Singapore flatbread machine maker raises $11.5m

The company was set up in 2008 by product designer Pranoti Nagarkar out of her personal frustrations with making rotis - a type of whole-wheat unleavened Indian flatbreads. The Rotimatic, Zimplistic's flagship product, claims to be the world's first full automatic flatbread maker. The company uses a patented technology to mix the correct ratio of flour and water, making one roti per minute.

According to a release, when the company launched last year it completed $5 million in sales within the first week. It now claims to have a waiting list amounting to over $72 million and over 5,000 distribution partnership requests.

Zimplistic will use the investment to accelerate manufacturing, for working capital and to set up operations in international markets. Hian Goh of NSI Ventures and RBVC's Jan Westerhues will join Zimplistic's board of directors.

"Zimplistic is a rare combination of a project with huge revenue potential and also social impact by increasing the productivity of millions of men and women around the world who still make flatbreads by hand," said Goh. "We are proud to be able to support such an innovative hardware company and look forward to helping make Rotimatic a global bestseller."

NSI, which affiliated to private equity firm Northstar Group, focuses on Series A and B investments in Southeast Asia-based technology companies. It has completed nine deals, including restaurant reservations platform Chope, online grocery retailer Redmart, big data company Crayon Data, online travel agent Oway, and Indonesia motorcycle transportation courier service Go-Jek.

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• Topics
• Technology
• Consumer
• Early-stage
• Technology
• Consumer
• Singapore
• NSI Ventures