The fashion industry is undergoing a major transformation, with tech start-ups leading the charge. From manufacturing to marketing, these start-ups are redefining how customers purchase and wear apparel. With their technology-driven solutions, these start-ups are playing an integral role in making the industry more competitive and consumer-friendly. Shopping for the latest trends has never been so easy with these start-ups enabling customers to shop directly from their own homes, while their cutting-edge manufacturing techniques mean customers can now enjoy higher quality garments. Wearable start-ups are also creating clothing that can monitor various health metrics like heart rate and marketing firms use data analytics to hone in on customers more precisely. All these start-ups combined are pushing the boundaries of what is achievable in the fashion world and paving the road for a brighter, more revolutionary future.
Zapero
(Retail Tech Start-up)
What they do: Zapero is a B2B SaaS platform for fashion and lifestyle brands to enable speed in the supply chain. The platform leverages Generative AI-based models and tools for designing and a network of strategic mid-size agile manufacturers to deliver design to product at speed. With quick turnaround, brands can launch closer-to-market collections and sell at full price without discounts. The low MOQs also allow brands to test designs and quickly replenish the hot styles, thereby reducing wastage and increasing profitability.
With the growth of Gen Z buyers, e-commerce fashion cycles have shortened and the number of cycles have increased from 2 in a year to 12. Zapero’s value proposition lies in its alternative tech-enabled supply chains that empower brands to compete in the growing e-commerce space. The AI- models and tools are purpose-built for fashion workflows which enable the next generation of designers to bring their ideas to life. The platform also offers data analytics for demand planning based on real-time analysis of demand from brands for efficient operations on the factory floor. Currently, the platform has a supplier network of 30+ manufacturers across different product categories. The network partners are powered by Zapero’s tool such as dsign.ai to either produce their own designs (ODMs) or design to Zapero specifications (OEMs). Currently, Zapero’s customers include one of Europe’s biggest retailers and also India’s largest fashion e-commerce brand. The company has raised angel investment in 2022 and is currently raising US $ 500K in a fresh round.
Founders: Vaibhav Chugh and Krishna Chaitanya Puttagunta
Founded: 2022
HQ: Hyderabad, Telangana
Funding Raised: US $ 100K
STITCH MES
(Manufacturing Tech Start-up)
What they do: STITCH MES is a manufacturing technology firm that specialises in providing cloud-based SaaS software solutions to optimise factory production processes. Its primary focus is to offer a complete set of software functions to digitise, standardise, optimise and govern operational processes and work activities across manufacturing plants. STITCH MES provides real-time data and analytics to streamline manufacturing process, improve production efficiency and provide real-time visibility into end-to-end operations.
The company’s software solutions cover various aspects of manufacturing including shopfloor control, inventory management, planning, production, quality control and predictive maintenance related plant activities.
By seamlessly integrating with existing systems, STITCH MES enables manufacturers to capture and contextualise all data related to the transformation of raw materials into finished goods, giving companies enterprise-wide, real-time visibility into plant operations. That visibility allows companies to perform data-driven continuous improvement as well as track products and trace materials in minutes. It uses a reusable, model-driven approach to standardise best practices, with KPIs reporting across multi-site operations and can easily scale from edge to enterprise to shorten the time-to-value for operational excellence initiatives.
STITCH MES uses cutting-edge technologies and methodologies to help manufacturers achieve their business goals. With a strong emphasis on providing real-time data and analytics, STITCH MES assists manufacturers in making informed decisions, improving their efficiency and ultimately increasing their bottom line.
Founders: Durga Charan Das and Divye Tela
Founded: 2020
HQ: Jaipur, Rajasthan
Offices: Gurgaon and Canada
Funding Raised: Bootstrapped
BitLiberte
(Mar Tech Start-up)
What they do: BitLiberte is revolutionising the fashion industry by introducing a decentralised autonomous organisation (DAO) based ecosystem that utilises NFTs to issue unique ownership of physical outlets, products and digital services related to fashion clothing. By using blockchain technology, BitLiberte is bridging the gap between fashion and finance, allowing individuals to invest in fashion products and earn a return on their investment through on-chain votes.
