Optical Fiber Tools Startup Digital Striker Raises $1 Mn From Foxhog Ventures

Why It Matters

The capital infusion enables domestic manufacturing, reducing reliance on costly imports and strengthening India’s telecom supply chain. It also highlights growing VC confidence in niche hardware startups targeting infrastructure upgrades.

Key Takeaways

• $1M seed from Foxhog for manufacturing expansion.
• Plans to produce 5‑7 optical fiber tools locally.
• Over 450 resellers, Rs 8.85 crore turnover in 40 months.
• Funding allocates Rs 5‑6 crore to plant, talent, offices.
• Aims to reduce import reliance, boost Indian telecom supply chain.

Pulse Analysis

India’s telecom backbone is undergoing a rapid upgrade, with operators rolling out 5G services and expanding fiber‑to‑the‑home networks. This surge drives demand for high‑precision optical‑fiber tools such as strippers, cleavers and splicing machines, a segment traditionally dominated by imported equipment from Europe and the United States. The reliance on foreign suppliers adds cost, lead‑time and currency‑risk to projects, prompting domestic players to explore indigenous alternatives. In this environment, a home‑grown toolmaker can capture a sizable share of a market projected to grow double‑digit annually.

Digital Striker’s recent $1 million injection from Foxhog Ventures is earmarked for a modest manufacturing hub, talent acquisition and metro‑level offices. By allocating roughly Rs 5‑6 crore to plant setup, the startup can transition from pure import distribution to producing five to seven core products in‑house, beginning with fiber strippers and cleavers. Local production shortens delivery cycles, lowers unit costs and creates a feedback loop for rapid product iteration based on Indian field conditions. The remaining capital sustains import channels, ensuring continuity while the new facility ramps up, a balanced approach that mitigates cash‑flow risk during scale‑up.

The funding round also signals growing confidence among Indian VCs in niche hardware ventures that address telecom infrastructure gaps. As the country pushes for self‑reliance under the ‘Make in India’ agenda, startups like Digital Striker stand to benefit from policy incentives, tax breaks and preferential procurement for domestically produced equipment. If the company can scale its reseller network beyond the current 450 partners and maintain its Rs 8.85 crore turnover trajectory, it could emerge as a benchmark for other component manufacturers. Ultimately, localized optical‑fiber tooling may lower overall network rollout costs, accelerating broadband penetration across tier‑2 and tier‑3 cities.

Optical fiber tools startup Digital Striker raises $1 Mn from Foxhog Ventures

By Shashank Pathak · 05 Feb 2026 16:40 IST

Digital Striker has raised $1 million (around Rs 8.5 crore) in a funding round from Foxhog Ventures.

According to the startup, around Rs 5–6 crore from the funding will be deployed towards:

• setting up a manufacturing facility,

• hiring talent, and

• establishing offices in major metro cities.

The remaining capital will be used to continue import operations while local manufacturing is scaled up.

Founded in 2021 by Priyanka, Digital Striker operates in the optical‑fiber tools and equipment segment, supplying products such as fiber strippers, cleavers, visual fault locators, power meters, and splicing machines. The firm currently imports these tools and distributes them through a reseller network across India.

Digital Striker plans to begin local manufacturing with 5–7 products in the initial phase and gradually expand its portfolio.

The startup claims to have built a network of over 450 resellers and end customers across India. It reported a turnover of Rs 8.85 crore over the last 40 months while operating as a bootstrapped company.

The brand plans to scale its manufacturing operations over the next few years while expanding distribution across the country.

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