MAM
Uber appoints Arnab Kumar as director of business development for India and South Asia
Mumbai: Uber, India’s leading ridesharing app, has onboarded Arnab Kumar as director of business development for India and South Asia.
Kumar joins Uber with over 17 years of experience across technology and financial services sectors. Kumar’s professional journey includes building the India operations for Coinbase and leading India fintech investments and strategic initiatives for Prosus (formerly known as Naspers). Kumar has previously served as program director at NITI Aayog where he contributed to the development of emerging technology initiatives including Aarogya Setu, India’s COVID contact tracing app. Kumar has also worked as an investment banker for Deutsche Bank in Singapore and New York. He is an alumnus of Birla Institute of Technology Mesra and Indian School of Business Hyderabad and is a CFA charterholder.
Commenting on the appointment, Uber India and South Asia president Prabhjeet Singh said, “We are delighted to have Arnab join our leadership team to strengthen Uber’s presence and ensure Uber’s ongoing success in India and South Asia. He has a strong track record of working across financial services and technology sectors. During his work at NITI Aayog he delivered impact and change at scale. Under his leadership, our business development team will continue to be a key accelerant for our partnerships and new growth opportunities.”
“I am excited to join Uber, which has transformed the way people move while creating earning opportunities for millions of people in India and across the region. India and South Asia present tremendous growth potential and I look forward to joining forces with the incredibly talented team at Uber and supporting the company’s growth ambitions in this important region,” said Kumar.
Kumar’s appointment comes as the company completes a decade of operations in India and is focused on growing sustainable mobility options. With a partnership approach to different stakeholders in the value chain like EV fleets, financiers, EV infrastructure providers and government bodies, Uber has been at the forefront of EV transition in India. Earlier this year, in the largest EV commitment yet between an automaker and a ridesharing platform in India, Tata Motors agreed to supply 25,000 EVs to fleets on the Uber platform.
Brands
Sotrue crosses Rs 100 crore ARR, rides digital-first growth in beauty market
Lean marketing and ‘glow-first’ products help brand scale fast across Bharat
MUMBAI: Sotrue, a fast-rising player in India’s beauty and personal care space, has crossed the Rs 100 crore annual recurring revenue mark, underlining the growing appetite for consumer-first, digital-led brands in the country.
The milestone comes within a relatively short period since launch, positioning the brand as one of the quicker success stories in a crowded and competitive category. Its rise has been fuelled by a tight focus on product simplicity, efficient capital deployment, and a sharp understanding of evolving consumer needs, particularly in non-metro markets.
At the heart of Sotrue’s strategy is a clear, almost minimalist insight: deliver visible “glow” without the burden of complex routines. That thinking translated into early wins, with its strobe cream quickly gaining traction and becoming a breakout product for the brand.
Speaking on the milestone, Sotrue founder Gautam Khosla said, “Reaching Rs 100 crore ARR so quickly is a reflection of staying true to one clear vision, building for real women with real needs. We focused on creating products that deliver instant results while being rooted in authenticity and trust. As we scale, our mission remains the same: to build India’s most loved glow-first beauty brand without compromising on what makes us relevant to our consumers.”
Unlike many peers that rely heavily on big-budget campaigns, Sotrue has taken a leaner route. Its marketing playbook leans on authenticity, working with influencers to create relatable, experience-led content rather than high-gloss advertising. This approach has helped the brand build both acquisition and retention without overspending.
A digital-first engine has further powered its growth, with nearly 90 percent of revenue coming from online channels. Offline retail plays a supporting role, helping the brand extend its reach while maintaining a strong e-commerce backbone.
Product development, meanwhile, has been closely tied to consumer feedback, particularly from Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. Insights gathered from these markets have shaped everything from formulations to shade ranges, allowing the brand to stay relevant and differentiated in a segment often criticised for one-size-fits-all offerings.
Looking ahead, Sotrue is setting its sights higher. The company is targeting Rs 200 crore in revenue in the coming fiscal year, alongside plans to expand into adjacent categories across face, eyes, lips and body.
As India’s beauty market continues to evolve, Sotrue’s rapid climb suggests that brands built on clarity, consistency and consumer insight may well have the brightest glow.
