Rotoris, an engineering-led analog watch startup, has raised $3 million in a seed funding round backed by a high-profile group of investors including Nikhil Kamath (Zerodha), Vivek Anand Oberoi, Venture Catalysts, 100 Unicorns, and Tanmay Bhat.
The round also saw participation from more than 30 founders, among them Varun Alagh (Mamaearth), Gaurav Khatri (Noise), Siddharth Dungarwal (Snitch), Nitin Jain (Of Business), Vishesh Khurana (Shiprocket), Chirag Taneja (GoKwik), Akash Gupta (Zypp), and Arjun Vaidya (Dr. Vaidya’s).
Rotoris was co-founded by Aakash Anand, founder of Bella Vita Organic, along with serial entrepreneur Prerna Gupta and founding partners Anant Narula and Kunal Kapania.
Building Indian luxury with global engineering standards
Set to launch in January 2026, Rotoris will introduce five collections—Auriqua, Monarch, Astonia, Arvion, and Manifesta. The watches will feature Swiss-level specifications, including sapphire crystal, automatic and Q-matic movements, and 316L surgical-grade stainless steel. The startup said each watch will also include a collector’s model designed to symbolise progress and ambition.
Commenting on the investment, Vivek Anand Oberoi said, “I’ve collected watches for years, but Rotoris surprised me. It carries the soul of Indian ambition with the finesse of global engineering. That combination is rare. Rotoris is proof that India can build luxury, not just import it.”
Tanmay Bhat added, “I invest in stories that make people feel something. Rotoris has that energy, a brand built on ambition, engineering and a little bi I kept wondering why an Indian company couldn’t build a watch that stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the world’s best. Rotoris is our determination to answer that question with real engineering, strong unit economics and the ambition to build a category India has never led before. This is India’s moment.”
Aakash Anand said, “For years, Indian consumers have paid global prices for global craftsmanship.”
Dr. Apoorv Sharma, Co-founder, 100 Unicorns, said, “India has long needed a serious contender in premium watchmaking. Rotoris isn’t just launching a brand, it’s challenging an industry that has gone unchanged for decades. We’re thrilled to support Aakash and Prerna, who have the clarity, courage and capability to build a global category from India.”
Use of funds and expansion plans
The newly raised capital will be used to strengthen manufacturing and assembly capabilities, upgrade engineering processes, enhance the supply chain, and build launch inventory. Rotoris also plans to invest in talent across product, design, and brand as part of its global expansion roadmap.
As part of its brand-building strategy, Rotoris will open its first Rotoris Experience Store in New Delhi, with plans to create immersive retail spaces that reflect its positioning as an Indian luxury watchmaker with global aspirations.
With a strong founder lineup, marquee investors, and a clear focus on engineering-led differentiation, Rotoris is positioning itself to challenge long-established norms in the premium watch segment—aiming to prove that globally competitive luxury can be built from India, not just consumed there.
