Brands
Tohands unveils AI-powered calculator to digitise 1.5 lakh kirana stores in Maharashtra
MUMBAI: In the bustling bylanes of India, where kirana stores are the beating heart of daily commerce, Tohands is quietly sparking a retail revolution. The Mumbai-based fintech startup has launched the Tohands Smart Calculator V5 Silver—an AI-enabled tool designed not just to crunch numbers but to change the way India’s small retailers do business.
Unveiled on 28 May 2025 in Mumbai, the device marks a pivotal moment in Tohands’ mission to bring digital equity to grassroots retail. The company plans to digitise 1.5 lakh kirana stores across Maharashtra in the coming year, targeting key regions including Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Thane, and Vasai. Nationwide, it aims to reach one million shops by year-end.
Unlike conventional billing systems or ERP software, the V5 Silver keeps things simple. Built for shopkeepers with limited digital literacy, the calculator works both offline and online. It manages inventory, tracks expenses, integrates with barcode scanners and printers, and generates remote reports. Most importantly, it delivers AI-driven insights to help owners identify sales trends, curb losses, and improve cash flow.
“In every narrow bylane of this country, there’s a kirana store operating on trust and hustle, but without the tools that modern retail enjoys”, said Tohands founder & CEO Praveen Mishra. “The Tohands Smart Calculator V5 Silver is not just about smarter transactions—it’s about enabling these shopkeepers to save time, reduce loss, and gain control over their business”.
Built on the ‘MAYA’ principle—Most Advanced Yet Acceptable—the device is affordable, user-friendly, and designed for the realities of India’s informal retail sector. It supports integration with essential peripherals and maintains a low learning curve, making it a plug-and-play option for store owners previously alienated by complex POS systems.
Tohands, which shot to prominence after a feature on Shark Tank India, has already onboarded thousands of kirana stores over four years. It raised Rs. 3.5 crore from investors Radhika Gupta and Varun Dua on the show, along with Rs. 50 lakhs from the Startup India Seed Fund and support from Turbostart.
As Maharashtra prepares for a new wave of digital kiranas, the calculator may just become the unsung hero behind India’s next chapter of retail transformation.
Brands
Kingfisher signs three-year IPL partnership
Packaged water brand signs on as ‘good times partner’ for 2026–28 cycle
MUMBAI: Kingfisher Premium Packaged Drinking Water is betting big on cricket’s biggest stage, sealing a three-year partnership with the Board of Control for Cricket in India to sharpen fan engagement at the TATA Indian Premier League.
The brand, owned by United Breweries, will serve as the official “good times partner” for the men’s IPL from 2026 to 2028, extending a relationship that began with the Women’s Premier League. The move signals a broader push to embed itself deeper into live sport, with a focus on immersive, consumer-led experiences rather than conventional sponsorship visibility.
At the heart of the tie-up is a suite of fan-first activations spanning broadcast, stadiums and digital channels. These include the “Kingfisher Bird Cam”, offering a branded spider-cam perspective during live matches, and the “Good Times Zone”, an in-stadium entertainment hub during play-offs aimed at amplifying match-day buzz. The brand will also back IPL fan parks, elevate public screening experiences and run digital contests tied to key moments through the season.
Vikram Bahl, chief marketing officer, United Breweries, said cricket in India “is more than a sport, it is a shared cultural moment”, adding that the IPL brings that energy alive at scale. “For Kingfisher Premium Packaged Drinking Water, being present at the heart of these moments, in partnership with the BCCI, is a natural extension of what we stand for. Through this association, we aim to enrich how fans experience the game… making every match more immersive, social and memorable,” Bahl said.
Devajit Saikia, honorary secretary, BCCI, said the IPL “has always been at the forefront of redefining sports entertainment and fan engagement”. He added that the collaboration would fuse cricket fandom with “innovative fan experiences that extend beyond the stadium”, helping create memorable moments for audiences nationwide.
For United Breweries, part of the HEINEKEN group, the play is clear: move from passive branding to active participation in the fan journey—on screens, in stands and across social spaces. With millions tuning in and turning up each season, the IPL remains the country’s most potent marketing theatre. The question now is whether “good times” can translate into lasting brand recall in a market where visibility is easy, but engagement is hard-won.
