Pankhuri, a significant player in the EdTech community and social commerce market, has recently acquired Palash, an innovative platform dedicated to empowering Indian women. The strategic move aims to harness the combined strengths of both companies to drive innovation, expand reach, and enhance the lives of millions of Indian women.
As part of the deal, Pankhuri will integrate Palash’s user base, trainers, and technology infrastructure, enhance offerings and further enrich its engagement with Indian women. Palash will also be rebranded as the Pankhuri Community and will relaunch the technology and the app for the combined user base and trainer, an official statement said.
Co-founded by Pallavi Patil and Jaydeep Pawar, Palash allows women to learn new skills, connect within a vibrant community, and engage in micro-businesses or reselling. The platform is focused on personal growth, empowerment, and economic upliftment. It claims to have garnered over 100,000 registered users, 200+ trainers, and an extensive library of video courses spanning 50,000 minutes. The firm has rapidly emerged as a trailblazer in the EdTech space, catering to the aspirations of tier 2+ women across India.
Expressing his enthusiasm about the acquisition, Chief Executive Officer of Pankhuri, Moksha Srivastava, stated:
We believe that by combining the forces of Pankhuri and Palash, we can yield a more resourceful platform for connecting, engaging, and discovery. This collaboration will allow us to innovate and amplify our efforts, ushering in a new era of possibilities for women across India.
With this acquisition, Pankhuri solidifies its position as the market leader in the women’s education and social commerce segment. The company aims to garner 10 Lakh registered users and 2000 experts in the next two years, creating a more empowered and prosperous landscape for Indian women where learning, connecting, and thriving converge seamlessly.
Pallavi Patil, Co-founder of Palash, shared her excitement about the merger, highlighting the shared vision of empowering women, saying:
This collaboration marks a meaningful step in our journey towards women’s empowerment. The merger of Pankhuri and Palash signifies a commitment to uplift and nurture the potential of women across tier 2+ cities.
Pankhuri empowers women in India by providing a platform for networking, learning, and shopping through innovative features like live streaming, interactive chat, and cohort-based sessions. This enables women to engage actively in beauty and lifestyle discussions online, moving beyond the traditional consumer role to become proactive participants in these conversations. In July 2021, the startup had raised $3.2 million in funding led by Surge, a rapid scale-up programme by Sequoia Capital India, and other investors, including India Quotient and Taurus Ventures.
