Priyang Agarwal 🥇

PhonePe's Indus App Store has been making inroads in the Indian market. Do read this story from Inc42 Media and Suprita Anupam about how the competitive landscape in India is evolving, and if new app stores would have an impact on the dominance of the Google Play Store in India. Check out my observations and comments and share your views on whether Indus could become The Atmanirbhar App Store of India. Read the article here;

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2021: Only grocery delivery app in India with 10 minutes delivery 2024: Competitor chasing the '10 minute' brand segment Zepto is the only player sticking to its original promise - and is clearly acing it Scaling up a grocery delivery business is particularly challenging in India. And adding up a unique attribute, as huge as this –  has clearly been game changing for Zepto. Success didn’t come easy to Zepto too, There was a time when all the Q-commerce players faced backlash & people questioned the safety of drivers. Some brands stopped claiming the delivery time altogether, from “groceries in 15-30 minutes”, they went to “groceries in minutes” But Zepto didn’t, it went on to install a myriad of dark stores across locations, and is already serving superfast deliveries in 10 cities. Top 3 factors that helped Zepto drive exceptional growth over a very short span of time: - Captivating Customer Experience: The platform served a deeply engaging user experience and the service promise was being consistently fulfilled – a powerful combo. - Outstanding Retention: All thanks to near-perfect buying journey, Zepto achieved a retention rate which was considered only to be a fantasy for the industry earlier. - Not slowing down: More dark stores and continuous geographical expansion at the same time helped the startup acquire customers in huge numbers. Zepto cracked the key to scale in the quick commerce space by constantly growing at the same pace, and not compromising customer satisfaction at the same time – simple yet not easy. A perfect example of go big, go fast – it is surely a fascinating study for the space creators. No matter the circumstances, the brand didn’t let go of its biggest differentiator, eliminating all the question marks experts had put to its launch. What do you think is going to be the future of grocery delivery space in India? #casestudy #growth #startup

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Q-Commerce overtaking traditional e-commerce? Currently we are seeing a big boom in terms of the different SKUs being sold in Quick commerce apps like Zepto, Blinkit, etc. - Atomberg Technologies 's fans - Sony's PS5 - Samosa, Chai and what not - Digital Gold from Jar! Zepto is in talks to raise $300m for its broader ecommerce play. While Swiggy is preparing to file for an IPO this year, incumbent Flipkart is readying its entry into quick commerce. Zomato has invested $240 million in Blinkit over the last one year. Taking a step back, the lines between quick commerce and traditional e commerce have started to become increasingly blurred with QCom pretty much catering to every needs! Also, multiple reports suggest that QCommerce can potentially become bigger than traditional e commerce in India!  Case in point : According to Goldman Sachs, the valuation of Blinkit is greater than Zomato's core food delivery biz! Non-grocery boom in Q-Commerce: Categories including beauty, toys, health and electronics are witnessing robust sales growth on quick-commerce platforms overall. While the overall base for the new categories is still small, aggressive expansion by these players is starting to ensure a dominant presence for these categories. Plus AOV is higher which also comes with better margins, making it a win-win! Case in point: Zepto - 2x sales MoM in segments such as toys and electronics accessories - Beauty category expanded 3x QoQ - ~15% of Zepto’s $1.2bn annualised gross sales currently comes from non-grocery products (Source: Goldman Sachs) For several D2C quick commerce has become the fastest growth channel as well as the platform with highest customer engagement This is definitely a positive for the consumers and the Q-Commerce players, but is everything on the up and up?   As the demand for space on quick-commerce platforms skyrockets, niche D2C cos in segments like FMCG, beauty and personal care, and health and fitness are agreeing to pay a 30-45% commission on sales, besides shelling out on advertising and discounting on these Q-Com platforms. On top of the commissions, brands are also regularly spending around 20% of their total sales on ads on the platforms, and discounting their products by about 20-25% (totaling 60-70% revenue!). This is in stark contrast to the 10-20% commission that large FMCG cos pay these platforms reflecting the intense competition for visibility. The brand's scale and comparison with competitors are crucial considerations when it comes to new listings. On the positive side, smaller D2C brands have seen 40-60% total revenue coming from Q-Commerce compared to ~10-20% from traditional ecommerce, which is surprising! Essentially, Q-com currently has a BIIIG Bargaining power against new D2C brands and can essentially make or break their businesses! Is this sustainable on the long run? #ecommerce #quickcommerce #india #zepto #businessmodel #d2c #startups #LIPostingChallenge

