Franchising

Fast Casual Indian brand lands funding

Provided

March 8, 2022

Rasa, a fast casual Indian chain founded in 2017, has completed its first round of funding led by a female-founded growth equity firm, Rellevant Partners. The monetary amount was not disclosed.

The funds will go toward opening locations in Washington, D.C., adding technology and growing the Rasa team, according to a company press release.

"Since we started Rasa, our primary goal has been to use food as a vehicle for connecting our communities," said co-founder Shil Rahman, who created the brand with his childhood best friend, Rahul Vinod. Their fathers, both first-generation immigrants, have run two well-known Indian restaurants in Washington and Maryland for the past 30 years.

"It's been incredible to see so many wake up to the wonders of Indian cuisine," Rahman said. "We are honored to have the support of the top-notch team at Rellevant Partners as we move into our next chapter as a company and continue pursuing this mission."

The company's ethos is heavily rooted in supporting its local community, providing over 75,000 meals to people in need to date. Since the start of the pandemic, the company has raised over $70,000 in collaboration with the Vernon Davis Foundation and partnered with numerous non-profits including Jose Andres' World Central Kitchen, Off Their Plate, Real Food for Kids, and Feed the Fridge, resulting in the contribution of thousands of meals to medical workers, school children, and elderly communities.

Rasa has three locations with a fourth opening this year.

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