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KiranaPro Brings On Arjun Vaidya as Investor and Mentor to Fuel Its Next Chapter

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KiranaPro Brings On Arjun Vaidya as Investor and Mentor to Fuel Its Next Chapter

KiranaPro, a fast-growing quick commerce startup that works closely with India’s neighborhood kirana stores and is fully connected to the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), has welcomed Arjun Vaidya onboard as both an investor and advisor. Vaidya, cofounder at V3 Ventures and a respected name in India’s D2C space, will now help steer the company as it scales up.

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Though the company hasn’t disclosed the size of the investment, it’s clear that Vaidya’s involvement goes beyond funding. He’ll be helping KiranaPro forge new alliances with D2C brands and strengthen its tech capabilities, especially around its AI offerings. Founder and CEO Deepak Ravindran called the partnership a big step forward.

“Arjun’s experience building a D2C brand from scratch and navigating India’s consumer market is unmatched. His belief in what we’re building energizes the whole team. With him in our corner, we’re looking to form powerful brand collaborations and take KiranaPro to the next level—transforming the local kirana ecosystem,” said Ravindran.

What’s KiranaPro all about?

Launched in 2024 by Ravindran and Dipankar Sarkar, KiranaPro is taking a grassroots approach to quick commerce. Rather than relying on warehouses and dark stores, the platform empowers small neighborhood shops with AI tools to improve their operations and serve customers better.

The company is betting big on scale, with plans to work with a million kirana stores and reach over 100 million customers by year’s end. It also offers flexible ways for store owners to generate revenue, aiming to make tech adoption as simple and rewarding as possible.

Vaidya, reflecting on the partnership, said he was excited to be part of something that could reshape retail at the ground level.

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“Kirana stores have always been at the heart of Indian retail. KiranaPro is giving them a modern edge without taking away what makes them special. Having seen firsthand how digital tools can change the game for consumer brands, I’m thrilled to support a company that’s helping these small shops thrive in a digital world,” he said.

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Tata Consumer Posts Rs 348.72 Cr Q4 Profit, Driven by Strong India Demand and Salt Price Hike

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Tata Consumer Posts Rs 348.72 Cr Q4 Profit, Driven by Strong India Demand and Salt Price Hike

Tata Consumer Products Ltd (TCPL), the consumer goods arm of the Tata Group, wrapped up the fourth quarter of FY25 on a high note, reporting a sharp 64% jump in consolidated net profit at ₹348.72 crore—up from ₹212.26 crore during the same period last year.

The growth came on the back of solid volume gains in its India business and strategic price hikes in key segments like salt, according to the company’s latest regulatory filing.

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Revenue from operations climbed to ₹4,608.22 crore, marking a healthy 17.3% increase compared to ₹3,926.94 crore in Q4 of the previous financial year.

Commenting on the performance, Group CFO Ashish Goenka noted that nearly every major business vertical contributed positively. “Tea, especially, has been a standout performer in the second half,” he shared in a conversation following the results announcement.

The India beverages division clocked in ₹2,936.72 crore in revenue—an 18.4% rise year-on-year—while the international business also delivered, growing 13.4% to ₹1,193.68 crore. The total branded portfolio, which includes popular household names across tea, coffee, bottled water, and packaged foods, brought in ₹4,130.40 crore—up 17% from last year.

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India’s foods business, excluding Capital Foods, grew a strong 27%. Salt alone was a key driver, with revenues growing 13% overall. The premium and specialty salt categories performed even better, surging 31%. The company confirmed it had implemented a price increase in the salt segment during the quarter.

As consumer demand in core segments continues to rise, TCPL seems to have hit a sweet spot—balancing volume growth with careful pricing moves, especially in a cost-conscious market.

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Fashion with Attitude: MyDesignation Secures $1.25M from Multiply Ventures & Others to Bring Expressive Style to the Masses

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Fashion with Attitude: MyDesignation Secures $1.25M from Multiply Ventures & Others to Bring Expressive Style to the Masses

Thiruvananthapuram-based MyDesignation has landed ₹10.7 crore (roughly $1.25 million) in seed funding to scale up its operations and make a stronger mark on India’s fast-evolving fashion scene. The round was led by Multiply Ventures, with contributions from Veltis Capital, Sattva Ventures, Dominor Investment Holdings, and Green Trunk Ventures.

