Hocco Cofounder Ankit Chona’s Healthy Snacking Brand Phab Raises $2 Mn in Seed Funding Led by OTP Ventures
Phab, the direct-to-consumer (D2C) healthy snacking brand founded by Hocco ice cream cofounder Ankit Chona and his wife Gayatri Chona, has secured $2 million (approx. INR 17 crore) in a seed funding round led by OTP Ventures. This fresh infusion of capital marks a significant milestone for the brand as it gears up for its next phase of growth in India’s booming health and wellness food segment.
Founded in 2018, Phab was born out of the Chonas’ shared passion for nutrition, health, and innovation. The husband-wife duo brings complementary expertise to the table—Ankit Chona, with over a decade of experience in the food and restaurant industry, and Gayatri Chona, a certified nutritionist with deep insights into dietary science and consumer health needs. Together, they built Phab with the vision of creating tasty yet nutritious food products that cater to India’s growing population of health-conscious consumers.
Phab currently offers a curated range of protein bars, healthy milkshakes, and functional snacks, all crafted with clean ingredients and zero added sugar or preservatives. With the D2C model at its core, the brand has quickly gained popularity for delivering convenient, on-the-go nutrition without compromising on taste or quality.
According to the company, the newly raised funds will be strategically deployed to expand the team, enhance operations, and scale both online and offline distribution channels. The brand aims to increase its visibility across modern trade outlets, supermarkets, fitness centers, and also boost its footprint on major e-commerce platforms such as Amazon, Flipkart, and its own D2C website.
“We are thrilled to have OTP Ventures as a partner in our journey,” said Ankit Chona, cofounder of Phab. “This investment will allow us to not only expand our product range and team but also strengthen our presence across India. The rising demand for healthy snacking options presents a huge opportunity, and we are committed to being a trusted brand in this space.”
India’s health food sector has witnessed a surge in recent years, with urban consumers becoming increasingly mindful of their dietary habits. The post-pandemic shift toward immunity, fitness, and nutrition has further fueled interest in clean-label, high-protein, and functional snacks. Phab is well-positioned to capitalize on this trend, with a clear focus on ingredient transparency, taste innovation, and science-backed nutrition.
The D2C space in India continues to thrive, with startups across food, fashion, and beauty drawing investor interest thanks to their agility, data-driven marketing, and customer-centric strategies. With its fresh capital and strong leadership team, Phab joins a growing league of new-age Indian consumer brands ready to disrupt traditional food norms.
As the healthy snacking trend continues to rise, Phab’s vision of blending nutrition with indulgence could very well help it carve a lasting niche in the evolving Indian food landscape.
Keywords: Phab funding, Ankit Chona, Gayatri Chona, healthy snacks India, D2C food startup, OTP Ventures investment, protein bars India, Phab milkshakes, Indian health food brand, seed funding news
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