The Journey of Sepal’s Co-Founder, Vidhey and Kashyap Addepally

Business Remedies | Rajshree Upadhyaya | August 05,2025 |  In India’s ever-evolving startup landscape, Sepal is not just a product innovation – it is a testament to how personal inconveniences can fuel groundbreaking ideas. At its core is the story of two brothers from Hyderabad, Vidhey and Kashyap Addepally, who reimagined two-wheeler mobility in India’s unpredictable weather.

Vidhi, a civil engineer from IIT Bombay, had his academic future secured with an offer from Stanford. Kashyap, trained in parametric design in the UK, was on the verge of a promising design career. Yet, both chose to step off the traditional path into the world of startups – triggered by a frustrating experience: cycling during Mumbai’s monsoon. What started as a simple canopy for bicycles evolved into Sepal-a robust, detachable, all-weather motorcycle canopy. Made not just for protection against rain, Sepal is crafted from high-grade optical polycarbonate and fiber-reinforced polymer-materials strong enough to withstand speeds of up to 120 km/h while remaining light enough for daily use. Its tool-free installation, RTO compliance, and sleek modular design make it universally compatible with almost all Indian motorcycles. What truly sets it apart is its tech integration. With a handlebar-mounted joystick and a connected app, Sepal allows riders to access turn-by-turn navigation, take calls, and control music-without taking their hands off the handlebars. It essentially transforms a traditional two-wheeler into a semi-smart vehicle.

Strategic Partnership and National Recognition
The founders took their vision to a national stage during Shark Tank India Season 2, where they asked for Rs. 50 lakhs for 1% equity, valuing Sepal at Rs. 50 crore. While most sharks backed out due to concerns over price, design appeal, and scalability, Peyush Bansal of Lenskart recognized deeper potential-not just in the physical product but also in the digital ecosystem the founders aimed to build. He offered Rs. 50 lakhs for 2% equity, halving the valuation, but the negotiations continued. The brothers eventually agreed, gaining not just capital but a strategic partner and national recognition.

At the time of their pitch, Sepal had only been in the market for seven months but had already sold over 1,000 units. Their monthly revenue had grown from Rs. 10 lakhs in June to Rs. 13 lakhs by August 2022. With an initial MRP of Rs. 10,000, the founders projected that large-scale manufacturing could bring production costs down to Rs. 5,000 per unit. The gross margin stood at around 37%, with an estimated net margin of 17%. Prior to Shark Tank, they had already raised Rs. 2.2 crores in seed funding at a valuation of Rs. 22.5 crore, further reinforcing investor confidence in their potential.

Global Shipping Begins
Post Shark Tank, momentum accelerated. Sepal expanded across 25 Indian states and began global shipping to markets like the US, UK, Africa, and the Middle East. Striking a balance between affordability and profitability, the product was repriced at Rs. 6,899. Meanwhile, the tech module was launched as a standalone product, bringing smart upgrades to any two-wheeler – part of a larger vision to build a connected mobility ecosystem.

The market’s response has been mixed. While some critics called it bulky or aesthetically awkward, regular users became loyal advocates. One Reddit user detailed how Sepal outperformed traditional raincoats and windshields during both monsoons and summers. Its RTO approval and highway-speed stability further validated the product’s design integrity. While online debates continue over wind resistance and potential safety risks in accidents, the company asserts that real-world usage and feedback continue to guide product refinement.

Bridging the Gap Between Car Comfort and Two-Wheeler Reach
Ultimately, Sepal represents a new dimension in affordable smart mobility. Its goal is to bridge the gap between the comfort of four-wheelers and the widespread reach of two-wheelers. Peyush Bansal’s investment reflected more than just belief in a product-it signified support for a movement towards rider-first innovation in one of the world’s largest two-wheeler markets.

Sepal’s journey is a case study in vision-driven resilience. It’s about two founders who transformed everyday discomfort into revolutionary innovation. By rejecting conventional success routes for meaningful impact, they redefined not just how India commutes by cycle and bike, but also opened the door to a broader conversation around comfort, safety, and intelligence in personal mobility.
Though Sepal was born from a monsoon problem, it is now taking on a much larger challenge.

Wriitten & Edited By:

Rajshree Upadhyaya