“One of the key features of the BitLiberte platform is its ability to issue unique ownership of physical outlets, products and digital services related to fashion clothing through NFTs and DAO. This means that users own a piece of a physical store, a specific product or a digital service related to fashion clothing to earn dividends from the revenue while making crucial decisions about the business using public consensus transparently on the Blockchain.”
With the ability to rent NFTs and more, BitLiberte is providing a new level of accessibility and inclusivity to the fashion industry, opening up investment opportunities and ownership to a mass audience. The company’s innovative approach is transforming the way we think about fashion and finance and is setting the standard for the future of the industry.
Founder: Vaibhav Seth and Juveria Rasool
Founded: 2021
HQ: New Delhi
Funding Raised: Undisclosed
Intelligence Node
(Retail Tech Start-up)
What they do: Intelligence Node is a retail analytics company recognised globally for its expertise in developing innovative, AI-driven analytical products and services for global brands and retailers. The company employs a SaaS-based delivery model focused on price optimisation, assortment planning, digital shelf optimisation and brand compliance. Intelligence Node generates real-time, competitive analytics through its proprietary, cutting-edge technology and AI algorithms. This enables the company to be a strategic partner to Fortune 500 retail customers by fuelling them with valuable insights into market trends, competition and consumer behaviour that drive growth, market share and profitability.
As a premier independent data powerhouse, Intelligence Node has developed the world’s largest pricing dataset delivering unmatched accuracy. Proprietary AI-driven algorithms are packaged in an intuitive user interface that simplifies onboarding. The solution provides easy-to-use plug-and-play capabilities and offers customers the flexibility to pivot quickly in order to adapt to rapidly evolving consumer preferences. Today, Intelligence Node is feeding the growth of more than US $ 600 billion in retail revenue globally and serves category leaders like Walmart, Nestle, Lenovo, SSENSE, LVMH, Prada and many others.
The Intelligence Node solution is crafted for the ever-changing consumer commerce landscape. With its focus on retail innovation, expertise in big data analytics and machine learning and commitment to providing exceptional customer service, Intelligence Node is poised to remain a leading player in the retail-tech industry for years to come.
Founders: Sanjeev Sularia and Yasen Dimitrov
Founded: 2012
HQ: Mumbai, Maharashtra
Funding Raised: US $ 13.2 million
Wiztales
(Mar Tech Start-up)
What they do: Wiztales focuses on creating a Metaverse platform named ALTYUG that caters to the retail industry, events and education sector. ALTYUG aims to provide a seamless experience to users by bringing virtual and physical worlds together. Additionally, they offer Wizit, a DIY event app that simplifies event planning and execution for users. Wizit offers features such as registration, ticketing, and event buddy for participants. Their offerings also include Wiz365, a comprehensive event management service that provides end-to-end event planning and execution solutions. Its vision is to revolutionise the way events are organised and experienced by seamlessly integrating the Metaverse and Wizit platforms. Wiztales has executed 1000+ virtual events with approximately one million viewers. It was named India’s Best Virtual Events Platform at the Wow Awards Asia 2022 and has ISO 27001 certification for maintaining the highest quality standards.
Founders: Krishna Malhotra and Sumanyu Soniwal
Founded: 2018
HQ: Bengaluru, Karnataka
Funding Raised: Bootstrapped
Addverb Technologies
(Manufacturing /Robotic Start-up)
What they do: Addverb is a leading global robotics company, providing intra-logistics automation solutions, operating from five continents with a multidisciplinary team of more than 800 engineers and R&D experts.
