Inc42 D2C & Retail Summit convenes industry leaders

Indian media and data company Inc42 hosted its seventh D2C & Retail Summit on August 19, 2026, in Gurugram, India. The annual event gathers founders, executives, and investors from the direct-to-consumer (D2C) and retail sectors to discuss industry trends.

This year's summit focused on the theme 'Commerce In The Age Of AI & 10-Min Delivery.' The invite-only event convened over 600 industry leaders, with a majority being company founders. The agenda featured over 60 speakers and workshops covering topics such as rapid e-commerce, the role of artificial intelligence in brand building, and global market opportunities.

Panel discussions and presentations explored how D2C brands can scale through quick commerce alongside traditional distribution channels. Emphasis was placed on the importance of data and AI in retail decision-making, including product development and inventory management. The economic aspects of international expansion and the evolution of agentic commerce were also discussed.

Key sponsors and partners for the event included PhonePe Payment Gateway, a digital payments provider; Shadowfax, a last-mile logistics company; and Glance, an AI-native content and commerce platform. These partners participated in discussions and showcased their contributions to the industry's growth.