National, October 15, 2025 – Fragaria Fruits, a high-tech farming startup, has secured $2 million in seed funding and project finance to expand its mission of delivering premium, sustainably grown fruits across India. The round was led by WEH Ventures, with participation from Rainmatter, Spiral Ventures, and angel investors including Sashi Kumar, CEO of Akshayakalpa Organic.
Founders Bringing Global Expertise to India’s Fruit Industry
Founded in 2024 by Harish Varadharajan, Damian Lopez-Salazar, and Timothy Van Niekerk, Fragaria Fruits combines 25 years of agricultural experience across six countries. The startup aims to address a critical gap in India’s fruit ecosystem: despite being the world’s second-largest fruit producer, India struggles to provide premium-quality, consistent fruit year-round.
Fragaria’s flagship brand, Oh! Fruits, delivers European strawberries that are twice as sweet as typical Indian varieties and have a shelf life three times longer than conventional options.
Tackling India’s Fruit Quality Challenge
India produces 14.8 million tonnes of fruit annually, yet only a few crops like mangoes, pomegranates, papaya, and bananas meet global class-one standards. Consumers often face inconsistent quality, limited variety, and seasonal availability, leaving a significant market gap that Fragaria is set to bridge with its premium, sustainably grown fruits.
Scaling Premium Fruit Production with Technology
Using Controlled Environmental Agriculture (CEA) and vertical farming, Fragaria has developed a sustainable and scalable model to grow strawberries year-round. Its pilot farm in Chennai proved that world-class produce can thrive even in tropical climates, overcoming traditional seasonality challenges.
With the new funding, Fragaria plans to expand production in Bengaluru, increasing daily output from 2–3 kg to 120–150 kg, while extending its premium fruit portfolio to include blueberries and raspberries.
“This funding allows us to scale operations and reach a larger consumer base with consistently high-quality fruit,” said Timothy Van Niekerk, Co-founder of Fragaria Fruits. “It’s a key step toward building India’s most trusted and beloved fruit brand.”
Investor Perspective: Transforming India’s Fruit Supply Chain
Rohit Krishna, Partner at WEH Ventures, stated:
“Fragaria is solving a critical inefficiency in India’s fruit supply chain. Their blend of cutting-edge farming technology and sustainable practices is a game-changer for the premium fruit market. We’re excited to support their mission to provide fresh, year-round fruit without compromising on quality or sustainability.”
Commitment to Sustainability
Fragaria’s operations prioritize environmental sustainability, integrating water recycling systems, solar power, and strategies to minimize the environmental footprint while keeping premium produce affordable.
About Fragaria Fruits Pvt. Ltd.
Founded in 2024, Fragaria Fruits combines global expertise to redefine India’s fruit-eating experience. Its Oh! Fruits brand offers pesticide-free, climate-resilient European strawberries grown with advanced vertical farming technology, delivering superior taste and shelf life. The company continues to innovate in berry and specialty crop production to provide fresh, high-quality fruit year-round.
Website: www.thefragaria.com
About WEH Ventures
WEH Ventures is a seed-stage venture capital firm backing India-centric opportunities, often investing in overlooked or non-obvious ideas. Since 2017, it has invested in over 25 companies across fintech, consumer products, and digital media, including Smallcase, Jar, Pratilipi, MasterChow, AppsforBharat, and Animall.
Website: www.wehventures.com
