Fragaria Fruits, an Indian agri-tech company specializing in controlled-environment fruit cultivation, has raised $2 million in seed funding led by WEH Ventures, with participation from Rainmatter, Spiral Ventures, and angel investors including Shashi Kumar, CEO of Akshayakalpa Organic. The funding will support the scaling of operations in Bengaluru and the development of additional fruit lines, including blueberries and raspberries.
Co-founded in 2024 by Harish Varadharajan, Timothy van Niekerk, and Damian Lopez-Salazar, Fragaria developed its first indoor strawberry farm in Chennai to demonstrate that high-value crops could be grown locally under tropical conditions. "India falls short with the lack of domestic supply of high-quality agricultural produce, despite the cost advantages of producing here. So we took a stance and chose a difficult crop in a difficult climate. We piloted our thoughts, and within one year, we were able to successfully grow strawberries right here in Chennai."
© Fragaria Fruits
Timothy van Niekerk, Harish Varadharajan, and Damian Lopez-Salazar
Proof through cultivation
According to Varadharajan, skepticism from investors was part of the early journey. "Initially, when we pitched the idea to different VCs, the reactions were skeptical. I promised Tim and Damian that if we built a strawberry farm and went back to the same investors with a box of strawberries, the reactions would be very different. That's exactly what we did."
"We invested our own money, added some angel funding, and set up a 500-square-foot farm capable of producing three kilograms a day. In the last six months, we've sold to more than 200 customers across India, and the response has been incredible. We are now partnering with WEH Ventures to scale the farm to Bengaluru and to branch into new fruits within India's diverse fruit basket."
The Chennai pilot operates under the company's flagship label Oh! Fruits, growing European strawberry cultivars in a vertical system that combines hydroponics, LED lighting, and environmental control. The company reports a longer shelf life and improved sweetness compared to field-grown alternatives, achieved without pesticide inputs.
© WEH Ventures
Investment for category creation
For WEH Ventures, Fragaria represents a model of localized innovation. "At WEH Ventures, we're all about backing category-creating companies solving India-centric problems," says Gautam Ravi, part of the investment team at WEH Ventures. "We're super excited to announce our investment in Fragaria Fruits, a full-stack agri-tech company that aims to become a global leader in premium fruits."
Rohit Krishna, Partner at WEH Ventures, adds, "We believe Fragaria is addressing a critical inefficiency in India's fruit supply chain. Their model blends cutting-edge farming technology with sustainable practices, which is a game-changer for India's premium fruit market. We are supporting them in providing consumers with fresh, year-round fruit, without compromising on quality or sustainability."
© WEH Ventures
Gautam Ravi
Scaling sustainable fruit farming
Fragaria is now preparing to increase daily production from its initial output of 2 to 3 kilograms to 120 to 150 kilograms once its Bengaluru facility becomes operational. The company integrates solar energy and water recycling into its infrastructure to reduce environmental impact and ensure steady supply.
"This funding will allow us to scale our operations and reach a larger consumer base with consistently high-quality fruit," says van Niekerk. "It's a key step forward in our mission to build India's most trusted and beloved fruit brand, providing fresh, year-round produce to millions of people across the country."
© WEH Ventures
For more information:
Fragaria Fruits 
Harish Varadharajan, Co-Founder
+91 97899 11140
[email protected]
www.thefragaria.com