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Yesterday, got this opportunity to attend CMO Collective Event by Google here in Mumbai Here are a few key takeaways 1. AI is here to make life simpler and quicker for marketers. Creative personalization and adaptation that usually takes time can now be achieved with ease and much lesser time. More time for designers to think than to scramble for making so many adapts Copywriters can leverage AI to come up with performance oriented communication that enable marketers to quickly deploy, learn, discard and re-deploy 2. There is an ecosystem that helps build actionable plan to implement and adopt AI. Rajat Mathur is running GenAI catalyst progam to guide businesses 3. Digital Media buying is becoming much simpler with the help of AI by leveraging first party data and combining it with 3rd party insights. We marketers don't need to make assumptions and hunches anymore 4. The role of CMO is now expanding and growing bigger. Understanding of technology gives us a better edge and make much more informed decisions. What are your thoughts? Would like to know more about how you are using AI to make life simpler. Thanks Megna Shankaranarayanan for the invite. Look forward to adopt some of these for 5paisa It was nice meeting old colleagues/friends Jennifer Pandya Manish Dhamankar and cherishing good old memories Made new connections Ashish Mishra Suvarna Athavale . It was pleasure meeting you. Look forward to stay connected

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Snapdeal's Downfall: A Cautionary Tale 🤯 Once a fierce competitor to Flipkart, Snapdeal's wait n wathc and unwillingness to sell led to its near-demise. 🔻 Despite having a solid product offering, Snapdeal's refusal to adapt and embrace the offers of a buyout let the valuations down. A stark reminder that in the fast-paced world of business, flexibility is key to staying ahead of the curve. 💪 #EcommerceInsights #StartupLessons #BusinessStrategy #10croreclub

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I have been running a B2B business since last 5 years and started a D2C business 1 year ago. Key lessons learned are:- D2C business might seem attractive but generating a good cash flow is challenging Scaling products with AOV <1000 is very difficult in India. If you are planning to start a D2C-FMCG product business only think in long term. Anything big can be made in 10-20 year period only. Cheers ✌

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🚨Hiring Alert: Urgently looking for video editors to join our YouTube team at Finshots & Ditto Insurance. 3 reasons why you shouldn't ignore this opportunity - 1) Within just 6 months of launching, we're nearing 10,000 subscribers on Ditto's YouTube. We also recently crossed 50k on FinshotsTV (our 2nd channel). Video content is going to be our next big bet, and the earlier you join, the better profile growth you get. 2) Our video editor - Arjun Nair - told me what makes Ditto different from his previous workplaces. He said Ditto gave him direction and structure but also allowed him creative freedom. It’s funny because most creative folks wouldn’t put “structure” and “freedom” in the same sentence. And this is exactly the kind of culture we're building out here. 3) We're not just another boring insurance channel. We're shaking up the insurance playbook in India with engaging podcasts, bite-sized explainers, and creative video content to make understanding and choosing insurance easy and fun. You can apply now by heading over to our careers page on Ditto (link under my profile). PS: Share this post with someone who you know is crushing it at editing. #hiring #job #content

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Why has Zomato acquired Paytm’s movie ticketing business, Paytm Insider? At an estimated ₹300-350 crore in annual revenue, the move ticketing business would add just ~2.5% to Zomato’s top-line, to acquire which it’s expected to trump-up ₹2,048 crore. So, why would Zomato be interested in what appears to be a minuscule acquisition? The answer may lie in Zomato’s future growth trajectory. Its core food business is experiencing a slowdown, as showcased in the latest quarterly results wherein gross order value suffered a decline, which although may have been marginal, is in the opposite direction of the growth trajectory which stock market investors would want to see. While to some the fall may appear to be just a blip, to others it appears that the food delivery industry’s growth phase is coming to an end as penetration of serviceable cities nears maxing out. As a result, industry onlookers’ focus has in recent times switched towards Blinkit, Zomato’s quick-commerce arm, with many analysts/brokerage houses forecasting Blinkit to outgrow Zomato’ core food delivery business. With Zomato’s core food business generating profits and Blinkit delivering growth, their one-two punch combo should surely satiate investors’ demand for growth, right? Yes, but only for today. While Blinkit is powering Zomato’s growth at present there remains an uncertainty as to whether it will be able to continue to do so in future, because it remains to be seen whether quick-commerce will find significant traction in tier-2 and -3 cities as they max out their penetration in metro cities. As a result, Zomato is in need of a fourth engine, beyond its online food ordering, Hyperpure by Zomato, and Blinkit businesses, to carry forward its growth trajectory into the future. That fourth engine could be Zomato’s “Going-out” vertical, comprising of dining and live events. When you open Zomato’s mobile app, you by default end up on its “Delivery” tab, which is natural as you’d expect that to be the primary reason as to why a user would open the app to begin with. Next to it is the “Dining” tab for when we want to eat out and use Zomato to book a discounted table or avail a payment offer while transacting our bill. However, how often do you go one tab further and open the “Live” tab that’s the farthest to the left? In my case, I honestly can’t recall. Unsurprisingly, the revenue generated through that “Live” tab accounts for not even 10% of Zomato’s revenue. So, how could that emerge as its silver bullet? Growing its share of the events & ticketing pie could enable Zomato to increase its share of captive users’ wallets by cornering another segment of their lifestyle expenses. Zomato already has millions of users who can be further monetised via charging a convenience fee for ticketing, serving ads, etc. Enter, Paytm. Read the full story: https://lnkd.in/g5e-UCYU

