Startup
Quartr Design is leading the digital revolution in Tier II cities
Coimbatore-based Quartr Design, a prominent branding and digital technology agency founded in 2017, is on track to achieve a remarkable milestone of Rs 35 crore in revenue. The agency has established itself as a leader in the highly competitive landscape of Tier II cities, leveraging its founders’ rich experience in marketing, branding, and technology to deliver top-notch services to clients across various sectors.
The founders of Quartr Design, Vaishnavi Venkatesh, Kumar Subramaniam, and Vigneshwaran Pitchai, collectively bring 30+ years of experience from renowned companies like Zoho and Vakilsearch. Their diverse expertise enables the agency to provide comprehensive solutions tailored to the unique needs of its clients. Venkatesh, with a Master’s in Business Management & Entrepreneurship, along with Subramaniam and Pitchai, both holding engineering degrees, forms a dynamic leadership team.
Quartr Design specialises in a wide array of services, including Shopify development, performance marketing, branding, web and mobile application development, and recently added services like video production. With a growing team of over 60 members, the agency has expanded its operations beyond Coimbatore to Chennai, further cementing its presence in the digital landscape.
Recognised clients and diverse sectors
Quartr Design has an impressive portfolio of clients, including GRT, Freshworks, Deyga, TVS Group, and Aswin’s Sweets, among others. The agency caters to various sectors, such as skincare, health and wellness, clothing and accessories, and real estate, serving clients not only in India but also in the UAE, the US, and Australia. In Coimbatore, it is a leader in the digital space and uses innovation and quality to ensure the brand stands out in the Global Forum.
Achievements and milestones
In the last seven years, the agency has reached several significant milestones. It has successfully built a strong team and been instrumental in empowering numerous women entrepreneurs to run their businesses successfully. Quartr Design has helped three brands with relatively small teams reach over Rs 35 crore in annual turnover, showcasing its effectiveness in delivering results.
The agency has also earned recognition as Shopify experts, securing a place in the marketplace. It has aided in the acquisition of an Australian-based health and wellness brand Love Thy Oils, and launched a SaaS application in the Shopify marketplace. Quartr Design participated in the angel investment round for Chennai-based SaaS startup, Zepic, which successfully raised $2.1 million in pre-seed funding. Expanding its horizons, the company has also ventured into the D2C segment.
Client trust and quality commitment
Clients choose Quartr Design for its unwavering commitment to quality and skill. The agency prides itself on working as an integral part of the brands it serves, providing the comfort of an in-house team. Starting with a single service, Quartr Design has evolved into a 360-degree service provider, allowing clients to access all necessary services under one roof. Many clients work on a retainer basis, creating an environment conducive to continuous growth and analysis.
“Our journey has been one of resilience and growth, fuelled by our commitment to our clients’ success. We see ourselves as growth partners and believe that our clients’ achievements reflect our dedication and hard work,” Venkatesh says.
This ethos has been a cornerstone of the agency’s philosophy, fostering strong relationships with clients built on trust and transparency.
Strategic decisions and growth factors
The founders of Quartr Design embarked on this journey without external consultations, driven by a shared vision and trust in one another. The agency’s initial focus was on survival, with the founders relying on freelancing income to sustain their families in the first year. Despite these challenges, they never considered quitting and embraced every opportunity that came their way.
With diverse expertise in design, marketing, and technology, the co-founders recognised the importance of strategic financial decisions. Pitchai believes strongly in “prioritising cash flow and minimising asset investments”. “We’ve always maintained a positive financial position, ensuring timely payments to their team and reasonable payment terms for clients—this has helped a 200% YoY growth,” he says.
What’s in the future?
Quartr Design has ambitious plans to scale the brands it works with to reach Rs 100 crore in revenue. The agency is focused on strengthening its partnerships to expand services and exploring new verticals across the country. It also aims to grow its team to over 100 members within the next two years while continuously innovating in product development to support the D2C segment.
Quartr Design embodies the spirit of resilience, strategic growth, and an unwavering commitment to client success. With a portfolio that includes over 100 brands, such as Parachute, D’lecta, Texvalley, Kushals, Kanakavalli,Youneek Pro Science, and Darling Retail, the agency has made substantial contributions to its clients’ performance. Its dedication and passion have attracted prestigious partnerships with platforms like Shopify, Zepic, Freshworks, PayU, and Shopflo.
As Quartr Design approaches its Rs 35 crore revenue milestone, it stands as a testament to the potential of homegrown businesses in Tier II cities. The agency’s journey reflects the transformative power of creativity, collaboration, and unwavering commitment to excellence. With its sights set on the future, Quartr Design is poised to continue making significant strides in the branding and digital technology landscape, further solidifying its role as an industry leader.
Startup
Startup news and updates: Daily roundup (November 7, 2024)
Funding news:
Enlog secures Rs 1.75 Cr in equity funding
Enlog, a Delhi-based startup specialising in AI-powered energy management and IoT solutions, has secured Rs 1.75 crore in equity funding from Vinners.
