Uni Seoul raises Rs 35 cr in Series A round to expand retail footprint

Uni Seoul, a leading lifestyle retail brand, has announced the close of its ₹35 Crore Series A funding round. The round is co-led by Riverwalk Holdings and Sauce, with participation from Panthera Peak Ventures, and a group of strategic angels who have supported the brand since its seed stage.

The fresh capital will fuel the next phase of Uni Seoul's growth - deepening its footprint in premium malls and high streets across Tier 1 cities, with an ambition to build 500 retail touchpoints over the next five years, while simultaneously launching on India's leading quick commerce platforms.

Founded by Gaurav Karmani and Mohit Khurana, Uni Seoul was built on the insight that India's urban consumer was hungry for a brand that made everyday life more joyful through design-led, aesthetically driven products that feel good to own, discover, and gift. Today, Uni Seoul operates 15 stores across Bengaluru, Pune, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Kochi, and Nashik, with 1,000+ SKUs spanning Plush Toys, Home & Living, Stationery, Bags, Travel, Beauty & Care, and Gifts.

The raise comes at a time when India's impulse lifestyle retail market remains highly fragmented, with no single aspirational, design-first brand occupying the physical retail space at scale. Consumers seeking curated, aesthetic, feel-good products are often left navigating unorganised local stores or inconsistent online options.

The opportunity extends beyond retail. India's gifting market, valued at USD 75 billion in 2024, continues to grow steadily. At the same time, quick commerce is undergoing a category expansion beyond groceries. Impulse lifestyle products and gifting items are emerging as some of the fastest-growing non-grocery segments on platforms like Blinkit, Zepto, and Swiggy Instamart, driven by the same spontaneity and instant gratification that defines the in-store impulse retail experience.

"India is at an inflection point where the next generation of retail won't just be about convenience, it will be about how a brand makes you feel the moment you walk in,” said Mohit Khurana, Co-Founder, Uni Seoul. “We built Uni Seoul to own that feeling. The consumer love we've seen across our stores tells us the category is real and the timing is right. This raise is about going from proof-of-concept to scale 500 touchpoints, quick commerce, and deeper cities. We're not just opening stores; we're building the brand that defines impulse lifestyle retail in India."

Gaurav Karmani, Co-Founder, Uni Seoul, added, “What keeps a store exciting is never standing still fresh products, sharp visual merchandising, and a range that gives customers a reason to come back every single time. We've built our product engine around high refresh rates and a curation philosophy that makes every visit feel new. With this capital, we get to do that at a scale we've always wanted: more SKUs, tighter VM standards across every store, and a product experience that's consistent whether you're walking into our Bengaluru flagship or discovering us on an online commerce platform.”

USE OF FUNDS

1. Offline Expansion: Scale from 15 to 50+ stores in the near term across premium malls in Tier 1 cities, with a longer-term vision of 500 retail touchpoints over five years across COCO, FICO and other formats. With impulse lifestyle retail still lacking a clear organised player in modern trade, Uni Seoul is positioned to define and own this shelf space.

2. Quick Commerce Launch: Enter India's leading Q-commerce platforms with a product range purpose-built for impulse discovery, low entry price, high visual appeal, and strong gifting relevance. As platforms expand into non-grocery categories, Uni Seoul's assortment is well-suited for the speed-and-spontaneity shopping moment.

3. Brand & Supply Chain: Private label expansion, supply chain investment, team building, and marketing to sustain product quality and store experience at scale.

Commenting on the investment, Ali Almas, Principal, Riverwalk Holdings, said, “Great retail is about creating an experience that stops you in your tracks, draws you in, and keeps you coming back for more, and Uni Seoul does it better than anyone else. Behind that experience is a sharp eye for visual merchandising, carefully curated products, and a constant stream of newness.”

Zoeb Ali Khan, Vice President, Sauce, added, “Uni Seoul is one of those rare retail businesses where brand love and capital efficiency have moved together. We backed Mohit, Gaurav, and the team at seed because we believed the cuteness as an aesthetic they were building around had real excitement and the stores have proven exactly that”