Startups

New Marketing Channel for D2C Brands: How Pauket is Revolutionizing In-App Rewards

• ByStartupStory     |    March 18, 2025

In the rapidly evolving digital landscape, where brands are vying for user attention and consumer applications are struggling to balance monetization with engagement, one startup is rewriting the rules of in-app rewards—Pauket.

Founded by serial entrepreneur Sudarsan Babu and former PayPal tech expert Srividya Rajagopal, Pauket was born out of a shared vision: to create a seamless, performance-driven rewards ecosystem that benefits both brands and consumer applications. Their journey began with firsthand experiences of market inefficiencies—Sudarsan’s work with Adfarm highlighted the need for effective calls to action in advertisements, while Srividya’s tenure at PayPal during the Honey acquisition exposed the gaps in reward distribution. They identified a crucial market need: a universal rewards engine akin to UPI, but for incentivization.

The Birth of a Game-Changer

Pauket is not just another rewards platform—it’s a pioneering force in the ad-tech and consumer engagement space. With their API-first solution, Coupon Connect, Pauket enables B2C applications to establish white-labeled reward systems in under two weeks. This approach transforms traditional in-app engagement by rewarding every user action with attractive deals, making digital experiences more gratifying.

For brands, Pauket provides an unprecedented opportunity to access app inventories, execute seamless coupon campaigns, and track conversions with transparency. Through its Shopify app, Pauket Promo, it empowers D2C brands to launch and manage their rewards effortlessly across Tier 1 apps like Google Pay, Cred, MyJio, and BookMyShow. In essence, Pauket is on its way to becoming the Google Ads for rewards.

A Journey of Growth and Disruption

Since its official launch in 2023, Pauket has been making waves. In just a short span, the platform has:
✅ Onboarded 150+ brands and 15+ consumer apps
✅ Reached 5M+ users
✅ Distributed over ₹10 crore+ worth of coupons

Brands partnering with Pauket experience 3x better reward engagement than industry benchmarks, as the company’s performance-based model ensures they pay only for actual engagement and sales—not clicks or impressions.

The startup’s impact is visible across sectors. It launched its in-app interface with leading EdTech platform Guvi, expanded into the food industry with Slurrp, and continues to work with top-tier platforms for end-to-end voucher campaign management.

Building a Culture of Innovation and Collaboration

At its core, Pauket thrives on transparency, agility, and value creation. The team—led by founders with deep expertise in ad-tech and fintech—fosters a culture of ownership, experimentation, and collaboration. Every decision, partnership, and innovation is driven by a singular metric:

Are we creating enough value for the time and money spent on our platform?

With an API-first business model, Pauket stands as a collaborative force rather than a standalone entity. It partners with apps, brands, and businesses to co-create an ecosystem where rewards drive engagement, monetization, and consumer satisfaction.

Scaling New Heights

Looking ahead, Pauket is laser-focused on scaling its impact globally. With early-stage exploration in UAE and U.S. markets, the startup aims to take its rewards platform international by the end of 2024. Furthermore, Pauket is gearing up to raise its first institutional funding round in Q1 2025 to fuel expansion and innovation.

Redefining the Future of Rewards

Pauket is more than a startup—it’s a movement towards a frictionless, high-impact rewards economy. With a vision to build a rewards exchange ecosystem that seamlessly connects brands and consumer applications, Pauket is setting new benchmarks in ad-tech and consumer engagement.

This IPL season, Pauket can be the ultimate game-changer by enabling apps to reward user engagement with exclusive match-day offers and seamless in-app rewards. Brands can tap into the cricket frenzy with targeted promotions, driving higher conversions and making every game a winning opportunity! 

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