Meolaa, a technology-led FMCG startup, has raised $6 million in pre-Series A funding to accelerate its AI-first growth strategy and expand its portfolio of data-driven consumer brands. The funding round was led by General Catalyst (GC), with participation from Claypond Capital (the family investment office of Dr. Ranjan Pai), Colossa Ventures, entrepreneur Kunal Shah, Turbostart Global, and other existing investors.
Founded in 2023 by Ishita Sawant, Meolaa is redefining the way FMCG brands are built by tackling inefficiencies in conventional product development cycles, which typically span 18 to 24 months. The company employs artificial intelligence and advanced analytics across every stage of the value chain — from market intelligence and product innovation to packaging, branding, and supply chain optimization. Meolaa’s integrated, AI-powered brand creation framework reduces development timelines from years to mere months, allowing faster adaptation to evolving consumer preferences.
Ishita Sawant, Founder and CEO of Meolaa, said, “At Meolaa, we believe consumer brands must be built with precision — powered by data, insights, and culture. With General Catalyst’s support, we are accelerating our transition into a modern, AI-enabled FMCG house designed to disrupt the value chain end to end. HIRA, our flagship brand, is just the beginning — proof that products rooted in real consumer needs can scale fast, resonate deeply, and travel globally.”
She further added, “By reimagining the assembly line of brand creation, we are solving for agility, speed, and scale — while reverse-engineering success to tilt the odds in our favour. This partnership gives us the conviction and resources to build India’s first FMCG powerhouse for the world.”
The newly raised funds will be used to strengthen Meolaa’s AI and data science infrastructure, expand into adjacent personal care categories, and grow distribution networks by pinpointing the most promising consumer segments and regions.
Neeraj Arora, Managing Director at General Catalyst, expressed confidence in Meolaa’s approach, saying, “What excites us about Meolaa is Ishita’s vision to build an AI-native FMCG powerhouse, replacing traditional R&D with intelligent systems that compress brand development from years to months.”
He added, “Her consumer-first approach and global brand insights, combined with her bias for action, position her uniquely to identify whitespace opportunities and execute rapidly. Under Ishita’s leadership, they’re reimagining how consumer brands are built and scaled for the modern economy.”
With this funding milestone, Meolaa aims to position itself as India’s first AI-native FMCG house, reshaping how brands are conceptualized, created, and scaled for a global audience.