The fresh funds will be used to boost its operations and accelerate its growth in India’s energy management sector.
Enlog, a Delhi-based energy management startup, was founded in 2019 by Bharath Rnkawat and Jharna Saha, focuses on IoT and AI-powered energy solutions to optimise electricity consumption and reduce carbon footprints. So far, it has managed 11,300 MWh of electricity and reduced over 2,000 tons of carbon emissions.
With over 15,000 users, Enlog aims to reduce carbon emissions by one million tons by 2027. It plans to triple its revenue from Rs 12 crore in 2024 to Rs 40-45 crore by 2025, focusing on expanding into key Indian metro cities like Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune, and Indore.
Pulse bags $1.4M in a seed funding round led by Endiya Partners
, an advanced Agentic AI platform, has secured $1.4 million in seed funding from Endiya Partners, with participation from angel investors, including founders of Zluri and Yellow.ai, and other entrepreneurs and product leaders.
The funding will primarily focus on building a robust core team, enhancing the platform’s development, purpose-built LLMs, and Agentic AI capabilities.
It is launching its MVP in November 2024, following pilots with multiple design partners. The company plans to allocate resources for early go-to-market initiatives to establish a foothold in India and the US, paving the way for long-term growth and leadership in the AI-first product management space.
Hyderabad-based Pulse, founded in 2024, uses Agentic AI to collect customer feedback, analyse structured and unstructured data, and automate key processes like feature extraction, prioritisation, and product hierarchy creation.
Other News
DaveAI secures patent for real-time adaptive digital aisle, transforming customer engagement
, an interactive digital solutions, has been granted a patent by the Government of India for its “System and Method for Real-Time Adaptive Interactive Digital Aisle of Products.”
The patented system leverages DaveAI’s proprietary Affinity Engine, a multi-dimensional AI with an online learning genetic algorithm, powers real-time hyper-personalisation, allowing brands to craft adaptable and engaging digital customer experiences.
DaveAI combines machine learning with genetic algorithms to personalise customer interactions in real time. This allows brands to provide tailored recommendations, adapt to changing customer needs, and build lasting connections.
(The copy will be updated with the latest news throughout the day)
Startup
KL Rahul-backed Boldfit raises Rs 110 Cr from Bessemer Venture
Fitness brand Boldfit on Thursday said it raised Rs 110 crore in its series A round from Bessemer Venture Partners (BVP).
Boldfit, which sells everything from yoga mats and water bottles to protein powers and exercise apparel, plans to use the latest infusion for product innovation and brand expansion.
Boldfit, which was founded by Pallav Bihani in 2019, had earlier announced a strategic investment from cricketer KL Rahul in July. Rahul also joined the company as a brand ambassador.
“We believe sports and fitness is a rapidly growing market in India and Boldfit has emerged as an early leader in the space with its strong focus on product quality, holistic distribution, and strong brand partnerships. We’re excited to partner with Pallav and the team in their next stage of growth,” noted Anant Vidur Puri, Partner at Bessemer Venture Partners.
Boldfit had earlier outlined its plans to use the funds for the development of new product lines and enhance customer engagement through targeted campaigns and community development initiatives. Additionally, the company is also looking to optimise its supply chain and improve logistics to reduce delivery times.
Boldfit said it clocked revenue of Rs 73 crore in FY24 and expects to cross the Rs 500 crore threshold by FY26, which it had shared with Yourstory earlier.
The company currently claims to serve over one crore customers annually.
Startup
Simplilearn aims to reach EBITDA profitability in FY25
Blackstone-backed Simplilearn says it is well positioned to reach EBITDA profitability within the current financial year.
EBITDA or earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation reflects the operational profitability of the company. It focuses on the earnings generated from core operations before accounting for costs.
The company said, in a statement, that it has managed to cut down its losses by 75%, from FY23, as it focuses on achieving sustainable growth and operational efficiency. Additionally, it reported year-on-year revenue growth, with FY24 revenue touching Rs 773 crore, fuelled by pivotal initiatives taken to increase customer retention and higher referral rates.
“As we work toward profitability, we’re focused on strengthening our products to meet industry
needs, driving growth in the US and worldwide, and, above all, delivering an outstanding customer
experience. Our mission to transform lives through world-class education is always at the heart of
what we do,” said Krishna Kumar, Founder and CEO of Simplilearn.
The company has intensified its efforts in its commercial segment, particularly in the United States, through strategic partnerships with platforms, and collaborations with government bodies in Europe, Middle East, and Africa.
Simplilearn said it has significantly increased its course enrollment by doubling down on university partnerships, bootcamps, and certification training programmes.
Founded in 2010, the company last raised $45 million in a Series E round in 2022 from a consortium led by GSV Ventures.
Private equity firm Blackstone picked up a controlling stake in the company in July 2021 through a fund infusion of $250 million.
In pic: Krishna Kumar, Founder and CEO of Simplilearn
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