Curlin - A mass premium hair care brand for curly and wavy hair

Curlin is India's one of the first mass premium hair care brand for curly and wavy hair.

Here's the excerpts from eChai with Sumit Karranji, Founder, Curlin as part of our startup showcase series.

About the team

Sumit Karranji is a 2X entrepreneur and is the founder of Curlin. 

Prior to this he had built a SaaS startup for payment reconciliation of marketplace sellers which got acquired by Vinculum (Accel Funded Startup). 

He also serves on the mentor panel of IMPunjab, iTIC-IITH, AISEA, GUSEC, GTU, CIIE, IIMA where he gives back to the startup community by mentoring early stage startups.

Eureka Moment

60% of Indians have wavy or curly hair and there is no dedicated hair care range for them. I found this as a big gap being a curly haired person myself and also being into the ecomm space since a decade.

How does it work?

https://youtu.be/TaYQBtm7WOk

Business model

We sell through our own website, marketplaces and salon channels.

Traction

We have 5000+ customers across 240 cities in India in our pre-revenue stage. 

We have raised $250k from angels and seed investors.

Community support

Looking for brainstorming on creating communities and innovative marketing ideas from the community.

...

You can join the conversation on Twitter via this link here if you want to ask more questions to Sumit Karranji, Founder, Curlin.

...

You can check out the upcoming in-person eChai Startup Demo Days coming up in 8 cities in India - Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune, Mumbai, Delhi-NCR, Rajkot and Vadodara

Startup Stream

The eChai Effect - In Their Words

“eChai has been that turning point in my journey. It gave me a platform when I wasn’t looking for visibility but needed direction. Over the years, it became more than just a network. It became my tribe; a place where conversations sparked collaborations, and strangers became trusted sounding boards. What I value most is how effortlessly eChai brings people together - no airs, no filters, just genuine people with shared dreams. I owe a lot to this community and to Jatin, whose consistency and belief in people have shaped journeys like mine. Forever grateful to be part of something so real.”
Rushabh Shah - Managing Partner - STIR Advisors
Rushabh Shah
Managing Partner - STIR Advisors
"The eChai platform has been super valuable for me - it has helped me gain a deeper understanding of domains in the startup and tech ecosystem. What stands out most is the celebration of knowledge, professional growth, and entrepreneurship - it’s one of the best for the Indian ecosystem. Along the way, I’ve also been fortunate to make some great friendships and connections too."
Shalin (Shawn) Parikh - Founder, MyCPE One
Shalin (Shawn) Parikh
Founder, MyCPE One
"eChai isn’t just a startup community … it’s a mindset . eChai has been one of the most impactful communities in my entrepreneurial journey. It’s been a turning point . In a world where building something can often feel isolating, eChai gave me a sense of belonging. I’ve found mentors, collaborators, and friends here — people who genuinely want to see you succeed. It’s a space where ideas are challenged, actions are celebrated, and founders grow not just in scale, but in clarity and confidence. From late-night ideas to early-morning pitches, this community has quietly but powerfully shaped the way I build, think, and dream. I’ll always be grateful for the way eChai creates spaces where founders don’t just grow businesses — they grow together."
Koumal Kalantry - Founder, Bignano Ventures
Koumal Kalantry
Founder, Bignano Ventures

eChai Partner Brands

eChai Ventures partners with select brands as their growth partner - working together to explore new ideas, open doors, and build momentum across the startup ecosystem.