Funding · Commerce & Consumer Brands

Ruskle secures funding from dLabs and angel investor

By Startup Enthusiast · 22 April 2026

What they do

Ruskle makes premium flavored rusks that are baked not fried and contain no maida or palm oil

The startup received investment from dLabs at ISB and an angel investor, with dLabs investing after the competition win

Founders faced tech-bias rejections in Bangalore but plan to expand into on-the-go snacking categories

Ruskle is a Bangalore-based startup producing premium rusk snacks for youth and experimental eaters.
The company secured investment from dLabs@Indian School of Business followed by an angel investor.
This funding comes after the founders won the Ten Minute Million competition at IIT Bombay.
The startup was initially self-funded through personal capital and sweat equity before external investment.
Founders noted they faced tech-bias rejections from investors despite operating in the food sector.
The market opportunity exists because big players have ignored innovation in the stagnant rusk market.
Ruskle plans to launch offline stores called Ruskle Bites to capture the on-the-go snacking category.
Future plans include introducing new flavors and investing in automation to scale production.

The startup addresses a gap where large competitors have failed to innovate in the traditional rusk segment.
Winning the Ten Minute Million competition provided validation and likely facilitated the initial investor interest.
Overcoming tech-bias rejections highlights the challenges for non-tech startups in finding early-stage capital.

Ruskle sells flavored rusks that are baked rather than fried to appeal to health-conscious consumers.
Products contain no maida (refined wheat flour) and no palm oil to differentiate from standard snacks.
The target audience includes youth and younger palates looking for experimental snack options.
Manufacturing is done in-house, allowing the company to control quality and production processes directly.
The brand uses the tagline It’s not Rusk, it’s Ruskle to establish a distinct identity.
Expansion strategy involves opening physical outlets named Ruskle Bites for direct consumer engagement.
The business model relies on scaling production through future automation investments to meet demand.

dLabs@Indian School of Business (lead) — Investment arm associated with the Indian School of Business in Hyderabad.
Angel Investor (co-lead) — Individual investor who invested after the dLabs round.