What started as a YouTube recipe channel is now cooking up serious business. Chennai-based food startup Cookd has just raised a sizzling Rs 16 crore in a pre-Series
What started as a YouTube recipe channel is now cooking up serious business.
Chennai-based food startup Cookd has just raised a sizzling Rs 16 crore in a pre-Series A round — and the company is now gearing up for a bold expansion across South India. From creating viral recipe videos to launching preservative-free food products, Cookd is fast becoming South India’s hottest culinary brand — both online and on the shelves.
The fresh funding round, led by Spring Marketing Capital, with participation from Eternal Capital, Sun Icon Ventures, and PeerCheque, is set to fuel Cookd’s journey from content creator to consumer brand powerhouse.
So what makes Cookd more than just another D2C food startup? Let’s dig in.
Founded in 2020, Cookd is the brainchild of Aathitiyan V.S., who spotted a gap in the way food content and products were being consumed. The idea was simple but powerful:
Create authentic, drool-worthy content around everyday Indian cooking — and use that content to build trust, community, and a market for high-quality packaged food products.
And it worked.
Today, Cookd commands a massive digital audience of over 6 million followers across platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook. Their monthly video views? A jaw-dropping 150 million+ — the kind of reach most food brands can only dream of.
But Cookd isn’t just a social media darling. It has turned that content-first playbook into a scalable product business.
At its core, Cookd blends chef-driven content with clean-label cooking products — creating a feedback loop that’s both innovative and effective.
Here’s what Cookd sells:
These aren’t your typical off-the-shelf masalas. Each product is born out of community feedback gathered through their content platforms. If a video does well, Cookd listens. If followers request a product, Cookd builds it.
That’s consumer-led innovation at its finest.
With this latest funding round, Cookd is now eyeing a bigger bite of the Southern market — starting with Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Andhra Pradesh.
“We will be using the funds to expand our presence in the Tamil Nadu market. We will also enter the Kerala and Andhra Pradesh markets. A lot of people watch our videos in these two markets and there has been good demand,” says Aathitiyan V.S.
It’s a natural move — Cookd’s fan base in these regions is massive, and the brand’s focus on authenticity resonates with South Indian food lovers who crave regional depth and clean ingredients.
Expect to see Cookd’s products in:
In a world where D2C food startups struggle to differentiate, Cookd stands out. And investors are taking notice.
Here’s what makes the brand investor-worthy:
No ad-spend driven vanity metrics here. Cookd’s audience is real, engaged, and loyal. That’s gold in the content-commerce world.
Every Cookd product is tested, refined, and validated through actual user feedback before hitting the market.
India’s packaged food segment — especially the clean-label and regional cooking category — is booming. Consumers want convenience without compromising on taste or health.
While most brands go pan-India too soon, Cookd is playing it smart — going deep, not wide in South India first, where they already have cultural and culinary resonance.
Cookd is part of a rising wave of creator-led consumer brands in India — where YouTubers, chefs, and influencers aren’t just content machines, but business builders.
In Cookd’s case, their entire product strategy stems from what their audience watches, loves, and cooks at home. Instead of guessing what customers want, they let data from videos and comments drive every major product decision.
Think of it as the Netflix of food brands — powered by content, built for conversion.
No startup journey is complete without a few speed bumps, and Cookd knows it.
Scaling operations in new states means logistics, supply chain management, and brand awareness challenges. And competing with legacy players like MTR, Eastern, and Aachi won’t be easy.
But Cookd’s direct connection with its consumers, lean content engine, and focus on quality and transparency give it an edge.
Plus, with Rs 16 crore in the bank and a loyal fanbase to back them, the timing couldn’t be better.
According to the company, the new funds will be used for:
Cookd is also exploring international shipping, starting with high-NRI demand regions like the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and the U.S.
That’s right — Cookd biryani kits might soon land in kitchens from Chennai to Chicago.
Cookd is more than just a startup. It’s a content-powered community that’s reshaping how Indian households cook.
It proves that the next generation of food brands won’t be built in labs or boardrooms — they’ll be built on YouTube, in comment sections, and in conversations around dinner tables.
So whether you’re a spice lover, a biryani purist, or just someone who watches cooking reels at 2 AM — Cookd is coming to a kitchen near you. And this time, it’s backed with serious funding firepower.
