Aukera Secures Rs. 90 Crore in Fresh Funding
Aukera, India's leading premium lab-grown diamond jewellery brand, has raised Rs. 90 crore (over USD 10 million) in a new funding round led by existing investor Alteria Capital, with participation from InnoVen Capital, Lighthouse Canton, and a leading bank. This round comes less than twelve months after the company closed a USD 15 million equity round led by Peak XV Partners, with backing from Fireside Ventures, Sparrow Capital, Prath Ventures, and Alteria Capital. The rapid back-to-back institutional capital reflects Aukera's strong growth trajectory and investor confidence.
Rapid Retail Expansion from 13 to 35 Stores
In the year since its last raise, Aukera has grown from 13 to 35 company-owned stores, expanding beyond Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Delhi NCR into cities including Pune, Lucknow, Dehradun, and Vizag. This marks one of the fastest retail scale-ups in Indian fine jewellery, establishing a genuinely national footprint. The fresh capital will fuel the next phase of this expansion.
Premium Lab-Grown Diamonds with Global Standards
Aukera occupies the premium end of India's lab-grown diamond market, offering diamonds of the highest grades certified to exacting global standards. The brand features original, in-house designs and trademarked cuts, backed by a design and craft organisation drawing global talent. Acclaimed actor Taapsee Pannu serves as the Face of the Brand. Aukera operates company-owned experience stores nationwide and backs every purchase with assured buyback and exchange, a guarantee that sets it apart.
Founders Emphasize Trust and Quality
"This category will not be won on discounting -- it will be won on trust, quality and brand," said Lisa Mukhedkar, Founder & CEO, Aukera. "This capital lets us take that promise to many more cities, faster."
"We believe this category will require the top player to invest at least Rs. 1,000 crore, as the mining industry resets to recognise the permanence of grown diamonds," said Kumar Saurabh, Co-founder, Aukera. "We are building the balance sheet and the business to be that player."
Plans for Accelerated Growth and Omnichannel Infrastructure
With the fresh capital, Aukera will accelerate store openings in new and existing markets, continue investing in design, product innovation, and talent, and strengthen the omnichannel infrastructure supporting its retail engine. Founded in 2023 by Lisa Mukhedkar and Kumar Saurabh, Aukera is backed by Peak XV Partners, Fireside Ventures, Sparrow Capital, Prath Ventures, and Alteria Capital, and is on track towards its stated ambition of becoming a Rs. 1,000 crore brand.
