What in the event you might strive on a brand-new outfit the second it hit your favorite trend retailer—with out ever visiting it? Think about getting a notification out of your most well-liked label {that a} new gown is in inventory, tapping it in your telephone, and watching it just about wrap round your digital avatar in seconds—all whereas lounging at dwelling. This isn’t the long run—it’s Dharpan.ai, the AI-powered digital trial room startup that’s quietly reinventing the in-store and on-line trend expertise.
Based in 2022 by entrepreneur Naveen Kumar, Dharpan.ai brings good mirrors and digital trial rooms to trend retail, serving to manufacturers ship on the spot, immersive try-on experiences—each in-store and on-line.
“Clients can now strive any shade, dimension, or model obtainable within the retailer, simply by standing in entrance of our good mirror. It takes simply 2.5 seconds,” Kumar says. “They even get notified when new inventory arrives—they’ll strive it from dwelling, from wherever they’re sitting.”
A pocket-sized becoming room
Dharpan.ai is a B2B trend tech startup that has constructed each its {hardware} and software program in-house, together with modern six-foot mirrors that are put in in retail shops, usually in prime places close to entrances. The mirror makes use of a custom-built algorithm (not third-party AI) to scan and render clothes just about, permitting clients to pick out kinds, change colours, and see the right match with out getting into a bodily trial room. As soon as the person selects an outfit, the mirror additionally shows particulars concerning the cloth—cotton, blended, artificial—providing a tactile sense by way of visible intelligence.
The innovation doesn’t cease there. Every mirror additionally serves as a reside stock-tracker for the shop. “The good mirror retains a rely of the obtainable stock. So what the shopper sees is not only a visible, it is real-time availability,” Kumar explains.
On-line, Dharpan.ai’s digital trial room resolution replicates this expertise for ecommerce customers, letting them strive on garments digitally utilizing both uploaded images or preset avatars. Clients additionally obtain try-on alerts when new arrivals drop, because of a notification system constructed into the platform. “It’s like a digital becoming room in your pocket,” says Kumar.
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How it began
A second-time entrepreneur, Naveen’s journey to this know-how play got here by way of trend retail itself. In 2021, he launched Boldknight, a menswear retailer with places in Mumbai and Hyderabad. Although the model gained traction, Kumar struggled with operational points widespread in trend retail: poor trial room turnover, indecision at level of sale, and dimension or shade mismatches. These challenges laid the muse for Dharpan.ai.
“Vogue is emotional. Individuals need to see themselves in a mode earlier than committing. However conventional trial rooms are outdated. We needed to resolve that,” he explains.
Dharpan’s breakthrough got here in 2023 when it launched its first good mirror installations with manufacturers like Monte Carlo and My Excellent Match. Since then, the corporate has grown to serve 17 shoppers, together with retailers in Australia and Singapore.
Seven manufacturers in Europe are at present piloting the gadget, and negotiations are below approach for a long-term rollout. These European leads got here by way of Dharpan’s regional advertising and marketing accomplice, Glam You Up, which launched them to trend labels equivalent to Nunalie, Tombolini, and Roberta Biagi. These manufacturers have already expressed willingness to pay €1,500 per 30 days for the mirror.
From Hyderabad, Dharpan.ai now operates with a seven-member group, together with two engineers devoted to tech improvement. The startup stays bootstrapped, with solely Rs 25 lakh in authorities grants. But, it instructions a valuation of Rs 65 crore, the founder says.
“We’ve constructed this with out large buyers. It’s all been about product, proof, and persistence,” Kumar says proudly. “We’re actively searching for buyers from the identical business, who perceive trend.”
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Sensible mirror subscriptions
Initially, the corporate offered the good mirror as a {hardware} product for Rs 5 lakh, with a 5% annual upkeep price. However to make the answer extra accessible, particularly for standalone shops and smaller retailers, Dharpan.ai lately switched to a SaaS mannequin. Purchasers can now subscribe for Rs 25,000 per 30 days per retailer, which incorporates as much as 500 product uploads. For multi-store deployments—as much as 5 places—the value is Rs 35,000 per 30 days.
“The shift to subscription has been a game-changer,” says Kumar. “Retailers now don’t want a heavy upfront funding. They’ll check, adapt, and scale simply.”
Importantly, Dharpan.ai makes use of its proprietary algorithm to energy the whole expertise. “We don’t use third-party AI or open platforms. Our algorithm is solely constructed in-house,” Kumar says. This independence helps the group management high quality, efficiency, and IP in an area that’s quickly turning into aggressive.
At current, Kumar sees no direct competitor in India. “Our solely competitors right here is the standard trial room,” he says. Globally, nonetheless, firms like Piobox from Europe have related good mirrors – with stronger funding.
One of many often-overlooked advantages of the good mirror is its influence on buyer confidence and retailer effectivity. “Whenever you eradicate the stress of a bodily trial room, individuals are extra open to attempting new kinds. And shops convert higher,” Kumar says.
Dharpan.ai’s know-how is designed to enchantment throughout age teams, from Gen Z buyers to adults and even aged clients. “Although children like this extra. They discover it enjoyable to observe the garments as they transfer nearer or farther from the mirror,” he provides.
Dharpan.ai’s is now specializing in increasing within the home and worldwide markets. It’s in talks to scale throughout India and finalise its European shoppers. “We’re simply getting began,” Kumar says.
Edited by Jyoti Narayan
