Cleardekho

High-Level Overview

ClearDekho is an Indian eyewear company offering eyeglasses, sunglasses, contact lenses, prescription eyewear, and reading glasses for all ages, targeting India's mass market with affordable, accessible optical solutions.[1][2][3] It serves customers in underserved Tier 2-5 cities (where 70% of India's population lives) through an omnichannel model combining online sales and over 100 franchise stores across 50+ cities, solving the problem of an unorganized eyewear market lacking standardized, low-cost services.[1][3] Now part of the Jaipuria Group under Jaipuria Brandz, it has raised $9M in funding (including a $4-5M round led by Aroa Ventures) and reports $5.5M revenue with 165 employees, showing strong growth via asset-light FOFO (Franchise Owned Franchise Operated) expansion from North India into West and South.[1][3][5]

Origin Story

ClearDekho was founded in 2016-2017 by Shivi Singh (CEO) and Saurabh Dayal, starting in Vasundhara, Uttar Pradesh, as an affordable optical retail chain addressing gaps in low- and middle-income eyewear access.[2][3][5][6] The idea emerged from India's fragmented optical market, particularly in smaller cities, leading to an initial focus on eyeglasses and lenses with both online and offline channels.[1][6] Early traction came via tech-enabled hyperlocal solutions and franchise growth; a pivotal moment was acquisition by the Jaipuria Group, providing resources for national scaling, eye check-up camps, and funding rounds totaling $6.3-9M to fuel store expansion and marketing.[1][3][5]

Core Differentiators

ClearDekho stands out in India's competitive eyewear space (vs. Lenskart, LensPick) through these key strengths:

• Affordable mass-market focus: Targets underserved Tier 2-5 cities with low-cost eyewear, backed by Jaipuria Group's resources for broad reach.[1][5]
• Omnichannel FOFO model: Asset-light franchising enables rapid scaling (100+ stores in 50+ cities) with consistent quality, blending online ordering and in-store access including free eye camps.[1]
• Tech-enabled accessibility: Hyperlocal solutions for unorganized markets, supporting online/offline integration without heavy asset ownership.[1]
• Social impact: Regular vision screening camps in rural areas build trust and awareness, differentiating from pure e-commerce players.[1]

Role in the Broader Tech Landscape

ClearDekho rides the omnichannel retail trend in India's $4B+ eyewear market, digitizing unorganized optical retail (70% in Tier 2-5 cities) amid rising internet penetration and demand for affordable vision care.[1][4] Timing aligns with post-pandemic e-commerce growth and franchise models' resurgence, favoring asset-light players over capital-intensive rivals like Lenskart.[3][4] Market forces include urbanization, increasing myopia rates, and government eye health pushes, positioning ClearDekho to capture share via Jaipuria's network; it influences the ecosystem by standardizing services, inspiring hyperlocal tech adoption, and bridging urban-rural divides.[1][4]

Quick Take & Future Outlook

ClearDekho's store expansion, funding-fueled marketing, and South/West India push signal accelerated growth toward national dominance in mass-market eyewear.[1][3] Trends like AI-driven virtual try-ons, deeper rural penetration, and premium affordable segments will shape it, potentially challenging incumbents if execution matches ambition. Its Jaipuria backing could evolve influence from regional disruptor to ecosystem shaper, redefining accessible optics as it scales to India's unorganized base—turning a fragmented need into a branded staple.[1][5]