MAM
Dentsu Aegis bulks up; acquires Perfect Relations
MUMBAI: He has got ambition. Dentsu Aegis Network South Asia CEO Ashish Bhasin has been saying how he is going to get his group in the top two agency network bracket in India. He seems to be in a hurry to get there through the acquisition route.
Over the past two years, he has acquired at least three companies. Now, the next one is in his bag. Dentsu has announced the acquisition of the Perfect Relations group, one of India’s top-notch public relations communications firm. The price tag for this is not known, but estimates are that it is in the triple crore digit range.
The buy brings with it the parent company, Perfect Relations, and other agencies Accord Public Relations, Image Public Relations, Imprimis Life PR, India Media Monitor and Buzz. And an A-list of clients from the IT and tech sector and Fortune 500 companies like Coca-Cola, Nokia, Airtel and Honda across diverse sectors.
Perfect Relations Group has now become a member of Dentsu Aegis Network India, retaining its branding. This addition will strengthen Dentsu Aegis Network’s overall communications offering in this rapidly growing market.
Perfect Relations Group’s presence spans across 19 offices and 50 cities in India with over 500 associates, offering a full suite of core PR services including corporate reputation management, brand and marketing communications, media management and crisis management.
Perfect Relations promoter group managing director Dilip Cherian and CEO Pradeep (Bobby) Kewalramani will be joining the leadership team at Dentsu Aegis and report in to Ashish Bhasin.
Says Dentsu Aegis Network Asia Pacific CEO Nick Waters: “The PR segment in India is forecast to grow at double digits annually and having a scaled business that is well integrated to our company enables us to build on our overall strength and reputation in the market. With Perfect Relations Group’s strong quality management and established digital capabilities, we are well positioned to support our clients in an increasingly convergent environment in the country.”
Adds Bhasin: “The joining in of Perfect Relations Group moves us a huge step closer towards achieving our mission of being the second largest group in this business in India. PR is an important and integral part of the advertising and communications business in India. We look forward with excitement to having them on board.”
“In order to accelerate growth and tap into the latest global platforms and tools, we wanted to partner with a great global network.A good cultural and strategic fit is a top priority in making the decision on who we would like to join. We are very pleased that Dentsu Aegis Network is our choice partner in taking Perfect Relations Group and our spectacular team to the next level,” expound both Cherian and Kewalaramani.
Brands
Pre-seed funding fuels nailinit, India’s new-age nail care brand
Gruhas Collective Consumer Fund backs Gen Z-focused beauty startup
MUMBAI: nailinit, a community-first nail care startup targeting Gen Z and millennials, has raised Rs 2.5 to Rs 3 crore in a pre-seed round led by Gruhas Collective Consumer Fund and Marsshot VC, alongside a clutch of consumer, technology and operator angels.
Backed by entrepreneur and investor Nikhil Kamath, Gruhas Collective Consumer Fund is betting on nailinit’s attempt to give India’s nail care aisle a long overdue makeover. The fresh capital will be used to deepen distribution across quick commerce and D2C channels, build its community engine, and accelerate product innovation in a category that is high frequency but still light on strong brands.
Founded by Tanishq Ambegaokar and Shubham Singhal, nailinit is positioning itself at the crossroads of beauty, self-expression and culture. The brand wants nails to be more than a finishing touch. It sees them as a canvas for identity, content and commerce.
“At nailinit, we are building for a generation that sees beauty as self-expression, not just routine,” said Ambegaokar. “The nail category in India has largely been underserved by strong brands. This capital allows us to invest in product depth, community and distribution in a thoughtful and long-term way.”
Singhal added that while the brand’s tone may be playful, its operating focus is sharp. “This round strengthens our supply chain, expands our digital footprint and enables disciplined execution as we scale.”
The funding round drew notable angels including Shashank Kumar of Razorpay, Arjit Johri of Marsshot VC, Yash Jain, formerly of NimbusPost, Karan Jindal of Meta, Jivraj Singh Sachar of ISV Capital, Nishank Jain of Accel, Yashvardhan Kanoi, Ashwarya Garg of HYPD, Venus Dhuria of Phot.AI and Amishi Parasrampuria of The Whole Truth.
Gruhas Collective Consumer Fund fund manager Gauri Kuchhal, believes the opportunity lies in shifting habits. “Nail care remains underpenetrated in India, with consumers relying on time-intensive salon visits. As convenience and self-expression gain ground, press-on nails can unlock more frequent and experimental usage. Nailinit is well-placed to expand beyond press-ons into adjacent categories.”
The brand is currently the only nail care player in India blending product-led retail with a dedicated kiosk at Jio World Drive in Bandra, where customers can walk in for services while discovering the range. It has also built early traction across quick commerce platforms such as Zepto and Blinkit, with a launch on Instamart in the pipeline, and is available on Amazon, strengthening its omnichannel presence.
In a space long dominated by salon chairs and scattered labels, nailinit is attempting to file, shape and polish the category into something sharper. With fresh funding in hand, the startup is setting out to prove that in beauty, small details can make a bold statement.
