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Vikas Khanna invests in New York's Kolkata Chai Co
Khanna partnered with co-investor Jimmy Rizvi through the investment fund, which will also bring the expertise of the Bungalow Hospitality Management (BHM) team to Kolkata Chai Co
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Pranavi Sharma - Sun, 28, Jun 2026
- 03:52 EDT
- 104
Founded in 2018 by brothers Ani and Ayan Sanyal, Kolkata Chai Co was created to present South Asian tea culture beyond the popular association with / Instagram
Michelin-starred chef Vikas Khanna has invested in New York-based Kolkata Chai Co through the newly formed Bungalow Hospitality Investments fund, joining existing investor and comedian Hasan Minhaj as the Indian-origin tea brand plans to expand its retail presence.
Khanna partnered with co-investor Jimmy Rizvi through the investment fund, which will also bring the expertise of the Bungalow Hospitality Management (BHM) team to Kolkata Chai Co. The company said the partnership is intended to support its growth, including plans to expand into grocery stores and open more cafes.
Founded in 2018 by brothers Ani and Ayan Sanyal, Kolkata Chai Co was created to present South Asian tea culture beyond the popular association with "chai tea lattes." The founders, who grew up in the United States after their family left India in 1987, have said the brand draws inspiration from Kolkata's street tea culture.
Ani Sanyal, the company's co-founder and chief executive officer, previously founded Green Room Creative, a digital marketing agency that worked with brands including Instagram, Rowing Blazers and Saavn. He is also a TEDx speaker.
Ayan Sanyal, the company's co-founder and creative lead, oversees the menu and day-to-day operations of the cafe. Born in Massachusetts, he has said his inspiration came from Kolkata's street chai vendors.
According to the company's website, the concept behind the brand extends beyond tea itself. "There was a lore to street food. It was democratising, generational and spoke to all socio-economic levels."
Kolkata Chai Co began as a pop-up at New York farmers markets before opening a 60-square-foot cafe in the East Village.
The company previously attracted investment from comedian and actor Hasan Minhaj in September 2024, when he became its second-largest stakeholder. According to the report, Minhaj's involvement began after his wife gifted him one of the company's DIY chai kits. He later spent nine months working with the founders behind the scenes to help grow the business.
The investment followed the company's $1 million pre-seed funding round in 2022, backed by Gold House Ventures and Top Knot Ventures.
Announcing Khanna's investment, Kolkata Chai Co said on social media, "With him and the Bungalow Hospitality Management (BHM) team on our side, we're excited to share our flavours and products with more people across the globe...His ability to tell stories through food while shedding light on cultural and culinary nuances is reflective of his unrelenting passion to further Indian cuisine."
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