Go Unlimited with Magzter GOLD
Get unlimited access to 10,000+ magazines, newspapers and Premium stories for just
Try GOLD - Free
Startify founder eyes Gulf expansion for Indian D2C brands
Mint Mumbai
|August 31, 2023
Sudhir Syal has promoted Irish band Westlife’s concert in Dubai and sold premium eyewear in the Middle East. He will soon promote corn chips as well as fashion and personal care products in the region. But there’s a big difference this time.
Syal, who established BookMyShow and Lenskart in the region as the chief executive officer of their Middle East operations, is now set to facilitate the entry of several other Indian brands in the Gulf under his “go-to-market accelerator" startup Startify.
Startify’s objective, says the founder and CEO of the six-month-old startup, is to help launch and scale direct-to-consumer (D2C) Indian brands that are keen to tap into the $250-billion retail market of the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
“Lenskart opened my eyes to the fact that Indian brands can succeed in this market... I realized that other companies can benefit from the Lenskart playbook as they scale in the MENA region," he said. “That’s where Startify came from."
This story is from the August 31, 2023 edition of Mint Mumbai.
Subscribe to Magzter GOLD to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 10,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
MORE STORIES FROM Mint Mumbai
Mint Mumbai
These firms will sell shovels during semaglutide gold rush
Weight-loss drug semaglutide, also used to treat type-2 diabetes, will face its next big turning point in early 2026, when patents held by Novo Nordisk expire in India.
1 mins
November 27, 2025
Mint Mumbai
'First-gen founders take bigger investment risks'
India’s markets are minting a new class of first-generation millionaires: entrepreneurs who’ve scaled ideas into Initial public offerings (IPOs) and unlocked unprecedented personal wealth.
2 mins
November 27, 2025
Mint Mumbai
EV, hydro boom to power 6x rise in battery storage by ‘47
India is preparing to meet a projected cumulative battery energy storage capacity of nearly 3 terawatt-hours (TWh) by 2047 across electric mobility, power, and electronic components, according to two people aware of the development, with electric vehicles (EVs) expected to contribute a third of the demand.
2 mins
November 27, 2025
Mint Mumbai
Candidates using AI? No, thanks, say IIT recruiters
As the annual placement season dawns at the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), colleges and recruiters are working to bar artificial intelligence (AI) tools and prevent cheating at test venues, a concern that first rose last year.
3 mins
November 27, 2025
Mint Mumbai
Taxpayer base soars, but return filings lag sharply: CBDT data
India’s income tax base is growing faster than the number of those conscientiously filing returns, driven by the expanding reach of the tax deducted at source (TDS) system, according to latest data from the central board of direct taxes (CBDT).
3 mins
November 27, 2025
Mint Mumbai
Market nears peak on dollar tailwind
Stocks jump 1.2%, but futures rollovers signal weak conviction
3 mins
November 27, 2025
Mint Mumbai
SP Eyes Tata exit to cut debt costs
Debt-laden Shapoorji Pallonji Group is banking on Tata Trusts softening the stance on its potential exit from Tata Sons to reduce its borrowing costs, two people aware of the matter said.
2 mins
November 27, 2025
Mint Mumbai
MO Alternates launches its maiden private credit fund
The %3,000 crore fund has drawn capital from family offices, ultra-HNIs and institutions
3 mins
November 27, 2025
Mint Mumbai
HP to cut jobs after profit outlook miss
HP Inc.gave a profit outlook for current year that fell short of estimates and the company said it will cut 4,000 to 6,000 employees through fiscal 2028 by using more AI tools
1 mins
November 27, 2025
Mint Mumbai
Apple set to regain top smartphone maker spot after 14 yrs
Apple Inc.will retake its crown as the world’s largest smartphone maker for the first time in more than a decade, lifted by the successful debut of a new iPhone series and a rush of consumers upgrading devices, according to Counterpoint Research.
1 min
November 27, 2025
Translate
Change font size