Basil

Basil

Added on May 14, 2026

Harini Rajagopalan and Mahesh Muraleedharan noticed a gap that sounds obvious in hindsight: India had plenty of brands for babies and plenty for adults, but almost nothing designed specifically and thoughtfully for children aged four to twelve. The average lunchbox in that market sold for around Rs 400, was made of cheap plastic, and looked exactly like what it was. Basil entered at a higher price point with bento-style compartments, playful characters, and food-grade stainless steel construction.

The product development process sets them apart. The team gathers input not just from parents and kids but from the domestic helpers who clean the boxes daily. Real-world use shapes every design decision. The results show up in the reviews: a 4.7 star rating across nearly 1,500 customer reviews, with parents consistently praising the leak-proof build and kids responding to the designs. The honest caveat from Amazon reviews: some customers have reported paint peeling on certain products after a few weeks. It is worth noting and worth watching as the brand matures.

Basil reached Rs 36 crore ARR in under two years, serves 1.5 lakh families across 20,000 pincodes, and raised $2 million in pre-Series A funding led by Prime Venture Partners. They also turned down an electric lunchbox that could have doubled their revenue overnight because the primary buyer would have been office-goers, not kids. That kind of discipline at such an early stage is worth noting.

Best for: Parents of kids aged 4 to 12 who want school lunchboxes and essentials that children are actually excited to carry.

— D2C Bazaar

About this brand— in their own words

At Basil, imagination is a way of living. Shop our premium kids' school and lunchtime essentials designed to make every routine simpler, safer, and more magical.