Brands
Tie Delhi-NCR to host D2C Summit on future of e-commerce
200 founders and investors to map the next phase of India’s D2C boom
NEW DELHI: India’s direct-to-consumer playbook is getting a strategy huddle. On 25 February, more than 200 founders, investors and operators will gather at Tie Delhi-NCR’s D2C Summit to discuss how the country’s $100 plus billion opportunity could shape the next chapter of online retail.
Following the success of its inaugural edition, the Summit returns with a sharper focus on the forces redefining digital-first and omnichannel brands. From lifestyle and fashion to food, personal care and Bharat-focused ventures, the event promises a cross-section of the country’s fast-moving consumer ecosystem.
A select group of 60 founders will take part in closed-door roundtables aimed at honest conversations around capital, mentorship and early-stage funding. The day begins with a founders and funders breakfast featuring investors from Faad Ventures, Fluid VC, InfoEdge Ventures and Sauce VC, setting the tone for a day built around candid exchanges rather than polished pitches.
The agenda reads like a roll call of India’s consumer brand builders. Founders from emerging Gen Z-focused labels will share the tricks behind staying relevant in an era of short attention spans, while seasoned operators from brands such as Clovia, Rage Coffee, DeHaat and SleepyCat will unpack the realities of scaling across both online and offline shelves.
The Summit will also spotlight the engines powering this growth. Speakers from Google, Nixi and Skye Air Mobility will discuss the infrastructure behind discovery, domains and delivery. A dedicated session on AI-led workflows will explore how automation is quietly becoming the new profit lever for digital-first brands.
An open-commerce lens will come into focus during a session led by ONDC’s Rohit Lohia, while Fireside Ventures’ Kannan Sitaram will speak on building durable consumer businesses without burning through capital.
Tie Delhi-NCR executive director Geetika Dayal, said the Summit arrives at a pivotal moment for the sector. She noted that today’s brands are competing in a market shaped as much by data and distribution as by product and storytelling. The aim, she said, is to bring together leaders who are not just reacting to change but setting the direction.
Backed by partners including Cashfree Payments, Masters’ Union, Zoom, Cloud Ambassador, Base and Skye Air Mobility, the Summit is positioned as a meeting ground for ideas, investment and the next generation of consumer brands.
For founders looking to decode the future of commerce, it may well be less of a conference and more of a collective reality check. And perhaps, a glimpse of the next breakout brand in the making.
Brands
Bajaj Consumer Care FY26 profit rises to Rs 193.7 crore
Revenue climbs to Rs 1,092 crore as profit grows 49 per cent YoY
MUMBAI: Hair today, growth tomorrow Bajaj Consumer Care Limited seems to have found its shine again, posting a sharp jump in profitability even as it doubled down on brand spends and expansion. The company reported a net profit of Rs 193.7 crore for FY26, marking a strong 49 per cent rise from Rs 130.1 crore in FY25. Revenue from operations also grew to Rs 1,092.2 crore, up from Rs 942.8 crore a year earlier, signalling steady demand momentum across its portfolio.
For the March quarter, profit stood at Rs 64.1 crore, compared to Rs 31.5 crore in the corresponding period last year, while revenue rose to Rs 308.3 crore from Rs 243.5 crore.
The performance came despite a notable increase in spending. Advertising and sales promotion expenses climbed to Rs 168.3 crore in FY26, up from Rs 137.8 crore in FY25, reflecting continued investment in brand building. Other expenses also rose to Rs 151.3 crore from Rs 134.2 crore, indicating a broader push towards growth.
Operating efficiency, however, held firm. Profit before tax increased to Rs 234.8 crore in FY26 from Rs 157.7 crore a year earlier, supported by disciplined cost management across materials and inventory.
On the balance sheet, the company’s total assets expanded to Rs 959.1 crore as of March 31, 2026, compared to Rs 931.9 crore a year earlier. Other equity rose to Rs 780.3 crore, reinforcing a stronger financial base.
Cash flow from operations saw a significant uptick, reaching Rs 196.9 crore in FY26, nearly three times the Rs 67.9 crore recorded in FY25, highlighting improved working capital management.
However, the year also saw aggressive capital allocation. The company spent Rs 190.2 crore on share buybacks, contributing to a net cash outflow of Rs 196.5 crore from financing activities. Cash and cash equivalents stood at Rs 6.8 crore at the end of the year, down from Rs 25.6 crore.
Even as investments in subsidiaries and assets continued, the numbers suggest a company balancing growth ambitions with shareholder returns keeping one eye on expansion and the other on efficiency.
With margins improving and revenue steadily climbing, Bajaj Consumer Care appears to be combing through the competition with renewed confidence.
