Master 10X D2C Growth In 12 Weeks — Announcing The 2nd Cohort Of D2CX

D2C is a vibrant yet challenging ecosystem. In India, new-age brands grapple with several pain points, including fierce competition in the digital landscape, high customer acquisition costs and the complexities of scaling operations while maintaining superior customer experience.

Many struggle with effective inventory management, supply chain issues and meeting consumers’ expectations for quick deliveries. 

In response to these pressing challenges, and after extensive conversations with hundreds of founders, earlier this year we launched the D2CX — a hands-on hybrid course designed to help early stage D2C brands’ founders learn proven scaling techniques from India’s top 1% founders. 

Over the course of the last two months of conducting the first cohort of D2CX, which brought together 48 dynamic founders, Inc42 identified a crucial knowledge gap in the market — which can be bridged with the right mentorship, guidance and support from experienced founders.

“We are a one-year-old brand that initially started offline. However, we then began investing in our online journey but our biggest challenge was the lack of experience. When I went through the D2CX curriculum, I realised there were many detailed topics, such as brand positioning and developing a GTM strategy, that we needed to learn to elevate our online presence,” said Udayan Vatsa, cofounder, Grainova.

Grainova, which offers ethically sourced millet-based grains, flours and breakfast options, was part of the first cohort of D2CX that was launched in April this year. 

“Two years into the business, we had built a community of 70K women on Instagram and were growing 50% month-on-month,” said Chanaya Gupta, founder, Lazo. However, as a founder, she was stuck and needed guidance, and D2CX proved to be a game-changer for her. 

Gupta added, “There was market pressure to grow, but I didn’t know where to start. During the programme, we learnt how to build a D2CX brand from scratch. The sessions were very in-depth and intricate. Speakers came from every industry, and it felt like they could relate to our pain points. It wasn’t just academic knowledge; it was very practical.”

Looking at the success of D2CX and to empower early stage D2C brand, we are glad to announce the second cohort starting on August 13. The 12-week programme is designed to help founders withstand downturns, understand changing market dynamics (& consumer demands) and ecosystem shifts, ultimately allowing them to scale their revenues by 10x.

D2CX Cohort 2 aims to empower founders with a clear business model, a tailored growth plan, an expanded professional network and an unparalleled learning experience.

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Why D2CX?

Established D2C brands have leveraged the first-mover advantage to secure their positions. Nevertheless, the D2C market’s projected growth to $300 Bn by 2030 presents immense opportunities for newer players.

The opportunity is not without its challenges, though. Intense competition means increased spending on marketing for brand visibility and a constant need for portfolio expansion. 

Additionally, consumer habits are evolving and this requires continuous improvement and adaptation. Amid these pressures, many early stage brands experience declining sales and eventual closure if they don’t adapt to changing consumer preferences. 

This is where D2CX comes into the picture — not only to help brands solve scaling roadblocks but also to bring the market experience and expertise of people who have been there and done that.

D2CX is designed to empower the next generation of D2C founders to navigate modern-day challenges. But in the larger scheme of things, it extends Inc42’s vision of fuelling the D2C ecosystem and establishing India as a global powerhouse of consumer brands.

We have achieved this through various initiatives. In the last four years, we have closely monitored the D2C ecosystem, producing over 3,500 articles, 20 in-depth research reports, six impactful conferences and three FAST42 initiatives to recognise India’s fastest-growing D2C brands.

We have empowered hundreds of D2C founders, operators and enthusiasts with invaluable insights and knowledge. Now, with D2CX, we plan to offer personalised experiences and build a community of D2C stakeholders.

For this, Inc42 has curated a 12-week roadmap for participating founders to master the art of D2C.

The programme begins with an in-person orientation to help fellows get acquainted with their peers and instructors. Over the next 11 weeks, 20+ D2C experts will cover topics like creating a business model, building a compelling brand, growth modelling, omnichannel strategies, streamlining the supply chain, scaling operations, cultivating the early team, and fundraising strategies.

Additionally, there will be weekly assignments, reviews and feedback sessions to track progress.

In week 12, Inc42 will hold an in-person convocation where fellows can meet top D2C founders, network and make valuable connections. The hybrid nature of the programme offers the flexibility to learn online while maintaining the in-person interaction necessary for building meaningful relationships within the ecosystem.

Who Is D2CX For?

We invite ambitious D2C founders with at least INR 5 Lakh in monthly revenues and an operational website. This programme is designed to meet the needs of new-age brands, offering opportunities to find cofounders and team members, build their network among angel investors and VCs and connect with a strong peer group.

Additionally, fellows will receive Inc42 Plus Membership, granting them access to over 100 industry reports, invitations and discounts to premier events like The D2C Summit and substantial startup deals and discounts worth over $100K from leading companies.

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