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What Factors Drive People to Make Purchases? Ever wondered why you absolutely HAD to have that new gadget or why you chose one brand over another? Let’s see the factors that influence consumer behaviour and how you can leverage them to boost sales. 1. 𝐄𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: ➡ We like to think we're rational beings, but let's face it – emotions drive a lot of our decisions. ➡ Remember how Apple doesn't just sell phones; they sell a lifestyle? ➡ That's emotional marketing at its finest. ➡ When a brand makes you feel something – whether it's nostalgia, excitement, or belonging – you're more likely to reach for your wallet. 2. 𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐟: 𝐖𝐞'𝐫𝐞 𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐅𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐝. ➡ Ever noticed how a busy restaurant seems more appealing than an empty one? That's social proof in action. ➡ We're wired to follow the crowd. ➡ This is why influencer marketing and user reviews are so powerful. 3. 𝐒𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐲: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐎𝐌𝐎 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫. ➡ "Limited time offers!" "Only 2 left in stock!" Sound familiar? ➡ Scarcity taps into our fear of missing out (FOMO). ➡ Its why flash sales work so well. ➡ We're more motivated by the idea of losing out on an opportunity than by the prospect of gaining something. 4. 𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: 𝐈𝐭'𝐬 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐀𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐞, 𝐈𝐭'𝐬 𝐀𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞. ➡ Here's a secret: people don't always buy the cheapest option. ➡ They buy what they perceive as the best value. ➡ This is why premium brands can charge more – they're selling an experience, not just a product. ➡ As a marketer, your job is to communicate value, not just features. 5. 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞: ➡ In our fast-paced world, convenience is king. ➡ This explains the explosive growth of services like Amazon Prime, food delivery & quick commerce. ➡ If you can make your customer's life easier, you've got a winning formula. 6. 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐈𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐲: ➡ Brands aren't just selling products; they're selling identities. ➡ Think about it – why do some people swear by Apple while others are die-hard Android fans? ➡ It's not just about the tech; it's about what the brand says about them as a person. 7. 𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲: ➡ In a world of fake news and scams, trust is currency. ➡ Building credibility through consistent quality, excellent customer service, and transparency can turn one-time buyers into lifelong customers. Have you noticed any of these factors influencing your own purchases? Or maybe you've successfully leveraged them in your marketing strategies? Let me know in the comments below! #ConsumerPsychology #MarketingInsights #BuyingBehavior #BrandStrategy

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Lenskart.com recently received a new round of funding from Temasek and Fidelity Investments. If I were to analyze the reasons behind this success from the lens (pun intended) of retail operations, it's no surprise why this brand is scaling so well.  . Here are the top 5 reasons why Lenskart is an exemplary D2C brand mastering retail 👇👇👇 . . . #retailinnovation #Lenskart #retailstoredesign #storeofthefuture #retailtrends #experientialretail #retailcollaboration #D2Cretail #Lenskart #Funding #RetailSuccess #D2C #CustomerExperience #TechInnovation #ProductFocus #ValueShopping #RetailStorytelling #IntuitiveDemos

