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Tag: 📄Company Profiles

  • Devyani International – India’s Largest Network of Quick-Service Restaurant Operator

    Company Profile is an initiative by StartupTalky to publish verified information on different startups and organizations. The content in this post has been approved by Devyani International.

    RJ Corp, the Indian billionaire Ravi Jaipuria’s company, owns Devyani International, which was founded in 1991. Jaipuria’s net worth is $3.5 billion, and he named the company after his daughter.

    KFC and Pizza Hut franchises account for the majority of Devyani International’s revenue. Despite the once-in-a-century epidemic, these two franchises have helped the company grow.

    Devyani International – Company Highlights

    Startup Name Devyani International Limited
    Parent Company RJ Corp
    Headquarters Gurgaon, Haryana.
    Industry Food and Beverages, Restaurants and Cafes
    Founders Ravi Kant Jaipuria
    Founded 1991
    Website www.dil-rjcorp.com

    Devyani International – Latest News
    About Devyani International and How it Works
    Devyani International – Name, Logo and Tagline
    Devyani International – Mission and Vision
    Devyani International – Founders and History
    Devyani International – Revenue and Growth
    Devyani International – Awards and Recognitions
    Devyani International – Competitors
    Devyani International – Challenges Faced
    Devyani International – Future Plans
    Devyani International – FAQs

    Devyani International – Latest News

    As of May 2021, Devyani International, the world’s largest franchisee operator of global restaurant franchises Pizza Hut, KFC, and Costa Coffee, has filed for an initial public offering (IPO) to generate close to INR 1,400 crore, joining the QSR IPO craze.

    The offer, according to DRHP, includes a fresh issuance of INR 400 crore and an Offer of Sale of up to 125.33 million equity shares by Investor Selling Shareholder Dunearn Investments (Mauritus) Pte. Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Temasek Holdings, and Promoter Selling Shareholders RJ Corp Ltd.

    About Devyani International and How it Works

    Devyani International Limited, an associate company of RJ Corp, PepsiCo’s largest bottler, with interests in beverages, food, dairy, healthcare, real estate, and education, is the fastest rising, most financially viable player in the Indian retail F&B sector, with 500+ restaurants across the Indian subcontinent, Nepal, and Nigeria.

    As of March 31, 2021, Devyani International is India’s largest Yum Brands franchisee and one of the country’s largest network of quick-service restaurant operators, with 655 locations in 155 cities.

    DIL has created its own brand Vaango – a world-class south Indian QSR chain with intentions to expand across India, based on its illustrious track record and competence in the QSR category. DIL also operates Food Courts and Lounges at the airports of Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Raipur, Srinagar, Lucknow, Trichy, and hospitals and shopping malls. The Grid Bar, Katism, Foodies Bar, Delhidare Devils, Tea Cups,  Masala Twist, and other ‘Own Brand’ restaurants can be found in the Food Courts.

    Devyani International – Name, Logo and Tagline

    Ravi Jaipuria, the founder of Devyani International, named the company after his daughter, Devyani.

    Devyani International Limited' s Company Logo
    Devyani International Limited’ s Company Logo

    Devyani International – Mission and Vision

    Devyani International Limited’s mission and vision statement says, “To be a people centric, customer focused and process driven operations, striving for excellence day in day out with a beat year ago and turnaround mentality”.

    Devyani International – Founders and History

    DIL is a non-govt. corporation that was founded on December 13, 1991 by Ravi Kant Jaipuria.

    Ravi Kant Jaipuria, Founder of DIL.
    Ravi Kant Jaipuria, Founder of DIL.

    In 1991, Ravi Jaipuria founded Devyani International Limited, which is an Indian food and beverage company, based in Gurugram, Haryana. There are 1420 people working at Devyani Internationals.

    Devyani Internationals is one of Pizza Hut’s largest franchisees in India. In June 1996, Pizza Hut opened its first location in India, in Bengaluru. This was the first multinational restaurant chain to join this sector, and it is recognized for helping to establish the Indian pizza market.

    With the opening of its first Pizza Hut store in Jaipur in 1997, Devyani International began its partnership with Yum. It had 297 Pizza Hut locations, 264 KFC locations, and 44 Costa Coffee locations in India as of March 31, 2021. Between March 2019 and March 2021, the number of core brand stores increased by 13.58 percent, from 469 to 605. According to DRHP, the company employs 9,356 people.

    Through an association with Whitbread Group UK, Devyani Internationals brought a fresh gust of coffee aroma into the country in 2005. Costa Coffee has become a darling among India’s coffee connoisseurs. Despite being a relative newcomer to the business, Costa Coffee has established a strong presence in the NCR, Bengaluru, Jaipur, and other cities, with over 80 locations.

    It is designated as a ‘company limited by shares ‘ and is a public unlisted corporation. The authorized capital of the company is INR 12500.0 lakhs, with an 84.933334 percent paid-up capital of INR 10616.67 lakhs. The DIL’s most recent annual general meeting was held on August 10, 2017. According to the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, the company’s financials were last updated on March 31, 2017.

    Devyani International Limited has been in the Manufacturing (Food products) company over the past 30 years, and the company is still operational. Rashmi Dhariwal, Vishesh Shrivastav, Varun Jaipuria, Som Nath Chopra, Virag Joshi, Ravi Gupta, Raj Pal Gandhi, Ravi Kant Jaipuria, and Devyani Jaipuria are the current board members and directors.

    Devyani International – Revenue and Growth

    DIL presently owns and runs 297 Pizza Hut outlets. As of March 31, 2021, the company was also a Costa Coffee franchisee, with 44 Costa Coffee outlets and 264 KFC stores. DIL owns Vaango, Food Street, Masala Twist, Ile Bar, Amreli, and Ckrussh Juice Bar, and has 692 outlets in 26 Indian states, as well as Nepal and Nigeria.

    DIL’s core brands (India and global) amounted to 94.19 percent of its operations revenues in FY21, while delivery sales amounted for 70.20 percent of revenues, an increase from 51.15% in FY20. Despite the epidemic, the company has worked to expand its shop network, with 109 new locations opening in the previous 6 months across its core brand business.

    The core brand stores grew 13.58 percent from 469 to 605 shops between March 2019 and March 2021, and the firm credits its success and continued growth efforts to its 9,356 workers. Devyani Internationals is the largest QSR firm in India to be featured on Swiggy and was one of the top QSR companies in India to be registered on Zomato in 2019 and 2020.

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    Devyani International – Awards and Recognitions

    Year Awards
    2020 "India’s 100 Best Workplaces for Women 2020" by the Great Place to Work Institute, India
    2019 Pizza Hut and KFC were recognised among the “Most Trusted Brands” in Food Services category in Brand Equity Survey conducted by The Economic Times.
    2018 “Great Workplace” by the Great Place to Work Institute, India, Costa Coffee (T3 International Departure Pier) was awarded the Certificate of Excellence for “Outlet of the Year- F&B (International)” by Delhi International Airport Limited at the IGIA Awards 2018, Grid Bar (T3 Domestic Departure Food Court) was awarded the Certificate of Excellence for “Outlet of the Year- F&B (Domestic)” by Delhi International Airport Limited at the IGIA Awards 2018.

    Devyani International – Competitors

    Top Competitors of Devyani International are as follows :

    • Digg Inc
    • 9GAG Inc
    • Reddit
    • 4chan community support LLC
    • Newser LLC
    • NewsMax.com
    • Salon.com
    • Laugh Roulette

    Devyani International – Challenges Faced

    The business’s DRHP, which was filed with SEBI, clearly reveals that COVID-19-related concerns are the most pressing for the sector and the company. Due to a considerable drop in footfalls as a result of COVID-19 regulations, Devyani International permanently closed 61 locations under its major brands in FY21.

    The Devyani Iternational revenue has also suffered as a result of falling footfalls, with in-store dining revenue falling to 29.8% from 48.85% in FY21. The impact of COVID-19 is expected by the company to persist, as footfall and sales are still being impacted by the second wave of COVID-19. As the company explains in its DRHP, COVID limits have had a direct impact on the business’s capacity to manage product inventory, resulting in considerable inventory write-offs, with the majority of the inventory consisting of perishable components for direct purchase.

    The firm also notes that if the second wave worsens or is not controlled in a timely manner, it may be unable to meet the increased development obligations, further adjust these arrangements, or operate our stores economically, if at all. This might have a variety of repercussions, including the termination of Yum’s different agreements, which would have a material negative impact on the business, results of operations, and financial condition if they are unable to renew them.

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    Devyani International – Future Plans

    Devyani International has filed a draught red herring prospectus (DRHP) with market regulator SEBI to undertake an initial public offering (IPO) of INR 1,400 crore (IPO). KFC, Pizza Hut, and Costa Coffee are the company’s major franchisees. Investor Selling Shareholder, Dunearn Investments (Mauritius) Pte. Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Temasek Holdings, and Promoter Selling Shareholders and RJ Corp Ltd would issue new equity shares worth INR 400 crore, as well as an offer-of-sale (OFS) of up to 12.5 crore equity shares.

    The losses indicated from FY19 to FY21 were mostly attributable to increased operational expenditures incurred as a result of the company’s store network development. DIL, on the other hand, has not been able to recoup these costs. In FY20, their total revenue from operations climbed by 15.7 percent year over year.

    In FY19 and FY20, Devyani International had negative cash flows (cash outflows) of INR 17.29 crore and Rs 13.47 crore, respectively. In FY21, the company received INR 26.73 crore in cash. The company states in its DRHP that it may experience negative cash flows in the future, which could have a detrimental impact on its operations and growth objectives.

    Devyani International intends to maintain its growth potential in the future by building new stores every year. In the future quarters, this will result in a further increase in operating costs and other expenditure. As a result, DIL anticipates losses until the new stores reach maturity. The net profits from the IPO will be used to pay down a major percentage of the company’s debt. This would allow them to use their internal accruals (or operating profit) to fund investments in business sustainability and diversification.

