Daybreak

Nothing about Nykaa is strictly its own anymore. Back when it went public, it had no real rivals in the beauty space. But since then, things have changed. Last year, India’s largest retailer, Reliance Retail, officially entered the beauty space. It launched an omnichannel beauty retail platform called TiraReliance isn’t playing around. In the last year, it has made one thing clear: it wants to completely shake up the country’s  beauty segment. But even the Reliance legacy to back it up, Tira’s success in this space isn’t a given. 

More than a decade has passed since Starbucks came to India. But the world’d biggest coffee chain has been struggling to achieve profitability. In the latest financials,  the company saw its slowest sales growth in India since the pandemic.So far, Starbucks has managed to open around 400 outlets across the country. Meanwhile, Third Wave, a much smaller specialty coffee startup that started around eight years ago, already has more than 100 stores around the country. Its new CEO Rajat Luthra recently announced that that chain plans to open 50 new outlets in existing markets. Third Wave has more than doubled its operating revenue in the last financial year. In the year before that, it saw its revenue grew more than fourfold. It raised $35 million in a funding round led by private equity firm Creaegis in September last year.How far can a startup like Third Wave go against a a 50 year-old global coffee powerhouse with the backing of Tata?Tune in.Daybreak is produced from the newsroom of The Ken, India’s first subscriber-only business news platform. Subscribe for more exclusive, deeply-reported, and analytical business stories.

The Ken co-founder Rohin Dharmakumar joins the hosts to discuss Apple's delayed entry into the AI race, the announcement of 'Apple Intelligence', and the impact of AI on creativity and job loss. They explore Apple's secretive AI development approach, trust in Apple's products, and collaborations with OpenAI. The conversation also includes insights on Malayalam movies and reflections on ending a successful podcast.

Airtel and Jio engage in a financial services battle in India. Airtel's successful ventures include Airtel Payments Bank and Airtel Finance. Airtel Finance has serviced loans worth $300 million. Jio focuses on B2B lending, while Airtel partners with lenders for consumer-centric products using SIM cards.

Two Indian fine jewelry brands, Caratlane and Bluestone, started with the same dream of selling everyday fine jewelry online. Despite initial skepticism, they paved the way for online jewelry retail. However, Caratlane shines brighter today, highlighting the importance of strategic investments in the competitive market.

AI algorithms for cancer screening show potential but are not yet accurate enough according to medical professionals. The podcast explores the challenges and disparities in AI cancer screening in India, including the use of AI as a secondary tool for detection. It also covers the implementation of AI in breast cancer detection and the importance of training AI algorithms on regional data for accurate diagnosis.

Discover how Minimalist, an Indian D2C skincare brand, revolutionized the market with transparent, active ingredient-based products. Legacy brands like L'Oreal are forced to adapt to this trend. Learn about the rise of D2C brands and the strategies for traditional beauty companies to stay competitive.

Discover how India's 40-somethings are redefining career longevity by staying 'forever employable' and adapting to new opportunities. Learn about challenges faced, financial realities, upskilling, and the importance of networking for sustainable employability.

Exploring Zomato's investment in Blinkit, from saving a dying platform to acquiring it for $600 million. The podcast delves into Blinkit's journey in the quick commerce market, highlighting the strategic shifts and growth predictions under Zomato's ownership.

Exploring the struggles of women with inadequate personal health insurance coverage for maternity expenses, leading them to rely on corporate insurance. Delving into health insurers' reluctance towards pregnancies and the limited access to corporate health insurance in the country. Discussing the differences in coverage for maternity expenses in standalone policies versus those with riders, and the challenges faced by individuals in early-stage startups. Exploring the expansion of maternity coverage by insurers to cater to the needs of individuals planning for pregnancies.