The company’s comprehensive product portfolio comprises a range of innovative solutions that combine both fixed and flexible automation, including autonomous mobile robots, carton shuttles, picking technologies, automated storage and retrieval systems, powered by its intelligent enterprise software. These solutions are designed to streamline warehousing processes to bring efficiency, reliability and accuracy to its clients’ operations.
Addverb takes a customer-centric approach to automation by discovering the right automation solution for each customer’s specific problem, designing the solution, manufacturing the product and developing and executing the project. Moreover, the company provides dedicated after-sales support to ensure long-term success of its automation solutions. Additionally, Reliance Retail has its 54 per cent share amounting to US $ 132 million.
Founders: Sangeet Kumar, Prateek Jain, Bir Singh, Satish Shukla, Amit Kumar
Founded: 2016
HQ: Noida, UP
Funding Raised: US $ 142 million (Pre-Series + Series-A + Series-B)
Intelisa
(Retail Tech Start-up)
What they do: Intelisa is a retail tech start-up that provides cloud-based digital signage solutions using underlying IoT (Internet of Things) and Machine Learning (ML) technologies to manage digital displays. The company aims to help retailers move from traditional in-store static communication methods such as mannequins, posters and banners, to digital displays, which highlight in-store products effectively, have a direct impact on top line and unlock a host of advanced and intelligent features.
With Intelisa’s digital signage solution, retailers can manage and control their digital displays remotely, from anywhere and at any time. The solutions offered by Intelisa are designed to be user-friendly, intuitive, easy-to-install and cost-effective.
One of the key features of Intelisa’s digital signage solutions is the use of advanced IoT and ML technologies, which allows for a more engagement-driven customer experience. From in-store social media campaigns to enabling virtual trials of products, from intelligently and automatically highlighting the right products in-store to driving secondary revenue through advertisements, Intelisa brings forth a host of advanced features that power digital signage communication.
Intelisa is incubated and backed by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, through its IoT incubator and is also part of a global incubator-accelerator in North America. This support has helped the company develop and refine its technology and business model, as well as provide access to global resources and networks, essential for scaling up.
Founders: Alok Dukle and Anvesh Mantena
Founded: 2019
HQ: Hyderabad, Telangana
Funding Raised: Undisclosed amount from global angel groups and funds
Nykoas Technologies
(Wearable Tech Start-up)
What they do: Nykoas Technologies is a company that specialises in the development of wearable textile-based products that have applications in both defence and civilian industries. Their range of products include wearable fabrics that offer protection against a variety of threats, such as ballistic and stab threats, while still being lightweight, flexible and breathable.
These fabrics have been specifically designed for use in military and law enforcement applications, where protection and comfort are critical. The fabrics can also be used in a variety of civilian settings to provide protection against environmental factors such as heat, cold and moisture.
Additionally, a variety of civilian wearable clothing and accessories improve comfort and provide protection against environmental factors such as heat, cold and moisture. Wearable sensors and monitoring systems have also been developed by Nykoas Technologies for use in medical and fitness applications.
Also, in collaboration with iDEX, it is working on a project for Indian Army, building a wearable monitoring T-shirt that analyses physiological and bio-mechanical data in real-time remotely to judge the health status with the help of ECHO or Bluetooth low energy amd which can be displayed and analysed on Nyokas softwares.
Founders: Ajay Sangwan, Rohit T,Vivek Jose
Founded: 2017
HQ: Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu
Funding Raised: Bootstrapped
TrusTrace
(Traceability Tech Start-up)
What they do: TrustTrace is a technology company that specialises in creating innovative solutions for supply chain transparency and traceability. The company provides a range of software solutions that allow businesses to track and monitor their supply chains real time, providing greater visibility and control over their operations. Its technology enables businesses to track and trace products from the point of manufacture to the point of sale, helping brands discover and manage risks, improve ESG performance, substantiate product claims and meet regulatory compliance.
