Eyewear retailer Lenskart Solutions is gearing up to launch its initial public offering (IPO) on October 31, aiming to raise Rs 2,150 crore through a fresh issue of shares. This marks its much-awaited entry into the public markets.
'India needs at least 70,000 to 80,000 eyewear stores; our 2,000 stores are just a drop in the ocean.'
Eyewear retailer Lenskart plans to add 450 stores in the current financial year, its fastest expansion in three years, as the company prepares for a public listing that could value it at up to $10 billion. The addition would take Lenskart's store count to more than 3,150 across 14 countries, representing a 34 per cent rise from the 334 stores opened last year.
Indian startups raised a total of $1.65 billion (about Rs 14,418 crore) in funding at a median valuation of $83.2 million in February 2025, according to data from Traxcn. This brings the total funding in FY25 (April-February) to $25.4 billion, spread across 2,200 rounds, the data showed.
'Son believes India has a significant opportunity in chip design, especially in creating IP that will be uniquely Indian.'
As quick commerce gains ground, emerging direct-to-consumer (D2C) brands are betting big on digital channels to drive growth. According to Aman Gupta, co-founder of wearables brand BoAt, new-age brands in India have been expanding at a much faster pace than expected, driven by digital channels like quick-commerce. "Investors doubted the potential of D2C brands when we started, but today there are multiple brands in the startup market that are growing on the shoulders of these digital channels," Gupta said while addressing a session at Razorpay's D2C and Retail Summit recently.
The eyewear market in India is worth $3 billion.
Of the 23 companies, eight have raised funds after Shark Tank India.
The way video is being watched and monetised is changing. This is the first thing that stands out as the penetration of smart TVs continues to rise.
There are serious entrepreneurs with some innovative ideas, like the young women from Bangalore who run a business selling packaged flowers for poojas, or the enthusiastic duo who want to popularise Darjeeling tea, the couple who hope to revive traditional sari weaves, or the earnest young man who has created a smart watch for children that allows parents to track their kids and communicate with them, observes Deepa Gahlot.
Each bottle of pickle that leaves FarmDidi, headed to a consumer, has a little kahani behind it -- it's linked to the tale of a life, the life of a simple, striving village woman who created it, and that's what gives Manjari Sharma satisfaction and happiness.
With Katrina Kaif as brand ambassador, will Lenskart be able to steer customers away from local opticians and keep them loyal?
More and more companies are warming up to the idea of reverse mentoring.
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