Inc42’s 7th D2C & Retail Summit, Shiprocket’s Stellar IPO & More

At Inc42's 7th D2C & Retail Summit 2026, industry leaders discussed how India's evolving consumer ecosystem is being transformed by quick commerce, AI-driven operations and agentic commerce. Rukam Capital's Archana Jahagirdar predicts quick commerce will expand into new verticals and horizontal categories. Brands should leverage quick commerce earnings to fuel growth in margin-rich general trade, according to Veeba founder Viraj Bahl.

Consumer brands are shifting towards hybrid distribution models that combine quick commerce speed, D2C brand control and extensive offline availability. Notable figures like Nothing India president Akis Evangelidis and Lahori Zeera's Nikhil Doda discussed the importance of offline retail, while The Bear House cofounder Harsh Somaiya highlighted the benefits of deploying AI shopping agents. These advancements have led to significant conversion growth and reduced returns.

Desi brands are capitalizing on their Indian and Himalayan origins, with Dogsee Chew cofounder Sneh Sharma and Da Milano's Shivani Malik emphasizing the importance of maintaining consistent customer experiences across markets. From a financial perspective, Shiprocket's IPO was a resounding success, debuting at a 35% premium to its issue price on both the NSE and BSE.

The company raised a substantial amount through its IPO, with a market capitalisation of ₹10,440.7 Cr by the end of its first trading day. Meanwhile, fintech startup Navi has raised over ₹955 Cr from Prosus, with plans to refile its DRHP for an IPO worth ₹3,000 Cr. BookMyShow secured a minority stake investment from KKR, while Cashfree managed to trim its net losses in FY26 despite rising operational expenses.