    Devyani International – FAQs

    When was Devyani International Limited founded?

    DIL is a non-govt. corporation that was founded on December 13, 1991 by Ravi Kant Jaipuria.

    Where is Devyani International Limited headquarters?

    Devyani International Limited is headquartered in Gurugram, Haryana, India.

    Is Devyani International Limited a private company?

    Yes, DIL is a private company.

    What sector does Devyani International Limited operate in?

    DIL is under food & beverages sector.

  • Karkhana – Changing the Education System in Nepal

     

    Company Profile is an initiative by StartupTalky to publish verified information on different startups and organizations. The content in this post has been approved by Karkhana.

    The importance of “4C Education,” which consists of “communication,” “collaboration,” “creative thinking,” and “creativity,” is vital because it helps children achieve their full potential. The aim of this educational policy is to develop proactive employees who can function both independently and collaboratively.

    A group of engineers and artists wanted a change in the age old educational system in Nepal and came up with a very creative and much-needed idea to reform the system. Karkhana was founded by this community with the aim of establishing a makerspace. This quickly developed into a catalyst for an environment that inspires children to explore, invent, and collaborate rather than memorize their syllabus in the “traditional” way.

    Karkhana – Company Highlights

    Startup Name Karkhana
    Headquarters Kathmandu, Bagmati, Nepal
    Industry Commercial Educational Services, EdTech
    Founders Sakar Pudasaini, Sunoj Shrestha, Suresh Ghimire and Pavitra Gautam
    Founded 2012
    Current CEO Pavitra Gautam
    Website www.karkhana.asia

    About Karkhana and How it Works?
    Karkhana – Founder and History
    Karkhana – Logo
    Karkhana – Mission and Vision
    Karkhana – Business Model
    Karkhana – Growth
    Karkhana – Challenges Faced
    Karkhana – Future Plans
    Karkhana – FAQs

    About Karkhana and How it Works?

    Karkhana is the owner and operator of a makerspace and education business that aims to provide a truly unique learning experience. Teachers, developers, designers, artists, and scientists transform the classroom into a lab for exploration, designing workshops to teach concepts from Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics contemporaneously with providing students with 21st-century skills such as Critical Thinking, Creativity, Collaboration, and Communication.

    They are a co-curricular after-school program with a distinctive learning style. The company’s strategy is to teach their students one important lesson: the world is malleable. Karkhana serves 5,500 students annually through co-curricular activities in schools and after-school enrichment programs in 20 schools.

    Schools and other organizations in Nepal are established with the purpose of fixing the floor i.e. just the bare minimum. We, on the other hand, are trying to raise the ceiling – we want to set a benchmark and influence others to do better.

    They are currently reaching out to 2600 students every week across 80 classes delivered to 17 local schools. BeeCreative and the Karkhana Innovator’s Club are two separate initiatives.

    Karkhana – Founder and History

    Sakar Pudasaini,  Sunoj Shrestha, Suresh Ghimire and Pavitra Gautam founded Karkhana, the education company based in Nepal.

    Sakar was a part of a month-long event in 2012 where he discussed the need for “makers rooms” in Kathmandu. At the same time, members of the Robotics Association Nepal were holding robotics-related sessions and activities. At the Google Developer Group Bar Camp, he met Sunoj Shrestha, Pavitra Gautam, and Suresh Ghimire and thought of merge-up.

    The Karkhana' s Team
    The Karkhana’ s Team

    The first few years were difficult, and their company did not succeed. They started a product design business, focusing on developing new products to sell to potential customers, after realizing that Nepal lacked any and deciding to be the first to contribute in that area. That’s how they came up with Karkhana as a team.

    They began as a product design firm but quickly discovered that due to a lack of automation, mass production was impossible. They also lacked the human capital to do so because people lacked the motivation or mindset to try something different. That’s when the team realized the ecosystem required more creativity and tinkering! They came to the conclusion that the education sector appeared to be a wide enough space for their concept’s long-term viability, growth, and development.

    They began with robotics lessons. Then they decided that they needed to extend and redesign. As a result, they began bringing in experts and specialists from different fields, such as farming and wildlife, to share their expertise. The classes developed over time as a result of the accumulation of ideas.

    Karkhana' s Logo
    Karkhana’ s Logo

    Karkhana – Mission and Vision

    Karkhana’ s mission statement says, “We created Karkhana to nurture a spirit of innovating locally so as to make a global impact. We want to empower people with the skills & attitudes that will help them build their future and the future of their community.”

    According to the company, they would accomplish their goal by demonstrating to children how to use science and technology in innovative ways. Children can discover how science and technology will assist them in resolving issues in their own lives, their communities, their countries, and the world at large.

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    Karkhana – Business Model

    Karkhana makerspace was established in 2014 with a ten thousand euro investment from the co-founders. They then rented the space, began purchasing materials for the workshops, and completed the rest by hand. The business model is focused on the children attending the workshops paying a monthly membership fee.

    They continue to invest in modern equipment (including a laser cutting machine), tools, and the recruitment and training of new teachers. Human Capital (salaries/training) receives 40% of the budget, while classes resources (materials) receive 15%, operating costs receive 13%, sales and marketing receive 13%, and rent receives 7%.

    Karkhana – Growth

    “Actually, one passerby found our concept interesting and encouraged us to have a program. He even got his own kid as well as a few others for the after-school program. After that, quite a few more students came in on referral. Then, a few schools heard about us and wanted to collaborate, and they were even willing to pay. That is how we stumbled upon our selling point. We went from 5 students to 3500!”, said Pavitra.

    They’ve been creating innovative educational content and hosting fun workshops for kids aged 8 to 14 in their space and in schools for the past two years to help them explore the power of fabrication and imagination. They taught 1400 students per week in 2016, and by the end of 2017, they plan to be teaching +3000 students per week! Karkhana is a for-profit corporation. They also founded Kharkana Samuha, a non-profit organization in 2016, to organize workshops for children from underserved communities.

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    Karkhana – Challenges Faced

    They are engineering graduates who never imagined themselves as teachers, according to Sarkar. They had difficulty communicating with the students because they didn’t know how to maintain their interest and focus. They had no idea how to run a classroom or create lesson plans. They needed to seek advice from a few mentors in order to succeed.

    The most difficult task they faced was finding good people and teachers. They also follow the national curriculum; schools need 100 percent enrollment, so it must be mandatory for all students. And though their children seem to be really involved, some parents are hesitant to do so. Finding a balance between versatility and structure is a challenge for them as an organization.

    Karkhana – Future Plans

    Despite their slow progress in the educational sector, the Karkhana founders believe they still face a larger problem. Four million children in the United States currently lack access to a decent education. Slowly but steadily, they want to change that. In the future, they hope to reach out to more than 10,000 children, up from the current number of 2600.

    We are seeing some natural limitation in growth here at Kathmandu. So, one strategy is to move on to more cities. The other strategy is to collaborate with teachers to empower them to run their own classes. This way we can design the lesson and kits for the teachers and the program will be self-sustaining, said Pavitra Gautam.

    Karkhana – FAQs

    What does Karkhana do?

    Karkhana is the owner and operator of a makerspace and education business that aims to provide a unique learning experience.

    Who founded Karkhana?

    Sakar Pudasaini,  Sunoj Shrestha, Suresh Ghimire and Pavitra Gautam founded Karkhana, the education company based in Nepal.

  • Froogal – Bridging The Gap Between Brands And Consumers

    Company Profile is an initiative by StartupTalky to publish verified information on different startups and organizations. The content in this post has been approved by Froogal.

    In a time when rising customer expectations have forced businesses to think on their feet and expand their services beyond the traditional shopping experience, a platform that can drive loyalty programs for consumers is a must for every business. To exploit this idea into a successful startup, Jeevan Chowdary and Harshit Harchani launched Froogal in 2017.

    Froogal mainly operates in SaaS, more specifically – Customer Experience, Customer Loyalty, Marketing automation, Customer Experience, CRM & Data Analytics, Automation, Marketing, Digital Transformation, Feedback Management, Business Intelligence tools.  

    StartupTalky interviewed Froogal CEO Jeevan Chowdary to get a better understanding of this Hyderabad based startup.

    Froogal – Company Highlights

    Startup Name Froogal
    Headquarter Hyderabad
    Industry Customer Loyalty, SaaS
    Founders Jeevan Chowdary (CEO),Harshit Harchani (CTO)
    Founded 2017
    Parent Organization Froogal Innovations INC
    Website froogal.ai

    Froogal – About and How it Works
    Froogal – USP
    Froogal – Founders and Team
    How was Froogal Started?
    Froogal – Name and Logo
    Froogal – Startup Launch
    Froogal – Business Model and Revenue Model
    Froogal – Startup Challenges
    Froogal – Funding and Investors
    Froogal – Growth
    Froogal – Conclusion
    Froogal – FAQs

    Froogal – About and How it Works

    Froogal is a Omni-channel cloud based Customer Loyalty & Engagement Platform and has been a pioneer in delivering multiple consumer oriented Industries to build Customer Centricity by modernized and personalized interactions with Consumers to drive incremental Revenues.

    Froogal.ai is a customer loyalty programmed management platform, which provides customers with aspirational rewards that are customized and goes beyond traditional cash rewards.

    Froogal’s main range of products include:

    • Customer Loyalty & Management.
    • Customer Experience Management.
    • Customer Analytics with predictive and data-driven Insights.
    • Engagement Marketing with advanced automation techniques via SMS / Email / Push
    • Notification and Social Media etc.
    • Offer Engine with Mobile Marketing tools, Referral Marketing tools.

