MAM
MEC launches MEC Touchpoints
MUMBAI: MEC, a global media agency has launched MEC Touchpoints, a tool that builds on MEC’s knowledge of the consumer purchase journey combined with global media-survey data from the recently launched GroupM LIVE Panel.
MEC Touchpoints is built around the Active and Passive stages of the purchase journey, as defined by MEC Momentum, the agency’s proprietary approach to understanding and quantifying how consumers make purchase decisions. Combining the strategic framework of MEC Momentum with data from LIVE Panel, GroupM’s global survey of media and consumer insights, MEC Touchpoints identifies the communication touchpoints that are most valuable to a brand, across any one of 15 categories in 30 countries.
In contrast to the common assumption that there are general rules about which touchpoints perform particular roles regardless of category, MEC Momentum studies reveal that touchpoint influence is category-specific. Even within a single category, touchpoints play different roles for the same consumer, depending on where they are on the purchase journey. With the launch of MEC Touchpoints, MEC puts these findings to use to help brands determine which exact touchpoints will have the greatest influence over consumers at different stages of the purchase journey, and which present the best opportunity for growth.
Commenting on the launch, MEC Chief Analytics and Insight Officer Stephan Bruneau, said, “All of our clients face exactly the same challenge: how can they create brand growth that outpaces their competitors? MEC Touchpoints gives us an immediate read on understanding our clients’ business, allowing us to create strategies and ideas that cut through the noise.”
MEC Touchpoints is powered by data from LIVE Panel, GroupM’s consumer panel built from Lightspeed GMI’s global panel of 5.5m consumers.
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.
