KiranaPro Onboards V3 Ventures’ Arjun Vaidya As Investor, a move that further validates the growing influence of AI and digital innovation in India’s retail landscape. KiranaPro, a quick commerce platform founded in 2024 by Deepak Ravindran and Dipankar Sarkar, is transforming the way India’s trusted kirana stores operate. It has already digitized over 30,000 stores and processes close to 1,000 orders daily across 35 Indian cities. The startup’s mission is clear—empower mom-and-pop stores with digital infrastructure to compete with dark-store giants like Blinkit and Zepto.
In a strategic development, Arjun Vaidya, cofounder of V3 Ventures and a prominent name in India’s D2C and startup ecosystem, has joined KiranaPro as both an investor and a mentor. His entry follows a recent investment from PV Sindhu and signals increased traction in KiranaPro’s seed round. Vaidya brings with him years of experience scaling D2C businesses and deep insights into consumer trust—a key ingredient in KiranaPro’s growth strategy. While the financial details remain undisclosed, the collaboration highlights KiranaPro’s long-term goal: to onboard 1 million kirana stores and serve 100 million customers by year-end.
KiranaPro’s unique model doesn’t rely on warehouses but instead connects directly with neighbourhood kirana shops. Using AI-powered tools, it enables inventory management, supply chain optimization, and product discovery. Their recent partnerships with ZuperAI and ONDC integration show a tech-first vision. This investment will further KiranaPro’s goal of scaling operations and developing long-term partnerships with D2C brands, ensuring small retailers stay relevant in a rapidly evolving quick commerce space.
1. KiranaPro: Disrupting Traditional Retail With Technology
1.1 Founders, Background, and Mission
Founded in 2024 by serial entrepreneur Deepak Ravindran and retail expert Dipankar Sarkar, KiranaPro entered the Indian quick commerce market with a bold vision. Unlike its counterparts, KiranaPro wasn’t trying to replicate the dark-store model. Instead, it focused on digitizing and empowering India’s local kirana shops—a backbone of Indian retail. Deepak Ravindran, well-known for his earlier ventures in the telecom and AI space, brings a sharp tech focus to the business, while Dipankar contributes decades of operational experience in retail distribution.
1.2 Working Model and Services
KiranaPro operates by bridging the gap between traditional kirana stores and modern consumer needs. Its platform allows retailers to manage digital orders, streamline inventory, optimize deliveries, and discover high-demand products through its AI-driven interface. It supports flexible revenue models including daily rates and per-lead commissions—making the model scalable and inclusive.
2. KiranaPro’s Funding Journey and Growth Trajectory
2.1 Seed Funding and Strategic Backing
The startup has garnered significant traction in a short span. Last month, Olympic medalist PV Sindhu announced her investment in KiranaPro, marking the first move in its seed funding journey. This momentum continued as Arjun Vaidya joined as an investor and mentor, solidifying investor confidence.
2.2 Arjun Vaidya’s Strategic Role
KiranaPro Onboards V3 Ventures’ Arjun Vaidya As Investor to bring not just capital, but decades of experience. Vaidya, the founder of Dr. Vaidya’s, a leading D2C brand, has been instrumental in India’s consumer wellness space. His role goes beyond funding—he aims to help KiranaPro build key partnerships with D2C brands and refine its go-to-market strategy.
Vaidya commented, “KiranaPro is redefining how technology can uplift India’s most trusted retail format – the kirana store. Having built and scaled a D2C brand from the ground up, I understand the power of combining digital innovation with deep consumer trust.”
3. Unique Offerings and AI-Driven Retail
3.1 AI-Based Solutions for Traditional Retail
The AI-powered approach of KiranaPro is what truly differentiates it. With partnerships like ZuperAI, the startup leverages AI to offer “Matchmaking AI,” which helps consumers find products easily while enabling stores to manage supply chains effectively. This tech-forward innovation makes it more than just a delivery app.
3.2 ONDC Integration and Nationwide Scale
KiranaPro became India’s first quick commerce platform to integrate with the ONDC framework. Through ONDC, the startup gains access to over 7 lakh vendors, further expanding its reach. This integration has also unlocked opportunities to improve last-mile connectivity and product availability in tier 2 and tier 3 towns.
4. The Rise of Kirana Commerce in Quick Delivery Ecosystem
4.1 Competing With Zepto, Blinkit, and Swiggy Instamart
Unlike Zepto, Blinkit, and Swiggy Instamart, which rely on dark stores and centralized fulfillment hubs, KiranaPro enables neighborhood stores to become fulfillment centers. This hyperlocal model not only preserves the kirana culture but also reduces operational costs and increases efficiency.
4.2 Industry Trends and Quick Commerce Boom
India’s quick commerce market is expected to touch $9.95 billion by 2029, according to Statista. KiranaPro’s approach resonates with the new-age consumer who wants speed without compromising on community-driven experiences. The startup is strategically positioned at the intersection of tradition and innovation.
5. Vision Ahead: Serving 100 Million Shoppers
5.1 Scaling Goals for 2025
KiranaPro has already onboarded 30,000 stores and aims to scale that number to 1 million by the end of 2025. Their AI infrastructure and increasing investor confidence are key accelerators in this journey. The company targets 100 million customers and is optimizing its app and tech stack accordingly.
5.2 Expansion Through Strategic Acquisitions
Its acquisition of Joper.app enhanced its hyperlocal delivery capabilities. These moves show KiranaPro’s intent to grow not just organically but also through strategic consolidations in the market.
6. Learning for Startups and Entrepreneurs
Startups must focus on leveraging existing infrastructure instead of building new ones from scratch. KiranaPro’s model teaches us the value of community empowerment, tech-first thinking, and investor mentorship. Rather than reinventing the wheel, empowering traditional players with digital tools can be both scalable and sustainable.
Mentorship plays a huge role, and with Arjun Vaidya joining, the startup is set to benefit from domain expertise and D2C insights. Young startups should prioritize strategic alliances that align with their long-term vision.
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When it comes to retail innovation and AI-powered commerce in India, The Startups News offers unparalleled insights into emerging business trends. Our platform is a go-to destination for tracking developments in startup commerce, AI integration, and retail technology. For startups looking to understand the Indian tech-retail landscape or aspiring to build the next big kirana-tech solution, The Startups News is the perfect resource.
