[Funding Alert] Nothing Before Coffee Bags $2.3M to Scale Cafe Chain in Tier-II and Tier-III Cities

Nothing Before Coffee (NBC), a fast-growing quick-service restaurant (QSR) coffee chain in India, has secured $2.3 million in a Pre-Series A funding round led by Prath Ventures, with additional participation from SYL Investments. The funding will support NBC’s expansion strategy with a focus on scaling in Tier-II and Tier-III cities, a market segment that remains underserved by premium café chains.

The brand has reported its best-ever fiscal year in 2025, which it attributes to a combination of new store launches, increased customer engagement, and product innovation. Founded in 2017 in Jaipur by Ankesh Jain, Anand Jain, Akshay Kedia, and Shubham Bhandari, NBC has grown to over 85 outlets across India.

“This funding milestone is a strong validation of our vision and operating model. At Nothing Before Coffee, we've built a brand that combines affordability, quality, and deep cultural resonance—especially in India’s Tier-II and Tier-III markets. With strong unit economics and consistent consumer love, we are now well-positioned to scale rapidly. The capital will help us deepen our presence, invest in technology and talent, and unlock the next phase of growth as we work towards becoming India’s most loved and accessible coffee chain,” said Ankesh Jain, Co-Founder of Nothing Before Coffee.

While global coffee brands have largely concentrated on Tier-I markets, NBC is expanding into regions that are often overlooked. Its product innovations, including localized beverages such as the ‘Shrappe’, are part of a strategy to offer culturally relevant offerings at accessible price points, aimed at young consumers.

“As a fund, we’ve long believed in the growing demand for coffee and vibrant café experiences across India — not just in metros, but well beyond Tier-l cities. In all our research, NBC consistently stood out for the vibrance in their cafés, the affordability of their pricing, and the quality of their offerings. What truly sealed the deal was the passion and drive of the founding team, which made this a compelling and exciting opportunity for us,” said Piyush Goenka, Founder of Prath Ventures.

NBC plans to use the fresh capital for several strategic initiatives, including:

• Expanding to 150+ stores by FY2026, with a priority on Tier-II and Tier-III cities
• Strengthening its digital platforms to improve customer engagement and retention
• Enhancing supply chain infrastructure and hiring talent to maintain consistency during scale-up
• Testing new retail formats, such as compact kiosks and premium cafes in smaller cities

“NBC has built strong brand recognition in a short time, and we wish them success in becoming India’s most loved coffee café brand,” said Shikha Toshniwal, Co-Founder and Investment Banking Head at Pareto Capital.

As India’s café market continues to evolve, NBC is positioning itself as a homegrown competitor with a model that blends affordability and local relevance, setting the stage for further disruption in the hospitality sector.