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1.5 Degree secures $1 million pre-series A funding to fuel institutional plant-based dairy growth
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Thursday, 05 February, 2026, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Our Bureau, New Delhi
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1.5 Degree, the plant-based dairy platform operated by Natturz Bio Kontrol Pvt Ltd, has successfully closed a $1.0 million Pre-Series A funding round led by 35North Venture’s India Discovery Fund-II, marking a key milestone in its growth journey.
The fresh capital will be deployed to scale up manufacturing, strengthen institutional partnerships, and accelerate geographic expansion into key Indian markets including Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore, Hyderabad, and Delhi — regions that together account for nearly 60 % of the country’s institutional food service demand.
35North India Discovery Fund-II is a SEBI-accredited alternative investment fund focused on early-stage opportunities, backing high-potential founders with execution excellence and deep sector insights. Its investment in 1.5 Degree underscores confidence in the company’s vision to build a new plant-based dairy category in India’s expansive ?18.9 trillion dairy market.
1.5 Degree operates with a B2B-first business model, targeting institutional food-service buyers such as corporate cafeterias, hotel chains, educational institutions, and large dining operations. Through strategic alliances with global food service providers like Compass Group and Sodexo, the company delivers a diverse product portfolio — from premium gelatos and frozen desserts to smoothie bowls and oat-milk-based beverages — tailored for efficiency, sustainability, and local palates.
Leveraging proprietary AI-enabled processing technology, 1.5 Degree has addressed longstanding taste-related challenges in plant-based dairy by deactivating lipoxygenase enzymes that cause off flavours. This innovation supports products with significantly lower greenhouse gas emissions (up to 72 %), reduced water usage (80 %), and zero cholesterol, without compromising taste — factors increasingly valued by institutional decision-makers prioritising ESG compliance, employee wellness, and operational cost effectiveness.
While the company remains focused on institutional clients, it is also expanding into the D2C segment through premium retail parlours and cloud kitchen partnerships across major cities.
According to Vedansh Goyal, co-founder & CEO, this funding milestone strengthens 1.5 Degree’s capabilities to lead the sustainable food transition in India by marrying technology and strategic B2B partnerships.
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