Journey of Rocca’s Founders, Sonal Bahilani and Yash Pandey

Business Remedies | Rajshree Upadhyaya | Driven by passion, Sonal Bahilani and Yash Pandey started a new-age chocolate business and established their own identity. In 2019, they founded Rocca, launching bold flavors and textured confectionery. It became a brand that encouraged people to rethink premium Indian chocolate. Rocca began as an internet-first indulgence brand and was incubated at the RBU Startup Center. The duo experimented with caramel and crunchy brittle filled with high-quality nuts to create a product completely different from a conventional chocolate bar. Their early months were spent perfecting recipes, strengthening supply partnerships, and learning to package a premium experience that could travel well for gifting and direct-to-consumer fulfillment.

Focus on Premium Ingredients and Unique Texture
When the founders began experimenting with handcrafted brittles and gourmet chocolates, it later became Rocca’s signature identity. By blending Indian-inspired flavors with global techniques, they built a loyal customer base that appreciated innovation in every bite. Their focus on premium ingredients and unique textures helped Rocca stand out in an already crowded confectionery market where most brands stuck to traditional molds of chocolate-making. By the time they appeared on the Shark Tank India stage, they had built a small but promising brand ready to scale. Their pitch aimed to take gourmet brittle chocolate mainstream while retaining handcrafted luxury appeal. The sharks praised the taste, branding and presentation, but were equally keen on financials-how scalable the business was, what margins they maintained, and whether India’s premium chocolate market was ready for such innovation.

Investment and Exposure Helped Boost Production and Marketing
After detailed discussions, the founders secured investment from Ritesh Agarwal, who believed in their vision and product potential. He offered Rs. 30 lakhs for 2.5% equity and an additional Rs. 30 lakhs loan at 9% interest. This deal provided a mix of financial support and strategic mentorship-helping the brand retain major ownership while benefiting from Ritesh’s experience in growing youth-focused consumer ventures.
The investment and exposure from the show gave Rocca the required push to expand production and marketing. The brand soon diversified into new flavors, enhanced packaging, and strengthened its presence on e-commerce platforms and social media. It also positioned festive gifting as a major sales channel-presenting chocolate not just as a sweet but as a luxurious celebration experience.

Expanding Presence Across India
Today, Rocca continues to operate and expand its presence across India. Its online store is active and the brand maintains a strong social media presence that highlights continuous activity, innovation and new product launches. What began as an experiment-combining brittle with chocolate-has turned into a successful journey of craftsmanship, resilience and flavor. Rocca’s story isn’t just about indulgence; it’s about reshaping how Indian consumers perceive premium chocolate. It proves that when passion meets purpose, something truly special can be created.