Indian Sex-Tech Startup Sassiest raises Pre-Series led by IMbesharam’s co-founder Raj Armani

New Delhi: There’s new waves being made in the Indian sexual health start-up ecosystem. The newest of which is Sassiest - an innovative Indian sex-tech startup, which has recently found itself a new investor. And it’s none other than Raj Armani - Co-Founder & COO of IMbesharam. Raj has been a key figure in sexual wellness startups in recent years, and this strategic investment marks a significant leap in reshaping the conversation around sexual health and pleasure in India.

Sassiest has secured a substantial investment in the Pre-series, which is certain to embolden & enable the founding team in its foray of leading the new era of inclusive Sex-tech in India through the safe space of doctor-backed sexual wellness.

This sexual-health based start-up is a vision of Aishwarya Dua (CEO), Karishma Chavan (CBO) and Dr. Nikita Dound (CHO), whose combined expertise shapes the essence of the brand. Their leadership spearheads Sassiest’s comprehensive approach to sexual health and wellness.

Ms. Aishwarya Dua, Founder & CEO of Sassiest, emphasised, “In India, there exists a significant gap in awareness among women regarding avenues to address their sexual health and communicate their desires effectively, while recognizing the need for improvement in their relationship not only with their partners but also with themselves. Many are unaware of where & how to seek assistance. We, at Sassiest, see immense potential in technological advancements to bridge this gap, estimating an untapped market worth $5B awaiting innovative solutions.”

This investment by Raj Armani, who is also the Co-Founder & COO of IMbesharam, underscores a commitment to propelling innovation and growth in the sex-tech and wellness sectors. 

With his extensive decade-long experience in the industry, this collaboration represents a pivotal moment for Sassiest, positioning the brand for unprecedented growth and recognition. Raj stressed the significance of focusing on women to redefine India's sexual wellness landscape, shifting away from the historically male-centric approach adding that, “I believe 2024 will be the golden year for sex-tech in India, sexual wellness will take the forefront and have the same priority as physical and mental wellness in the coming days. The struggles we face today to normalize this aspect of our lives will make ‘living’ better, balanced and fulfilling for the next generations who may not have to overcome similar stigmas in societal perceptions and will be able to make sensible and better choices for themselves. This is the purpose why we together as a community are fighting today's demons for a brighter tomorrow. I believe women founders and leaders like Aishwarya, Karishma & Dr. Nikita in this ecosystem can deliver this message more holistically and organically than any brand, leader or voice. And for this purpose we have invested in the blossoming journey of Sassiest, so we can in part fuel their vision that this ‘trio’ is committed 100% to. Their success is the success of a 1.3B nation that is due its time in the sun and learns to separate taboo from fun.”

Dr. Nikita Dound, Co-founder & CHO at Sassiest, along with her growing team of in-house experts, highlighted a striking statistic, “With 80% of women facing some sort of sexual dysfunction, Sassiest Healthcare aims to change this narrative by not only creating awareness but also providing safe and non-judgemental support throughout. Currently, 90% of our consultations are initiated by women, reflecting a growing demand for holistic, inclusive and proactive solutions.”

Karishma Chavan, Co-Founder & CBO  mentioned, “Appearance of our products in the recent movie 'Thank You for Coming' is just the beginning. Our goal is to become a household name in the near future, contributing not only to the sexual wellness industry but also to cultural conversations around intimacy and well-being and this is just a start. there is a lot more to come."

Utkarsh Arora, Partner at Sassiest stated, “Sassiest is a perfect amalgamation of Need and Want, where pleasure meets health for our customers & the ecosystem. Bringing Raj from IMbersharam on board is an excellent step to get the decade-long insight and experience of the global pleasure products category for Sassiest to thrive! We Are Coming!”

Sassiest has emerged as a particularly bright beacon in the Indian sexual wellness & health domain, which is an industry that has firmly started finding its comfortable footing in the Indian markets. Their offerings include a diverse range of science backed pleasure, health & hygiene-focused products, complemented by guidance from experts such as gynecologists, sexologists, and relationship coaches, catering to women & lgbtq+ community aged 21 and beyond.

Recognising the societal influences shaping attitudes toward sexual wellness in India, Sassiest aims to be a trusted resource offering expert-led guidance and products.

This new found interest in the sexual wellness & health industry marks a certain amount of seriousness and confidence in its marketability, and possibly the maturity of the intended audience. At this point, Sassiest is planning to set new benchmarks and become a comprehensive solution provider in a segment that needs much attention and focus.