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Till 2 years ago — there were no “D2C” events in 🇮🇳 The entire Consumer/D2C ecosystem has come a long way, post-COVID. I’m added to a new WhatsApp D2C group every day & see a new D2C event on my calendar every week. But there’s always something special about Inc42 events: Vaibhav Vardhan was kind enough to invite us to his D2C event in Gurgaon recently: A power-packed day with panels + sessions by the BEST speakers in town. The conversation with Mohit Goyal, Akash Agrawal, Shauravi M. & Renu Bisht was all about scale + speed, all of them have built exceptional consumer businesses, by focussing on the ‘BEST CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE’. I’ve spent the last 2 years harping about why quick deliveries are a MUST for brands & marketplaces — but the ecosystem is already onboard. It’s all about HOW & HOW SOON brands can go faster with their delivery TATs.    We met some of our favourite customers (brands) + new ones who are breaking the mould. These events are really eye-opening for us, especially when we meet strong founders building large consumer businesses, & that too from Tier 2/3 cities + remote towns. As I always say — India’s Consumer Story has just begun 🔥 We’ve all seen so many brands grow into 100 & 1000 crore businesses, got acquired by larger giants, & a few of them even got listed. - In 2021, Arjun Vaidya sold Dr. Vaidyas to RPSG Group & that was India’s 1st D2C exit. - A year later, Mohit Sadaani & Malika Datt Sadani sold The Moms Co to the Good Glamm Group & that was one of the largest D2C exits ever. - Recently, Varun Alagh & Ghazal Alagh listed Mamaearth on the Stock exchanges. These are just a handful - the list of successes is unending. I’m excited for the next 10 years 🚀 PS: I’ve done 50+ panels & talks in the last 2 years across cities, but this one was special - having my colleagues in the audience was a different feeling ❤️ PPS: If you’re looking to go faster, & reach your customers on the SAME DAY: DM me to get started #D2C #Inc42 #Zippee #Ecommerce

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When you are entering a competitive market, brand positioning is an essential tool unless you wish to beat by pricing. Elements like brand identity, symbols, color pallate & most importantly positioning doesn't require budgets but deep understanding on "how" you wish to be different. Examples - You want to position around "Being one with nature" or "Mighty & Gentle" Once this is decided "distribution" of this positioning at scale will require budgets. So essentially the journey starts with creativity & then with budgets depending on your revenue goal. Worry less about budgets & focus more on differentiating your brand from others. #brandpositioning

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Had an amazing time at the India D2C Summit & Awards! The session explores how e-commerce brands are utilizing social media to drive sales, build brand loyalty, and stay innovative. 🔸Influence at scale: Brands are working closely with influencers, not just for product placements but to genuinely connect with audiences, making partnerships feel authentic. 🔸AI-backed personalization: Leveraging algorithms that understand customer behavior can do wonders. It’s about using data to tailor experiences and make customers feel understood, valued, and eager to return. 🔸Marketplace strategies: Today, it's about visibility. With so many choices, making your brand seen and preferred in marketplaces is no longer optional; it’s essential. The panelist shared real-world, proven strategies – from influencer partnerships and shoppable posts to AI-driven personalization. Walking away with insights, new connections, and a fresh perspective on scaling e-commerce in 2024 and beyond! #EcommerceGrowth #D2CSummit #D2C

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Pocket FM’s Explosive Growth: A Marketing Playbook for Success. Pocket FM is an India-based audio streaming platform that focuses on creating and distributing engaging content in the form of audiobooks, podcasts, and audio stories. It was launched in 2018 by founders Rohan Nayak, Nishanth KS, and Prateek Dixit and operates primarily from its headquarters in Bengaluru, India. In the world of audio streaming, Pocket FM has set a benchmark in FY24, achieving a staggering ₹1,015 crore in revenue with a jaw-dropping 496% YoY growth! This is not just a business milestone, it’s a masterclass in marketing strategy. Here’s how this Indian startup turned up the volume and captured the world’s attention: Key Lessons for Marketers: 1️⃣ Subscription-Driven Revenue Model: Pocket FM’s pivot to a subscription-first strategy is a game-changer, delivering a 10x increase in revenue from ₹160 crore to ₹883 crore. The lesson? Predictable income streams are the backbone of scalable success. 2️⃣ Hyper-Engaged User Base: With 100 billion minutes of streaming and 15 million paid subscribers, Pocket FM proved that engagement drives growth. They didn’t just attract listeners—they retained them with AI-powered personalization and curated content. 3️⃣ Global Expansion with Local Flavor: Breaking boundaries, Pocket FM entered key markets like the U.S. and Latin America, leveraging localized strategies while maintaining their core strengths. The result? They’ve turned global markets into growth engines. 4️⃣ Data-Driven Creativity: Pocket FM’s reliance on AI tools for content recommendations highlights the power of tech-driven personalization. The future of marketing lies in understanding your audience as deeply as they understand themselves. For the Marketing Community: As marketers, we often look for inspiration in success stories. Pocket FM’s journey reminds us that: 👉 A customer-first mindset, backed by data and tech, can unlock massive potential. 👉 Scaling globally doesn’t mean abandoning local roots—it means weaving them into your strategy. 👉 The rise of subscription models shows a shift in how consumers perceive value and convenience. Let’s take a moment to appreciate how Pocket FM is reshaping the narrative for Indian startups on the global stage. Are we ready to craft our own marketing symphonies? #Marketing #Strategy #Audio #Streaming #Global #Expansion #Subscription #Economy #PocketFM #AI #Personalization #Advertisingandmarketing #Radio #Business #Innovation

