Brands
Celio India’s gen-AI integration sparks change
Mumbai: Celio India, the French menswear brand, is creating ripples in the fashion industry by integrating generative AI across different business functions. This innovative approach not only enhances creative processes but also optimises operational efficiency, positioning Celio as a frontrunner in the realm of fashion innovation.
Leveraging AI-powered tools and algorithms, Celio has streamlined its content generation pipeline, driving efficiency and innovation while enhancing creativity and customer engagement. By harnessing the power of GenAI, Celio is able to analyse vast amounts of data to gain valuable insights into consumer preferences, trends, and behaviour, facilitating tailor-made content to resonate more effectively with their target audience. This data-driven approach enables Celio to produce personalized, high-quality content at scale, spanning across various channels, from social media to e-commerce platforms resulting in compelling storytelling and fostering deeper connections with its customers.
The fashion industry is currently at a crucial point, dealing with the twin challenges of making fashion more sustainable and accelerating innovation throughout the entire process. Celio is tackling these challenges directly by incorporating GenAI into its system. One such example is where GenAI is seen to be playing an important role in optimizing Celio’s inventory and supply chain management by enhancing operational efficiency throughout the organisation, as well as ensuring streamlined restocking procedures and reducing leftover inventory.
Celio’s adoption of AI technologies ensure highly personalised shopping experiences, suggesting products that match individual customer preferences. This personalised touch strengthens the bond with customers, boosting loyalty and enhancing the overall shopping experience.
Commenting on this innovative development, Celio India CEO Satyen Momaya said, “At Celio, we find ourselves at a pivotal moment, utilising AI to optimize both operational efficiency and foster creativity. This strategic move marks a significant step towards sustainable fashion practices. GenAI is reshaping how we generate product images and creative content, reducing time and resources. This transformative technology, coupled with GenAI’s content creation and personalization capabilities, deepens our connection with customers, enriching their shopping experience and fostering lasting loyalty.”
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.
