Viraj Shah (Distil)

Overview

Viraj Shah is an entrepreneur and the co-founder and Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Distil, a rapidly growing specialty chemicals company headquartered in Mumbai, India. Distil has gained attention for its innovative approach to manufacturing specialty chemicals utilizing an R&D-driven, asset-light model. Shah's leadership in Distil's development stands out for focusing on leveraging India’s underutilized manufacturing capacity to create globally competitive specialty chemicals for sectors such as paints and coatings, plastics, and construction materials.

Recent Developments

In recent years, Viraj Shah and his company, Distil, have achieved several notable milestones:

September 2025: Distil raised $7.7 million in a Series A funding round co-led by Jungle Ventures and CE-Ventures, bringing the total funding to $10.8 million. This funding aims to support R&D expansion, strengthen technical sales, and establish operations in new regions like the Middle East, North America, and Africa. The company plans to achieve revenue between $25 million to $30 million and reach profitability within 12 months.
June 2024: Distil secured $3.1 million in a seed funding round led by Jungle Ventures, marking it as the first investment in India under Jungle Ventures' First Cheque program. This fund was used to enhance Distil’s teams across sales, R&D, technical procurement, marketing, and technology development.
Over the past year, Distil has grown its annual revenue to $7 million, serving over 100 enterprise customers with a team of 19 scientists and engineers.

Personal Information

Attribute	Information
Full Name	Viraj Shah
Born	Not publicly disclosed
Nationality	Indian
Occupation	Entrepreneur, COO of Distil
Known For	Co-founding Distil, Specialty Chemicals
Education	Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay

Early Life and Education

Viraj Shah completed his higher education at the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, known for producing cutting-edge innovators and industry leaders. Though specific details about his early life and family background remain private, Shah’s educational background likely provided him with a solid foundation in technical and analytical skills which are vital to his role in Distil’s strategic and operational framework.

Career and Notable Achievements

Viraj Shah’s career trajectory has been notably marked by his pursuit of innovation and value creation in the specialty chemicals landscape:

Co-founder of Distil: Founded in 2023, Distil has introduced scalable solutions through a tech-enabled platform aimed at tackling inefficiencies in the specialty chemicals supply chain.
- Focus on an R&D-driven, asset-light framework to leverage existing underutilized manufacturing plants in India.
- Development of advanced specialty chemicals competing on quality with global leaders.
- Expansion into international markets such as the US, Middle East, and Africa.
Funding Milestones: Successfully raised significant capital, securing $10.8 million to date, accelerating R&D projects and international expansion plans for Distil.

Current Work and Impact

Currently, Viraj Shah continues to serve as the COO of Distil, where he is actively engaged in expanding the company’s market reach and enhancing its product offerings. The specialty chemicals sector is witnessing significant production shifts from China to India, and Shah’s work in Distil is positioned to capitalize on this trend by redesigning the chemicals value chain through innovation and strategic partnerships. Distil aims to set a benchmark for Indian innovation in the global market, with an ambitious target to become a trusted global partner by 2030.

Conclusion

Viraj Shah, through his visionary approach at Distil, is widely recognized as a pioneering force in the Indian specialty chemicals industry. His commitment to innovation and strategic leadership has allowed Distil to grow rapidly within an industry undergoing transformative change. As Viraj Shah and his partners continue their upward trajectory, their combined efforts are likely to have lasting impacts on the global specialty chemicals market and enhance India’s reputation as a hub of technological innovation and manufacturing excellence.