    There are also a few more flagship products in the stream:

    • Froogal Seamless– It helps businesses adapt to omni channel marketing strategy i.e. Creating an ecosystem for business to enhance their sales channels across web, mobile, etc.
    • Froogal Consumer App– Froogal Consumer App is “World’s #1 Digital Loyalty Wallet”. It helps consumers digitize all their reward cards at one place, while it allows consumers to go cashless and with much other value

    All in all, Froogal helps companies develop loyalty programs that can drive repeat business as well as build a community of loyal brand advocates by building the bridge between brands and customers at every stage of the customer lifecycle. It drives revenue for brick and mortar businesses by collecting critical customer data, then using it to deliver automated, personalized marketing campaigns that drive real ROI. Froogal acts as an intelligent tool for a CXO business, automating most of the marketing needs.

    Froogal focuses on knowing, retaining every customer and ensuring customer loyalty. The company offers a SaaS-based product in different packages like (Starter, Growth, Professional, and Enterprise) targeting the different sizes of customers across SMEs and Large Enterprises both.

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    Froogal – USP

    Froogal works with the aim to help businesses and customers build a relation for life because it is very important to understand the target audience in business and if a company does that right, it is on track for success. The basic idea is to address the pain points faced by millions of Brick-and-Mortar businesses across the globe and turn them successful. In other words, the motive is to help clients grow into an affluent firm with distinctive & considerable improvement in performance by retaining their customers.

    Some major USP of Froogal are –

    1. Most Loyalty Programs target only mom-and-pop stores, but Froogal targets successfully both Mom-and-Pop and big Chains.
    2. Froogal has got More Advanced Loyalty Systems overcoming the traditional ways where the Strategy plays a key role in making it more contextual & emotional for the customer to retain and engage. It is one of its kind built with Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning.
    3. Froogal took over the Omnichannel way at every module where Customers engage with Business and makes it seamless for customers to redeem rewards, complain and engage through any channel.
    4. Deeper Analysis & More Intelligent in Personalized Marketing- Froogal Consumer App (App that Digitizes One’s Reward Cards at One Place).
    5. Froogal offers cost-effective packages for various businesses and helps businesses achieve higher ROI.

    Froogal- Founders and Team

    Jeevan Chowdary and Harshit Harchani are the Founders of Froogal.

    Jeevan Chowdary and Harshit Harchani | Founders, Froogal

    Froogal founders Jeevan Chowdary and Harshit Harchani are alumni of IIIT Hyderabad, and the idea to start their own business was there in their minds while they were still in college.

    “We were working on a project for a while and when we graduated we decided to kick off our own product. My co-founder has been very supportive and the belief we have in each other and the same morale we share and our product has got us here today.” Jeevan quotes.

    As regards division of responsibilities between the founders, Jeevan Chowdary is currently operating as the CEO of Froogal and takes care of the entire business operations, sales, and marketing.

    Froogal CTO, Harshit Harchani takes care of the entire Technical development of the product.

    Froogal currently has 50+ employees.

    Froogal Team

    How was Froogal Started?

    Customers are the inspiration here. While working on the very first project, during their college days, Jeevan and Harshit got a chance to work with a variety of stakeholders across many industries, especially small businesses. Both of them quickly realized that while different sectors of the market have different needs, no one, in particular, had focused on what would help small businesses flourish keeping in mind their limited operation management, lack of familiarity with technology, lack of access to expertise and marketing and most importantly budget. After talking to more than 500 such businesses they realized that they were not happy with the value of existing products and then at Froogal, they set upon this journey to provide the best value to businesses of various sizes, while working hand in hand with them at every point.

    “From ideation to prototyping to customer endpoints we brainstormed solutions with our customers to enhance the value proposition, dig into real problems and develop a product which solved the real day to day problems they face with a minimal cost, along with which the rejection of dejection, and with perseverance, we showed in making it perfect and frugal for the business owners.” said Jeevan on the ideating stage of the venture.

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    Froogal Logo

    Any businesses share the same end objective i.e., to generate greater revenues in a cost-effective way and delivering good customer experience and service. So is the name Froogal which is obtained from the word Frugal.

    Froogal – Startup Launch

    The first launch of the Froogal product happened with a customer. Once the team had the first Pilot deployment, they worked closely with them, wearing all hats to iron out all issues and proactively providing solutions to streamline the process. Since the revenue stream is generated through subscriptions and no other strategy, experience for the customers is paramount and the team leaves no efforts in that end. They realize that the product and the experience they provide speaks for itself and are happy to rely just on word of mouth for their promotions.

    Froogal – Business Model and Revenue Model

    The Froogal business model follows a SaaS business model. It works on a monthly subscription model, and its pricing ranges from 2500 per month – 15000 per month per location. Subscription charges varies based on the size and the business requirements along with other managed services for brick and mortar businesses, and also depending on the different models and segments.

    Froogal – Startup Challenges

    “Technology has been a passion for us. And necessity is the mother of Innovation.” Jeevan

    While running their very first project, Jeevan and Harshit got a chance to meet a lot of different business owners from different industries especially in the SME segment. Every business certainly has problems in managing their operations or marketing due to lack of either technology, expertise or budgets. What intrigued this duo was that every business owner wants to excel in their own business at the low-cost model and they took that as a challenge and explored how technology can help drive revenues by simplifying and automating most of their needs at an affordable cost.

    Froogal – Funding and Investors

    Froogal has raised funding worth $ 1 million in pre-series A in December 2019. The information about the angel investors remains confidential.

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    Froogal – Growth

    • Besides having offices in Hyderabad, Bangalore and Mumbai in India, Froogal  also has an office in the USA.
    • Froogal is currently serving 350+ clients, including brands like ‘Cream stone’, ‘Thickshake Factory’,  ‘BIG C’, ‘LOT’, ‘Over the moon’, ‘Pista house’ and ‘Biryanis and more’

    Froogal – Conclusion

    Froogal offers a one stop solution platform that provides end to end technology to understand, retain and engage your customers through omni channel digital strategy, leading to deeper and data driven relationship with your customers. They have an expertise team focusing strongly on unique mix of Strategic Consulting, Creative, Operations support services driving you with actionable intelligence that can help drive incremental revenues and optimum profitability.

    Froogal – FAQs

    What is Froogal?

    Froogal is a customer loyalty programmed management platform, which provides customers with aspirational rewards that are customized and goes beyond traditional cash rewards.

    Who are the Founders of Froogal?

    Jeevan Chowdary and Harshit Harchani are the Founders of Froogal.

    How does Froogal make money?

    Froogal follows a SaaS business model- It works on a monthly based subscription model, and its pricing ranges from INR 2500 per month – INR 15000 per month per location.

    How much Funding is raised by Froogal?

    Froogal has raised funding worth $ 1 million in pre-series A in December 2019. The information about the angel investors remains confidential.

  • Fanzart Fans – Designer Fans for Designer Homes

    Company Profile is an initiative by StartupTalky to publish verified information on different startups and organizations. The content in this post has been approved by Fanzart Fans.

    Indian lifestyle has been undergoing a major transformation, especially since the last few years. There has been a growing inclination towards luxurious high-end designer products. Homes are fast becoming smart homes and home appliances are becoming modern and stylish. With everything else, the ceiling fans are also getting upgraded to designer ceiling fans in Indian households. For many, ceiling fans are not merely an appliance for keeping the rooms cool, but is also something that enhances the home interiors.

    To meet the growing demand for Designer Fans in India, Fanzart, a Bangalore based startup is offering premium designer fans to add that zing to your interiors.

    Fanzart Fans – Company Highlights

    Startup Name Fanzart fans
    Headquarter Bangalore
    Co-founders Anil Lala, Tarun Lala & Sangeeta Lala
    Sector Luxury interior product brand
    Founded 2012
    Funding Bootstrapped
    Website www.fanzartfans.com
    Parent Organization Golden Touch Exports

    Know more about Fanzart Fans ahead:

    Fanzart Fans – About and USPs
    Fanzart Fans – Industry Details
    Fanzart Fans – Founders and Team
    Fanzart Fans – How it Started?
    Fanzart Fans – Name, Tagline and Logo
    Fanzart Fans – Business Model and Revenue Model
    Fanzart Fans – User Acquisition
    Fanzart Fans – Startup Challenges
    Fanzart Fans – Awards
    Fanzart Fans – Future Plans
    Fanzart Fans – FAQs

    Fanzart Fans – About and USPs

    Fanzart is a Bengaluru based startup, which is the ideal destination for designer fans. They provide a great range of products for specific use cases – fans for dining tables, bathrooms, kitchens, living/drawing rooms, offices, and more.  

    Fanzart’s USPs include:

    1. Fan Designs – They have over 100 designs of fans to suit any interior or exterior.
    2. DC motor fans – fans are eco-friendly and absorb 70% lesser power.
    3. Human sensor – These fans have a human sensor that smartly adjusts its rotation based on where humans are seated.
    4. 3D oscillation – Fanzart offers the first 3D oscillating fans in India.
    5. 360-degree rotation – The first 360-degree rotating fans in India.
    6. Summer – Winter feature – Over 30 of Fanzarts’ models rotate bi-directionally. Anticlockwise for a cool breeze and clockwise direction for a cozy warm air effect.
    7. Reversible blades – The blades can be flipped upside down for a different finish or look.
    8. Whisper Quiet – Fanzarts’ fans are under 50 dB of sound.
    9. Specific use cases – Fanzart designs suit specific use cases – all kinds of rooms, dining, kitchens, walk-in wardrobes, offices, retail showrooms, outdoors, manufacturing units, Hotel back offices, lobbies, restaurants, gardens and more.
    10. Smart – Using sensors and automation, Fanzart aims to achieve a lot with fans.
    Fanzart Designer Fans

    It is the commitment, desire, and attention to detail that has seen Fanzart leapfrog its competitors and soar to the top in such a short period. Today, the company has risen to prominence as a pioneer and leader in the luxury designer fans segment, and we’re known to create products that not only look stylish, simple and artistic, but also efficiently robust.