The company’s software solutions are based on AI and blockchain, and through its open architecture, the TrusTrace platform integrates seamlessly with retailer, manufacturer and supplier systems, as well as other third parties such as certification agencies, lifecycle datasets and other sustainability solution providers.
Founders: Madhava Venkatesh, Shameek Ghosh, Saravanan Parisutham, and Hrishikesh Rajan
Founded: 2016
HQ: India
Funding Raised: US $ 7.7 million
FanPlay IoT
(Wearable Tech Start-up)
What they do: Fanplay IoT is a platform that connects the physical and digital world of sports by leveraging the power of IoT and wearable technology. It aims to offer a seamless and integrated experience to sports enthusiasts, allowing them to engage with their favourite sports in new and exciting ways. Fanplay IoT offers solutions to enhance fan engagement, optimise sports operations and provide real-time insights into various aspects of sports. It also provides solutions to enhance fan engagement such as real-time match statistics, interactive fan games and social media integration. These solutions enable fans to connect with their favourite sports and players in new and exciting ways. Additionally, it has also ventured into smart wearables and launched smart jersey that uses Advanced Textile and IoT technology for fitness, training and high performance sports.
Founder: Mohan Kumar R
Founded: 2020
HQ: Bengaluru, Karnataka
Funding Raised: Undisclosed
XR Couture
(Mar Tech Start-up)
What they do: XR Couture is a digital platform that creates hyper-realistic 3D digital wearables for avatars in multiple metaverses and online games. With XR Couture, users are able to browse and purchase a variety of digital fashion collections, including apparel, footwear and accessories The platform enables brands to enter the metaverse and create engaging virtual experiences to increase awareness, deepen relationships with customers and tap into a new generation of potential customers. Through highly realistic and customisable digital wearables, brands create unique and immersive virtual experiences that go beyond the limitations of the physical world. By leveraging the platform’s capabilities, brands create highly engaging and immersive virtual experiences that help them stand out in a crowded digital landscape.
Founder: Subham Jain
Founded: 2020
HQ: Chennai, Tamil Nadu
Funding Raised: Bootstrapped
NeuroPixel.AI
(Retail Tech Start-up)
What they do: NeuroPixel.AI deploys cutting-edge generative AI in the fashion e-commerce space. It specialises in generating photorealistic synthetic human models and its technology simplifies the process of cataloguing apparel. Its clients can shoot any apparel on just a mannequin and its technology renders the apparel on different models of different sizes and poses. The solution can reduce cataloguing costs by 30 per cent and process times by 90 per cent, while enabling catalogue image-based personalisation based on size, ethnicity and age. Lastly, the same technology can be used for a high-fidelity virtual try-on solution where customers can visualise themselves in the apparel they are considering to purchase. It is backed by Indian and international investors including Flipkart, Entrepreneur First and Inflection Point Ventures.
Founders: Arvind Venugopal Nair and Amritendu Mukherjee
Founded: December 2020
HQ: Bengaluru, Karnataka
Funding Raised: US $ 1.31 million
Avataar
(Mar Tech Start-up)
What they do: Avataar is reimagining the visual discovery journey for online shoppers by developing cutting-edge, interactive XR+AR shopping experiences. Through the use of AI-driven Computer Vision technology, the company is enabling customers to find exactly what they need faster and more effectively than ever before.
One of Avataar’s key innovations is its AI-led Computer Vision platform, which uses deep learning techniques to identify and understand images and other visual data. This enables the company to create low-cost, photorealistic 3D and AR experiences that are life-size and incredibly immersive. By using this technology across all customer touchpoints, including web, in-app, marketplaces and social channels, Avataar is fundamentally altering the way we engage with digital commerce.
By creating immersive experiences that allow customers to interact with products in a more natural way, the company is making it easier for shoppers to find what they need and make informed purchasing decisions.
Founders: Gaurav Baid, Sravanth Aluru
Founded: 2016
HQ: Bengaluru, Karnataka
Funding Raised: US $ 52 million
