Bose, the consumer electronics giant, has recently made an undisclosed investment in Noise, a smart wearables brand based in Delhi, acquiring a minority stake in the direct-to-consumer (D2C) company. This marks Noise’s inaugural external funding, signaling the conclusion of its self-funded journey. According to Amit Khatri, Co-founder of Noise, this investment is part of a larger Series A funding round set to solidify shortly. Khatri mentioned, “Noise stands among the top three players globally, which naturally attracted significant investor interest.”
Khatri emphasized that despite the change in ownership structure, Noise remains unchanged in its business approach. “Our partnership with Bose goes beyond financial backing; it brings strategic advantages,” Khatri added. The collaboration is anticipated to facilitate Noise’s expansion into international markets by leveraging Bose’s global presence. However, specific regions were not disclosed.
Additionally, Khatri highlighted the strategic benefits of accessing Bose’s research and development (R&D) capabilities, citing that it will broaden Noise’s horizons. Bose’s involvement is expected to catalyze innovation in the audio space, reinforce research and design, and align with evolving consumer preferences in the Indian market, as announced by Noise on Monday.
Expressing excitement about the collaboration, Khatri stated, “Bose’s confidence in us validates our commitment to innovation, aimed at delivering cutting-edge technology for today’s consumers. Partnering with Bose, with its technical expertise and global experience, will enhance our capabilities and product offerings.”
Established in 1964, Bose specializes in premium audio products like headphones, speakers, and audio wearables. In contrast, Amit and Gaurav Khatri launched Noise as a tech accessory company in 2014, transitioning to smart wearables in 2018. Noise remained self-funded and profitable for nine years, experiencing a remarkable 126% revenue growth and a 7.35% profit increase in FY22. They are targeting a revenue of Rs 850 crore by FY23 and planning to diversify into eyewear while expanding their offline presence.
Nicholas Smith, Senior Vice President of Strategy and Business Development at Bose, expressed, “Investing in Noise was an obvious choice as we sought to reach more people with our technology benefits in India. Their wearables leadership and customer understanding present an opportunity to introduce new, distinct products to a growing market.”