    Fanzart Fans – Industry Details

    In recent years, India has gone through significant changes regarding lifestyle, employment, and migration from one place to another. Indians are now getting fast-paced and are developing a taste for a high-end lifestyle. A good lifestyle starts with a well- designed home, and Indians nowadays prefer their homes to be luxurious and comfortable. This is the reason for the rapidly growing interior design industry in India.

    We believe that Designer Fans will have the same revolution as the LED did – says Tarun

    Fanzart targets a market size of 3% of the Indian market – HNI & UHNI. Further, Fanzart is working to gain a share of about 20% of the Designer Fan Segment. However, this segment does grow YoY.  

    Fanzart Fans – Founders and Team

    Anil Lala, Tarun Lala & Sangeeta Lala are the Co-Founders/Owners of Fanzart Fans.

    Fanzart Fans Owner, Founders, Team
    (L-R) Anil Lala, Sangeeta, Lala, Tarun Lala

    Mr. Anil Lala is the founder & director of Fanzart. A visionary, and first generation entrepreneur Anil, has over two decades of experience and worked as managing partner  of ‘Cosmos Electronics’ and ‘Managing Director’ at Theme Apparels India Pvt Ltd. He is known as one of the pioneer industry leaders to bring luxury fans to India.

    Tarun Lala, Executive Director of Fanzart, is an electrical engineer from Northeastern University, USA. A technologist at heart, Tarun besides Fanzart, also founded Levo Labz, a technology development company. Passionate about designs, Tarun also started a podcast for Architects & Interior designers called ‘Interior Vibez’ to give the world a little sneak peek into the art and science of designing spaces. Having learnt the nitty- gritties of entrepreneurship form Stanford School of Business, Tarun returned to India in 2012 after a two-year stint in the US to collaborate with his father on the next big thing in the world of fans – Fanzart.

    Sangeeta Lala is the President, Retail at Fanzart. She has a hospitality background and has worked with hospitality majors like TAJ and Oberoi groups. Sangeeta is a people’s person and supervises Fanzart’s Retail and Sales tasks with expertise

    Fanzart currently has 30 core members and franchise partners.

    Fanzart Fans – How it Started?

    Having discovered fancy grandeur fans in the United States, the Fanzart owners wanted to install the same at their house in Bangalore. But they could not find the designer fans they were looking for, in India. It is out of this situation that the idea behind Fanzart has taken shape.

    The Fanzart team initiated research to gain a better understanding of the designer fans market. In the process, they got in touch with Designer Fan product brands from other countries, spoke to them, visited them, and then started looking out for Design Firms and Factories.

    Fanzart’s validation process involved interior architects, designers, HNI / UHNIs, and understanding the buying process for fans. In the process, the Fanzart team understood the existing gaps in the fan industry mainly from architects and interior designers. Hence, when architects and interior designers were told about the concept of Fanzart, they received affirmative response and immediate support.

    Fanzart Ceiling Fans
    Fanzart Ceiling Fans

    Fanzart adds the ‘art’ factor to the fans, as such the company’s name is a combination of the words ‘fans’ & ‘art’

    Fanzart logo
    Fanzart fans Logo

    We were bringing art to fans and the only options were artisan and fansart, and we finally froze on Fanzart – explains Tarun.

    Fanzart Fans – Business Model and Revenue Model

    The Fanzart business model is flexible and includes: B2C, B2B2C and B2B. Their products range from INR 6990 to INR 1,27,990.

    Fanzart Fans – User Acquisition

    Fanzart, for its initial customers, relied on different mediums and platforms which include Showrooms, Online channels, and Via Architects & Interior Designers.
    After gaining the first lot of customers, Fanzart has widened the scope of their marketing techniques. Currently, the company acquires customers though online marketing, offline marketing, architects & interior designers and through strategic partnership. The company has partnered with Hometown (a Future Group subsidiary).

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    Fanzart Fans – Startup Challenges

    Last Mile purchase has been the major challenge for Fanzart, which they overcome by fostering and strengthening collaborations with Architects & Interior Designers.

    Fanzart Fans – Awards

    Fanzart has been awarded several times by different platforms. The awards received by the company are –

    1. Power Brands – Rising Star
    2. Best Product Brand in Interiors
    3. Entrepreneur of the Year.
    4. Woman Entrepreneur of the Year.
    5. Best Designer Fan Brand in India.

    Fanzart Fans – Future Plans

    Currently, Fanzart has 60 showrooms across India. Fanzarts aim to become the go-to brand for luxury fans – for architects, interior designers, HNIs, and UHNIs.

    Fanzart Fans – FAQs

    What is Fanzart Fans?

    Fanzart is a Bangalore based startup that offers premium designer fans to add that zing to your interiors.

    Who are the Fanzart owners?

    Anil Lala, Tarun Lala & Sangeeta Lala are the Co-Founders/Owners of Fanzart Fans.

    What is the price range for Fanzart Fans?

    The Fanzart Fans range from INR 6990 to INR 1,27,990.

  • Fruzzante – Farm-Grown Fruit Wine

    Wine market in India is still in its infancy. The annual per capita consumption of wine is very low as compared to many European countries. Drinking wine is not a part of Indian tradition. As such negative public and religious opinions have prevailed regarding wine, in the Indian society for many years. But with globalization and with a huge segment of Indian population becoming more educated and financially strong, the demand for wine in India is increasing.

    We have interviewed co-founder of Fruzzante, Mrs. Priyanka Save to know more about this unique wine business.

    Fruzzante – Highlights

    Startup Name Fruzzante
    Headquarter Bordi, Maharashtra
    Founders Priyanka Save & Nagesh Pai
    Industry Wine Manufacturing
    Founded 2010

    Fruzzante – About
    Fruzzante – Industry Details
    Fruzzante – Founders
    Fruzzante – The Idea
    Fruzzante – Name and Logo
    Fruzzante – Product
    Fruzzante – Revenue Model
    Fruzzante – Customer Acquisition
    Fruzzante – Challenges
    Fruzzante – Growth
    Fruzzante – Funding
    Fruzzante – Competitors
    Fruzzante – Future Plans
    Fruzzante – Advisors and Mentors
    Fruzzante – Awards and Recognition
    Fruzzante – Conclusion
    Fruzzante – FAQ’s

    Fruzzante – About

    While most of the wine in India and around the world is made of grapes, Fruzzante, a brewery in Bordi, Maharashtra has given an interesting twist to the beverage by manufacturing wine with the Indian local fruit, chikoo. Fruzzante is the solitary producer of chikoo wine.

    The mission of the company is to make quality wines from chikoo and other fruits like pineapple and mango and break the stereotype in the wine industry where wine is primarily made from grapes only.

    The company’s vision is to aid the chikoo farmers by providing them with the dire acknowledgment that they deserve.

    Our journey began from the grassroots and will forever be respectful of that.

    Fruzzante – Industry Details

    According to the India Wine Market Overview (2018-2023) report, Indians are becoming aware of the health benefits of wine. As such, the Indian wine market has grown with a CAGR of more than 25% in the past five years.

    A recent report by Dataessentials, revealed a 39% increase in the inclusion of beer and wine-based cocktails in menus. For instance, combinations of gin and sparkling wine with a melon slice or rum with prosecco and fruit juices are gaining popularity. Keeping in view this shift in consumption patterns and preferences in alcohol beverages, producers will have to come up with complex flavors and preparation methods. Many varieties of drinks such as ‘smoked’, ‘toasted’, or ‘pickled’ are being introduced to cater to the younger demographic.  

    Also with wine consumers becoming more health conscious and concerned about calories, bloating and headaches, producers are on a lookout for healthier ingredients like vegetables and fruits. According to Priyanka, India has the prowess to compete on a bigger scale in the wine industry.

    The mismatch in production will steadily level up within the next few decades which makes it an interesting market to be a part of.  

    Fruzzante – Founders

    Priyanka Save & Nagesh Pai | Co-Founders, Fruzzante

    Priyanka Save and Nagesh Pai are Co-founders of Fruzzante.

    Mr. Shrikant Save has been helping the company reach out to the export market. Fruzzante also has a bunch of sales staff and creative support team as well.

    Fruzzante – The Idea

    Priyanka has childhood memories associated with the chikoo orchards of Dahanu-Gholvad in Maharashtra. In 2004, a seed borer disease sever ely affected the chikoo plantations. The chikoo market was hard hit due to this disease and the farmers had to cut off their plantations. The market acceptance of the fruit was severely affected. Priyanka’s family owns Hill Zill resort in Bordi, 25km away from Dahanu and they thought of reviving the chikoo market. Their initial idea was to process chikoo in a packageable form. But products made from dried chikoo failed to attract customers. Again, chikoo juice was highly perishable. Finally owing to the fermenting nature of the fruit, it was decided to start making wine with chikoo. They visited numerous wineries in India as well as overseas to acquire precious knowledge about perishability, extraction, fermentation, storage and packaging. After all the research the brewery was set up in the family’s resort in Bordi.

    We wanted a name to indicate both fruit and fizz. Hence the name Fruzzante.

    Fruzzante logo is a stamp that indicates quality consciousness which is their priority when manufacturing a product.

    Fruzzante Logo

    Fruzzante – Product

    Fruzzante wine is the world’s first and only producer of a cider-style alco beverage made from chikoo extracts. It is also the only company producing fruit-based and non-grape bottled products in the wine category that is currently commercially available. Its products are both vegan and gluten-free which makes it a healthy choice as well.

    Fruzzante Products

    Apart from chikoo cider wine, Fruzzante has released other variants in the vegan beverage range made in cider style including Pineapple, Mango, and Spice Garden (Cinnamon, Ginger, and Honey with chikoo). They also have a sparkling white wine made from star fruit blended with grapes under the brand name JIWA and a premium honey dessert wine or mead under the brand name ARKA i.e, aka the Fruzzante beer.    

