ONWO

ONWO is a tech-enabled B2B marketplace transforming India’s food export value chain. The company provides a curated digital platform where global businesses can reliably discover, transact, and fulfill orders for high-quality commodity and packaged food products sourced from verified Indian manufacturers. ONWO’s full-stack, asset-light model offers end-to-end solutions—including contract manufacturing, private labeling, quality assurance, and cross-border logistics—serving markets . 

Key Milestones

• Raised $1.6 million in a seed round (February 2023) led by Kae Capital, with participation from Whiteboard Capital, 2am VC, and prominent angels.

• Achieved 10,000+ metric tonnes of food exports to 15+ countries within six months of launch.

• Partnered with 50+ verified Indian manufacturers, focusing on sweeteners, spices, and ready-to-eat products.

Core Products and Services

• Curated Marketplace: Digital platform for global buyers to discover and transact with Indian manufacturers of processed foods (e.g., sweeteners, spices, snacks).

• Contract Manufacturing & Private Labeling: End-to-end solutions for customized product development, including formulation, packaging, and branding.

• Quality Assurance & Compliance: Third-party certifications, lab testing, and regulatory support for international standards (FDA, FSSAI, etc.).

• Logistics & Fulfillment: Integrated shipping, customs clearance, and real-time tracking across air and sea freight.

• Brown Sugar Cubes: Natural cane sugar with molasses retention for cafes and hotels.

• Demerara Sugar: Coarse-textured, gourmet-grade for baking and beverages.

• Icing Sugar: Anti-caking, finely ground for confectionery.

Business Model & Revenue Streams

• Transaction Fees (60%): 3–5% commission on order value processed through the platform.

• Contract Manufacturing Margins (30%): Markup on private-label production.

• Value-Added Services (10%): Quality audits, logistics, and custom packaging.

Geographic Mix

• Middle East (40%): UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar.

• North America (30%): US, Canada.

• Other (30%): Europe, Southeast Asia.

Customer Segmentation

• B2B (100%): SMEs and enterprises in food retail, hospitality, and wholesale.

• Enterprise vs. SMB: 70% mid-market buyers, 30% large corporates.

Top Clients & Partnerships

• US & Canadian Retailers: Bulk buyers of customized sweeteners and snacks.

• Middle Eastern Distributors: Major clients for private-label spices and ready-to-eat products.

• Kae Capital: Lead investor providing growth capital and market access.

• Logistics Providers: Integrated partners for cost-effective cross-border shipping.

• Certification Agencies: Collaborations for quality compliance (e.g., ISO, Halal).

Future Outlook & Strategic Priorities

• Product Expansion: Launching plant-based snacks and organic staples to capitalize on global health trends.

• Market Penetration: Targeting Europe (Germany, France) and Southeast Asia (Singapore, Malaysia) through localized sales teams.

• Tech Enhancements: AI-driven demand forecasting and blockchain for supply chain transparency (reflecting ESG priorities).

• Regulatory Hurdles: Evolving food safety norms in the EU and North America.

• Currency Volatility: INR-USD fluctuations impacting exporter margins.

• Supply Chain Bottlenecks: Port congestion and rising freight costs.