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More than 70 founders, ₹30,000 Cr in collective revenue and three days on a private island. Those numbers might tell you who was in the room, but not what happened after. Between September 17-19, Raffles Udaipur became the setting for candid conversations, unexpected connections and stories that stayed off the record for India’s D2C and retail ecosystem. The three days showed what happens when people building some of India’s most consequential consumer businesses get the time, distance, and trust to step away from the noise. The founder journey changes as companies scale. Decisions become heavier. The problems become more complex. And finding people who understand those problems from experience becomes harder. And Inc42’s the D2C Retreat was built around that reality. Set across a 21-acre private island framed by the Aravallis, the third edition of the retreat brought together founders from across India’s D2C, consumer and retail ecosystem for three days of conversations, connections and experiences, all under the Chatham House Rule. The idea was simple: take founders away from the usual conference setting and create enough space for conversations that could continue beyond a stage or a scheduled session. And they did. From conversations about growth and durability, reinvention, liquidity, and the changing role of the founder, to more personal questions about identity, relationships, and life beyond the company, the D2C Retreat created room for founders to talk about what rarely makes it onto a conference agenda. Some of those conversations happened around tables. Others happened over meals, by the lake, on boat rides or late into the evening. And many had little to do with the formal programme at all. That was intentional. The D2C Retreat has always been built on the belief that founders building at scale do not need another room full of presentations and familiar success stories. They need peers who understand the decisions they are wrestling with, without lengthy explanations. The third edition took that idea further as, for three days, the island became a space where some of India's leading consumer founders could be themselves. And while what was said under the Chatham House Rule stays there, the connections and conversations created in that room can travel much further. But none of these would have been possible without the partners who helped bring the D2C Retreat 2026 to life. Inc42’s D2C Retreat 2026 was presented by Shadowfax and powered by IDFC FIRST Bank, Elements Wellness, CashKaro, NITRO Commerce, IndigoEdge, Snapmint, Razorpay, and HYPD. Their support helped us create an environment where the focus could remain on the founders, the conversations and the experience itself. To every founder who made the journey to Udaipur, every partner who backed the idea and every person who helped build the experience behind the scenes, thank you. View this post on Instagram Presenting Partner Shadowfax Shadowfax is a last-mile and hyperlocal logistics major, with a nationwide network spanning over 16,372 pin codes across first-mile, last-mile and sort centres. It serves ecommerce, quick commerce, food delivery and on-demand mobility clients, offering express parcel delivery alongside reverse pickups, exchanges and same-day delivery. The company listed on the NSE and BSE in January 2026. Its technology stack also includes solutions such as Shadowfax 360, SF Maps and SF Shield, aimed at improving shipping visibility, operational efficiency and delivery outcomes. Powered By IDFC FIRST Bank The private sector bank, formed from the merger of IDFC Bank and Capital First in 2018 under the leadership of V Vaidyanathan, offers a suite of financial products and services across retail, MSME and corporate segments. With a strong focus on technology-driven banking, customer-first products and ethical practices, IDFC First Bank has built a differentiated franchise centred around transparency and accessibility. IndigoEdge IndigoEdge is an investment bank that works with founders and investors across fundraising, strategic transactions and other key moments in a company’s journey. Founded in 2006, the firm positions itself as a long-term partner to ambitious founders, with a focus on creating value beyond individual transactions and helping businesses navigate critical stages of growth. Snapmint Snapmint is a no-cost EMI and buy-now-pay-later platform that helps ecommerce and D2C brands offer flexible, easy-to-access financing at checkout, aimed at improving affordability and conversion for a wider base of Indian shoppers. Razorpay Razorpay is a full-stack financial technology platform that helps businesses accept and disburse payments while managing a wider range of financial operations. Its product suite spans payment gateways, payouts, business banking, payroll, credit and other financial tools, serving businesses across ecommerce, SaaS, education, BFSI and other sectors. Elements Wellness Elements Wellness is the flagship wellness brand of Indiashoppe, bringing together Ayurvedic formulations with modern research, quality manufacturing and scalable distribution. Since its 2014 launch, it has grown into one of India’s fastest-expanding wellness brands, with a presence across 750+ distribution centres and a growing digital education push for its distributor network. CashKaro CashKaro is India’s leading cashback and coupons platform, helping shoppers save on purchases across major ecommerce and D2C sites while giving brands a high-intent channel to drive traffic, conversions and repeat purchases. NITRO Commerce Nitro is a revenue-as-a-service full-stack platform for ecommerce, D2C and retail brands, built to solve acquisition and retention bottlenecks with technology. The platform addresses challenges like anonymous visitor conversion, simplifying complex marketing workflows for growing consumer brands. HYPD HYPD is a creator-commerce platform that enables influencers and content creators to build their own online stores, curate products and turn their content into shoppable experiences. Creators can share product recommendations through their personalised storefronts and earn from purchases made through their stores, creating a direct link between content, influence and commerce. Gifting Partners NUUK Reimagining everyday appliances through design-first thinking, NUUK brings together thoughtful engineering, modern aesthetics and practical functionality. From fans and kitchen essentials to vacuum cleaners and garment care, the brand is building a new generation of home appliances designed around how modern Indian homes actually live. Wonderchef Bringing together Italian design, German quality standards and a love for cooking, Wonderchef creates kitchenware and appliances that make everyday cooking more convenient and joyful. From cookware and bakeware to air fryers, mixers and other kitchen essentials, the brand blends functionality with considered design, helping turn the kitchen into a space for creativity and connection. GADO Living Rooted in India and inspired by a love for thoughtful living, GADO Living creates timeless homeware that brings together craftsmanship, functionality and understated design. From tableware and barware to décor and gifting, the brand works with Indian artisanal traditions to create pieces designed to bring warmth, character and a sense of togetherness into everyday spaces.
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