    Fruzzante – Revenue Model

    Fruzzante prices their wines at an affordable INR 255 for 330 ml. The cost is also considering the 100% Excise duty applicable on the product, unlike grape wines that are duty-free in Maharashtra. 20% VAT is also applicable, unlike grape wines where 16% rebate is applicable. The company has approached state governments several times to treat all fruit wines as equal and be given the same benefits as grape wineries enjoy. However, it awaits an answer on the same.

    Fruzzante – Customer Acquisition

    Acquiring the first 50 customers came rather easy. The winery being a part of a 30-year-old family owned resort, they started with giving winery tour to all room guests. A lot of appreciation along with business came along as the winery tour activity got more and more popular.

    Fruzzante – Challenges

    The initial challenge was that regarding the nature of the raw material, chikoo. There were problems with high pH levels, uneven ripening, and low shelf-life. The fruit is immensely dissimilar to fruits like grapes which ripen naturally and harvest easily. It rather requires controlled environments, and hence the Company resorted to ripening in chambers that control the natural ripening process as opposed to non-organic means. The benefit was uniform ripening and hence better quality of juice, thereby resulting in a quality product.

    Fruzzante Wine manufacturing Plant

    Fruzzante also faced several challenges in terms of processing the fruit. But Priyanka and Nagesh being experienced mechanical engineer, they were able to handle the issue efficiently. They created conducive environments with the use of impeller pumps and fermentation tanks on north facing stilt levels (least sun exposure) to ensure less cooling and power savings. The further implementation of automatic temperature- controlled systems, cooling jackets, and ozonators helped maintain hygienic and sterile conditions.  

    There were also challenges in packaging the highly perishable fruit, which was eventually solved with the help of a fully automatic bottling filling machine. This enabled appropriate and efficient rinsing, filling, and capping of the bottles. Therefore, the bottling along with the air-conditioned storage facility helps maintain comfortable temperatures for product storage. With all the challenges the Company faced, it hasn’t relinquished or compromised on the stance of placing quality before anything else; a vital element in any process.  

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    Fruzzante – Growth

    Fruzzante has made its products available in Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur and soon will expand the market in Kolhapur too. Many associate a sense of pride with the product which they feel is their biggest achievement.

    In order to reach out to more customers, Fruzzante envisions working with several other fruits while maintaining quality standards.

    In today’s market, consumers are looking for authenticity in their products because they are being bombarded with adulterated products.

    Fruzzante, therefore, strives to represent honest producers who understand the need of the market and bridge the gap through authentic, unadulterated, and tested products. As a home-grown brand, they bring the traits of understanding, compatibility, and reliability to the table.

    Fruzzante – Funding

    Fruzzante has not raised any funding from institutional investors, however it has taken a financial loan from a bank to set up the plant and machinery.

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    Fruzzante – Competitors

    Fruzzante is unique in the sense that it is the only fruit-based non-grape bottled product in the cider-style beverage category currently available commercially. Its products are both vegan and gluten-free which makes it a healthy choice. Hence, it does not have any direct competitors in its niche. However, on a broader scale of wine manufacturing, it is competing against Chateau Indage, Grover Vineyards, Sula Vineyards and Sankalp Wines among others.

    Fruzzante – Future Plans

    Fruzzante wishes to diversify their product range further. Their expansion plans include working with several other fruits in the near future. It will also be tying up with B2B trade companies in the state of Maharashtra, which they believe will enable them to form a consolidated network in the state and enable them to traverse into other parts of the country as well.  

    Fruzzante – Advisors and Mentors

    Mr. Dominic Rivard and Mr. Ajit Balgi are the guiding light behind Fruzzante venture.

    Rivard is an award-winning winemaker and cider specialist in Canada. Mr. Rivard owns the Bulwark Ciders and Red Barn Winery in Nova Scotia. Mr. Balgi is instrumental in brand building and is consulting the company.

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    Fruzzante – Awards and Recognition

    Certain highlights or milestones along our journey fed our beliefs and strengthened our hope.

    Fruzzante won the silver medal at “Drink Outside the Grape” challenge 2017 held in the United States. Fruzzante competed against 145 global wines and ciders and emerged as a winner. However, its biggest milestone continues to remain in bringing the chikoo market back on the map.

    Team Fruzzante acknowledges the contribution of the farmers towards the making of the brand. As such, the company mentions the Warli tribe on the labels of each product. In addition, the proceedings from the sale of the special “Starfruit Jiwa” flavor of the drink are contributed for the well being of the tribe, as a mark of respect and remarkable achievement in bringing the chikoo market back to life.

    Fruzzante – Conclusion

    Fruzzante co-founders Priyanka Save and Nagesh Pai always wanted to explore the potential of farm-grown fruits. This led them to open a business in farm grown fruits in India. Fruzzante offers ciders of different fruits like a pineapple, mango, starfruit and chikoo ciders. These ciders are gluten-free and are made using perfectly ripe fruits. When the fruits are ripe, they are collected from the farms, the juices are extracted and are further diluted with water without any added sugar.

    Fruzzante – FAQ’s

    What is Fruzzante?

    Fruzzante, a brewery in Bordi, Maharashtra has given an interesting twist to the beverage by manufacturing wine with the Indian local fruit, chikoo.

    What is the Company’s Mission?

    The mission of the company is to make quality wines from chikoo and other fruits like pineapple and mango and break the stereotype in the wine industry where wine is primarily made from grapes only.

    Who is the Founder of Fruzzante?

    Priyanka Save and Nagesh Pai are Co-founders of Fruzzante.

    What are different products of Fruzzante?

    Fruzzante has released other variants in the vegan beverage range made in cider style including Pineapple, Mango, and Spice Garden (Cinnamon, Ginger, and Honey with chikoo).

  • ElaWoman – Helping Couples With IVF and Fertility Issues

    Company Profile is an initiative by StartupTalky to publish verified information on different startups and organizations. The content in this post has been approved by ElaWoman.

    Infertility is a topic people don’t talk about openly. It is the inability to conceive children even after frequent, unprotected sexual intercourse over a year or more. It’s a condition that impacts couples both physically and emotionally, often ruining relationships.

    Victims of infertility are more often than not left disheartened by bogus advertisements and claims that guarantee a sure-to-work solution for this medical condition. In the end, they don’t get the desired results and regret spending so much for nothing.

    ElaWoman is a visionary healthcare startup making a significant difference in the lives of those affected by infertility. ElaWoman provides customized plans and treatments to solve this problem through the use of latest technology and data analytics. The transparency in treatment is what differentiates ElaWoman from others. Moreover, safe and easy financial options ensures couples with financial difficulties are not left out out.

    ElaWoman – Company Highlights

    Startup Name ElaWoman
    Headquarters Delhi
    Founders Ritu Singh, Aditya Kandoi, and Yogesh Agarwal
    Industry Healthcare
    Founded 2016
    Website elawoman.com

    About ElaWoman and How it Works
    ElaWoman – Target Market
    How was ElaWoman Started?
    ElaWoman – Services
    ElaWoman – Founders And Team
    ElaWoman – Name, Logo, And Tagline
    ElaWoman – User Acquisition
    ElaWoman – Startup Challenges
    ElaWoman – Funding
    ElaWoman – Future Plans
    ElaWoman – FAQs

    About ElaWoman and How it Works

    Elawoman helps couples who are struggling to realize the happiness of parenthood. Treated as a taboo, topics such as infertility are not discussed openly on healthcare platforms. This leaves no choice for patients but to blindly believe marketing gimmicks of a non-transparent ecosystem setup by some doctors and clinics in the medical industry. This is why out of 10% of couples (of child-bearing age) facing fertility issues, only 1% go for treatment.

    ElaWoman was born as a one-stop solution portal to counter the increasing occurrence of fertility problems worldwide and the increase awareness about the same. The entire team makes it a point to bring the best quality infertility treatments to couples at affordable prices.

    ElaWoman – Target Market

    The infertility treatment/diagnosis segment is expected to grow steadily in the coming decade. According to a top research firm in India, this industry is set to grow at 13% CAGR in the year 2020. The rapid advancements in the field of infertility medicines is can be attributed to increasing child-bearing age, growing usage of contraceptives, and altered lifestyles.

    The field of infertility medicine comprises fertility drugs, infertility-related surgeries, and Assisted Reproductive Treatments (ARTs). Latest developments include Frozen Embryo Transfer (FET), Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis and Screening (PGD/PGS), and Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH) tests to name a few. Array Comparative Genetic Hybridization (CGH) was recently introduced to increase the success rates of infertility treatments. A huge potential exists in this field which needs to be exploited and utilized for the welfare of couples across the globe.

    How was ElaWoman Started?

    The Elawoman founders came across several cases that revealed couples struggling to find a good infertility clinic or doctor for treatment. They also realized the stigma and taboo surrounding infertility issues; affected couples are afraid to discuss their issue in front of family members and friends.

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    ElaWoman – Services

    ElaWoman solves the problem by bringing in transparency and independent facilitation through data analytics and other technological mediums. It offers a system that provides unbiased transparent information on doctor and centre data, treatment pricing, clinical success rates, and past patient reviews.

    Couples get the benefit of having a personal health assistant to help them in each step of conceiving. The service is an end-to-end platform providing access to different features and plans.

    Furthermore, ElaWoman provides information on over 5,000 fertility hospitals and doctors for IVF, IUI, ICSI, surrogacy treatments, and pregnancy care services. The fertility centres and doctors partnered with ElaWoman are encouraged to provide a transparent, upfront, and affordable pricing structure for infertility procedures. Patients are provided with customized treatment packages for result-oriented execution of the chosen infertility treatments. The customization is done based on the treatment cost, patient appointment, and the clinic/centre chosen. Ela specialists assist patients in the personalization of infertility treatment packages.

    ElaWoman – Founders And Team

    ElaWoman was founded by Ritu Singh, Yogesh Agarwal, and Aditya Kandoi.

