Ishaan Dave

From Corner Stores to Category Leaders: How Zithara.AI is Reimagining Indian Retail In Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities across India, shopkeepers once knew every customer by face—but not by data. That was the gap. 📍That’s where Zithara.AI stepped in. Launched in 2022 without VC backing or Silicon Valley buzzwords—just a bold vision, relentless founders, and one mission: 👉 To democratize AI-powered customer intelligence for every Indian retailer. The insight? Indian retail was rich in footfalls, but poor in follow-up. No CRM. No segmentation. No structured retention. Loyalty was assumed, not engineered. So, the Zithara team built a solution from scratch: A full-stack retail CRM platform — 9 products, one unified interface. Simple enough for a paanwala to use. Smart enough for a luxury jeweller to rely on. 🚀 From pilot stores in Hyderabad to 500+ high-intent retailers across India, Zithara is now driving: ✅ 3x repeat sales via precision WhatsApp marketing ✅ 28% lift in customer retention ✅ 25% increase in acquisition through referral automation ✅ 100% lead capture from every channel — walk-ins, social, or digital ✅ True omnichannel orchestration — SMS, Email, RCS, Meta, Push, and more But this journey wasn’t just about tech. It meant winning trust in a market where pen and paper were still the CRM. Where “data” was seen as optional, not transformational. Zithara didn’t just build a platform. It built a new way for Indian retailers to think about customers — as relationships to grow, not transactions to close. 💡 The belief that carried them forward? “Solve for the user, not the investor.” No vanity dashboards. No hollow metrics. Just tangible outcomes. ⸻ In just two years, Zithara.AI has become the quiet force behind India’s smart retail revolution — powering everyone from local kiranas to national chains. Because in tomorrow’s India, even the smallest shop deserves enterprise-grade intelligence. Made in Bharat. Made for Bharat. Scaling beyond Bharat. This is just the beginning. Sridevi Reddy Varun Kashyap

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Bengaluru-based Asaya, a research-driven skincare brand, has raised ₹28 crore in pre-Series A funding led by RPSG Capital, with participation from Dot & Key Skincare founders Suyash Saraf and Anisha Agarwal Saraf, along with existing investors OTP Ventures and Huddle Ventures. Founded by Neeraj Biyani, along with two FMCG and consumer industry veterans with over 23 years of experience each, Asaya focuses on solving hyperpigmentation through its patented molecule MelaMe™, clinically proven to deliver results in 14 days. The brand has achieved 400% YoY growth and 5x revenue growth in the last year. The funds will support a new innovation center and the launch of six skincare products over the next 12 months, strengthening Asaya’s position in India’s science-backed beauty market. Read Full Article: https://lnkd.in/gNmMhUdA #RPSGCapital #OTPVentures #HuddleVentures #Skincare #Funding #Innovation #asaya

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Amit Agarwal has been appointed Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) at Croma, returning to a full-time leadership role after serving as a fractional CBO and marketing consultant for several fast-growing digital-first and D2C brands. Over the past year, he has guided startups in consumer tech, health tech, food, baby care, and ad-tech, including a health-tech venture that secured an “all-shark deal” on Shark Tank India. He has also mentored early-stage companies through T-Hub and IIM Raipur’s STEM program. With over 20 years of experience, Amit has held leadership roles at Viacom18 Media Private Limited, Google, Unilever, Jet Airways, and GSK Consumer Healthcare India. At Google, he scaled the Mid-Market & SMB Ads business to over $6B+ per quarter, while at Unilever he drove global marketing for Surf Excel, Pureit, and Blueair, leading innovations and acquisitions across India, China, and other markets. His expertise in brand building, P&L leadership, and digital transformation positions him to accelerate Croma’s next phase of consumer-led growth. #amitagarwal #cmo #marketing #croma #cromaretail #retail #electronics #viacom18 #google #unilever #jetairways #gsk #leader #leadershipannouncement

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Amit Agarwal has been appointed as the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) at Croma, marking his return to a full-time leadership role after an impactful stint as a fractional CBO and marketing consultant for several high-growth digital-first and D2C brands. Over the past year, he partnered with multiple startups across consumer tech, health tech, food, baby care, and ad-tech, driving scale journeys from 1-10 and 10-100, including a health-tech startup that secured an “all-shark deal” on Shark Tank India. He also contributed as a Senior Mentor (Apostle) at T-Hub and a Mentor with IIM Raipur’s STEM program, enabling early-stage ventures to accelerate growth. With over two decades of experience, Amit Agarwal has held senior leadership roles at Viacom18 Media Private Limited, Google, Unilever, Jet Airways, and GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare, L.P. (GSK). At Google, he scaled the Mid-Market & SMBs Ads business to over $6B+ per quarter, while at Unilever he led global marketing for brands such as Surf Excel, Pureit, and Blueair, driving category-defining innovations and acquisitions in India, China, and beyond. His diverse experience across Croma, Viacom18, Unilever, Jet Airways, and GSK reflects his expertise in brand building, P&L leadership, global marketing, and digital transformation—making him a strong catalyst for Croma’s next phase of consumer-led growth. #AmitAgarwal #Croma #Google #Unilever #Viacom18 #JetAirways #GSK #LeadershipAppointment #MarketingLeadership #DigitalTransformation #D2Cgrowth #cxolanes #AppointmentNews

