D2C footwear brand CHK secures $2.5 Mn

Direct−to−consumer (D2C) footwear startup CHK has raised 2.5 million in a funding round from Accel, jewelry retailer Bluestone, and other investors.

Previously, in November 2024, Bluestone invested approximately Rs 12 crore (about $1.3 million) in the company.

According to a press release from CHK, the newly raised funds will be used to boost production and enhance research and development (R&D) initiatives in preparation for its public launch in April.

Co-founded in October 2024 by Sankar Bora, Deepan Babu, Bharat Mahajan, and Deepak Patil, CHK specializes in designing, manufacturing, and selling footwear. The company’s "concept to creation" model allows it to oversee the entire production process, with a focus on developing innovative footwear in the premium and mass-premium segments.

Sankar Bora, who earlier co-founded DealShare, departed from the company in November 2023.

CHK operates a manufacturing facility in Tamil Nadu and intends to begin sales through its dedicated D2C website before venturing into offline retail channels. Currently, the company employs around 25 people across Bengaluru and Tamil Nadu, with plans to expand its workforce to 100 by April.

The Indian government has mandated that all shoe brand factories obtain certification from the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). This regulation has encouraged many Indian companies to either manage design and manufacturing in-house or depend on domestic production capabilities. CHK has applied for BIS certification and anticipates receiving approval by April.

CHK is targeting an average price point of around Rs 4,500 for its products.