Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath has invested an estimated ₹4–5 crore in Cafe Amudham, a Bengaluru-based South Indian eatery chain now expanding across Delhi and Bengaluru. While the exact investment figure hasn’t been officially disclosed, sources from Indian Startup News suggest the amount falls within this range.
About Cafe Amudham
Founded in 2022 by Priyanka Rudrappa, Cafe Amudham has grown swiftly to operate eight outlets across two major cities. The chain is known for its traditional South Indian food and is positioning itself as a Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) brand with ambitious pan-India expansion plans.
While often compared to the popular Rameshwaram Cafe, insiders say Cafe Amudham follows a different strategy — focusing on rapid rollout of multiple outlets in different cities, much like fast-food giants such as McDonald’s.
Kamath’s Continued Interest in F&B
This isn’t Kamath’s first venture into the food and beverage space. He has previously backed brands like Subko Coffee Roasters, Third Wave Coffee, and Licious — an online platform for meat and seafood delivery. His investment in Cafe Amudham signals his ongoing interest in scalable consumer-facing food businesses.
Past Mentions of Rameshwaram Cafe
Interestingly, Kamath had earlier discussed the success of Rameshwaram Cafe on his podcast during a conversation with Udaan co-founder Sujeet Kumar. Kumar had revealed that each outlet of Rameshwaram Cafe generates around ₹4.5 crore in monthly revenue, adding up to ₹50 crore overall. Kamath had expressed curiosity about margins, which Kumar confirmed were healthy.
Cafe Amudham’s Expansion Strategy
Unlike Rameshwaram Cafe, which is often seen as a destination brand, Cafe Amudham aims to scale fast using a QSR approach. The current funding is expected to support multi-city expansion, bringing regional Indian cuisine to a wider market in a structured and replicable format.
Modernising Traditional Cuisine
Led by CEO Priyanka Rudrappa, the brand focuses on preserving authenticity while scaling operations. Kamath’s investment is expected to provide not just financial backing but also strategic input as Cafe Amudham enters its next growth phase.
