MAM
DDB Mudra wins creative duties for Protinex
MUMBAI: Protinex, the leading nutritional supplement brand from the house of Danone, has awarded its creative duties to DDB Mudra, following a multi-agency pitch. DDB Mudra will bring in its expertise to strengthen the brand’s communication and architecture.
Indian diet is primarily carbohydrate-heavy and protein deficient. A 2017 research by Indian Market Research Bureau* revealed that protein deficiency in India was more than 70 per cent. Until a few years ago, adult nutrition was an ignored topic. Indians are now considering their health and wellbeing seriously.
They are gradually making themselves aware of protein deficiency and its underlaying effects on human health. Building on this insight, DDB Mudra researched this category deeply to map all the touchpoints of a consumer journey and lifecycle.
Danone India MD Himanshu Bakshi said, “Protein awareness is an important part of our brand commitment since the understanding about Protein is very nascent in India. Effective communication is a vehicle through which we deliver our promise of inspiring healthier eating& drinking habits. DDB Mudra will help us translate this promise to action as we embark on an exciting journey to create impactful communication around Protein”.
DDB Mudra West managing partner Anurag Tandon said, “Adult nutrition is a category withgrowth potential. Working with a name like Protinex is a matter of pride for us, since they not only have a long-standing reputation in the market but also a vision to further the brand in multiple ways. Our fresh perspective inhow to create consumer awareness about protein deficiency resonated well with Protinex’s goal to create relevance in this segment.”
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.
