Mumbai-based beverage startup Kathy's Beverages, which operates bubble tea and beverage brand Bobakat, has raised Rs 6 crore in a pre-Series A funding round.
The proceeds will be used for product innovation, team expansion, marketing, and offline expansion across India. Bobakat currently operates compact-format outlets across food courts and high streets.
Founded in 2024 by Dr Rupali Ambegaonkar and Sannjeev Rao, Bobakat offers bubble tea and other beverages targeted at urban consumers. The brand claims to have served more than 10 lakh consumers so far and is targeting Rs 100 crore in net sales value over the next 36 months.
According to the company, India's beverage market is expected to grow from $80 billion in 2025 to around $155 billion by 2035.
Dr Rupali Ambegaonkar previously founded Tea Culture of the World (TCW), a tea retail chain with over 200 stores across India. Rao has held leadership roles at companies including Future Group, Aditya Birla Retail, Landmark Dubai, Raymond, and Being Human.
Bobakat focuses on quality-led products, curated in-store experiences, audience-focused branding, and scalable store formats.
The startup plans to open 35 stores during FY27, followed by 50 stores each over the next two financial years. The expansion will cover metro cities as well as emerging urban markets.