NORI Secures Early Funding to Redefine Women’s Travel Experience

Bengaluru-based travel gear startup NORI has raised $350,000 in a pre-seed funding round led by Rebalance, with participation from Vijay Shekhar Sharma through his investment arm VSS Investco, along with several angel investors from the consumer and e-commerce ecosystem.

The newly raised capital will help NORI expand its product portfolio, strengthen its branding efforts, and accelerate growth across both online and offline retail channels. The startup is positioning itself as a modern travel gear company designed specifically around the needs and travel habits of women.

Building Travel Products Specifically for Women

Founded in 2025 by Meenakshi Vyas and Rashika Nayak, NORI focuses on creating thoughtfully designed travel products tailored for women rather than adapting traditionally gender-neutral luggage designs.

Before launching NORI, Meenakshi Vyas held leadership roles at major retail and e-commerce companies including Myntra, PharmEasy, and Reliance Retail. Meanwhile, Rashika Nayak brings extensive expertise in product design, having designed more than 800 bags throughout her career.

According to the founders, women approach travel differently in terms of packing priorities, organisation, and convenience. NORI aims to solve these overlooked challenges through practical and ergonomic product innovation.

Product Portfolio and Market Traction

NORI currently offers a range of travel essentials including luggage, handbags, packing cubes, and travel organisers. Its organisers category was among the first products introduced in the market and played a key role in attracting early customers.

The startup recently launched its flagship product, the Carry On Wheelie,  a cabin-sized trolley bag designed around women’s actual travel and packing habits. The product focuses on better organisation, lightweight ergonomics, and a feminine design aesthetic rather than conventional unisex styling.

The company claims to have already served more than 4,000 customers and is currently moving toward an annual revenue run-rate of nearly Rs 2 crore, indicating growing demand in the premium travel accessories segment.

Investors See Strong Potential in Women-Focused Consumer Brands

Investors believe the women-first travel category remains largely underserved despite the growing number of independent female travellers in India. Rebalance founders Aishwarya Malhi and Vikas Kumar stated that traditional luggage brands have largely relied on incremental improvements instead of fundamentally redesigning products around women’s real-world travel experiences.

With rising mobility, solo travel, and work-related travel among women, NORI aims to build a category-defining brand in India’s evolving lifestyle and travel market.

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