Ripplr Raises $3 Mn In Series A From Zephyr Peacock

Bengaluru-based logistics and distribution startup Ripplr has raised $3 Mn in Series A funding round from private equity fund Zephyr Peacock India Growth Fund and Chand family office, Yukti. Existing investor 3one4 Capital also participated in this round.

Ripplr was founded in June 2019 by Abhishek Nehru and Santosh D. It offers an AI/ML-based distribution platform that bridges the gap between brands and unorganised retail, solving for both distribution and information asymmetry at both sides. It further helps its customers optimise operations across the value chain.

The company deploys predictive analytics to manage demand and inventory for both brands and retailers, providing real-time information on sales orders, inventory and delivery status through customised dashboards. The brand uses these analytics with suggestive planning algorithms to reduce wastage and loss of sale at retail endpoints.

It currently has established a network around more than six cities — including NCR, Mumbai, Pune, Chennai and Hyderabad — and works with more than 6K retailers across the countries. Its clientele includes Dabur, Reckitt & Benckiser, Britannia, McDonald’s, Tata, Patanjali, Too Yum and Godrej Consumer.

Prior to this, it had raised an undisclosed amount in a seed funding round led by 3one4 Capital and Sprout Venture Partners to strengthen its tech and infrastructure.

The Series A funding comes on the heels of strong growth and execution, Ripplr claims to have noted in the last few quarters due to the disrupted supply chain amidst the pandemic. The company added that re-establishing the supply chain to provide a higher degree of reliability became a significant challenge during this period.

Cofounder Abhishek Nehru explained, “The distribution network is mostly regional in nature, and the strength and consistency of operations is heavily dependent on each individual distributor. Consistency, penetration depth, and reliability became top priorities for brands in re-establishing their supply chain networks.”

Ripplr plans to build a tech platform that will enable authorised distributors with business, finance, analytics and operation support. It aims to become an asset-lite tech-led distribution company in India by 2023.

“Retail distribution in India is on the cusp of a technology-led transformation. The distribution network continues to be broken and unorganized. The need for speed, technology, and reach will become critical for the success of brands. FMCG companies and emerging consumer brands will increasingly partner with tech-driven distribution businesses and use their internal resources for branding, marketing, and advertising,” Zephyr Peacock’s Pankaj Raina added.