MUMBAI: In the bustling bylanes of India, where kirana stores are the beating heart of daily commerce, Tohands is quietly sparking a retail revolution. The Mumbai-based fintech startup has launched the Tohands Smart Calculator V5 Silver—an AI-enabled tool designed not just to crunch numbers but to change the way India’s small retailers do business.
Unveiled on 28 May 2025 in Mumbai, the device marks a pivotal moment in Tohands’ mission to bring digital equity to grassroots retail. The company plans to digitise 1.5 lakh kirana stores across Maharashtra in the coming year, targeting key regions including Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Thane, and Vasai. Nationwide, it aims to reach one million shops by year-end.
Unlike conventional billing systems or ERP software, the V5 Silver keeps things simple. Built for shopkeepers with limited digital literacy, the calculator works both offline and online. It manages inventory, tracks expenses, integrates with barcode scanners and printers, and generates remote reports. Most importantly, it delivers AI-driven insights to help owners identify sales trends, curb losses, and improve cash flow.
“In every narrow bylane of this country, there’s a kirana store operating on trust and hustle, but without the tools that modern retail enjoys”, said Tohands founder & CEO Praveen Mishra. “The Tohands Smart Calculator V5 Silver is not just about smarter transactions—it’s about enabling these shopkeepers to save time, reduce loss, and gain control over their business”.
Built on the ‘MAYA’ principle—Most Advanced Yet Acceptable—the device is affordable, user-friendly, and designed for the realities of India’s informal retail sector. It supports integration with essential peripherals and maintains a low learning curve, making it a plug-and-play option for store owners previously alienated by complex POS systems.
Tohands, which shot to prominence after a feature on Shark Tank India, has already onboarded thousands of kirana stores over four years. It raised Rs. 3.5 crore from investors Radhika Gupta and Varun Dua on the show, along with Rs. 50 lakhs from the Startup India Seed Fund and support from Turbostart.
As Maharashtra prepares for a new wave of digital kiranas, the calculator may just become the unsung hero behind India’s next chapter of retail transformation.