FRAAZO

Fraazo operated as a direct-to-consumer (D2C) company in India's quick commerce sector, specializing in the delivery of fresh fruits and vegetables. Founded in 2016 by Atul Kumar, Vikas Dosala, Sumit Rai, and Aashish Krishnatre, the Mumbai-based startup aimed to streamline the produce supply chain. The founders, alumni of various IITs and IIMs, launched the venture after identifying inefficiencies in the traditional "mandi" system. Atul Kumar, previously a co-founder of edtech startup Edupristine, was motivated by the personal challenge of sourcing hygienic produce for his family.

The company's business model was built on a farm-to-fork principle, sourcing produce directly from a network of farmers and delivering it to consumers. This integrated supply chain was designed to reduce food wastage and ensure freshness, with a promise of delivery within 12 hours of harvest. Fraazo distinguished itself by pioneering the use of 'dark stores'—micro-fulfillment centers located in dense residential areas—for its fruits and vegetable segment in India, which facilitated rapid delivery. Revenue was generated from the direct sale of this produce to urban households through its mobile application. At its peak, the company served several major cities, including Mumbai, Hyderabad, Pune, Bengaluru, and the Delhi-NCR region.

Fraazo secured significant venture capital, raising a total of $68.2 million over five funding rounds. Its most substantial round was a $50 million Series B in October 2021, led by WestBridge Capital, with participation from existing investors like Sixth Sense Ventures and Equanimity Investments. This capital was intended to fuel a major expansion, with plans to establish over 500 dark stores across 15 cities and reach 10 million monthly orders. However, by mid-2022, the company faced significant operational and financial challenges amid a funding crunch. It proceeded to lay off over 150 employees, shut down numerous dark stores, and cease operations in several cities, including the entire Delhi-NCR region. By August 2022, reports indicated that Fraazo had halted operations in all cities except for a scaled-down presence in Mumbai and was seeking a merger or acquisition.

Keywords: Fraazo, quick commerce, fresh produce delivery, farm-to-fork, D2C grocery, dark stores, online vegetables, Indian agritech, Atul Kumar, WestBridge Capital, Sixth Sense Ventures, Mumbai startup, hyperlocal delivery, grocery supply chain, last-mile delivery, online grocery India, Vnf Ideas, vegetable delivery app, fruit delivery service, direct from farm