Bangalore, India — D2C Insider, India’s leading platform for Direct-to-Consumer (D2C) brands, recently hosted its highly anticipated Regional CXO Meet – South in Bangalore. The evening brought together a vibrant community of founders, investors, and industry leaders to share ideas, forge meaningful connections, and celebrate the ever-evolving D2C landscape.
A Vibrant Gathering of D2C Trailblazers
With D2C Insider’s mission of building a knowledge-sharing and collaborative ecosystem, the Bangalore meet reinforced the power of community-driven growth in India’s fast-scaling consumer brand market.
Key Highlights from the Evening:
The event opened with a high-energy speed networking session, where founders and leaders exchanged ideas, experiences, and future collaborations. The enthusiasm in the room set the stage for a vibrant evening of conversations.
In a refreshing and relatable fireside chat, Piyush Shah (Founder, InMobi), Sheetal Shah (Founder,Töölö ) and Tena (Founder, Coro Space) shared personal stories of building successful ventures while nurturing families. Their candid reflections offered attendees a glimpse into the real journeys behind entrepreneurial success.
The event featured two high-energy panels that tackled some of the most critical questions facing the D2C ecosystem today. “Scaling Smart: Strategies for D2C Startups to Thrive in Competitive Markets” explored actionable playbooks for sustainable growth, building strong brand identities, and navigating an increasingly complex regulatory landscape.
Meanwhile, “Funding the Future: What VCs Want from D2C Startups in 2025″ offered founders a rare glimpse into investor expectations and funding trends shaping the next wave of D2C innovation.
Key Panelist:
- Shashank Sinha, CEO, Drools
- Mohit Belani, Founder & Director, Born Good
- Shashi Kumar, Co-Founder & CEO, Akshayakalpa
- Sumir Verma, from Merisis Advisor
- Sanjay Ramakrishnan, from Multiply Ventures
- Nikhil Bhandarkar, from Panthera Peak
- Sachin Uppal, an angel investor and multi-time founder
Voices from the Community: What Leaders Said About the Event
The success of the D2C Insider Regional CXO Meet – South highlights the platform’s dedication to empowering D2C entrepreneurs. By nurturing a collaborative community and offering valuable resources, D2C Insider continues to serve as a catalyst for innovation and growth in the D2C sector.
Murali Krishnan, former President of Xiaomi India, shared his thoughts on the power of founder communities and the future of D2C brands in India. Reflecting on the spirit of entrepreneurship, he said: “Startup founders are among the most fascinating individuals — they dare to do what 99.99% of others won’t. Every founder carries a story worth sharing, and platforms like D2C Insider create the perfect environment for those stories to find momentum.”
Speaking about his passion for supporting early-stage brands, Krishnan emphasized the importance of strong support networks: “All the big brands we know today started small. Behind every success was a network of friends, mentors, and believers who helped them grow. I hope to see hundreds of such brands emerge from India, and I’m excited to be part of this journey.”
Nikhil Bhandarkar, Founder and Managing Partner of Panthera Peak, shared his appreciation for the D2C Insider community:
“D2C Insider has built a fantastic community of founders and investors. It’s a vibrant platform where real learning happens — not just through structured sessions, but through genuine interactions and shared experiences.”
Encouraging more entrepreneurs to engage, he added:
“I would highly encourage startup founders to join the D2C Insider community, stay active, and extract maximum value from the conversations, connections, and insights it offers.”
About D2C Insider
D2C Insider is India’s largest D2C community, with over 10,000 founders as members. It is a platform committed to empowering direct-to-consumer brands through knowledge-sharing, networking, and community-driven growth initiatives.