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MARS Cosmetics has appointed Anmol Sahai Mathur as its new vice president of marketing, a strategic move to bolster the brand's growth in India, Mathur's extensive experience in digital marketing and brand building, coupled with his previous association with Mars, positions him to strengthen the branch's identity and expand its digital presence. Read More - https://lnkd.in/d4edw6TQ #ETBrandEquity #Mars #WhatsBuzzing Anmol Sahai Mathuur

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FAE BEAUTY, a rising star in India’s beauty industry, is making waves by achieving profitability—a rare milestone in the competitive beauty segment. The company’s innovative product range, specially crafted to suit Indian skin tones, has drawn appreciation from industry leaders including Namita Thapar. Karishma Kewalramani , founder of FAE Beauty and a participant in Season 4 of Shark Tank India, has built a brand that resonates strongly with Gen Z and young millennials. With a reported monthly run rate of ₹2.4 crore and EBITDA-positive performance, FAE Beauty stands out for its unique offerings such as its recently launched non-irritant kajal and diverse shade range. Namita Thapar praised the brand’s approach, highlighting how tailored innovation and a deep understanding of consumer needs have contributed to its success and profitability in a segment where losses are common. #faeBeauty #growth #profitability #sharkTank #namitaThapar #amanGupta #startupUpdates #startupro

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Asaya raises ₹28-Cr to build state-of-the-art skincare innovation center “We’re addressing one of India’s most prevalent unsolved skincare concerns through breakthrough research and formulations created specifically for Indian skin. It is our patented MelaMe complex and clinical results that set us apart,” said Neeraj Biyani, co-founder of Asaya. Read more :- https://lnkd.in/gvPk7jfY #BeautyTech #ConsumerBrands #IndianSkinCare #SkincareInnovation #SkinScience

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Panel: Managing Margins While Scaling — What Retailers Should Focus On 💬 “Growth is exciting, but survival depends on discipline.” Moderator: Avnish Kumar, Chairman, RAI Telangana Chapter & Managing Director, Neerus India Panelists: Arshad Dhamani, Director, Kumar Shirts Avinash Chukkapalli, Managing Partner, Popular Shoe Mart Milind Agarwal, Managing Director, Balaji Hosiery XLU Rakesh Tiruveedhula, Chief Project and Information Officer, RSB Retail India Ltd. Vikash Hisariya, Director, Vishal Peripherals Govardhan Reddy YS, Co-Founder & CEO, BEAUTE&NUTRIE Top takeaways: 🔹 Price Parity & Brand Collaboration – For multi-brand retailers, matching online offers through brand partnerships and pushing private labels helps protect margins without losing customer trust. 🔹 Value Beyond Price – Regional tech retailers stressed that after-sales service, education, and customer engagement can outweigh discounts in driving loyalty. 🔹 Category-Specific Differentiation – In niche categories like lingerie, experience, comfort, and staff training are margin builders; not all competition is about price. 🔹 Tech & Data Discipline – Chain retailers are using analytics, AI, and hyperlocal assortments to cut waste, optimise stock, and run profitable promotions without eroding brand value. 🔹 Customer Education – Wellness and beauty players are investing in expert-led in-store consultations and visual merchandising to build trust in premium SKUs. 🔹 Practical Growth Advice – Panelists agreed on the need for: • Patience and long-term vision • Unit economics before expansion • Scalable, adaptable technology • Hyperlocal marketing and influencer strategy • Viewing failure as learning fuel 💬 “Margins aren’t saved in the discount line — they’re built in everyday discipline, smart buying, and knowing exactly who you serve.” National Mart - India Ka HyperMart | Ratnadeep #RAI #HyderabadRetailSummit #RetailGrowth #ScalingSmart #RetailLeadership #Margins

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Shibin Chulliparambil Appointed Head of IT at Malabar Group. Shibin Chulliparambil has taken charge as the Head of Information Technology at Malabar Group, one of India’s largest and most respected retail conglomerates. Known for innovation, scale, and customer-first strategies, Malabar continues to redefine excellence across sectors. 1. 20+ years of IT and digital transformation leadership across global and Indian enterprises. 2. Former Head of IT at Blue Star Limited and CIO at Mafatlal Industries Limited, with parallel CEO roles at Vrata Tech Solutions (India & UAE). 3. Held diverse tech leadership positions at Cipla, from Software Engineering to IT Strategy & Solution Architecture. 4. Recognized with honors like Most Inspiring CIO of India, Security Icon, and Innovative CIO Award. 5. Strong academic mix: MBA in Cybersecurity, BCA, and executive programs from ISB and IIT Bombay. At Malabar Group, Shibin will lead secure digital transformation, tech-enabled growth, and IT innovation aligned with global expansion goals. As retail and tech converge, what role will cybersecurity and cloud innovation play in shaping customer trust and scalability? #Leadership #DigitalTransformation #RetailTech #Cybersecurity #ITLeadership #Innovation #MalabarGroup #CareerMoves #CIO #TechStrategy #EnterpriseIT #TechnologyLeadership #DigitalRetail #CloudComputing #DataSecurity #Omnichannel #SmartRetail #ITStrategy #AwardWinningCIO #ScalableTech #ExecutiveLeadership

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