Escape Plan, a Bengaluru-based lifestyle startup, has raised $5 million in seed funding led by Jungle Ventures via First Cheque@Jungle and Fireside Ventures. Founded by Abhinav Pathak, previously founder of Perpule (acquired by Amazon in 2021) and Abhinav Zutshi, a veteran of Indian retail with experience at Big Bazaar, Best Seller Group, Forever 21 and Landmark Group. Escape Plan is building India’s first all-in-one platform for design-led and fashion-forward travel accessories.
“India’s travel and luggage market, currently valued at approximately $3.5 billion, is expected to surpass $5 billion by 2028. Our aim is to build a platform that offers curated, functional, and design-forward products for this rapidly growing consumer base and elevate the experience of people while travelling” said Abhinav Pathak, Founder & CEO of Escape Plan. As travel becomes a regular part of life for younger, urban Indians, both founders see an opportunity to move beyond the generic, utilitarian products that have long dominated the market and deliver travel gear that resonates with a new generation. “Travel is no longer occasional — it is an integral part of lifestyle across age groups and segments. Yet, the travel gear industry has not kept pace with this shift,” Pathak added.
The funding will be utilised to expand the company’s retail footprint, accelerate customer acquisition, and strengthen its quick-commerce integrations. Over the next 18-24 months, Escape Plan plans to launch over 100 offline stores across India. The company also plans to integrate with quick-commerce and travel discovery platforms to offer 1-hour delivery in key markets, addressing the growing need for last-minute travel solutions and gifting.
Driven by their shared passion for travel and firsthand experience of the gaps in the travel gear market, the founders, Abhinav Pathak and Abhinav Zutshi, identified the need for a modern, design-led brand built for evolving consumer expectations. Together, the two Abhinavs bring a rare balance of tech DNA and retail depth, building Escape Plan as a category-defining brand for urban travellers.
“Indian consumers today are exposed to global tastes but left with few local choices that reflect that sensibility. The founders bring hard-won lessons from retail and tech, and their approach to product, distribution, and customer experience is a genuine departure from the category’s legacy players. Escape Plan is addressing a clear whitespace in the Indian consumer market by creating a new category at the intersection of travel, lifestyle, and design,” said Rishab Malik, Partner, Seed Investments, at Jungle Ventures.
“Escape Plan is reimagining travel gear for a new generation of consumers who value design, identity, and instant access. With its sharp brand vision, omni-channel strategy, and strong founding team, we believe Escape Plan is poised to become a category-defining lifestyle brand with global relevance,” said Vinay Singh, Partner, Fireside Ventures.
Escape Plan integrates technology, design, and retail expertise to build an all-in-one platform for modern Indian travellers. It offers a curated multi-brand ecosystem of travel gear, including luggage, duffels, backpacks, slings, pouches, and modular accessories, combining style, function, and accessibility. Addressing a clear gap in the market, Escape Plan is focused on serving India’s growing base of mobile, design-conscious consumers. Its hybrid retail model spans physical stores, hyperlocal delivery, and shoppable experiences across the web and QR-enabled kiosks, with plans to scale across Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 cities.
About Escape Plan
Headquartered in Bengaluru, Escape Plan integrates technology, design, and retail expertise to build an all-in-one platform for modern Indian travellers. It offers a curated multi-brand ecosystem of travel accessories — including luggage, duffels, backpacks, slings, pouches, and modular organisers — tailored to the needs of India’s increasingly mobile and aspirational consumers.
Founded by Abhinav Pathak and Abhinav Zutshi, the company was born from their shared passion for travel and firsthand experience of the gaps in the travel gear market. Together, they bring a rare combination of tech and retail expertise, building Escape Plan as a category-defining brand for the new age of travel.
Escape Plan’s hybrid retail model blends physical stores with hyperlocal delivery and shoppable experiences across web and driving presence across Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 cities.
Escape Plan is backed by Jungle Ventures and Fireside Ventures.
