Chinese Delivery Start-Up Noodle Play Found Its Angels. And $150k.

Mumbai-based Lollypop Foods Pvt. Ltd, the Chinese food delivery start-up that operates as Noodle Play, on Thursday said it has raised $150,000 (INR 1 Crore) from a group of angel investors.

A food venture by the leader of TFN (TiE Food Network) Mumbai, Hitesh Bhatia is Noodle Play’s founder and a serial entrepreneur who has successfully metamorphosed many ventures in HR and Technology by co-founding companies such as Think People Solutions Pvt.Ltd. (A pan India technology hiring business), Think People Cumulus HR Services Pvt.Ltd. (A cumulative modern hiring business), People Force Search & Selection Pvt.Ltd., Campus Yield Solutions Pvt. Ltd. and Team Force Global Pvt. Ltd.

Angelic Customers

The funding party includes Elliot Stechman (Managing director, EK Wireless – a startup that specializes in mobile data and portable data security devices), Gautam Sinha (Co-founder of ‘myfirstcheque’ – a seed fund that helps first-generation entrepreneurs by providing the initial investment, guidance, and mentorship) and Ambarish Ray (Director and Chief Operating Officer at Metal Communications).

Interestingly enough, these angels are also Noodle Play’s customers who took the phrase ‘put your money where your mouth is’ a tad too seriously! But on a serious note, the fact that customers invested such a whopper in the company speaks volumes about its product and service.

“Our commitment to quality and our product promise has strengthened tremendously—what better growth signs than our own customers willing to invest in a food start-up that they enjoy ordering from and believe in,” Bhatia said.

Proceeds to be used in expansion

Noodle Play, the company that was founded by Hitesh Bhatia in 2012, is looking to use the funds to open delivery outposts in over 50 Mumbai locations by 2016, improving back and front-end technology and expand to other metro and tier I cities.

“We intend to utilize funds raised to strengthen our backend and help in expansion across Mumbai,” says Hitesh. “Our commitment to quality and our product promise has strengthened tremendously – what better growth signs than our own customers willing to invest in a food (start-up) that they enjoy ordering from and believe in.”