The Quick Makeover Economy, MyGate Bags ₹225 Cr & More

Beauty, Delivered In 15 Mins

This year’s startup playbook seems to be moving indoors. After groceries and househelp, beauty startups are now racing to deliver salon services within minutes. So, can instant at-home beauty avoid the same profitability traps as other hyperlocal services?

The New Battleground: What was once a niche category is quickly turning into a crowded arena. While Urban Company and Yes Madam have built early leadership in the at-home beauty segment, new entrants like Snabbit and NoBroker are now also pushing aggressively. Their pitch is simple: faster service, predictable pricing, and convenience. 

This momentum is backed by fresh capital and adjacent expansion, signalling renewed confidence in the category.

The Middle Market: At-home beauty sits between two extremes: affordable neighbourhood salons and premium chains. Quick beauty platforms are attempting to carve out a middle ground, offering professionalised services at accessible prices. But the road ahead may not be easy as beauty services are built on trust, familiarity, and habit. Convincing users to switch would require not just convenience, but consistent quality.

The Supply Puzzle: The bigger challenge lies beneath demand. Platforms must attract, train, and retain this supply while balancing earnings, commissions, and working conditions. If history is anything, these issues have previously become a major flashpoint for other quick delivery players. 

The Profit Conundrum: At the same time, the economics in the at-home salon space remain tricky. Unlike househelp services and grocery deliveries, the beauty segment is lower frequency, limiting daily order volumes per professional. While higher ticket sizes offer some relief, profitability still hinges on density, utilisation, and operational efficiency.

As on-demand salon platforms pull all stops to create this new quick category, the ultimate test remains fiercely operational. Will this instant beauty rush successfully yield sustainable long-term corporate profits? Let’s find out…

From The Editor’s Desk

MyGate Bags ₹225 Cr

• The security management startup has raised $23.6 Mn in a fresh funding round from Dharana Capital to sign up more clients and bolster its platform.
• Founded in 2016, Mygate provides tech-driven security solutions for gated communities. It claims to have installed its solutions at over 27,000 gated communities and 5 Mn homes across over 50. Including the current round, it has raised $100 Mn to date.
• Going forward, the startup is mulling launching its operations in the Middle East. Mygate is also projecting 35% to 37% YoY growth in operating revenue in FY27, while staying profitable.

Decoding Zepto’s UDRHP

• The quick commerce giant has been grappling with multiple cases, including a FEMA probe into the unicorn’s ownership structure. Zepto has also been slapped with multiple penalties for complaints related to dark pattern operations and foul product quality.
• The revelations came to light a day after the startup filed its updated DRHP with SEBI. The quick commerce major’s IPO comprises a fresh issue of shares worth ₹8,010 Cr and an OFS component of up to 11.4 Cr shares.
• On the financial front, Zepto’s consolidated net loss jumped 26% to ₹5,905 Cr in FY26 as against ₹4,695.4 Cr in the preceding fiscal year. Operating revenue more than doubled YoY to ₹22,623.6 Cr during the fiscal under review.

Ex-Mirae Exec Floats New Fund

• Nearly a year after stepping down from the role of the CEO of Mirae Asset Venture Investments (India), Ashish Dave has launched his own venture capital firm to back growth-stage startups.
• Called Sanskrit Capital, the firm is targeting a corpus of ₹700 Cr to ₹1,000 Cr for its maiden fund. The fund will look to back Series B and Series C startups that have achieved product-market fit and are looking to scale.
• The upcoming VC firm plans to write cheques in the range of ₹50 Cr to ₹150 Cr and will also reserve capital for follow-on investments. While the fund will be sector-agnostic, it will focus on areas such as fintech, consumer internet, logistics, healthcare and AI.

Insolvency Plea Against Flipkart

• The Bengaluru bench of the NCLT has issued a notice to ecommerce giant after its former marketing service provider, Applabs Media, filed an insolvency petition alleging unpaid dues of ₹1.69 Cr. 
• The service provider claims that it delivered digital marketing campaigns for Flipkart and raised three invoices collectively worth ₹1.69 Cr, which were payable within 45 days. However, it claims that the dues remain outstanding. 
• This comes close on the heels of another affiliate marketing services provider Netambit Value First Services Pvt Ltd initiated insolvency proceedings against the ecommerce giant, alleging a payment default of ₹4.37 Cr.

India Quotient’s GP To Quit

• Gagan Goyal is planning to step down as the general partner (GP) at the early-stage focused VC firm. He is likely to either start a new venture or work with startups as an advisor.
• Goyal has been a GP with India Quotient since 2017. He started his career as an engineer with Hindustan Petroleum in 2004, and subsequently cofounded educational robotics startup ThinkLABS in 2006.
• Goyal’s exit comes months after India Quotient announced the expansion of its leadership team. As part of this, vice president Sahil Makkar and ex-Upside AI cofounder Kanika Agarrwal were appointed as new partners at the VC firm.
• Founded in 2012, India Quotient is a sector-agnostic VC firm, actively investing in early stage startups. The investment firm has backed more than 100 startups to date including names like ShareChat, SUGAR Cosmetics, Lendingkart and Kuku FM.

Inc42 Markets

Inc42 Startup Spotlight

How MioPods Is Turning Airports Into Workspaces

For business travellers, airports are often makeshift offices. But noise, lack of privacy, and limited infrastructure make it difficult to take calls or work productively between flights. MioPods.Space is reimagining transit with on-demand, private workspaces inside airports.

Built For Transit: Founded in 2025, MioPods.Space builds IoT-enabled private pods designed for professionals on the move. The startup removes typical onboarding barriers with a QR code-based access system – users can authenticate, pay, and enter pods instantly, without an app. Pricing starts at ₹299 for 30 minutes, making it accessible for short, in-transit usage.

Designed For Focus: Each pod is equipped with acoustic insulation, silent ventilation, ergonomic seating, adjustable desks, charging ports, and ambient lighting. IoT-enabled controls ensure seamless access while maintaining privacy, enabling travellers to take meetings or work without disruption.

Access Without Friction: Operating on a B2B2C model, MioPods is currently in the MVP stage. It has already seen over 2,000 users during pilot runs at Hyderabad airport and is in discussions to expand into Delhi and Mumbai airports. As work becomes increasingly mobile, can MioPods turn airports into an extension of the workplace?

Infographic Of The Day

Bengaluru has officially lost its D2C lead. Delhi NCR is now India’s top D2C hub by both funding and deal count, attracting over $3.5 Bn across 434 deals in the past decade. Are we witnessing a permanent shift in India’s startup power map?

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