MAM
Bates Asia acquires Enterprise Nexus; new entity called Bates Enterprise
MUMBAI: WPP’s operating company Bates Asia agreed to acquire, subject to regulatory approvals, a majority stake in Enterprise Nexus Communications Private Limited.
The new merged entity will be called Bates Enterprise.
This latest development continues WPP’s strategy of developing its networks in fast growing markets and sectors. In India, the WPP Group includes leading advertising agencies JWT, O&M, Rediffusion DY&R and Grey Worldwide. The merged entity now becomes the fifth WPP agency network in the top 10 in India.
Under the agreement, Enterprise Nexus founder Mohammed Khan will assume the role of executive chairman while Subhash Kamath will be the CEO of Bates Enterprise.
The Bates Enterprise combine will have offices in all the main metros of India and will offer a complete range of communications services. Apart from the main advertising business, the Bates India group will also include 141 Worldwide for through-the-line marketing services, as well as public relations and exhibitions.
Commenting on the merger Bates Asia non executive chairman Ranjan Kapur said, ‘This is a perfect fit, no conflicts. Perfect management and creative match and a growth in both geographical spread and 360 offerings. I am very bullish on the future of Bates Enterprise, as it will now be called.”
Bates Enterprise chairman designate Mohammed Khan says, “The new combined agency will offer a powerful alternative to major advertisers. It’s a very important development in what has been a very exciting career.”
Kamath says, “It’s a great opportunity to create something really fantastic. It’s an awesome team, terrific brands, and we’re really looking forward to doing some path breaking work for our clients. We’re all extremely charged up.”
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.
