Escape Plan, a Bengaluru-based lifestyle startup, has raised $5 million in seed funding. Jungle Ventures led the round through its First Cheque@Jungle program, alongside Fireside Ventures. The company aims to revolutionize India’s travel gear landscape with its design-led, fashion-forward approach to travel accessories.
Escape Plan has ambitious plans. It wants to create India’s first all-in-one platform focused on travel products that combine style, function, and technology. With this fresh capital, the startup plans to scale rapidly. The team will expand their retail presence, drive customer acquisition, and strengthen quick-commerce capabilities.
Experienced Founders Driving a New Vision
Abhinav Pathak and Abhinav Zutshi co-founded Escape Plan. Pathak previously co-founded Perpule, a retail tech company that Amazon acquired in 2021. Zutshi brings deep domain expertise with years of experience at Big Bazaar, Bestseller Group, Forever 21, and Landmark Group. Together, they bring a powerful blend of startup agility and retail know-how.
Pathak, who also serves as CEO, envisions a category-defining brand. “India’s travel and luggage market, valued at around $3.5 billion today, is on track to cross $5 billion by 2028. We want to build a platform that offers curated, functional, and design-forward products for this fast-evolving market. Our goal is to elevate the experience of travel for every Indian,” he said.
He pointed out that travel has shifted from being occasional to becoming a part of modern lifestyle. Despite this change, the travel gear industry has not evolved. “Consumers want global quality and aesthetics, but the Indian market offers few local options that match those standards,” Pathak added.
Backers See Clear White Space in Market
Investors have recognized the gap Escape Plan addresses. Rishab Malik, Partner at Jungle Ventures, said the brand stands out because of its differentiated approach. “The founders bring critical insights from both tech and retail. Their focus on product, distribution, and customer experience offers a sharp contrast to legacy players in this category. Escape Plan fills a clear whitespace by merging travel, lifestyle, and design.”
Vinay Singh, Partner at Fireside Ventures, also expressed confidence in the startup’s vision. “Escape Plan is reimagining travel gear for a generation that values design, identity, and speed. Their omni-channel strategy and strong leadership position them to become a globally relevant lifestyle brand.”
Growth Plans Backed by Fresh Capital
Escape Plan has outlined an aggressive growth roadmap. Over the next 18 to 24 months, the startup will launch more than 100 offline stores across India. These outlets will target Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 cities to capture the growing appetite for premium yet accessible travel accessories.
To meet modern consumer demands, Escape Plan will also integrate with quick-commerce platforms. The team plans to offer 1-hour delivery in major cities. This strategy aims to serve customers needing last-minute travel gear or seeking unique gifting options.
The startup will also partner with travel discovery platforms. These collaborations will place Escape Plan’s products closer to customers planning getaways or business trips. The move aligns with the brand’s mission to position travel as a lifestyle, not just a rare event.
Product and Retail Innovation at the Core
Escape Plan does not see itself as just a luggage company. It’s building a lifestyle platform that blends fashion, utility, and technology. The product lineup includes luggage, duffels, backpacks, slings, pouches, and modular accessories. All items reflect a design-forward aesthetic that appeals to modern, style-conscious consumers.
The company also brings innovation to the retail experience. Its hybrid model combines physical stores, web-based shopping, hyperlocal delivery, and QR-enabled kiosks. Consumers can shop seamlessly, whether they’re at an airport, mall, or simply browsing online. This model ensures Escape Plan reaches consumers wherever they are, whenever they want.
Unlike traditional luggage brands that rely on seasonal discounts and offline sales, Escape Plan focuses on creating immersive and instant shopping experiences. Its kiosks, for instance, will allow travellers to buy on the go. The startup has also optimized its website for mobile-first discovery, knowing that many shoppers make spontaneous decisions on their phones.
Tapping into India’s Evolving Travel Culture
India’s travel habits have undergone a fundamental shift. Business travel has picked up post-pandemic, and leisure travel has surged, driven by a young, aspirational middle class. Social media, influencer culture, and global exposure have made Indian consumers more aware of design, functionality, and brand identity.
Escape Plan is tapping into this cultural shift. It recognizes that consumers today view luggage and travel accessories as extensions of their personal style. People no longer settle for dull, black suitcases. They want colors, shapes, and functionality that reflect who they are.
The company also understands that time is a premium. With its quick-delivery promise, Escape Plan addresses urgent travel needs—whether someone forgets a pouch before a flight or needs a last-minute gift before a trip.
The Bigger Picture: A Global Lifestyle Brand
While Escape Plan’s current focus lies in India, the company sees global potential. The founding team has built Escape Plan with international benchmarks in mind. The products meet the quality expectations of global markets, and the brand identity reflects cosmopolitan sensibilities.
The startup is laying the foundation to eventually enter markets in Southeast Asia and the Middle East, where similar demographic and travel trends are unfolding. Its scalable retail and logistics infrastructure will support future international expansion.
The team has also built modularity into its supply chain. This approach allows the company to respond to trends quickly and optimize inventory across physical and digital touchpoints. The ability to stay agile, both in product design and fulfillment, will play a critical role as the company scales.
Conclusion
Escape Plan is not just another luggage company—it is a lifestyle brand in the making. With seasoned founders, strong investor backing, and a clear understanding of evolving consumer behavior, the company is poised to disrupt India’s $3.5 billion travel gear market.
The startup will use its $5 million seed round to create immersive retail experiences, bring quick-delivery solutions to the travel accessory space, and scale its design-first product offerings. By merging fashion, utility, and technology, Escape Plan is setting a new standard for how Indians—and eventually global consumers—gear up for travel.
As the world redefines what it means to travel, Escape Plan is ensuring that consumers travel not just prepared, but in style.
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