Started in 2020 by Swaroop Krishnan and Gopika B Raj—who also happen to be husband and wife—MyDesignation has grown into a bold, youth-focused fashion label that blends quality craftsmanship with mass-market accessibility. The brand is rooted in the idea of “expressive fashion”—clothing that helps people wear their identity out loud, without breaking the bank.

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With this fresh capital, the company plans to boost its team strength, sharpen its tech stack, and push into physical retail while exploring new regions. A large part of the strategy also includes listening more closely to its audience—a 400,000-strong community on Instagram that’s known for actively shaping designs and giving real-time feedback.

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Visa2Fly Raises $2 Million from M Venture Partners, Flipkart Ventures & More to Fix the Most Broken Part of Travel: Visas

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Visa2Fly Raises $2 Million from M Venture Partners, Flipkart Ventures & More to Fix the Most Broken Part of Travel: Visas

Visa2Fly, a fast-growing player in the travel tech space, has locked in $2 million in seed funding to tackle one of the most stubborn pain points in international travel: the visa process. The round was led by Singapore-based M Venture Partners and drew additional support from Flipkart Ventures, FinSight Ventures, and Thinkuvate.

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Even as Indian travelers cross borders in record numbers—over 28 million headed abroad in 2024 alone—the visa application journey remains frustratingly stuck in the past. While booking flights and hotels can now be done in minutes, applying for a visa often feels like navigating a bureaucratic maze filled with delays, uncertainty, and endless paperwork.

Launched in 2022 by Vijayendra Bawa and Dhruv Kumar, Visa2Fly is trying to drag this outdated process into the modern age. The startup leverages smart automation, real-time status updates, and tight integrations with partner platforms to simplify how travelers get their visas.

Its growing list of collaborators includes names like ixigo, Acko, NiyoGlobal, SpiceJet, and WeGo—companies that now embed Visa2Fly’s solutions right into their ecosystems. With coverage for over 70 countries—from the UAE and Vietnam to the UK and much of Europe—Visa2Fly is aiming to make cross-border travel smoother from the moment you plan your trip.

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“Everything about travel has evolved, except visas. We’re still dealing with forms, embassy runs, and vague timelines,” said co-founder Vijayendra Bawa. “At Visa2Fly, we’re fixing the last broken piece of the travel puzzle.”

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Tummoc Raises $1.6 Million in Pre-Series A from Finvolve, India Accelerator & Others to Reinvent Urban Mobility in 22 Indian Cities

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Tummoc Raises $1.6 Million in Pre-Series A from Finvolve, India Accelerator & Others to Reinvent Urban Mobility in 22 Indian Cities

Tummoc, a homegrown transit-tech startup that holds a unique patent in the space, has secured fresh funding from Finvolve—a venture capital firm investing across stages—alongside support from India Accelerator.

This latest infusion of capital is part of Tummoc’s pre-Series A round, which has now brought its total funding to $1.6 million. The round has also seen participation from Inflection Point Ventures, The Chennai Angels, and a group of individual investors. The company says it will use the funds to strengthen its product capabilities and scale its tech infrastructure, with the goal of improving how commuters move from their starting point to their final destination.

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Currently live in 22 cities across India, Tummoc offers an all-in-one mobility app that allows users to plan, monitor, and book trips on public and private transport systems. The app includes features like live vehicle tracking, digital ticketing, and support for multi-leg journeys.

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Beyond consumer-facing tools, Tummoc also builds tech for transport authorities and operators, offering white-labeled apps, contactless payments, automated fare collection systems, and real-time transit data.

Ashish Bhatia, who co-founded both India Accelerator and Finvolve, shared, “We’re drawn to startups that tackle real urban issues with forward-thinking solutions. Tummoc is tapping into the massive opportunity of modernizing city transport, and we believe their vision fits well with the momentum in this space.”

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Kareena Kapoor Becomes Brand Ambassador for JP Infra: The Bollywood Star’s New Role in Transforming Mumbai’s Luxury Real Estate

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Kareena Kapoor Becomes Brand Ambassador for JP Infra: The Bollywood Star’s New Role in Transforming Mumbai’s Luxury Real Estate

JP Infra, a leading real estate developer in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), has joined hands with Bollywood superstar Kareena Kapoor as its new brand ambassador. This partnership marks a significant milestone for the company as it continues to set new benchmarks in luxury living and aims to elevate the real estate experience for modern consumers.

