesh Jain, Co-founder, Nothing Before Coffee
In a market traditionally dominated by premium global chains and metro-centric models, NBC is carving out its niche with a “youth-first” approach, offering high-quality, affordability, cultural relevance, and beverages served in aesthetically designed, vibrant spaces. These outlets are designed to serve as social hubs for India’s growing aspirational class.
Commenting on the fund raise, Piyush Goenka, founder of Prath Ventures said “As a fund, we’ve long believed in the growing demand for coffee and vibrant café experiences across India — not just in metros, but well beyond Tier-1 cities. In all our research, NBC consistently stood out for the vibrance in their cafés, the affordability of their pricing, and the quality of their offerings. What truly sealed the deal was the passion and drive of the founding team, which made this a compelling and exciting opportunity for us, as we love to partner with enthusiastic like-minded founders.”
Use of Funds and Strategic Roadmap
The freshly infused capital will be utilized to:
• Aiming to establish 150+ NBC stores across India by FY2026, with a strong focus on expanding into emerging Tier-II and Tier-III markets.
• Strengthen the brand’s digital platforms to drive enhanced customer experience and loyalty. • Invest in supply chain optimization and talent acquisition to support scale and consistency across locations.
• Experiment with new store formats, including compact kiosks and premium high-street cafes in smaller cities.
Confidential – Not for Public Consumption or Distribution
The Indian café market is ripe for innovation, and emerging brands like NBC are leading the way. As bankers, our role is to back such disruptors with the capital they need to scale. NBC has built strong brand recognition in a short time, and we wish them success in becoming India’s most loved coffee café brand – Said Shikha Toshniwal – Co-Founder and Investment Banking Head, Pareto Capital.
NBC’s ambitious roadmap aims to solidify its position as India’s most beloved homegrown café brand, particularly in markets often overlooked by established chains. The QSR chain is on a fast-paced growth trajectory, aiming to establish 150+ NBC stores across India by FY2026, further strengthening its presence in metropolitan hubs and expanding deeper into Tier-I and Tier-II markets. These new openings will mark an important milestone for the brand, demonstrating its continuous efforts to cater to the growing demand for premium coffee experiences. The new outlets are designed to offer a welcoming and exceptional coffee experience, building on the brand’s commitment to quality and customer satisfaction.
About Nothing Before Coffee: NBC was founded in 2017 with the goal to share the enticing aroma of freshly brewed coffee with everyone. There’s always been a missing piece in the puzzle of our coffee experience, and NBC have often pondered over what it could be until the team of experts finally found the answer by brewing their own perfect cup. NBC believe that coffee is not just a beverage, but a way of life. The brand has made a mission to source the best essence of coffee beans and brew them using the latest and most innovative techniques to ensure that every cup of coffee served under NBC is of the highest quality. As a QSR model, NBC is specialized in serving varieties of beverages with exceptional quality.
