Avaana Capital Leads $1.2M Seed Round in High Time Foods

Avaana Capital, a venture capital fund backing deep-tech and frontier innovation, has led a $1.2 million seed round in High Time Foods, a food-tech startup making non-refrigerated, nutritious, and affordable plant-based protein. Existing investors also participated in the round.

The investment coincides with High Time Foods’ formal launch in India, where the company is setting up operations to meet rising protein demand and build a new-generation food brand rooted in local innovation. The fresh capital will fuel product development, talent acquisition, and deeper partnerships across India, the US, and high-growth markets in the Global South.

Before its entry into India, the startup scored a major milestone in the US by cracking distribution with Sysco, one of the world’s largest foodservice providers. The deal is a strong global endorsement of High Time’s product quality, operational efficiency, and potential to reshape protein supply chains at scale.

“With Avaana Capital backing us, my co-founder, Damian, and I are doubling down on our mission to deliver delicious and versatile plant based protein to our B2B partners—restaurants, hotels, caterers, institutions, and manufacturers—across India and beyond,” said Aakash Shah, Co-Founder & CEO of High Time Foods. “We’re launching at a very affordable price point, and as we scale, we’ll be cheaper than conventional protein, including meat. We aim to build from India the largest plant-based food company in the world - ensuring everyone everywhere can access quality protein.”

High Time Foods’ products are built for institutional kitchens and food manufacturing efficiency. Their product works as an ingredient that's packed with protein, doesn't require refrigeration, and can be used across popular Indian and global formats like samosas, kebabs, momos, and gravies. Their B2B-first solution has already unlocked partnerships with institutional kitchens, hotels, and food manufacturers nationwide. One of their early wins in India includes an upcoming launch with Vasantha Bhavan—a 65-year-old restaurant chain with 17 locations across Tamil Nadu and 4 international outlets.

With over 73% of India’s population falling short of the recommended daily protein intake, the company aims to bridge this gap with accessible, versatile products that work across cuisines and geographies.

“High Time Foods is tackling one of the most urgent gaps in food systems today—affordable, scalable protein,” said Shruti Srivastava, Investment Director at Avaana Capital. “Their shelf-stable innovation is built for real-world conditions, especially in markets where infrastructure can be a challenge. We're proud to support their journey to scale."

Founded by MBA classmates Aakash Shah and Damian Felchlin, High Time Foods combines on-ground foodservice experience with international food trade know-how. Aakash previously co-founded and exited a successful cloud kitchen venture and held leadership roles at Zomato. Damian is a former Swiss Trade Commissioner in the USA with deep experience in global food importing.