MAM
Havas Media swallows Simmtronics tablet account
MUMBAI: It’s another win for Havas Media India. Last night, the agency announced that it had been signed on to manage the media business of Simmtronics Semiconductors, the third ranked tablet maker in the world.
The Indian tablet market has been seeing some uber competition with the likes of Micromax, Samsung, Apple, doing battle to capture the rupee from the customer’s wallet. Simmtronics has kept a media spend of Rs 50 crore for Havas Media to help get its products and noticed by consumers.
Says Simmtronics managing director Indrajit Sabharwal: “We have very aggressive plans for the year and wanted a like-minded partner on board. It was a tough fight between equally competent agencies. Havas Media’s response, the understanding of our brief, the customized media solution recommended and their huge passion for our business was something we were looking for. We are pleased to have them as our partner and are sure they will contribute significantly to our business growth.”
“The Havas knowledge of the Mobile and Telecom industry was impressive. Moreover they have worked with prominent brands, know how to build a brand amid the clutter today and how to position it appropriately”, adds Simmtronics brand manager Smarth Bansal.
“It is a great win and further consolidates Havas Media’s position in India. It is also a very interesting category and we look forward to working with them,” says an ecstatic Anita Nayyar, CEO Havas Media Group India and South Asia.
Adds Havas Media India managing director Mohit Joshi: “The past two quarters have been good for Havas with many new business aquisitions. With this win, we are very hopeful of keeping up this momentum through this quarter as well.”
Simmtronics had recently announced a partnership with HCL subsidiary Digilife Distribution & Marketing Services Ltd (DDMS), a 100% subsidiary of HCL Infosystems, to further the distribution of its tablets in India. As part of that Digilife was assigned to reach out the tablets to teleshopping channels and chain stores across India, apart from other outlets.
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.
