Inc42 Media

Meet the top 10 fastest growing D2C brands in India (as featured in Fast42 2025 - D2C edition) 🚀 India’s D2C market has rapidly evolved from its early days in 2013-14 into a burgeoning sector, projected to reach a $300 Bn market size by 2030. With D2C brands now integral to people’s everyday choices – from personal care to food and beverages – their influence is unmistakable. While major D2C names often capture the spotlight, numerous brands across India are revolutionising consumer habits with their innovative approaches. These brands are not only challenging established ecommerce giants and traditional brands but are also setting new standards in brand building and customer experience. At Inc42, we have been at the forefront of recognising these trailblazers. Let’s take a look👇 #d2cbrands #d2c #startups

After years in the US, Nihaal M. returned to India and saw a major gap in the health supplement market—lack of credibility and science-backed solutions. In 2020, he launched Setu Nutrition, a brand focused on ‘beauty from within’, offering research-backed supplements for skincare, ageing, mental well-being, and more. With 6X revenue growth in FY24, Setu has carved a niche with its bestseller, Skin Renew, and is scaling fast across Amazon, Nykaa, Flipkart, and more. Now aiming for INR 100 Cr revenue by 2026, Setu is leading India’s wellness revolution and got featured in FAST42 by Inc42. To read the in-depth article, click here: https://4-2.co/4hxxOPQ #startups #FAST42 #Inc42 #growth #revenue

Global investment management firm Vanguard Group bought 7.13 Lakh shares of auto-classifieds platform CarTrade via bulk deals yesterday👇 As per NSE data, Vanguard acquired the shares at INR 1,804 per apiece. The complete purchase was worth INR 128.77 Cr. Of these 7.13 Lakh shares, Vanguard Emerging Markets Stock Index Fund bought 3.3 Lakh shares and Vanguard Group Inc AC Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund acquired 3.83 lakh shares. This is the first instance of Vanguard acquiring a stake in the company. To read the in-depth article, click here: https://4-2.co/41WwGzE #news #CarTrade #shares

Paisabazaar’s revenue model has undergone a significant transformation over the past few years, shifting its focus across different streams of income. While online marketing and consulting income once dominated its revenue, recent trends indicate a sharp decline in this segment. At the same time, commission-based earnings have surged, emerging as the primary driver of growth. #PaisaBazaar #PBFintech #StartupEcosystem #Revenue #StartupGrowth #Inc42

Indian startups only managed to raise $109.2 Mn between March 17 and 22, a decline of 75% from $428.8 Mn raised by startups last week👇 However, the number of startups which raised capital saw an upturn this week. As against 14 startups that raised funding last week, 18 deals materialised this week. Meanwhile, this week also saw a host of fresh fund launches, acquisitions of multiple startups or substantial stakes in certain new-age tech companies, and certain entities in the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem taking the next step to becoming a public entity. Key Startup Funding Highlights Of The Week: 🔸Fintech continued to reign as investors’ favourite sector during the week, with Nivara Home Finance and Navadhan cumulatively raising $40.8 Mn. 🔸Meanwhile, ecommerce saw the highest number of deals materialise this week. Six startups in the segment netted $28.7 Mn this week. 🔸Five seed stage startups netted $5.2 Mn this week, a decline of 48% from $10.1 Mn netted by four startups at this stage last week. 🔸Inflection Point Ventures was the most active investor this week, investing in OTT player STAGE and D2C startup My Pahadi Dukan. #startups #funding #startupecosystem #growth #Marketing #strategy #India #Inc42 #d2c #brands #ecommerce 

Regional over-the-top (OTT) platform STAGE has raised $12.5 Mn (around INR 107.5 Cr) as a part of its Series B funding round co-led by Goodwater Capital and Blume Ventures.👇 The funding comprised $10 Mn in primary capital and $2.5 Mn in secondary capital, the company said in a statement. STAGE plans to deploy the fresh proceeds to expand content offerings into Awadhi, Maithili and Magahi languages. Additionally, it aims to experiment with live sports, devotional and kids contents. Founded in 2019 by Vinay Singhal, Shashank Vaishnav and Praveen Singhal, STAGE offers web series, films and short films in Haryanvi and Rajasthani languages and dialects. To read the in-depth article, click here: https://4-2.co/4hBlTR3 #news #OTT #funding

Built on the vision of blending fashion and functionality, Haus & Kinder is redefining home & baby essentials for modern Indian families. Founded by Saket Dhankar & Kanupriya Anand, this D2C brand has scaled rapidly, achieving 2.2X revenue growth from INR 30.25 Cr in FY23 to INR 65.9 Cr in FY24👇 With expansion into quick commerce, global markets, and offline retail, Haus & Kinder is set to hit INR 100 Cr in FY25 and INR 250 Cr by 2026. Sustainability, celebrity collaborations, and premium collections are all part of its ambitious roadmap. Proudly featured in FAST42 by Inc42—celebrating the fastest-growing D2C brands shaping India’s $300 Bn opportunity! To read the in-depth article, click here: https://4-2.co/41SAXEd #Fast42 #Inc42 #D2C #HausAndKinder #Startup #India #Ecommerce

In an exclusive conversation with Inc42, Dr. Dhruv Galgotia shares how Galgotias University is embracing change and empowering students to become future entrepreneurs in India’s ₹5.8 Lakh Cr higher education market 👇 Vineet Mittal didn’t just dream—he built Biopractify while still pursuing his medical biotechnology degree at Galgotias University. His journey is proof that entrepreneurship isn’t limited to IITs and IIMs—private universities are catching up fast, fostering young innovators who are shaping India’s startup future. With support from GIC RISE, Galgotias University’s incubation unit, Vineet is transforming biotech education through skill development, virtual labs, and interactive workshops. And he’s not alone—many student-led ventures are emerging, backed by a new learning ecosystem that blends hands-on experience with cutting-edge education. To read the detailed interview, click here: https://4-2.co/4heUeVR #Startups #India #Entrepreneurship #HigherEducation #GalgotiasUniversity #Innovation #Inc42

After years in the US, Gaurav Manchanda saw how ultra-processed foods had taken over everyday diets. When he returned to India, he found the same trend—supermarkets packed with snacks full of refined flour, palm oil, and synthetic preservatives, while truly clean and nutritious options were rare. Determined to change this, he launched WellBe Foods in 2020 under the Nimida Group, bringing wholesome, additive-free alternatives to Indian households. From snacks and breakfast options to cold-pressed oils and staples, WellBe is making clean eating both delicious and accessible. With a 133% revenue growth from INR 3 Cr in FY23 to INR 7 Cr in FY24, an expanding retail presence, and 40 new snacks launching soon, the brand is just getting started! Featured in FAST42 2025 by Inc42, WellBe Foods is leading the clean food revolution. With over 20 Lakh+ products sold, the Bengaluru-based startup is now eyeing INR 10 Cr revenue in FY25 while scaling its quick commerce and D2C presence. To read the in-depth article, click here: https://4-2.co/41SXHnt #Fast42 #WellBeFoods #CleanEating #D2C #Startups #HealthyLiving #Inc42

The Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) has joined hands with Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi to build a generative artificial intelligence (GenAI)-powered chatbot for disaster warning and emergency communication👇 In a statement, C-DOT, the research and development (R&D) wing of Department of Telecommunications (DoT), said that the proposed platform will provide real-time multilingual assistance to disaster managers, first responders, and impacted communities. The platform will also boast AI-driven decision support systems, emergency call routing, and multilingual voice recognition to enable efficient communication during emergencies. To read the in-depth article, click here: https://4-2.co/4itae8e #news #IIT #GenAI