    Ritu Singh, Cofounder & CEO of ElaWoman
    Elawoman founders Ritu Singh, Yogesh Agarwal, and Aditya Kandoi (L to R)

    Ritu Singh : Born in 1988, Ritu did her schooling from St. Thomas School and then pursued a B.Tech from Netaji Subhas Institute of Technology in 2005. She then did an MBA in Marketing from IIM, Udaipur. Ritu Singh is the CEO of ElaWoman.

    Yogesh Agarwal : Yogesh was born in 1986 and completed his schooling from Birla High school. He obtained a Bachelor’s in Electrical Engineering from IIT, Varansi in 2005. Post graduation, he joined Lancaster University for an MBA. Yogesh is the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of ElaWoman.

    Aditya Kandoi : Aditya Kandi was born in 1989 and is an IIT Varanasi alumnus. He later did his MBA from Warsaw School of Economics. Aditya is currently working as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of ElaWoman.

    ElaWoman – Name, Logo, And Tagline

    ElaWoman Logo
    Logo of ElaWoman

    ElaWoman was chosen as the brand name since Ela stands for a beautiful person surrounded by several friends and their loved ones. The company logo consists of a butterfly that demarcates freedom; the freedom ElaWoman gives couples in the form of parenthood.  

    ElaWoman – User Acquisition

    We were on cloud nine when we met the achievement of the first 100 customers. Initially, it felt like a challenge as our concept is a new one. But then we came out with a combination of ways to reach the audience and have 100 successful customers – Ritu Singh, CEO of ElaWoman

    The ElaWoman team leveraged the power of social media and user-oriented information through website’s blog section. This was combined with the reach of advertisements to target the desired audience.

    Initially, it was difficult to attract customers/couples towards the concept of infertility treatment but the quality and usefulness of ElaWoman’s services made this possible. Testimonials of patients who had infertility treatments at the top centers and hospitals along with impressive success rates helped several couples contact Elawoman and trust its services.

    Reaching the first 100 customers and helping them have successful infertility treatments was a remarkable experience for ElaWoman and a milestone.

    ElaWoman has evolved into a healthcare platform dealing with infertility medicine, treatments, and surgeries. The innovative ElaPay facility, the first payment mode in the field of medicine, has also made it easy for patients to take a step forward. Ela’s medical loans have made the financial aspect of the treatment more hassle-free than expected. Patients also receive guidance on travel and accommodation as part of their infertility treatments.

    ElaWoman – Startup Challenges

    One of the biggest challenges which we faced during our initial days was mainly to convince couples to consult an infertility specialist about their infertility issues. Also, we had difficulty in making patients understand our unique brand concept  – Ritu Singh, CEO of ElaWoman.

    The team eventually cracked it through timely counselling and discussions with several couples in collaboration with medical specialists and psychologists; distinguished medical professionals known for successfully dealing with some of the most complicated medical cases.

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    ElaWoman – Funding

    The ElaWoman funding till date is as follows:

    Funding Date Funding Stage Funding Amount Investors
    October 2018 Series A $3 Million Chiratae Ventures with co-investor Alkemi Venture Partners

    ElaWoman – Future Plans

    ElaWoman has achieved several milestones in the domain of infertility medicine since its launch. ElaWoman today has a network of more than 11,500+ doctors and clinics. Ela has its footprints in over 89 cities and 11 countries. Features such as ElaPay and Ela medical loans have made the treatment for patients a smooth sail. The company’s future looks promising with expansion plans.

    ElaWoman – FAQs

    What is ElaWoman?

    ElaWoman is a visionary healthcare startup making a significant difference in the lives of those affected by infertility.

    Who is the founder of ElaWoman?

    Ritu Singh, Yogesh Agarwal, and Aditya Kandoi.

    Is ElaWoman an Indian brand?

    Yes, Elawoman is an Indian brand.

  • LabelBlind: Mumbai- Based First Food Rating System In India

    Company Profile is an initiative by StartupTalky to publish verified information on different startups and organizations. The content in this post has been approved by LabelBlind.

    A growing number of Indian consumers now prefer to go for healthy options when it comes to buying food items. A survey by IPSOS, a Global Leader in Market Research, found that 91% of Indians opt for healthier alternatives when it comes to snacking. Again, Indian Health Food Market which is currently 10% of the total Food Market is also growing at a rate of 35%. However, despite all this growing concern for eating healthy, choosing a healthy food items that has high nutrition is not easy. While the nutritional labels on the food packets are meant to reveal the nutritional value of the food and thus the health benefits of that particular food product, comprehending the nutritional labels is not a simple task either.

    Technical information declared on food labels stating complex ingredients, nutrition facts, and daily recommended values, serving sizes, allergens and more leave consumers overwhelmed. This leads them to make uninformed and unsafe choices that often serve contrary to their desire for choosing food that promotes good health and well-being. As a Nutrition Science and Food Label Expert Rashida Vapiwala was well aware of this problem that Indian consumers has been facing, and she came up with a solution for the same with her startup LabelBlind- India’s 1st Food Rating System. LabelBlind lists over 8000 food products across 120 categories and rates them on a scale of of 1-5 based on key nutritional parameters to help you make informed decisions when it comes to buying packaged food items. We interviewed LabelBlind founder Rashida Vapiwala to know about the services and operations of the startup.

    LabelBlind Highlights

    Startup Name LabelBlind
    Headquarters Mumbai
    Founder Rashida Vapiwala
    Industry HealthTech
    Founded 2018
    Parent Organization The Nutrition Alchemy
    Website labelblind.com/

    About LabelBlind
    LabelBlind – Founder & Team
    The Idea Behind Starting LabelBlind
    LabelBlind – Name & Logo
    LabelBlind – Business Model
    LabelBlind – Marketing Strategies
    LabelBlind – Challenges
    LabelBlind – Growth & Future Plans
    FAQs

    About LabelBlind

    LabelBlind is a nutri-tech platform and is driven by the purpose of creating Nutrition Literacy by democratizing the principles of Nutrition Science. The platform reviews and rates food products to guide consumers to make smart food choices that support good health and well being. The rating is based on a proprietary nutrition assessment tool that takes into consideration 43 vital nutrition parameters and is guided by the principles laid down by FSSAI, USFDA and WHO. LabelBlind has 8000 products listed, across 120 categories. Further, LabelBlind customizes product recommendations based on user health profiles. The digital platform is free-to-use for consumers and collaborates with the Food Regulator and Food Businesses to design nutrition solutions to impact food consumption habits. Speaking about LabelBlind’s vision, Rasheda Vapiwala says,

    “We believe that chronic diseases are not to be blamed on genetics alone; but are a result of poor food choices that must be corrected through nutrition literacy. At our company, The Nutrition Alchemy (Parent Company  of LabelBlind), we work towards a day where such diseases are wiped off the face of the planet. We are inspired by the vision of a healthier India, where citizens are empowered to make informed and mindful choices of what they eat, to keep themselves emotionally and physically healthy, with less dependence on curative interventions.”

    LabelBlind – Founder & Team

    LabelBlind founder Rashida Vapiwala is an expert nutritionist. She has a vast experience of working in areas like Health Awareness, Food & Nutrition, Health Promotion Activities (Engagements), Food Labeling Solutions and Nutrition Profiling Of Food Products.

    LabelBlind Founder, Rashida Vapiwala
    LabelBlind Founder, Rashida Vapiwala

    Rashida is a PhD scholar with a Master’s Degree in Food and Nutrition from The University of Mumbai. She is currently researching on “the relationship consumers have with food products and brands”. She has networks with Food Practitioners from across the world to practice learning from scientific discoveries. Rashida was Awarded the Junior Research Fellowship by the University Grants Commission, India and the Dr K.U.Naram award for a distinguished performance in academics at post-graduate level.

    Rashida has been felicitated with respectable certifications, like

    1. Micronutrient and Food Fortification Training Program – Project Healthy Children (PHC) & Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), USA.
    2. Food Safety Supervisor –  Food Safety and Standards Authority of India.
    3. Nutrition & Chronic Disease Research Methods – Centre for Chronic Disease Control & PHFI.
    4. Nutrigenomic Counsellor – DNALife, South Africa and Genombio Technologies pvt ltd., Pune.
    5. Nutrition for Exercise and Fitness – University of Mumbai.
    6. Nutrition Research Methods – St. John’s Research Institute, Bangalore, India in collaboration with Harvard University, USA and Tufts University, USA.

    LabelBlind team comprises professionals from the fields of Nutrition, Consumer Marketing and Developers.

    The Idea Behind Starting LabelBlind

    An experienced nutritionist Rashida, could see that there are many loopholes that requires attention when it comes to nutrition in India. Rashida and her team did much research on the nutritional awareness and requirements of the Indian population to get the required inputs to develop LabelBlind.

    Initially, 100 consumers were contacted in the city to ask them about comprehension of food labels and the importance of the information in making smart food choices. Results were eye-opening:

    • 58% find nutrition labels complex
    • 84% agree that nutrition labels influence choice of food products
    • 95% believe simplifying nutrition labels will be valuable to making good choices

    Other compelling considerations that the team came across includes-

    • India’s World Health Ranking – 120 (out of 169 countries) – Bloomberg Ranking
    • 43% have a skewed BMI
    • 30% have a Diabetes risk
    • 30% have a Hypertensive risk
    • Almost half of daily calories (47%) are derived from carbohydrates with the numbers going as high as 70% in rural areas. Just 7% of daily calories coming from Protein as compared to the recommended 29%
    • The average consumption of calories from fruits is less than 40% of what EAT-Lancet recommends.
    • In general, Indians consume more of the unhealthier saturated fats like palm oil. The consumption of vanaspati (partially hydrogenated vegetable oil*) is known to have risen by 51% between 1993 and 94 and 2011–12.
    • 30% of the diet of rich urban people consists of processed foods. An average Indian household consumes more calories from processed foods than fruits.
    • Overall, dietary risks were responsible for 22% of all deaths and disabilities amongst adults.

