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Tag: Aparna Thyagarajan

  • Shobitam acquires IsadoraLife

    Shobitam acquires IsadoraLife

    Mumbai: Shobitam has acquired IsadoraLife, a ready-to-wear saree brand. This move aims to make sarees more accessible globally and appeal to Gen Z. The partnership will address the challenges of draping sarees and broaden their appeal, positioning the saree as an essential item for wardrobes in India and internationally.

    The acquisition combines Shobitam’s co-founder Aparna Thyagarajan, and IsadoraLife’s founder Neha Tandon Sharma. This collaboration will drive significant investments in the ready-to-wear saree market over the next two to three years. Shobitam will use its global network to boost demand for IsadoraLife’s products.

    IsadoraLife’s workforce is entirely women, including over 45 artisans in Raipur, India, reflecting their commitment to diversity. The partnership aims to expand into new markets, enhance customer satisfaction by leveraging this expertise, and introduce easy-to-drape saree designs for Gen Z consumers.

    Shobitam co-founder & chief product officer Aparna Thyagarajan said, “It’s gratifying to see sarees pickup momentum but we often hear about the challenge of draping. And, while it may seem trivial, this simple concern was making women back out from possessing this beautiful piece of attire. Our acquisition of IsadoraLife is aimed at bridging this gap and seeing more and more women globally embrace the elegant saree, showcase our timeless culture effortlessly and take pride in being part of the Saree Revolution. Together, Shobitam and IsadoraLife are poised to further strengthen ethnic fashion globally and pave the way for an upward growth trajectory in the fashion startup ecosystem in India.”

    IsadoraLife founder & CEO Neha Tandon Sharma said, “I am excited about this new partnership with Shobitam and looking forward to seeing the growth and acceptance of Sarees like never before, both in the Indian market as well as the Global diaspora. Our partnership with Shobitam has come at the most opportune time when Indian fashion is going through an interesting transition phase with Sarees being seen as both traditional and contemporary wear. It is the epitome of clothing for Indian women and as seen at the Paris Olympics too by the Indian women contingent. Exciting times indeed!”

  • Phases raises Rs three million funding on Indian Angels OTT Show

    Phases raises Rs three million funding on Indian Angels OTT Show

    Mumbai: Davangere, Karnataka-based natural skincare startup Phases, which offers clean and effective skincare products specially formulated to cater to the skin of tweens and teens, has raised angel funding of ₹30 Lakhs against 20 per cent equity dilution, from Shobitam Inc co-founder & chief product Aparna Thyagarajan. This equity funding deal was recently secured by Phases through their participation in ‘Indian Angels’ – a revolutionary angel investment show that’s currently streaming on OTT platform JioCinema. Prior to this, Phases had remained bootstrapped primarily by its co-founders.

    Phases is the brainchild of Sannjana Raghu Amberkar, a passionate mompreneur, who started the company back in 2021, along with her co-founder and husband Raghu Amberkar. The startup will be utilizing the newly-acquired angel funds to bolster multiple strategic areas such as product development, optimization of customer experience, marketing and brand visibility enhancement, growth and expansion, among others. These in turn shall fuel Phases’ long-term aspiration and vision of becoming the most prominent player in the teens-and-tweens-skincare market in India.

    While leading her brand’s ‘pitch’ in front of the distinguished angel investors’ panel on Indian Angels show, Sannjana presented a compelling narrative and emphasized on bringing Phases’ brand purpose and mission to life. She shared how and why she had got inspired to begin her entrepreneurial journey, after realizing the lack of safe and non-toxic skincare options for her teenage daughter. Sannjana’s heartfelt story, combined with Phases’ unique positioning and focus on the teen-and-tween skincare segment, commitment to sustainability, and their meticulous product formulation and packaging, impressed all the Angels on the show. At the end of her presentation, Sannjana received two separate investment offers from two Angels – Kinetic Engineering managing director Ajinkya Firodia and Thyagarajan with the latter offering her a better deal than the former. Thereafter, Sannjana instantaneously chose to accept Aparna Thyagrajan’s offer and closed the deal.

    Speaking about the fundraise, Phases co-founder Sannjana Raghu Amberkar said, “We are thrilled to announce our first angel funding raised from ‘Angel’ Aparna Thyagrajan via the Indian Angels show, marking a pivotal moment in Phases’ journey. In Angel Aparna, we have found a mentor and partner-in-growth who truly believes in our vision. The capital infusion will not just help us in meeting our immediate business needs and expansion goals, but additionally over the long-term, it shall open many doors for strategic partnerships and enhance Phases’ market positioning. Apart from financial support, Aparna’s backing brings to us strategic guidance and industry insights as well, and her mentorship will certainly prove invaluable for us in navigating challenges, making informed decisions, and fostering sustainable growth for Phases.”

