AI-powered quick commerce startup KiranaPro onboards Arjun Vaidya as investor and mentor

KiranaPro, the AI-powered quick commerce startup that is fully integrated with the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), has brought on board Arjun Vaidya, cofounder of V3 Ventures and a noted direct-to-consumer (D2C) entrepreneur, as an investor and mentor.

While the startup did not reveal the financial specifics of the investment, it emphasized that Vaidya will play a strategic role in shaping its next phase of growth by building key partnerships with D2C brands and enhancing its AI-driven platform.

Leadership comments

Deepak Ravindran, founder and chief executive officer of KiranaPro, described the development as a major milestone for the company.

“Arjun's journey as a D2C pioneer and his deep understanding of India's consumer landscape make him an invaluable addition to our leadership circle. His decision to back our vision is a shot in the arm for the entire team. Arjun's mentorship will accelerate our efforts to build strategic brand partnerships and will help us scale KiranaPro into a nationwide movement for kirana empowerment,” said Ravindran.

What does KiranaPro do?

Founded in 2024 by Ravindran and Dipankar Sarkar, KiranaPro is taking a different route from typical quick commerce platforms that rely on dark stores. Instead, it works directly with neighbourhood mom-and-pop stores, offering them AI tools to manage operations more efficiently.

The startup offers flexible revenue models and aims to onboard one million kirana stores while serving up to 100 million customers by the end of this year.

Arjun Vaidya, known for his leadership in building and scaling a D2C brand from scratch, expressed his excitement about the collaboration.

“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. I'm excited to support KiranaPro’s mission to empower millions of small retailers while bringing modern commerce to every corner of India,” he said.

Recent developments and market presence

The startup has recently received investment from badminton star PV Sindhu and has acquired hyperlocal grocery delivery app Joper to expand its retail presence. It also partnered with ZuperAI to integrate a "Matchmaking AI" feature to help users with inventory optimisation, product discovery, and supply chain efficiency.

KiranaPro, which now processes around 1,000 orders daily across 35 cities and claims to have onboarded more than 30,000 kirana stores, aims to be a key player in India's booming quick commerce market, forecasted to reach $9.95 billion by 2029, according to Statista.