The fresh capital will fuel Bumboo’s expansion in Indian and global markets

Imaga Trade and Craft Pvt, operating under the brand name Bumboo, has successfully raised its first round of angel funding from prominent industry leaders. The round of an undisclosed amount saw participation from Rohan Bhargava (Co-founder, CashKaro), Saurabh Gupta (CEO & Co-Founder, UrbanPiper), Shashank Bijapur (Founder, SpotDraft), Rajneil Kamath (Former Google, NC Media), Harikrishnan M (DMart), Sridhar V (Microsoft), and Rajat Bhargava (Think Wealth). The fresh capital will fuel Bumboo’s expansion in Indian and global markets. The company has established itself as a leading national player in sustainable packaging, serving over 3,500 businesses including prominent names like Zomato, Swiggy, ITC, Blue Tokai, Curefoods, Chaayos, and Barbeque Nation.

Founded in 2019 by Anirudh Balakrishnan (Bala), Rohit Keshan, and Praveen Kumar, Bumboo tackles the $450 billion single-use waste opportunity by transforming agricultural waste like sugarcane bagasse and wheat straw into sustainable packaging solutions. This innovative approach addresses both waste management and air pollution challenges, particularly relevant in cities like Delhi where crop burning significantly impacts air quality.

Commenting on the fundraise, Anirudh Balakrishnan, Co-founder, Bumboo said, “We’re thrilled to welcome an incredible set of angels to enable our growth journey. The timing couldn’t be better for building a climate-focused company, as consumers worldwide demand alternatives to single-use plastics. With India’s position as one of the largest agrarian economies and its emerging role as a global manufacturing hub, we’re poised for exciting opportunities ahead.”

Speaking about the investment, Rohan Bhargava, Co-Founder, CashKaro said, “The sustainable packaging industry is at an inflection point, and Bumboo stands out with its innovative approach of converting agricultural waste into practical solutions, effectively solving both packaging and pollution challenges. What impressed me most is their ability to scale sustainably while maintaining strong unit economics. The founding team has shown exceptional execution capability, and I’m excited to back their vision of building a category-defining company in this space.”

Saurabh Gupta, CEO & Co-Founder, UrbanPiper said, “Brand stickiness and love is being defined by how conscious businesses are on green initiatives. Am delighted to be backing Bumboo’s team that’s making this possible with their innovative green approach on packaging for restaurant operators.”

Further adding, Shashank Bijapur, Founder, SpotDraft, said, “Alternatives to plastic and solving the climate crisis are no longer optional – they’re imperative for everyone’s quality of life. Bumboo’s dedicated team is tackling this challenge head-on, addressing a large market opportunity that will become tomorrow’s necessity.”

With headquarters in New Delhi and presence in Bangalore and Mumbai, Bumboo offers more than 50 plastic alternatives specifically designed for the food service industry, catering to the rapidly growing cloud kitchen and food delivery market. The company has gained significant recognition, including selection for the Go Massive and Climate Collective’s SUP challenge in 2022. Most recently, Bumboo was chosen for the prestigious Wadhwani Foundation’s Lift Off Propel programme, backed by billions philanthropist Dr. Romesh Wadhwani.