Diipa Büller-Khosla founded indē wild secures $5M Investment from Unilever Ventures after explosive 400% growth in India and exclusive partnership with Sephora
This strategic funding validates the brand’s unique Ayurvedistry™ approach, coupled with its viral product success, including the #1 bestseller Champi Hair Oil on Nykaa.
Couple founders Diipa and Oleg Büller-Khosla are now poised to spearhead India’s first globally scaled beauty brand, leveraging this investment to expand its international footprint and solidify its disruptive presence in the beauty industry.
indē wild, the leading beauty brand redefining holistic skincare and haircare through its pioneering concept of Ayurvedistry™ (a blend of ancient Ayurvedic principles and modern chemistry) and co-founded by global entrepreneur and media personality Diipa Büller-Khosla —today announced the successful completion of a $5 million USD funding round. Led by Unilever Ventures, with significant reinvestment from existing partners SoGal Ventures and True, this strategic infusion of capital marks a watershed moment in the brand’s trajectory following its quick growth in India and significant traction in the US and UK markets.
Within two years of its inception, the brand’s signature Champi Hair Oil has ascended to the coveted #1 bestseller position on Nykaa, India’s premier beauty e-commerce platform, outperforming established global giants including Olaplex, L’Oréal and Kama Ayurveda. This achievement, coupled with an invitation to join the prestigious Sephora Accelerate program and a strategic retail partnership with Sephora, underscores the burgeoning global consumer demand for authentic, heritage-inspired products backed by scientific innovation.
indē wild distinguishes itself through a meticulous, community-centric product development process, encompassing extensive consumer engagement across the US, UK and India. This methodology, involving over 60 focus groups, ensures that product conceptualization, creation, and testing are intrinsically aligned with consumer needs. This ethos extends to the brand’s marketing strategy, which prioritizes organic growth and consumer advocacy over conventional paid performance channels.
Within just 18 months of its exclusive Indian launch on Nykaa and its direct-to-consumer platforms in the US and UK, indē wild has achieved a remarkable sales velocity, selling more than one unit a minute, building upon the brand’s existing momentum of millions of customers and driving significant growth. This momentum, driven by a portfolio of high-efficacy, problem-solving hero products—including the Champi Hair Oil, Dewy Lip Treatment and SPF Rose Sun Mist Spray—has cultivated a loyal customer base and propelled significant revenue growth of 400%.
Notably, the brand has demonstrated robust financial performance, achieving double-digit contribution margins and EBITDA profitability in select periods of the preceding year.
The newly secured capital will be strategically deployed to accelerate indē wild’s international expansion, focusing on its existing partnership with Sephora in the UK and its forthcoming launch in Sephora US.
Diipa Büller-Khosla, Founder, indē wild states, “Today’s generation seeks brands that reflect their identity and the most impactful brands are built on deep listening, constant evolution, and empowering communities to co-create their journey. As our community continues to grow and shape our path, I am beyond excited to scale indē wild to new heights and redefine what it means to truly connect with our audience.”
Oleg Büller-Khosla, CEO, indē wild further noted, “Unilever Ventures’ investment in indē wild and this partnership is the result of the immense respect and trust we developed in Rachel Harris and the whole UV team. Their expertise and experience in the beauty space is second to none and with their deep understanding of consumer needs, innovative approach to clean beauty, and knowledge of what constitutes top level business practices will allow indē wild to scale even faster in this rapidly evolving market.”
Rachel Harris, Partner, Unilever Ventures and lead in the deal, “By blending the age-old wisdom of Ayurveda with the efficacy of modern science, indē wild is meeting the holistic needs of today’s beauty consumer in an accessible and comprehensible way. With its highly engaged communities across the globe, indē wild is redefining what it means to be an Ayurveda inspired brand in today’s world. Unilever Ventures is delighted to be partnering with Diipa and Oleg on this next stage of the company’s growth.”
Pocket Sun, Managing Partner, SoGal Ventures states, “indē wild is more than a beauty brand—it’s a symbol of the global South Asian community’s rise. At SoGal Ventures, we back founders who turn connections into lasting movements—and indē wild does exactly that. Honouring heritage while embracing global ambition, redefining how millions see themselves and their culture and redefining Ayurvedic principles for a wider and modern audience.”
Archit Vijoy, who served as the exclusive financial advisor on this deal, has now been appointed as Finance Director at indē wild.