Akshay Kumar, Karan Johar unveil Rs 100 crore fashion startup hunt as pitch to get rich returns bigger than ever

Following a successful debut season that helped emerging fashion brands unlock funding, mentorship, and accelerated growth, the Fashion Entrepreneur Fund (FEF) has officially opened registrations for Pitch To Get Rich Season 2, India’s first fashion-focused business reality show.

In a newly launched campaign, Akshay Kumar and Karan Johar, as promoters of FEF, announced a massive Rs 100 crore investment commitment for promising fashion businesses across India; marking a 150 per cent increase over Season 1 and making it one of the largest funding opportunities available to homegrown fashion entrepreneurs.

More than just a reality show, Pitch To Get Rich has emerged as a launchpad for fashion founders looking to scale their businesses through capital, mentorship, industry access, and strategic guidance.

Season 1 demonstrated the impact of FEF’s venture studio model, proving that fashion founders need more than just capital to scale. Through a combination of funding, mentorship, strategic guidance and industry access, participating brands achieved remarkable growth. Menswear label Banana Club crossed Rs 105 crore in net revenue. Love Kiki recorded 227.6 per cent revenue growth while expanding into more than 10 cities and securing international orders from Saudi Arabia. House of Armuse nearly tripled its average order value while expanding into menswear. DMO Dot scaled its presence across multiple retail outlets and international markets. Furthermore, Stylox more than doubled its retail footprint from 25 to 58 outlets across India.

These success stories highlight how FEF’s hands-on approach helps entrepreneurs build stronger, more scalable and future-ready fashion businesses.

Building on these success stories, Akshay Kumar, Ravi Jaipuria, Naveen Jindal, Karan Johar, Gaurav Dalmia, Sonali Dugar, Manju Yagnik and Chairman Vagish Pathak, are now inviting the next generation of fashion entrepreneurs to take their shot at building India’s next breakout fashion brand.

From apparel, footwear, accessories and couture to sustainable fashion, D2C brands and emerging lifestyle businesses, founders with scalable ideas and strong growth potential are encouraged to apply.

Commenting on the launch of Pitch To Get Rich Season 2, Akshay Kumar, Promoter & Investor, Fashion Entrepreneur Fund (FEF), said: “India’s fashion entrepreneurs have the talent and ambition to build world-class brands. Through Pitch To Get Rich, we’re creating opportunities for founders to access the capital, mentorship and support they need to scale. This Rs 100 crore commitment is our investment in the future of Indian fashion.”

Commenting on the announcement, Vagish Pathak, Chairman FEF & Sanjay Nigam, Founder, Fashion Entrepreneur Fund (FEF), said:

“India’s fashion industry is already worth over Rs 10 lakh crore, yet there remains a significant gap in access to capital, mentorship and growth opportunities for emerging brands. Through Pitch To Get Rich, we are building the platform we wish fashion entrepreneurs always had. Season 1 proved that when promising founders receive the right support, extraordinary outcomes follow. With Season 2, we are taking our biggest leap yet, committing Rs 100 crore to help discover and scale India’s next generation of fashion success stories. We are not just investing in brands; we are investing in the future of Indian fashion.”

With Rs 100 crore investments, higher stakes, and unparalleled access to investors, mentors and industry leaders, Pitch To Get Rich Season 2 is set to become the country’s most ambitious platform for fashion entrepreneurship.