Automated inventory planning tool Crest secures $800K in pre-seed funding round led by IAN and IPV

• ByStartupStory     |    February 23, 2023

Crest, an Automated Inventory Planning SaaS startup based in Bangalore, secures 800K USD in pre-seed funding round led by IAN and IPV, with participation from notable company founders including Delhivery, Shiprocket, Pickrr, Smytten, Samosa Party, and Sirona.

“The fundamental issue for D2C e-commerce businesses is reducing lost sales opportunities by increasing fill rate and optimizing inventory through real-time demand forecasting, which is what Crest is built for,” according to Shantanu Ghosh and Vidit Nagory, IAN Lead Investors. They further added that real-time demand forecasting and inventory management are crucial in the fast-evolving e-commerce and multi-shop retailing industries. As a result, Crest becomes a priority for CXOs and not just another enabling software.

“We are impressed with Crest’s product and the vast opportunity it holds, both in India and internationally. The team at Crest comprises experienced founders who have a strong background in supply chain and AI and have already achieved success in a similar domain by serving large global brands. They are tackling a genuine problem and empowering even small businesses with access to AI-based inventory optimization and demand forecasting capabilities across multiple channels,” said Ivy Chin, IPV Partner.

Crest, an automated inventory planning tool launched in March 2022, has raised 800K USD in pre-seed funding round led by IAN and IPV, along with participation from notable founders of companies such as Delhivery, Shiprocket, Pickrr, Smytten, Samosa Party, and Sirona. The tool is designed to assist D2C brands and SMBs in preventing stockouts by providing real-time demand forecasting and optimizing inventory management. It helps brands answer crucial questions such as what to order, when to order, how much to stock, and where to place, resulting in improved serviceability and reduced risk of stockouts. Notable investors from the supply chain industry, including Ankit Sethi, also participated in the funding round.

Crest intends to utilize the newly raised funds to expand its product range and enhance its operations. Additionally, in view of the current economic slowdown, Crest aims to help brands sustain their financial stability by implementing effective inventory management practices to optimize their working capital.

According to Rahul Vishwakarma, Co-founder & CEO of Crest, the startup has already acquired a significant number of clients across different industries within a span of 12 months. These clients have experienced improved serviceability up to 95%, a decrease in out-of-stock situations up to 90%, and automated supply chain operations. Some of Crest’s notable clients include Samosa Party, Wow Skin, Swiss Beauty, Pro Nature, and Sleepwell, among others.

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