    “At Phases, our mission is to empower tweens and teens to embrace their unique journeys throughout their adolescence with confidence, authenticity, and healthy, glowing skin. Looking ahead, we at Phases are super-excited about our journey in the upcoming years, as we aim to achieve robust revenue growth and profitability, and simultaneously initiate strategic product launches and expansion into new categories. In doing all of that, we will remain fully committed towards providing safe and effective skincare solutions for teens and tweens, and continue to relentlessly strive to make a positive impact in terms of adolescent and teenage skincare practices,” added Sannjana Raghu Amberkar.

  • Aparna Thyagarajan drives investment boom in Jio Cinema’s ‘Indian Angels Show’

    Aparna Thyagarajan drives investment boom in Jio Cinema’s ‘Indian Angels Show’

    Mumbai: Renowned global angel investor Aparna Thyagarajan is making waves in the investment landscape with a record number of strategic investments in promising startups featured at Jio Cinema’s Indian Angels Show. Aparna has made investments with  eight entrepreneurial ventures, establishing her as the Angel with maximum investments including several promising women entrepreneurs

    As a seasoned investor across both US and India, Aparna’s commitment to fostering innovation and supporting transformative visions is evident in her strategic backing of these ventures, solidifying her key role as an Indian Angel in shaping the trajectory of promising startups across the ecosystem.

    Talking about the investments, Shobitam co-founder & chief product officer  Aparna Thyagarajan said, “I am honored to be a strategic investor and partner for these exceptional entrepreneurs. My commitment goes beyond providing financial support. I believe in the transformative power of collaboration and mentorship, where I am excited to play a role in guiding these innovative startups toward their full potential and giving flight to businesses. Together, we will embark on a journey of growth, innovation, and success, shaping the future of these brands and contributing to the dynamism of the entrepreneurial landscape.”

    HappieCurves founder Sonal Somani said, “I am extremely happie to have someone as versatile and experienced as Aparna as my Golden Angel. It makes me feel proud that she believes in me and my vision, and with her guidance, we will scale to new heights. It will be a lot of fun to learn from her and work with her.”

    Habbits.in co-founder Prashant Chourasia said, Aparna’s decision to invest in Habbits marks a pivotal moment for us, and we are genuinely thrilled to have her on board. Her wealth of experience will help us navigate challenges, identify opportunities, and refine our strategic vision. The global potential for Habbits is enormous, and her insights into international markets, understanding of consumer trends, and network of connections will be crucial in establishing our presence across borders. Very much like her own venture Shobitam, we want to build for the world, from India”.

    We at Shakti wearables are super thrilled to onboard Aparna ma’am as our angel investor and mentor. Her expertise and leadership skills has done wonders for Shobitam and we are grateful for her support. Aparna ma’am not only liked our business but was also so connected to the vision and the cause at Shakti wearables which gets us more motivated and we look forward to work together with her to emerge bigger and better.” added, Shakti wearables founder Srishti Sharma.

    Aparna’s dedication extends beyond financial backing, as she champions women entrepreneurship. In addition to her investments, she has established the Shobitam Centre for Women Entrepreneurship at BITS Pilani, reflecting her commitment to nurturing and supporting women entrepreneurs.

    In a notable partnership, Aparna has collaborated with several of the Indian Angels in the show to jointly invest in many brands. This collaborative effort emphasizes her commitment to fostering innovation and achieving success within the startup ecosystem. Her involvement in the Jio Cinema’s Indian Angels Show not only highlights her prowess as a prolific investor but also showcases her role as a champion for inclusive and diverse entrepreneurship. Aparna’s visionary approach continues to inspire others to contribute to the growth and evolution of the global startup landscape.

  • Shobitam announces strategic communication partnership with Tute Consult

    Shobitam announces strategic communication partnership with Tute Consult

    Mumbai: Shobitam, the global ethnic fashion brand, on Monday appointed an integrated marketing and communications firm, Tute Consult, to bolster its presence in the Indian and global markets.

    Tute Consult will be responsible for developing a holistic communication strategy to amplify the brand’s mission and establish Shobitam’s brand image and awareness amongst its fast-growing base globally.

    Speaking on the partnership, Shobitam co-founder & chief product officer Aparna Thyagarajan said, “We are thrilled to be associated with Tute Consult as our strategic communications partner. I am certain that Tute Consult, through their extensive industry knowledge and experience, is poised to enable the right communication tools for Shobitam and be our partners in every step. We are looking forward to a mutually fruitful association and cannot wait to embark on this exciting journey.”

    Tute Consult founder Komal Lath added, “We love what Shobitam has to offer and are thrilled to work with them to build a world-class global ethnic fashion brand that we are all proud of. The fashion category is ever evolving, and it’s great to see novel concepts and ideas germinate into beautiful selections with designs that give us impetus to tell their stories. We’re excited and look forward to some great strategic collaborations and conversations to amplify Shobitam’s beautiful mission and vision to democratise ethnic fashion globally.”