From handcrafted essentials to green buildings, Amwoodo is building a bamboo-powered ecosystem that’s sustainable, scalable, and increasingly global
India’s Bamboo Moment: A Market Ripe for Disruption
India is the world’s second-largest bamboo producer, yet it accounts for less than 1% of global bamboo exports. In contrast, China dominates with over 65% share, thanks to machinery tailored to its native Moso bamboo.
Amwoodo, a Kolkata-based startup, is rewriting this imbalance. Its founders — Agni Mitra, Sourav Dey, and Avijit Rajak — saw a missed opportunity and decided to build machines compatible with Indian bamboo species like Tunda and Balcooa. That became the foundation for a sustainable, scalable bamboo ecosystem rooted in India’s natural resources and skilled labor.
From Ideation to Impact: Building a Local Bamboo Economy
Founded in 2019, Amwoodo’s initial ambition was to export bamboo goods to Europe. But COVID disruptions pushed the company to focus first on strengthening domestic supply chains.
- Set up factories in Kolkata’s Dankuni and Rajarhat
- Trained farmers and artisans from scratch in Northeast India, West Bengal, Jharkhand
- Developed a “micro-factory” model for localised, low-waste processing
Today, the company supports 1,500+ individuals, including 700 farmers and 700 artisans.
“In 2019, farmers earned INR 10–12K/month. Today, many earn INR 50–55K,” says cofounder Mitra.
How Amwoodo Went From B2B to Global D2C
Amwoodo began with a B2B focus, supplying bamboo toothbrushes, razors, and amenities to luxury hotel chains like Taj, Hilton, and ITC. As India’s single-use plastic ban gained traction, hospitality players sought eco-friendly alternatives — and Amwoodo became a go-to partner.
It also contract-manufactured for brands like:
- Himalaya
- Bombay Shaving Company
- The Man Company
- The Souled Store
“Our factory tours and grassroots impact stories often converted curiosity into long-term B2B deals,” says Mitra.
The D2C Expansion: Ecoconscious and Beyond
As the business matured, Amwoodo launched its D2C platform, Ecoconscious, housing three in-house brands:
- ImeCo: Lifestyle products (tissues, bottles, cutlery)
- ShaveCo: Sustainable shaving tools
- Dencrus: Bamboo oral care
It now sells on 18+ marketplaces, including Amazon, Flipkart, Zepto, and Blinkit, generating INR 1.5 Cr/month from D2C and targeting INR 20 Cr in FY26.
New brands in the pipeline include:
- Good Habit (eco-friendly tissues for HoReCa)
- Conscious Story (sustainable gifting)
Platforms like Blinkit are driving most D2C sales in metros like Kolkata, Bengaluru, Delhi, and Mumbai.
Global Growth & Green Building Play
Amwoodo is also scaling its international presence, currently exporting to:
- UAE
- Canada
- UK
- Germany
- Slovakia
- Singapore
Exports contributed 15% of FY25 revenue, with expansion plans for USA, Malaysia, and APAC in progress.
Simultaneously, Amwoodo is targeting green infrastructure via B2G partnerships, working with:
- SAIL (Steel Authority of India)
- West Bengal Government
“We’re going big in green building materials — flooring, cladding, ceilings — especially with our upcoming Karnataka plant,” says Mitra.
Funding and Financials: From Bootstrapped to Backed
In 2023, Amwoodo secured $1 Mn from Rainmatter, marking its first institutional support. In September 2025, it closed a $4 Mn pre-Series A round led by Rainmatter, Adventz Group, Thinkuvate, and Caspian.
This funding is aimed at:
- Scaling production to meet growing domestic and export demand
- Strengthening Ecoconscious and launching new brands
- Setting up a Karnataka-based factory focused on building materials
Financial Snapshot:
- FY23–24 Revenue: INR 22 Cr
- FY24–25 Revenue: INR 52 Cr
- FY25–26 Projection: INR 100–103 Cr
- Maintains EBITDA and PAT positivity, with 90% of revenue still from B2B
A Grassroots Approach to Sustainable Scale
Amwoodo isn’t just building a business — it’s fostering an ecosystem. Through 17 FPOs and 11 APOs, it supplies machinery, builds processing capacity, and supports entrepreneurial development at the village level.
- Setup cost per FPO/APO: INR 5–8 Lakh
- Monthly revenue potential: INR 1–2 Lakh
- Factory-level investment: INR 1–3 Cr
By developing master farmers and artisans, Amwoodo ensures local ownership, skill-building, and a resilient supply chain.