With a reputation built on innovative designs, sophisticated craftsmanship, and a commitment to sustainability, JP Infra has become synonymous with quality. The brand’s residential projects, known for their cutting-edge architecture and meticulous attention to detail, have become iconic landmarks in the region.

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Kareena Kapoor, with her impeccable elegance and timeless allure, is the perfect embodiment of JP Infra’s core values. Her collaboration with the brand further reinforces its dedication to offering premium, luxurious living spaces that cater to the aspirations of discerning buyers.

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Kareena shared her excitement about the partnership, stating, “I’m thrilled to collaborate with JP Infra, a brand that has continuously set new standards in the real estate industry. Their commitment to excellence and their vision for creating luxurious living spaces resonate deeply with me, and I’m excited to be a part of their journey.”

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Zippee Launches ‘Blaze’ to Deliver in 60 Minutes: Haldiram, Vaaree, Supertails Among Early Partners as Startup Expands Across India

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Zippee Launches ‘Blaze’ to Deliver in 60 Minutes: Haldiram, Vaaree, Supertails Among Early Partners as Startup Expands Across India

Zippee, a rising name in the quick commerce space, has rolled out a new service called Blaze, promising to deliver online marketplace orders in just 60 minutes. This move positions the 2021-founded startup as an early mover in high-speed logistics for e-commerce players across India.

Blaze is already live in Delhi NCR, Mumbai, and Bengaluru, and the company plans to take it to five more cities soon. It’s working closely with over 120 brands and marketplaces across diverse categories—from nutrition and fashion to home decor and pet care. Early adopters of the service include well-known names like Haldiram, Vaaree, Supertails, Mondelez India, and Clinikally.

What makes Zippee stand out is its dark store-first strategy and tight backend integration with brands, allowing them to fulfill orders not only faster but also more efficiently through their own digital storefronts. The company’s network already spans 13 cities, offering deliveries as fast as 60 minutes, as well as 2-hour and same-day options.

Continue Exploring: NONSTOP launches first flagship store in Mumbai, offering mobility and wellness solutions

In sectors where time is currency—think skincare, wellness, gifting, or food—Zippee is trying to take the pressure off both consumers and sellers by ensuring what you order is practically at your doorstep before you even refresh your tracking page.

The momentum has been backed by solid investor interest. So far, Zippee has secured $8.5 million in funding from a mix of institutional and high-profile individual investors. The list includes South Asia Technology Partners, Haldiram Snacks, and prominent angels like Kunal Shah, Ashneer Grover, Peyush Bansal, Raj Shamani, Tanmay Bhat, Arjun Vaidya, and Paramdeep Singh.

“We’re not just keeping up with how shopping habits are changing—we’re helping shape them,” said Umesh Kumar Agarwal, Whole-Time Director at Haldiram Snacks. “With Zippee, we’re able to get our products into customers’ hands in just an hour, without compromising on our standards.”

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In a world that’s moving faster by the day, Zippee is betting that logistics speed will become a core differentiator for brands—and Blaze is its answer to that ticking clock.

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Jaipuria Group Acquires ClearDekho: 100+ Stores, Rs 12.8 Cr Revenue, and a Bold Plan to Capture 10% of India’s Eyewear Market

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Jaipuria Group Acquires ClearDekho: 100+ Stores, Rs 12.8 Cr Revenue, and a Bold Plan to Capture 10% of India’s Eyewear Market

ClearDekho, the budget-friendly eyewear brand known for bringing affordable vision care to smaller Indian towns, has been fully acquired by the Jaipuria Group in a move that signals a bigger play in retail and healthcare by the conglomerate.

While ClearDekho will retain its branding and continue to run independently on the surface, the reins of day-to-day operations are now firmly in Jaipuria Group’s hands. Over the next two years, the original investors and founders are expected to step away entirely, making way for a full transition of ownership. The finer details of the acquisition haven’t been made public.

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Launched in 2017 by Shivi Singh, ClearDekho set out with a clear mission: offer accessible, affordable eyewear to India’s underserved towns and price-conscious consumers. The brand’s strategy—combining digital reach with a physical footprint through FOCO (franchise-owned, company-operated) stores—helped it gain ground quickly in a space largely dominated by higher-end players.

