“YCook raises 5 mn to fund growth and further innovation”

We are happy to let you know that Y-Cook has secured USD 5 Mn in capital for its Series B financing round from Oiko Credit, Netherlands and 021 Capital backed by Binny Bansal. The fund would be used to further our innovation and expand our footprint.

As a President award winning four-year-old startup, Ycook, has pioneered the creation of a new category in the food space, the Ready-to-Health category with the range of boiled snacks and ingredients that is boiled naturally without any additives or preservatives and can be stored in normal room temperature without refrigeration for up to one year. Our range of products including boiled vegetables, fruits and lentils are marketed under the brand name Ta-daa and is currently available pan India in the multi-chain modern trade formats and also in 9 countries across the globe. Building on this momentum, YCook will use the additional financing to continue expanding its reach, accelerate product growth and innovation and invest in marketing.

YCook’s vision has always been to make eating healthy really easy, Say with a pack of boiled kabuli chana, you can just toss out a dish of your choice in a jiffy. Ta-daa products is customizable, affordable and truly healthy convenience to the consumer. YCook is also a ‘free-from’ company – all our products are free from pesticides, gluten and GMO.

YCook has built an effective and strong backward integration with the farmers and every ingredient that goes into the Tadaa pack is exclusively grown by partner farmers following the Global GAP (good agricultural practices) ensuring zero-pesticide residue in all its products. The company invests from soil testing to extensive training for their partner farmers. The seeds are procured by the company and the company has centralized nurseries in different locations from where the saplings are given to the farmer free of cost. The farming SOPs are monitored, and support given to farmers periodically to ensure quality of produce. The outcome of this effort is high quality produce with zero pesticide residue in every produce and thereby meeting the International quality standards. There are also set standards of operations for harvesting and transporting of produce. The fresh produce from the farms are processed within 20 hours of harvest so that it can retain its peak harvest freshness, texture, taste, colour and nutrition. “Working closely with the farmers not only ensures quality in the produce but also allows us to help farmers become more conversant in scientific farming methods and thereby creating a sustainable farming environment for generations to come. We are committed to securing our land resources for our future generations in our little locus of operation” Janardhan Swahar, CEO YCook India. Ycook actively works with about 1300 farmers across 4 states.

YCook has been in a position to improve farmer yield per acre by 27% and revenue by 112%. 13 progressive farmers have been trained and have become Agripreneurs and are the consolidators for YCook. Beyond farmer, the produce leftovers which is good fodder is being given to the cattle owners in the neighboring villages free of cost there by bettering the incomes of the ecosystem which Ycook is a part of.

“The Investment in Ycook meets our Equity strategy of investing in companies that deliver high social impact by improving the quality of life of smallholder farmers. Ycook brings benefits to the overall eco-system by promoting good agricultural practices and supplying healthy food.” - Anirudh Sarda, Equity Officer (India), Oikocredit

“Ycook has not only created innovative products, they have redefined food logistics by creating ambient shelf life products without any preservatives.” - Mark Kahn - Omnivore Partners

“We are excited about YCook’s focus on building a global CPG brand from India. They have bought together a rare combination of health and convenience food to consumers with long shelf-life which does not require any cold storage or preservatives. This is truly an innovative end-to-end “farm-to-fork” venture from our country” - Sailesh Tulshan, 021 Capital