Akshay Nagaraj

Heading the Supply Excellence function for a B2B fruits marketplace across four fresh fruit categories with a network of 30K farmers pan India. Serving as a key member of the leadership team, reporting directly to the founder.

Key Contributions:

• Performance Management: Developed and monitored OKRs to drive team performance and achieve key targets.
• Growth: Launched and scaled the virtual farmer business, achieving a GMV of ₹1.2 Crore with an 8% GM and 3% CM.
• Packaged and expanded the premium advisory model to over 1500 farmers and onboarded 290 farmers to subscribe to the proprietary SaaS grading tool.
• Led the strategic expansion of the farmer database from 18K to 30K, including blue ocean identification.
• Digital Transformation: Driving digital transformation initiatives for the farmer community, enhancing value creation, and promoting transparency.
• Piloted AI-driven initiatives in Agro Advisory and weather reporting, resulting in a 4X increase in farmer engagement and significant improvement in NPS score.
• Process Optimization: Spearheaded the integration of a CRM system to streamline lead management, resulting in enhanced efficiency and optimization of bottom-of-the-funnel conversions

Led revenue growth and process improvement for 370 distributors, overseeing a monthly P&L of ₹20 Cr for a B2B agricultural-input company with a team size of 10.

Key Contributions:

• Revenues: Expanded margins by restructuring monetization from 7% to 10.5%, launching a new farm equipment category, and optimizing supply-demand mapping.
• Spearheaded cross-functional initiatives to implement ladder pricing strategies, resulting in a 15% increase in AOV and driving wholesale purchasing behavior.
• Promotions Management: Directed 15% of the budget for offers and promotions, achieving key performance indicators through a technology-driven offer engine.
• Process Improvement: Automated seller reconciliation process, improving TAT from 72% to 95%.
• Built real time dashboards, tiered sellers and designed incentive schemes reducing churn to 3% from 10%.

Led a team of 7 managers to build the innovative Virtual Category Management function for 300 sellers in the General Merchandise category, overseeing an annual P&L of ₹300 crore and achieving 3X growth in 18 months.

Key Contributions:

• Developed KPIs and KRAs for the newly launched business unit, ensuring alignment with strategic goals and facilitating performance tracking and evaluation.
• Profitability: Achieved a +2% CM2 profitability increase by restructuring monetization, boosting brand contributions, and reducing operational inefficiencies.
• Surpassed BU’s goal by reducing the cost of servicing a seller by 20%.
• Assortment Planning: Championed vertical-level planning, driving an 82% active listing rate.
• Digital Merchandising: Strategically optimized the sales funnel and implemented effective pricing, and promotional strategies and improved cataloging increasing organic business contribution to 45% from 10%.
• Incremental Revenue: Augmented income through Product Listing Ads (PLA), banner ads, and securing strategic deal sponsorships.

Founding team member, scaled a new category to a ₹150 Crore business with 100,000 listings across 8 sub-categories.

Key Contributions:

• Category Launch: Defined the framework for product selection, pricing, merchandising campaigns, and operational strategies, ensuring alignment with overall business objectives.
• Seller Acquisition: Onboarded 500+ sellers across 7 states, expanding the category’s reach.
• Go-to-Market: Designed the GTM strategy, including Joint Business Plans (JBP) with select brands, resulting in a 28% increase in GMV.
• Launched a Warranty Product Line, boosting AOV by 20% and reducing returns by 4%.
• Successfully optimized regional warehouse utilization through hero SKU forecasting, resulting in improved operational metrics and reduced costs.
• Team Development: Managed a team of 31, fostering excellence and collaboration

Co-founded a bootstrapped D2C fashion E-commerce startup with a collective of brands Twach (fashion accessory) and Smoked (music themed clothing ) and scaled them to a topline of 4Cr with 40% Gross Margins.

Key Contributions:

• P&L Management: Structured and owned the P&L, driving sales, BD initiatives, and growth strategies.
• D2C Sales: Led digital marketing, achieving a customer base of 3K with a 35% repeat rate.
• B2B Sales: Built a roster of corporate clientele serving their employee and client engagement needs.
• Product Launch: Successfully launched the innovative backpack 'Zingaro,' raising INR 1Mn on a crowdfunding platform exceeding the goal by 500%.
• Recognition: Garnered media attention, including a feature in the Times of India along with other mentions.