Announcing The D2C & Retail Summit — Shaping The Future Of New Commerce In India

Driven by the spending power of 190 Mn+ online shoppers, India’s D2C ecosystem is undergoing a rapid transformation, rewriting what scale, loyalty, and distribution look like in 2025.

From a VC funding lens, India’s D2C sector closed 2024 with $595 Mn, which has already been outpaced by the momentum of 2025. Just a few months into the year, some of the largest deals in the ecosystem have taken shape. 

Drools became the first Indian pet care company to enter the unicorn club. In another landmark deal, HUL acquired skincare brand Minimalist for INR 2,955 Cr. On the funding front, fashion label Snitch raised $40 Mn, Farmley and Foxtale secured $40 Mn and $30 Mn respectively, while Pilgrim brought in $23.3 Mn, signalling strong investor appetite across categories.

​​Whether through FAST42 Ranking or D2CX,  Inc42 has been a driving force behind India’s D2C boom — spotlighting breakout brands and backing founders at every stage, from hands-on learning for early-stage entrepreneurs to curated retreats for growth-stage leaders.

A key pillar of our efforts is The D2C Summit, which has grown from a virtual gathering in 2021 to a high-conviction in-person summit by 2024. In 2025, we are back, but as the D2C & Retail Summit.

Why The Shift From D2C To D2C & Retail?

As consumer behaviour evolves, the lines between digital-first D2C brands and traditional retail are fading fast. Digital-first brands like Mamaearth, Plum, and Snitch have gone beyond D2C — expanding into brand outlets, kiranas, and modern trade formats. 

At the same time, legacy giants like Tata, Reliance, and Marico are borrowing from the D2C playbook — embracing agile GTM strategies, influencer-led marketing, and hyper-personalised CX, while also backing new-age brands through strategic investments and acquisitions.

Scheduled for July 25 at The Oberoi, Gurugram, The D2C & Retail Summit 2025 will bring together 300 handpicked D2C and retail industry leaders, investors and ecosystem enablers under one roof to shape the next phase of new commerce in India. 

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The New Commerce Era Is Here

According to Inc42 estimates, India’s D2C market is projected to cross $300 Bn by 2030, making up 75% of the country’s $400 Bn ecommerce opportunity. This growth is no longer defined by whether a brand is digital or physical — it’s about how effectively it integrates both.

Even Gen Z, India’s most digital-native generation, is hybrid in behaviour. While they rely on quick commerce platforms like Zepto, Blinkit, and Instamart for convenience, they also actively seek in-store experiences in categories like personal care, groceries, and home products. Studies suggest that nearly 50% of Gen Z prefers offline in these verticals.

That’s why omnichannel is no longer optional, it’s the default growth strategy.

It unlocks multiple revenue streams, boosts brand recall, and allows brands to scale across Tier II–IV markets and international shelves. But winning here demands more than distribution muscle — it needs tech-first execution.

Forward-thinking brands are already tapping AI and real-time data to build intelligent discovery journeys, manage inventory, and create high-retention experiences across channels.

As D2C and retail converge, new commerce is emerging as the next operating system for Indian retail — one where tech, capital, consumer intelligence, and distribution intersect.

Presented by Google and supported by the likes of Shadowfax, Nitro, Simpl, Peak XV, Rukam Capital and TMRW, the D2C & Retail Summit 2025, Inc42 will spotlight this evolution — decoding how new-age brands can scale smarter, faster, and deeper by building for both Bharat and the global consumer.

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What To Expect At The D2C & Retail Summit

Instead of broad, thematic discussions, this year’s summit is built around practical insight and operator-led narratives — designed for founders, CXOs, who are actively shaping India’s commerce infrastructure.

 

Here’s what makes this edition worth tuning into:

• Beyond Vanity Panels: Expect 15+ sessions where the focus is on challenges, playbooks, and trade-offs — whether it’s scaling from 0 to 100 stores, managing cash-efficient omnichannel rollouts, or integrating AI into personalisation and inventory.
• Contrasting Perspectives: With a mix of new-age D2C disruptors and traditional retail giants on stage, attendees will get a rare window into how the two worlds are learning from (and competing with) each other. Think founders of breakout brands sharing stage time with heads of retail at legacy conglomerates.
• Insights Backed By Execution: The speaker lineup features 40+ leaders across D2C brands, quick commerce players, retail conglomerates, and investors — people who are not just predicting trends but actively executing at scale.
• Curated Interactions: The invite-only format will enable closed-door interactions, peer learning, and strategic conversations that don’t get drowned out by scale.
• Learning That Sticks: From understanding unit economics of omnichannel GTM to decoding what Tier II–IV consumers want in 2025, the summit’s goal is to equip attendees with actionable frameworks — not generic foresight.

And everything else about navigating the complexity that follows scale for India’s retail brands — from hiring and offline distribution to brand building, retention, and sustainable growth.

Whether you’re scaling a D2C brand or transforming a retail legacy, this is your chance to be in the room where the future of Indian commerce is being written. 

As we officially unveil the D2C & Retail Summit 2025, attendee applications are already pouring in. With limited spots available, this is your chance to secure a seat at the industry’s most influential gathering. Don’t miss out.

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