Today, ClearDekho operates over 100 stores across 50+ Indian cities and reports gross margins north of 65%. While FY24 revenues stood at Rs 12.8 crore and losses hit Rs 7.13 crore, the company still tripled its growth over the past three years. Its future ambitions are bold—hitting Rs 300 crore in revenue within the next three years and capturing a 10% share of India’s eyewear market in five to seven years.

From reading glasses to prescription lenses and even contact lenses and sunglasses, ClearDekho’s catalog is built around affordability—appealing to millions who’ve long been priced out of quality eye care. The Jaipuria Group, known for its diverse investments, may eventually fold ClearDekho into its wider portfolio if the brand proves scalable under new management.

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For now, ClearDekho remains a rare success story in value-driven retail—quietly rewriting the rules of who gets to see clearly and affordably in India.

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Nykaa Teams Up with Supergoop! to Revolutionize Sun Protection in India—Sunscreen Now Among Top 3 Beauty Searches on Platform

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Nykaa Teams Up with Supergoop! to Revolutionize Sun Protection in India—Sunscreen Now Among Top 3 Beauty Searches on Platform

Global sunscreen pioneer Supergoop! has officially stepped into the Indian market, teaming up exclusively with beauty and lifestyle powerhouse Nykaa to make its debut. The launch, announced on Tuesday, spans Nykaa’s full ecosystem—online at Nykaa.com, in Nykaa Luxe stores, and across select brick-and-mortar outlets.

Anchit Nayar, Executive Director and CEO of Nykaa Beauty, emphasized the growing demand for sun care in India. “Sunscreen has become one of the top three beauty search terms on our platform. There’s clearly a spike in awareness, but daily usage is still low. With Supergoop!’s skincare-first approach to SPF, we want to make sunscreen as natural and essential as brushing your teeth.”

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Supergoop! was started by Holly Thaggard nearly two decades ago, born from a vision to reframe sun protection not as a chore, but as an everyday wellness habit. “India is a country full of vibrancy, culture, and sunshine. It’s the perfect place to continue our mission,” Thaggard said. “This partnership with Nykaa is about making SPF second nature—something people reach for instinctively, like lip balm or moisturizer.”

Founded in 2012 by entrepreneur Falguni Nayar, Nykaa began as a digital-first beauty destination and has since grown into a full-fledged consumer-tech platform. With over 40 million users and more than 220 offline stores, Nykaa now also spans fashion, men’s grooming, and B2B commerce through its various platforms like Nykaa Fashion, Nykaa Man, and Nykaa Superstore. It has even ventured into the Middle East market under the banner Nysaa, extending its reach far beyond Indian borders.

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With Supergoop! now in its lineup, Nykaa is poised to boost India’s relationship with SPF, one innovative formula at a time.

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67% of Indians Trust Influencers Over Ads: Kantar Study Reveals Why Brands Need to Rethink Their Digital Playbook

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67% of Indians Trust Influencers Over Ads: Kantar Study Reveals Why Brands Need to Rethink Their Digital Playbook

Nearly seven out of ten Indian shoppers now lean more towards taking cues from influencers than they do from traditional ads, says a recent study by Kantar, a global insights and analytics firm.

The numbers paint a clear picture: 67% of consumers put more faith in what influencers recommend. Another 26% say they prefer influencer suggestions, but with a pinch of caution—they’re not blindly sold. This shift hints at a bigger change in how people connect with brands. It’s no longer just about loud, polished campaigns; audiences are seeking voices they can relate to and trust.

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Influencer marketing has found its stride in India, standing shoulder to shoulder with digital staples like ecommerce and online banner ads. According to the study, all three have seen an uptick in how favorably people view them. Since last year, ecommerce platforms have jumped 7 points in ad equity, online display ads climbed 6 points, and influencer content gained 5 points.

When it comes to swaying opinion, influencer posts pack a punch. They outperform traditional digital ads in several key areas: brand favorability (15% vs 12%), shaping brand personality (11% vs 9%), and nudging purchase decisions (10% vs 9%).

The real kicker? They work fast. Over half (57%) of influencer-led campaigns are likely to drive immediate purchases. While they may not always build brand love in the long haul, they sure know how to spark action in the moment.

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“It’s been eye-opening to see how differently influencer content moves people,” said Prasanna Kumar, Regional Creative Lead at Kantar Insights. “There’s a kind of simplicity and personal relevance that cuts through the noise. It doesn’t feel like advertising—it feels like a friend telling you what’s worth your time.”

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