Utkarsh Verma
CEO & Founder
Thane,MH
Summary
Entrepreneurial and strategic thinker with a successful history in building and scaling startups. Founded Craftkona Enterprises Pvt. Ltd., an E-commerce marketplace for handicrafts, and led House of Craft, a supplier of handcrafted tableware and decor to the hospitality industry. Holds a BBA in Marketing and a certification in Digital Marketing. Expertise includes marketing, sales, and operations. Seeks to enhance skills and gain global business exposure through a Postgraduate degree at a leading institution. Results-driven CEO with forward-thinking approach centered on company success and competitive growth. Demonstrated record of success in building successful teams and managing profitable operations.
Overview
5
5
years of professional experience
4
4
years of post-secondary education
4
4
Languages
Work History
CEO & Co-Founder
Craftkona Enterprises Pvt. Ltd.
Thane, Maharashtra
12.2024 - Current
- Founded and currently leading an e-commerce startup focused on promoting Indian handicrafts through a curated online marketplace.
- Initiated brand development and identity, including logo, packaging, and digital presence.
- Spearheaded the design and development of the company's website and product listings.
- Hired and onboarded a cross-functional team, overseeing roles in marketing, tech, and customer service.
- Formulated initial go-to-market strategy and vendor acquisition plans.
- Managing finances, legal registrations, and compliance for company operations.
- Balancing startup responsibilities with preparations for further academic pursuits.
- Developed key operational initiatives to drive and maintain substantial business growth.
- Built productive relationships with industry partners and competitors to support strategic business objectives.
Operations & Sales Manager
Unleash Wellness LLP
Mumbai, Maharashtra
08.2023 - 11.2024
- Oversaw the end-to-end supply chain for veterinary wellness products, ensuring consistent inventory flow and delivery efficiency.
- Developed and implemented sales strategies tailored to regional markets and veterinary professionals.
- Built and maintained partnerships with distributors, vet clinics, and retailers to expand brand footprint.
- Coordinated logistics to ensure timely deliveries, including warehouse management and last-mile fulfillment.
- Conducted market research and competitor analysis to adjust pricing models and promotional campaigns.
- Worked directly with the founding team to align daily operations with long-term strategic goals.
- Handled customer relations issues, enabling quick resolution, and client satisfaction.
- Increased sales revenue by developing and implementing effective sales strategies.
CEO & Founder
House of Craft
Mumbai, Maharashtra
05.2021 - 07.2023
- Founded and scaled a B2B handicrafts company specializing in customized tableware and décor for hotels, restaurants, and cafés.
- Led business development and forged partnerships with over 50+ vendors and clients.
- Managed procurement, inventory, and logistics to ensure timely and cost-effective order fulfillment.
- Executed digital and traditional marketing campaigns to build brand awareness and drive sales.
- Developed a lean team of 4, training them across sales, customer service, and operations.
- Achieved USD 43,000 in revenue with a 30% PAT margin through efficient resource allocation and marketing-driven sales growth.
- Personally handled negotiations, relationship management, and pricing with both suppliers and clients.
- Developed key operational initiatives to drive and maintain substantial business growth.
- Established and maintained strong relationships with customers, vendors and strategic partners.
Social Media Executive / Strategist
White Rivers Media
Mumbai, Maharashtra
08.2019 - 01.2020
- Worked on digital strategy and execution for ALT Balaji, One of India's largest OTT platforms, known for its diverse regional and youth-centric content.
- Spearheaded social media campaigns for multiple show launches—developing content calendars, campaign strategies, and post-launch promotions.
- Managed end-to-end content creation and scheduling for the brand's social media presence, ensuring high engagement and brand consistency.
- Conducted online reputation management (ORM) and maintaining a positive brand image along with creating performance reports analyzing campaign success, engagement trends, and optimization opportunities.
- Coordinated with production teams and PR agencies to cover live events, press conferences, and behind-the-scenes activities.
- Key Achievements: AIMRA Campaign: Played a key role in conceptualizing and executing a high-impact digital movement for the All India Mobile Retailers Association (AIMRA) against e-commerce monopolies, resulted in the mobilization of 15,000–35,000+ protestors in Delhi — a powerful demonstration that received national media coverage and surpassed participation expectations.
- RASCI (Retailers Association's Skill Council of India): Collaborated on campaigns to promote skill certifications among marginalized communities, supporting career development and workforce inclusion.
- Analyzed social media trends to optimize posting schedules and maximize audience engagement.
- Crafted compelling copy for social posts that resonated with target audiences, generating shares and comments.
Marketing Manager
Personal Excellency
Mumbai, Maharashtra
04.2019 - 07.2019
- Led marketing for a soft-skills and personality development training company.
- Created and implemented promotional strategies to attract both individual learners and corporate clients.
- Worked directly with the founders to plan expansion and outreach activities.
- Conducted competitive benchmarking and positioned the company in a niche coaching segment.
- Oversaw business development efforts including B2B pitch presentations and client relationship management.
- Boosted brand awareness and generated leads while managing internal and external marketing campaigns and programs.
- Boosted sales performance through the creation of engaging promotional materials and targeted advertising strategies.
Marketing Executive
Tineta Pharma Pvt. Ltd.
Mumbai, Maharashtra
04.2016 - 11.2016
- Part of the company's business operative training program focused on marketing and product development.
- Worked alongside the product team on the development and market launch of supplements and sprays.
- Assisted the marketing head in devising region-specific campaigns for Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities in India.
- Participated in field research, distributor meetings, and retail feedback collection to guide product positioning.
- Helped draft internal reports and proposals for sales and marketing alignment.
- Planned and executed events and marketing programs to increase qualified leads.
- Collaborated closely with sales teams to ensure alignment between promotional activities and revenue goals.
Education
BBA - Marketing Management
MIT School of Management
Pune, India 06.2014 - 04.2019
Junior College - Science
PACE Junior Science College
Thane, India 06.2012 - 05.2014
High School - CBSE
Nalanda Public School
Mumbai, India 05.2011 - 03.2012
Certificate - Digital Marketing
Indian Institute of Digital Education (IIDE)
Mumbai, India 04.2019 - 10.2019
Skills
Strategic Marketing
undefinedExtracurricular Achievements
- Cultural Committee Head – MIT School of Management
- Bronze Medalist – District-level in Shotokon Karate
- Football Team Captain – School & College
- School Sports House Captain
- Musician – Proficient in 4 instruments
- Host – Jr. College Fest
- Certificates in Music, Theatre, Sports, and Competitive Exams
Core Subjects
- Supply Chain Management
- Logistics
- Sales & Retail Management
- Management Control Systems
- E-Commerce
- Business Law & Entrepreneurship
- Event & Project Management
Learning & Reading
I enjoy reading articles and consume a lot of podcasts and infotainment content to upskill and learn.
Timeline
CEO & Co-Founder
Craftkona Enterprises Pvt. Ltd.
12.2024 - Current
Operations & Sales Manager
Unleash Wellness LLP
08.2023 - 11.2024
CEO & Founder
House of Craft
05.2021 - 07.2023
Social Media Executive / Strategist
White Rivers Media
08.2019 - 01.2020
Certificate - Digital Marketing
Indian Institute of Digital Education (IIDE)
04.2019 - 10.2019
Marketing Manager
Personal Excellency
04.2019 - 07.2019
Marketing Executive
Tineta Pharma Pvt. Ltd.
04.2016 - 11.2016
BBA - Marketing Management
MIT School of Management
06.2014 - 04.2019
Junior College - Science
PACE Junior Science College
06.2012 - 05.2014
High School - CBSE
Nalanda Public School
05.2011 - 03.2012
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