Happie Curves, the Gurugram-based startup renowned for its expertise in plus-size innerwear and comfort clothing, has achieved a significant milestone by securing an angel funding of INR 20 Lakhs. This successful funding round resulted in a 30 percent equity dilution and was made possible through the support of two distinguished angel investors: Rikant Pittie, Co-Founder of EaseMyTrip, and Aparna Thyagarajan, Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer of Shobitam Inc. The initiation of this equity deal followed Happie Curves’ active participation in ‘Indian Angels,’ the pioneering OTT angel investment show.
Operating on a bootstrap model from its inception, the startup plans to deploy the recently acquired capital with a strategic approach. The primary objectives include expanding business operations, elevating brand value, and extending its reach to a broader audience throughout India. Happie Curves envisions establishing itself as the premier and most coveted brand in the plus-size/curvy category.
Sonal Somani, Founder, Happie Curves said, “I am thrilled to get the backing of two renowned Angels for my venture, whose investments in Happie Curves not just validates the huge promise and potential of my business idea, but also reaffirms and strengthens our belief that every woman deserves to be happy, and deserves to feel good from outside and within. And to enable that, diverse body type inclusive clothing is, of course, the way to go. Beyond the funding support, the immense experience and knowledge of these Angels will help us to learn valuable entrepreneurial lessons, grow, and be able to scale the brand rapidly and efficiently in the upcoming months and years. Getting support from these big stalwarts of the startup world itself is a huge achievement, and marks a significant milestone in our journey of taking Happie Curves to the next level of phenomenal growth.”
“Our biggest achievement to date is the widespread acceptance and love received by the brand amongst the country’s plus-size women – for so many of whom Happie Curves’ comfortable and trendy bralettes and lingerie items have emerged as a game-changer. Going forward, we will endeavor to reach out with our inclusive and stylish offerings to the TAM entirely by scaling the brand, and in the long run, ultimately striving to make it the numero uno brand in India for the curvy-plus-size community. In the process of doing that, Happie Curves will continue to innovate constantly, and we will never cease to embrace and celebrate ‘curves’ as we attempt to expand into new forms of comfort clothing and athleisure shortly,” added Somani.
The notable hurdle in the Indian plus-size intimatewear market is the scarcity of sizes, as many existing brands tend to overlook the plus-size segment. Happie Curves is committed to bridging this gap by presenting stylish fits tailored for curvy individuals. The brand offers a diverse selection of intimate wear, beachwear, swimwear, and more – all crafted in India using high-quality fabrics.
Spearheading Happie Curves as a solo force, Sonal Somani has steered the brand towards heightened acceptance and success. Leveraging her expertise in finance and law, combined with her background as a digital marketer, she has played a pivotal role. Initially focusing on metro cities and tier-II cities, the startup has organically garnered acclaim in numerous smaller cities across India, signaling a positive trajectory for the brand’s expansion.