    The above data clearly shows that the majority of the Indians have one or the other health hazard or many are at risk to develop ailments owing to wrong eating habits. Rashida knew that a huge difference can be made by helping and guiding the Indians to buy the right kind of packaged food items, that are healthy and have high nutritional value, which made her start ‘LabelBlind’ as a platform to simplify the comprehension of nutritional values of food for consumers.

    The product has had an extended test-run of over a year and has been validated for feedback from 30 leading food companies, nutritionists and the regulator itself. The response has been encouraging, translating into strong word of mouth for the company, and keen interest of stakeholders in the data intelligence and its application to industry practices and regulation policies.

    The company takes pride in its association with FSSAI on strategic areas of food regulation and strengthening the ecosystem of food regulation. It is a validation of the solution and its robust processes of nutrition assessment.

    Most of the consumers are almost like blind when it comes to reading the nutritional labels on food packets, as they cannot comprehend the nutritional labels properly. The name ‘LabelBlind’ is derived from this very problem faced by the consumers. As Rashida Says about the idea behind the name,  

    “Food Labels on product packs are blind spots for consumers. We equate it to buying products being blindfolded, little knowing about product ingredients and their role in our bodies. The branding highlights this consumer pain point. It is time for the consumer to address the blind spot and decipher nutrition labels, thus taking the blindfold off their eyes in a manner of metaphorical reference.”

    LabelBlind Logo
    LabelBlind Logo

    LabelBlind – Business Model

    The data intelligence powering the website has enabled LabelBlind to pivot into multiple business models. While LabelBlind helps the consumers in assessing the nutritional values in food packets, Businesses like Retail Banking Firms, consumer health brands and  health insurance companies can tie up with LabelBlind to ensure well-being of their customers by offering them to an option to stay healthy by making good food choices.  

    Food Business Operators (FBOs) can use data and insights by LabelBlind  to develop new products based on nutritional value and customer preferences. FBOs can also promote their products through the LabelBlind platform.

    LabelBlind® collaborates with businesses in the space of CPGs (Consumer Packaged Goods), food retail, health and life insurance, retail banking and wellness companies to offer –

    1. Nutrition assessment of products to build compelling product strategies
    2. Business consultancy in NPD (New Product Development) and Customized Nutrition Report
    3. Consumer engagement and lead generation
    4. Corporate food rating and employee nutrition profiling

    Besides, the startup seeks to partner with Government agencies an associations in the food and nutrition space in their consumer outreach programs through online and offline channels. Presently LabelBlind is a project partner with FSSAI on projects of critical importance to the food industry.

    The Nutrition Alchemy, LabelBlind’s parent organization also offers collaboration opportunities for nutritionists, bloggers, food marketing freelancers, radio jockeys and journalists to help them spread awareness about nutrition among their customers and audience.

    Besides, The Nutrition Alchemy (TNA) offers a flagship TNA Nutrition23 Masterclass. Companies can register for this course to educate their employees on nutrition.

    LabelBlind – Marketing Strategies

    LabelBlind is at its early stage of introduction, building word of mouth and networks of collaboration. Tata AIA and FSSAI are amongst its first set of premium clients.

    The company relies on the personal branding of its founder, credibility of its networks, clients and media to drive the image and awareness for the brand.

    LabelBlind – Challenges

    There were 2 big challenges on the way for the LabelBlind team while building LabelBlind – India’s 1st Food Rating System –

    Building a Food Database was a challenging task for the team. They initiated the website development with packaged foods, moving into staples, edible oil and protein supplements. LabelBlind team is also building a database of Fresh Foods recipes representing cultural aspects of food and nutrition habits. LabelBlind has built its database from scratch, with the help of its team of nutritionists and dietitians. Each label is personally scrutinized and included in the database. Today, LabelBlind has 8000 products listed, across 120 food categories.

    Again, Building a scientific, credible Food Rating System is also a tough task. LabelBlind today has a great review system, its major USPs being-

    • Reviewing and rating of food products based on a proprietary nutrition assessment model that evaluates food products on 14 vital nutrition parameters.
    • The assessment model is guided by nutrition principles laid down by FSSAI, WHO, ICMR and USFDA.
    • LabelBlind team includes leading Nutrition Experts in the field to bring Nutrition Solutions that are at the cutting edge of Research.
    • LabelBlind has covered the essential skills required for the business – understanding of nutrition science, food regulatory affairs, consumer understanding and digital technology.

    LabelBlind – Growth & Future Plans

    LabelBlind is working with premium clients like Tata AIA and FSSAI. Currently bootstrapped, the company is in active discussions with investors to scale the business model. With new new product ratings getting constantly updated to the platform, LabelBlind can be a real help for the consumers.

    More and more Indians are moving towards a healthy lifestyle. Also there high possibility that Covid19 will bring permanent changes in consumption habits. Thus in the current situation Startups like LabelBlind can be a total game changer in the health and nutrition scenario of India.

    FAQs

    What is label Blind?

    LabelBlind is a nutri-tech platform launched by The Nutrition Alchemy for creating Nutrition Literacy. It simplifies complex information declared on food labels for consumers to know the nutrition value of food products.

    Who is founder of LabelBlind?

    Rashida Vapiwala is the founder of LabelBlind.

  • The Kaftan Company – Exclusively sells kaftans

    Kaftans are slowly becoming popular and coming into trend. You will find them in the wardrobe of every woman out there. The Kaftan Company is a clothing brand which specializes in designing and manufacturing amazing kaftans. The products of the company are available on many leading online fashion stores.

    The Kaftan Company Highlights

    Startup Name The Kaftan Company
    Headquarter Hyderabad, India
    Sector Textile
    Founder Prakruti Gupta Rao
    Founded 2011
    Revenue $4 Million
    Total Funding Self Funded ~ Rs.20 Lakhs
    Website thekaftancompany.com

    The Kaftan Company – Idea and starting up
    The Kaftan Company – Founder
    The Kaftan Company – Logo, Vision & Mission
    The Kaftan Company – Major challenges faced
    The Kaftan Company – Team
    The Kaftan Company – Industry details
    The Kaftan Company- The Product / Service
    The Kaftan Company- Business and Revenue Model
    The Kaftan Company Funding
    The Kaftan Company Competitors
    The Kaftan Company – FAQs

    The Kaftan Company – Idea and starting up

    The Kaftan Company was launched as an entrepreneurial initiative in February 2016. It was a spin-off to their other brand called Shibori Designs which was western wear apparel brand. The idea spawned during a great sell-through. It was identified when 80% of the total sales of Shibori Designs were coming from kaftans. Additional research and due diligence showed us that there wasn’t a particular company dedicating their product line to the graceful and comfortable kaftan silhouette. This was when they wished to capitalise and be the first to introduce kaftans for all occasions and very simply “The Kaftan Company” was created.

    As is the case with any start-up, the initial days required a lot more thought into conceptualising the brand and gaining clarity in the vision of the brand as it continues to grow. Since kaftans are not a widely accepted form of garment, it was a challenge and a scare to go into the market all in. Thus, the team took it slow and entered the market with caution. They provide a vast variety of colours they use in the chosen fabrics and the general free fall of a kaftan identified best with a butterfly, which they later integrated and made it look clearly symbolic with their logo.

    The Kaftan Company – Founder

    Prakruti Gupta Rao (founder of The Kaftan Company)

    The company was founded by Prakruti Gupta Rao. Prakruti did her MBA from Schulich School of Business, Toronto. Later, she worked at Mercedes Benz Financial Services in Canada in the role of Global Project lead.

    The founder, Prakruti Gupta Rao says “Perseverance is something that has gotten us through many challenging times and adhering to the concept of “never give up” to achieve what you truly believe in”.

    The Kaftan Company – Logo, Vision & Mission

    The Kaftan Company Logo

    The Kaftan Company aspires to be the world’s most recognised brand for kaftans, with an aim to offer customers the best possible product selection, quality, value and excellent service. When anyone is shopping for a kaftan, the company want them to think of The Kaftan Company as their first choice. The mission of the company is to blend tradition and innovation and be a market leader in creating uniquely appealing kaftans.

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    The Kaftan Company – Major challenges faced

    Initial challenges faced by the company include educating the consumers on the concept of the kaftan. They noticed in their initial days of launch, that as traditional and old as it may be as a garment, the customers still need to see the kaftans in images or try them, particularly in tier II and tier III cities. Customers think they will not look good in a kaftan. But the way the company has designed its kaftans, it looks beautiful and fits well for any shape and size. The challenge was to just convince users to say yes to give it a chance.

    The Kaftan Company – Team

    Along with Prakruti, her husband co-operates her by handling all the major operations as the CEO. The company provides employment to more than 45 people. They promote women empowerment with 80% skilled labour being women and all key positions including accounts, administration, designing, merchandising etc. are all managed by women. The business operations and production unit of The Kaftan Company is based out of Hyderabad, India.

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    The Kaftan Company – Industry details

    Indian domestic textile and apparel market is estimated at US$ 75 billion in 2020-21. The market fell 30% from US$ 106 billion in 2019-20.The market is expected to recover and grow to reach US$ 190 billion by 2025-26. This presently contributes to 5% of the current GDP and 14% of the overall index of industrial production.

    The Kaftan Company- The Product / Service

    The products in Kaftan Company are basically very well crafted kaftans for women. They make a range for sleepwear, daywear, holiday wear and have recently also introduced “cocktail” wear kaftans. It is very different from other brands because of their in-house digital prints, their extreme care and diligence while stitching, and size range from Small to XXXL. It is nearly impossible for anyone to find such a vast range if kaftans under one brand. Typically, fashion brands may present 1 or 2 kaftans in their portfolio of garments. They chose to differentiate themselves by creating each and every product using the comfortable kaftan silhouette.

