Clensta

Clensta is a direct-to-consumer (D2C) personal care brand founded in 2016 by Puneet Kumar Gupta and Ashish Mishra. The company is an IIT Delhi-incubated startup, leveraging a partnership with the institution to develop its core technologies. Gupta's background includes experience in the defense technology sector, which exposed him to the hygiene challenges faced by soldiers in water-scarce regions. This experience, coupled with his mother's difficulties maintaining hygiene post-surgery, inspired the creation of Clensta's flagship waterless products.

The company's primary innovation is its patented waterless technology, which enables products like body baths and shampoos to be used without water, a significant benefit for military personnel, hospital patients, the elderly, and outdoor adventurers. The application involves a simple spray, massage, and wipe process. Beyond its initial waterless range, Clensta has expanded into a broad array of personal care categories including skincare, haircare, body care, and wellness products, all formulated to be free from parabens and SLS. The firm also developed STAR (Safe Transdermal Absorption of Reactive ingredients) technology, which facilitates the absorption of active ingredients through the skin.

Clensta operates on a multi-channel business model, initially focusing on B2B and B2G (business-to-government) sales with clients like the Indian Army and various hospitals. It has since expanded aggressively into the D2C market through its own e-commerce platform and online marketplaces such as Amazon and Flipkart, alongside a growing offline retail presence. The company generates revenue through the sale of its wide range of products across these channels. As of FY24, the company reported revenues of ₹78 crore and serves approximately 15,000 pin codes. To date, Clensta has raised a total of $12.7 million over 11 funding rounds from a diverse group of investors, including the Indian Angel Network, TradeCred, the Royal Family of the UAE, and actress Parineeti Chopra, who also serves as a brand ambassador.

Keywords: personal care, direct-to-consumer, D2C, waterless technology, hygiene solutions, skincare, haircare, IIT Delhi startup, Puneet Gupta, beauty products, sustainable personal care, B2C e-commerce, Indian Angel Network, wellness products, transdermal technology, Parineeti Chopra, online marketplace, retail distribution, health and hygiene, cruelty-free beauty