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If you are a D2C Brand then take out a minute & it'll change your life forever !! Are you paying 30% - 45% commissions to third party platforms for selling your product ?? Are you tired of not getting Repeat Order ?? Are you bleeding on your business ??Then you should definitely use Speed Tech's AI Voice Assistant. Our AIVA Elevates D2C Brands in India !! In this highly competitive D2C market, building strong connections with early adopters is critical !! Speed Tech's AI Voice Assistant is a game-changer !! It enables a seamless feedback collection from initial customers while incentivizing the future purchases through exclusive discounts on the brand's website in a very subtle manner !! The AI-powered interface engages with customers in personalized conversations by talking like a human, it gathers valuable insights into product experiences, preferences & suggestions !! It leverages Natural Language Processing, the AI ensures human-like interactions, fostering trust & rapport with customers !! Once feedback is collected, the AI Voice Assistant offers Personalized Discount Codes for customers to redeem on the Brand's website. This strategy not only encourages repeat purchases by these customers but also saves the brand from hefty commissions associated with e-commerce/quick-commerce platforms. It maximizes the brand's Profitability without any headache !! Not to forget that the impact on Customer Retention & Loyalty is significant !! It definitely gives a higher LTV by nurturing longlasting relationships through this innovative approach !! D2C brands can drive higher engagement, sales & control over pricing strategies !!! Speedtech.ai's GenAI Voice Assistant is revolutionizing how D2C brands in India cultivate customer relationships.... By combining AI-powered feedback collection & exclusive website discounts, brands can enhance customer experience, increase sales & maximize profitability without relying on third-party platforms. Brands like Nutsmojo Spice Story Bhasho Speed Finance have trusted us & seen the magic. Please visit Speedtech.ai now & fuel your growth !! Divjot Singh Muhammad Anas Dipeeka Pawar Shubham Bhuyarkar

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Would you pay ₹387 for something if you could get it for ₹287? The body lotion I wanted was priced the same on Amazon, Blinkit, and Instamart — ₹387 everywhere except for Zepto. While the list price was ₹387, they added ₹100 Zepto Cash to my wallet, effectively making it ₹287. No coupons to hunt for, no terms and conditions. Just a straight discount in my wallet. Naturally, I went with Zepto. Who wouldn't? But let's pause for a minute and think. Discounts like this make us happy as customers, but what does it mean for businesses? Can this approach be profitable in the long run? Quick-comm platforms like Blinkit, Instamart, and Zepto are fighting for attention and loyalty in a crowded market. The ₹100 wasn't the seller's discount; it was Zepto's tactic to win me over, and it worked. But here's the real question: Does this build loyalty, or does it just train us to hunt for the next best deal? (Remember, I had opened four apps in the first place.) Winning customers is one thing. Keeping them without burning cash is another. Quick-comm is reshaping how we shop, but the challenge is clear — growth and profitability don't always go hand in hand. What's your take? Are we loyal customers or just bargain hunters waiting for the next big offer?

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Dear Arindam - for VCs - learning from their portfolios or learning of founders who have executed successfully are key.. I have been gaining a lot of perspective from your detailed “execution” of several “first of its own” kind of experiments and how they have fared.. This consolidated summary post should be used, researched as a goldmine resource by young & aspiring founders and VC firms portfolio teams equally :-) There is always room for doing better everyday and we look forward to continued learning & sharing by you - our best !! Lets #SucSEEDtogether !!

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