PV Sindhu, a two-time Olympic medalist and prominent Indian athlete, will serve as an investor and brand ambassador for Hoop, signifying a significant move for Hoop as it aims to establish itself as India’s favorite wellness brand.
Hoop, founded by former McKinsey consultants Twinkle Uppal and Saharsh Agarwal, aims to modernize relief & recovery and integrate fitness into India’s lifestyle. The SRCC-IIM-ISB alumni couple identified unmet wellness needs in young India, such as muscle recovery, injury prevention, and pain relief from modern lifestyles. Hoop responds with natural products for pain relief, muscle recovery, and sleep support.
“Badminton demands peak physical performance. Prioritizing pain relief, muscle recovery and sleep is critical for athletes like myself. I tried Hoop products for months and was incredibly impressed with their value not just for athletes, but for any one who is focusing on living an active life. I’m thrilled to be partnering with Hoop on their mission to help India live active” Sindhu says when asked about her decision to partner with Hoop.
“We feel PV Sindhu is the perfect evangelist of our brand. She truly embodies the spirit of a champion and her story is one of tremendous grit. She is the first and only Indian to become the Badminton World Champion, only the second individual Indian athlete to win two consecutive medals at Olympics and one of the World’s Highest-Paid Female Athletes. Sindhu is not only the face of Indian sport, but also an immensely credible voice in fitness. With Olympics 2024 right around the corner, Hoop is incredibly proud of Sindhu’s trust in our brand ” added Saharsh Agarwal.
Before launching in October 2023, the co-founders spent 18+ months in R&D. Shortly after, they gained customers in 1000+ Indian cities, including remote areas like Lakshadweep, Kargil, Changlang, and Kanyakumari. Hoop is under Peak XV’s Spark Program with support from key angel investors like Rohit Kapoor, Abhinav Sinha, Naiyya Saggi, Suhail Sameer, Shantanu Deshpande, Kunal Suri, Saurabh Vashishtha, and Arjun Vaidya.
A recent Lancet study shows India ranking 12th for insufficient physical activity by WHO standards. The youth in India are shifting this trend, prioritizing wellness. Millennials and Gen Z are increasingly focused on health, with search interest up by over 40%. India’s consumer wellness market is valued at around $20 billion and growing steadily at 15% annually.
