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UNIQLO Founder Takes Step Towards Women Empowerment Amid Gender Gap Issue In Japan

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UNIQLO Founder Takes Step Towards Women Empowerment,Amid Gender Gap Issue In Japan,Startup Stories,Women Empowerment,Fast Retailing Founder Tadashi Yanai,popular retailing company Fast Retailing,CEO of UNIQLO,Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe,UNIQLO Founder Tadashi Yanai

Tadashi Yanai, the founder and CEO of Fast Retailing Co., and its subsidiary UNIQLO, recently expressed his desire to have a woman as his successor and the CEO of his Company.

Tadashi Yanai, who owns 44 % stake in the popular retailing company Fast Retailing, was ranked the 31st richest person in the world by Forbes in June 2019.  Yanai is also the richest person in Japan, with a net worth of $ 24.9 billion. He founded Fast Retailing in 1984, which grew to become the third largest clothing retailer in the world with an annual revenue of $ 18.9 billion in 2018.

During an interview, Tadashi Yanai told Bloomberg Japan he believes women are more suitable for the job of CEO as they are “ persevering, detail oriented and have an aesthetic sense.”  Yanai’s statement was welcomed by everyone because it was seen as a shift from the male focused corporate world.  Yanai also discussed about the future CEO of the Company and named Maki Akaida, who is currently the CEO of UNIQLO Japan, as a possible candidate.

Yanai also shared he plans to increase the ratio of female executives to more than half in his Company.  The Company, in 2018, fulfilled its goal of filling 30 % of the Company’s managerial positions with women employees.  It has 6 women in executive positions. Yanai also added women are reluctant to join managerial positions due to a fear of lifestyle change.

Tadashi Yanai and his Company’s efforts to ensure gender diversity have been praised heavily as latest reports show Japan is still behind when it comes to employing women in managerial positions.  According to a report published by the World Economic Forum, Japan ranked 110th in its Global Gender Gap Index 2018 report. The Country has a wage gap of 24.5 % between women and men in similar positions.

This issue led Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe addressing Japan’s shrinking workforce, a part of which is to provide better quality of work and senior positions to working women.

Although it is unclear when Yanai plans to step down from his position, the effort put in by him and Fast Retailing is a positive step for women working in the corporate sector in Japan as well as globally. 

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Funding

Eat Better Secures ₹17 Crore in Pre-Series A Funding

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Eat Better, a Jaipur-based D2C snacking brand, has raised ₹17 crore in a Pre-Series A funding round co-led by Prath Ventures and Spring Marketing Capital. Founded by Vidushi Kanoria, Mridula Kanoria, and Shaurya Kanoria in 2020, Eat Better specializes in healthy snacks like dry fruit ladoos and nuts.

Key Highlights:

  • Investment Use: Funds will expand Eat Better’s product line and enhance its presence on quick commerce platforms.
  • Market Position: Competes with brands like Happilo and Yoga Bar in the healthy snacking space.
  • Operational Milestones: Fulfills over 2 lakh orders monthly.
  • Financial Performance: Revenue grew nearly threefold to ₹14.47 crore in FY24, with a reduced net loss.

Market Opportunity:

The Indian food and beverages market is projected to reach $68 billion by 2030, positioning Eat Better favorably to capitalize on the demand for healthy snacks. With this funding, Eat Better aims to strengthen its market presence and product offerings.

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Outzidr Raises ₹30 Crore to Transform Gen Z Fashion

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Bengaluru-based D2C fashion startup Outzidr, co-founded by Nirmal Jain, Mani Kant Mani, and Justin Mario, has secured ₹30 crore in seed funding led by Stellaris Venture Partners, with participation from angel investors like Ramakant Sharma (Livspace) and Ghazal Alagh (Mamaearth).

Launched in February 2025, Outzidr targets Gen Z women aged 17–27 with affordable occasion-specific apparel such as partywear and travel outfits. The brand introduces over 2,000 new designs monthly and uses a “test-and-react” model to scale popular styles based on early sales data. With an agile inventory cycle of less than three weeks, it plans to shift 90% of manufacturing to India within two years for sustainability.

The funds will bolster supply chain efficiency, technology development, team expansion, and brand-building. Outzidr aims to achieve ₹100 crore annualized revenue within 6–8 months through its D2C platform and marketplaces like Myntra, Nykaa Fashion, and AJIO.

Led by industry veterans with expertise in fashion and logistics, Outzidr is poised to capitalize on India’s growing D2C market fueled by Gen Z’s demand for trendy and affordable fashion.

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Bengaluru’s Cult.fit Set to Make Waves in the Market with Upcoming ₹2,500 Crore IPO

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Cult.fit, the Bengaluru-based fitness and wellness platform backed by Zomato, has finalized five top investment banks—Axis Capital, Jefferies, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, and JM Financial—to manage its highly anticipated Initial Public Offering (IPO). The company aims to raise ₹2,500 crore through this offering, which is expected to value Cult.fit at nearly $2 billion.

Company Growth and Business Model

Founded in 2016 by Mukesh Bansal and Ankit Nagori, Cult.fit has grown into a diversified health and wellness ecosystem. The company operates over 500 gyms across India and has expanded into multiple segments:

  • Cultsport: Direct-to-consumer fitness apparel and equipment (30% revenue contribution).
  • Eat.fit: Healthy meal delivery service (24.5% of revenue).
  • Mind.fit: Yoga and mental wellness services.
  • Care.fit: Healthcare clinics and diagnostics.

In FY24, Cult.fit reported an operating revenue of ₹927 crore, a 33.6% jump from ₹694 crore in FY23. Despite this growth, the company recorded a loss of ₹535 crore.

IPO Details

The IPO marks a significant milestone for Cult.fit, which was last valued at $1.56 billion during Zomato’s $100 million investment in 2021. With strong backing from investors like Accel Partners, Tata Digital, Temasek, Kalaari Capital, and Chiratae Ventures, the upcoming IPO is set to further strengthen its position in the Indian fitness industry.

Strategic Importance

Cult.fit’s move to go public reflects its ambition to scale operations and attract institutional investors globally. Its diversified business model positions the company as a leader in India’s growing fitness market. Analysts are closely watching this IPO as one of the most anticipated offerings of 2025.

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