Pure sweetener startup The Candy Change has raised Rs 1.7 crore in a pre-seed funding spherical led by Rebalance, with participation from investors related to IAN Angel Fund.

The startup mentioned the raised capital can be used to develop its distribution community, launch new merchandise and strengthen its presence in India’s sugar alternate options market.

Based in 2024 by Manvi Agnihotri and Sheen Hitaishi, The Candy Change develops monk fruit-based sweeteners geared toward shoppers trying to cut back their sugar consumption.

The startup mentioned its merchandise are designed as alternate options to sugar and synthetic sweeteners. Its web site describes its powder product as utilizing monk fruit, prebiotic guar fibre and allulose, whereas its drops are made with monk fruit, water and vitamin C.

India’s sugar substitutes market was estimated at about $650 million in 2025, with demand supported by rising consciousness of diabetes, weight problems and metabolic well being.

“The Candy Change is constructing for a future the place lowering sugar turns into a default shopper selection quite than a medical advice,” Agnihotri mentioned.

“Our long-term ambition is to change into the default sugar alternative model throughout Indian households, cafés, foodservice, and packaged meals,” she mentioned.

It additionally mentioned month-to-month income rose from Rs 8 lakh to Rs 50 lakh after the launch of its sweetener drops in March 2026. The startup reported an 84% month-on-month compounded progress fee over the previous three months and gross margins of about 75%.

The Candy Change additionally mentioned it’s among the many top-selling sweetener manufacturers on Amazon India.

Commenting on the funding, Aishwarya Malhi and Vikas Kumar, co-founders of Rebalance, mentioned health-focused shopper companies had been gaining momentum.

“A few of the most fun shopper companies of the following decade will emerge on the intersection of well being and on a regular basis behaviour,” they mentioned.

“The Candy Change isn’t merely promoting a sweetener. It’s serving to shoppers make some of the necessary dietary shifts of their lives with out asking them to sacrifice the expertise they love,” they added.

Rebalance is an early-stage accelerator and angel group that invests in pre-seed and seed-stage startups. In response to its web site, it has made 30 investments, with 85% of its portfolio women-led.