Direct-to-consumer (D2C) footwear brand Built has raised $2 million in funding led by Singapore-based Tanglin Venture Partners and participation from Bharat Kalia, founder of Lifelong.
The Mumbai-based startup plans to use the funding to launch new products, expand its team and strengthen its supply chain. Its debut natural movement footwear is available in four colours and it also has a line-up of clothing and accessories for both men and women.
Founded by PolicyBazaar employee Vijayant Dhaka and Mainstreet Marketplace founder Vedant Lamba, Built is designing footwear that encourages natural foot movement through features such as wider toe boxes, minimal heel drop, and enhanced flexibility.
“Performance footwear isn’t just about cushioning or grip. It’s biomechanics, material science, durability, weight distribution, surface interaction, and manufacturing precision working together. India deserves products built for performance first, not adapted versions of something built for someone else,” said Dhaka.
The startup started its operation earlier this month. It currently offers two variants of its footwear and plans to expand its apparel and accessories stock-keeping units (SKUs) to 20 variants. It sources its raw material and has a partnership with a contract manufacturing unit for manufacturing.
With a team of about seven people in research and development (R&D), Built is developing new footwear SKUs to cater to the younger working professionals who go to the gym or play sports like pickleball, tennis, badminton, and squash.
“We’re building products that allow strength to develop in its most natural state, creating a generational shift in how people think about performance footwear,” said Lamba.
Indian sneaker and footwear brands have gained investor attention in recent years as the sector becomes popular among Gen Z shoppers. D2C brands such as Comet, Gully Labs, Thaely, Neeman’s, Banjaaran and Bacca Bucci are riding this wave with focus on design and quality, ET reported last November.
In January, Gully Labs raised $3 million in funding led by Saama Capital. Comet raised $5 million in funding led by Elevation Capital in 2024.
