Rohan Mirchandani, co-founder of Epigamia, passed away on the night of December 21, according to four people who confirmed the news to Moneycontrol. The entrepreneur, in his early forties, reportedly succumbed to a heart attack, the sources said.
Mirchandani, a graduate of NYU Stern and Wharton School started up Drums Food International in 2013. Drums Food is the parent of Epigamia, a new age FMCG brand and among India’s most prominent Greek yogurt brands.
"All of us at the Epigamia family will deeply mourn this loss. Rohan was our mentor, friend, and leader. We remain steadfast in our determination to carry forward his dream with strength and vigor. Rohan’s vision and values will continue to guide us as we work together to honor the foundation he built and ensure that his dream continues to flourish," a Drums Food spokesperson said.
Mirchandani has previously said that as a student in business school, he had attended a lecture in Mumbai on consumer brands and the lack of innovation in FMCG, a eureka moment for him to start up.
Epigamia became popular in top cities as more consumers gravitated to its flavoured Greek yogurt offerings.
"Rohan was not only a visionary leader but also an inspiration to everyone who had the privilege of knowing him. His unwavering commitment, boundless energy, and deep passion for Epigamia have left an indelible mark on all of us. We will work closely with the leadership of the company to take Rohan’s legacy to greater heights,” a joint statement by the company's board said.
During his absence, the present leadership will continue to manage the business. "The senior leadership of Epigamia, led by Ankur Goel (COO & Founding Member) and Uday Thakker (Cofounder & Director), continues to steer the company’s day-to-day operations with the full support of the Board of Directors, including Rohan’s family, Raj Mirchandani, Verlinvest, and DSG Consumer Partners," the spokesperson added.
Mirchandani’s unfortunate demise follows that of other startup industry executives in recent times.
Rohan Malhotra, the co-founder and managing partner of early-stage venture capital firm, Good Capital, passed away on October 1 this year.
Ambareesh Murty, the 51-year-old co-founder of online furniture store Pepperfry, died of a cardiac arrest during a biking trip in Leh in August 2023.
Change of guard
Belgian investor Verlinvest, is one of the largest external shareholders in Epigamia, which is also backed by French dairy major Danone and Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone.
Rohan Mirchandani moved into the role of executive chairman in December 2023, with co-founder Rahul Jain taking on the role of co-founder and CEO. Ankur Goel, the founding member of Epigamia, who was overseeing the company's supply chain and business intelligence functions, was elevated to the post of COO.
In recent interviews, Mirchandani spoke about betting big on the quick commerce channel, with plans to grow revenue to 250 crore in FY25.
A TASTE OF EPIGAMIA
Mumbai-based Epigamia is present in segments ranging from yogurt, curd, and beverages to milkshakes, smoothies and kheer. Epigamia in its original form began as Hoki Poki ice cream and then pivoted to a yogurt brand, as ice-cream business was a more seasonal business.
According to reports, the brand is retailed across 20,000 touchpoints in more than 30 towns as of December 2023. It was planning a foray into the Middle East by 2025-26. It clocked sales of Rs 168 crore in FY23.
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