    People at The Kaftan Company do not use any particular technology. However, they use the necessary software and other tools for their day to day activities. But for designing, they believe their own talent and uses the least technology to keep the art alive.

    The Kaftan Company uses tradition and innovation in creating uniquely handcrafted kaftans that the world has yet to experience. They are a very honest brand that focuses on comfort, good quality fabrics, impeccable quality, and trendy designs.

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    The Kaftan Company- Business and Revenue Model

    The Kaftan Company uses a ‘clicks and bricks’ business model to retail their products. Clicks and bricks basically mean being present on both type of platforms, viz., online and offline. Clicks come in the form of their own e-commerce website as well as e-commerce channel partners, both in India and internationally (Myntra, Flipkart, Amazon, etc.). The bricks include multi-brand boutiques across the country and internationally.

    The Kaftan Company started selling kaftans’ internationally via online-channel partners in the U.S (Amazon.com), U.A.E (Souq.com) and U.K (StrandofSilk.com) and have nearly confirmed distributors in the African Subcontinent and East Asian markets (Malaysia).

    Company uses a Mark-Up/Down revenue model in the retail of its kaftans.

    The Kaftan Company Funding

    The Kaftan Company is entirely a self-funded enterprise. They began their operations with a capital of INR 20 lakhs.

    The Kaftan Company Competitors

    While the fashion space includes many brands as potential competitors, they are primarily indirect for The Kaftan Company. They do not consider any direct competitors at this point given the initiative to be a fashion brand solely revolving around the design and production of kaftans in their entire portfolio. However, there is also a kaftan company in the United States that sells only kaftans under the name Kaftan Communities.

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    The Kaftan Company – FAQs

    Who is the Founder of the Kaftan Company?

    Prakruti Gupta Rao is the founder of the Kaftan Company.

    When was the Kaftan Company founded?

    The Kaftan Company was founded in 2011.

    Is the Kaftan Company an Indian Company?

    Yes. The Kaftan Company is an Indian Company with its headquarters in Hyderabad.

    What is the Kaftan Company’s Business model?

    The Kaftan Company uses a ‘clicks and bricks’ business model to retail their products. Clicks and bricks basically mean being present on both type of platforms, viz., online and offline.

  • Mailit – Delivering Super Service Experiences backed up by Tata Group

    Company Profile is an initiative by StartupTalky to publish verified information on different startups and organizations. The content in this post has been approved by Mailit.

    Logistics tech startups are bound to attract investor interest again this year, due to the spike in Covid-19 across the country. Ecom Express, a logistics startup based in Delhi, raised $20 million, for example. Second, before its IPO, Unicorn Delhivery raised $3 billion in funding.

    The second wave is shifting the focus of the table to technology and digital logistics in order to improve business operations. Similarly, on 21st April 2021, Ratan Tata has recently made an undisclosed amount of investment in Mailit, a Mumbai-based dispatch aggregator.

    Mailit is a pioneering dispatch aggregator company headquartered in Mumbai that provides customized parcel delivery and mailroom management services. The company also has a mailroom management service, which includes bulk document and package dispatching both domestically and globally.

    Mailit – Company Highlights

    Startup Name Mailit
    Headquarters Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
    Industry Mailroom management and Logistics
    Founder Mahesh Shirodkar
    Founded 1987
    Current CEO Mahesh Shirodkar
    Website www.mailit.com

    Mailit – Recent News
    Mailit – About and How it Works?
    Mailit – Operational Flow Process
    Mailit – Name, Logo and Tagline
    Mailit – Founder and History
    Mailit – Vision and Mission
    Mailit – Business Model
    Mailit – Partners
    Mailit – Competitors
    Mailit – Future Plans
    Mailit – FAQs

    Mailit – Recent News

    As of 21st April 2021, Mr. Ratan Tata, a renowned industrialist, made an investment in Mailit, a technology-driven mailroom management and logistics firm.

    Although the details regarding the finances of this recent investment by Ratan Tata hasn’t been disclosed yet, Mailit happens to state that in the next five years it plans to open 500 mailrooms across India as well as fully automated warehouse and distribution centres.

    Leading corporates and many blue chip companies in the Tata Group rely on Mailit for courier, parcel, mail room management digital solutions, and postal services.

    Mahesh Shirodkar, founder of the company, said the investment by Ratan Tata “opens up a wider growth prospect” for the company.

    “With the government reiterating its commitment to strengthening the infrastructure sector, Tata believes the Mailit IL&MS platform will bring in cost optimization, build operational efficiencies in the supply chain and create employment opportunities across India,” the company states.

    This new investment by Ratan Tata came at a time when the company was looking for new ways to expand its primary business and move towards the more digitised and technical services. As a result, it made the decision to invest in Mailit for technological logistics and smooth movement.

    Mailit – About and How it Works?

    Mailit, a Mumbai-based dispatch aggregator, is a subsidiary of Mahesh Shirodkar’s company Shirodkar Cargo Services that provides customized parcel delivery and mailroom management services.

    Mahesh Shirodkar, initiated courier services in 1987, and on March 16, 2006 his company became a private limited known as Shirodkar Cargo Services Pvt Ltd which is a business that engages in customized courier, delivery, and mailing room services. The business provides customized delivery of a variety of packages. It also involves both domestic and foreign bulk dispatch of documents and parcels.

    TATA Motors, TATA Capital, TATA Hitachi, and Glenmark Pharmaceuticals are among the company’s top tier customers.

    Mailit – Founder and History

    Mailit Founder, Mahesh Shirodkar, exemplifies entrepreneurial zeal by taking a forward-thinking approach to any business venture he undertakes. He is a firm decision-maker with a hands-on leadership style, as are all innovative entrepreneurs.

    A thousand-mile journey is said to begin with a single, progressive step. Mr. Shirodkar took the crucial step in 1987 when he established Mailit, a division of Shirodkar Cargo Services Pvt. Ltd. in Mumbai. In his search for excellence, he began modestly in the Mailroom services industry, as did many of his self-made contemporaries.

    It wasn’t an easy ride for him. But, guided by his unwavering desire to succeed, he embarked on a fruitful entrepreneurial journey in the 1980s, beginning with a daily wage of just INR 30 at Tata Motors. His dedication to excellence propelled him up the corporate ladder, and he soon found himself in charge of the Tata Group’s intra-office mail delivery operations.

    Mailit – Operational Flow Process

    First Mail Operation:

    • Pickup service is available at all Pin Codes that are serviceable.
    • First-mile operations at major metros need a dedicated team and fleet.

    Processing and Connection:

    • Shipments are processed and linked at metros by processing units.
    • Streamlined processing to ensure that communications are made quickly and without any delays.
    • A large network of several co-loaders ensures timely connections by air, rail, and road.

    Delivery:

    • Same day delivery attempt at every location
    • Constant follow-up to all locations is performed centrally.
    • Maintain an average delivery strike rate of >85% at all locations.
    • Average delivery efficiency is >94%, with overall returns of 6%.

    Mailit – Name, Logo and Tagline

    Mailit’ s logo consists of two ‘location-icons’ which clearly depicts its services.

    Mailit Logo
    Mailit Logo

    Mailit – Vision and Mission

    Mailit’ s vision statement says, “Unmatched Convenience at Best Price to deliver the full-service innovative dispatch management system to help you save on cost and time in addition to providing unmatched convenience.”

    Mailit’ s mission statement says, “To deliver Superior Service Experience through our bespoke Mailroom Management services at an affordable price in a quick turnaround time.”

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    Mailit – Business Model

    The Mailit business strategy is to create India’s first digitally integrated logistics and mailroom solutions (IL&MS) platform, which will provide much-needed convergence, performance, and exposure to a fragmented market.

    Mailit’ s IL&MS is a digital interface that integrates Mailroom Management, Logistics, and Distribution. Mailit aims to transform the logistics landscape by consolidating the entire supply chain, enabling seamless end-to-end delivery with real-time visibility, and thereby lowering overall logistics and transportation costs.

    The business provides customized delivery of a variety of packages. It also involves both domestic and foreign bulk dispatch of documents and parcels. In Print and Post facilities, the company collects variable data from customers, which is then processed using cutting-edge technology to print, stamp, and mail documents on their behalf.

    Mailit – Partners

    Mailit’ s partners include Bluedart, Gati, First Flight, DTDC, FedEx, htc, Track On, and The Professional Couriers.

    Mailit – Competitors

    Mailit’ s competitive set include these competitors:

    • Fareye
    • Shadowfax
    • Loginext
    • Locus
    • ElasticRun
    • 4tigo
    • Leap India

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    Mailit – Future Plans

    In the next five years, Mailit expects to open 500 mailrooms across India, as well as fully automated warehouses and distribution centres. With the government reiterating its commitment to strengthening the infrastructure sector, Mr. Ratan Tata believes the Mailit IL&MS platform will bring in cost optimization, build operational efficiencies in the supply chain and create employment opportunities across India.

    Mahesh Shirodkar, Founder & CMD of Mailit, commented on Mr. Tata’s investment, saying, ““We are truly thankful to Shri Ratan Tata for showing faith in us and investing in Mailit. It opens up a wider growth prospect for us and we intend to scale up the operations across geographies. With our state-of-the-art operations and trained professionals backed by the use of the most innovative technologies available today, Mailit expects an upward trajectory from here on.”

    Mailit – FAQs

    What does Mailit do?

    Mailit is a pioneering dispatch aggregator company headquartered in Mumbai that provides customized parcel delivery and mailroom management services.

    Who founded Mailit?

    Mahesh Shirodkar founded Mailit.

    Which company owns Mailit?

    Mailit is subsidiary of Shirodkar Cargo Services Pvt Ltd.

    What companies do Mailit compete with?

    Mailit’ s competitive set include these competitors: Fareye, Shadowfax, Loginext, Locus, ElasticRun, 4tigo, and Leap India.