Lenskart

Corporate brand

An Indian vertically integrated eyewear company combining digital retail, physical stores, proprietary brands, manufacturing, and international acquisitions.

Last updated August 21, 2026

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Overview

Lenskart is an Indian eyewear company headquartered in Gurgaon that designs, manufactures, distributes, and retails prescription glasses, sunglasses, contact lenses, and related optical products. The company operates through its website, mobile application, company-owned stores, and franchise outlets, and has expanded from an online contact-lens retailer into a vertically integrated omnichannel eyewear business. The company originated in an earlier venture founded by Peyush Bansal in 2008 under the name Valyoo Technologies. That business initially operated SearchMyCampus.com, a college-classifieds website. Amit Chaudhary joined as a co-founder in 2009, after which the company experimented with Flyrr.com, an eyewear e-commerce platform aimed at the United States. In November 2010, the earlier websites were discontinued and Lenskart.com was launched in India, initially focusing on contact lenses. Eyeglasses and sunglasses were added in early 2011, broadening the company into a full eyewear retailer. Sumeet Kapahi joined as a third co-founder in September 2011. Lenskart briefly tested adjacent categories through Watchkart.com and Bagskart.com in 2011 and Jewelskart.com in 2012. Those experiments were ultimately abandoned, and by the end of 2014 the company had concentrated on eyewear. Valyoo Technologies was renamed Lenskart Solutions in 2015. The company subsequently developed proprietary and house brands, including John Jacobs and Lenskart Air, while also selling other branded and prescription products. A central element of Lenskart's model is the combination of online convenience with physical optical retail. Customers can browse frames digitally, use virtual try-on and other technology-enabled tools where available, order prescription products, and visit stores for fitting, examination, or collection. The company describes itself as vertically integrated, with manufacturing capacity in Bhiwadi, Rajasthan, reported at approximately 50 million units annually. Its retail footprint has grown to more than 2,000 physical stores according to the company's Wikipedia profile. Lenskart has used external capital to finance technology, store expansion, manufacturing, marketing, and international growth. Its investors have included IDG Ventures India, TPG Growth, International Finance Corporation, PremjiInvest, SoftBank Vision Fund, KKR, Temasek, Alpha Wave Global, Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, and ChrysCapital. It expanded internationally through the majority acquisition of Japanese eyewear company Owndays in 2022 and acquired an 80% stake in Spanish eyewear brand Meller in 2025. These transactions shifted Lenskart from a primarily Indian retailer toward a multinational eyewear group. The brand positions itself around accessible pricing, convenience, design variety, technology, and an integrated retail experience. Its public profile has also been shaped by celebrity marketing, including Katrina Kaif and Bhuvan Bam. At the same time, franchise relations and an alleged workplace dress-code document generated controversy. Lenskart remains an active private company; the supplied reference material reports a proposed initial public offering in 2025, but does not establish a completed listing.

History

Lenskart's history began with Valyoo Technologies, founded by Peyush Bansal in May 2008. The original business was SearchMyCampus.com, a website for college classifieds. Amit Chaudhary joined in 2009, and the founders then explored an international eyewear opportunity through Flyrr.com in the United States. In November 2010, the company shut down both earlier websites and launched Lenskart.com in India. The service initially concentrated on contact lenses, but expanded into eyeglasses and sunglasses in early 2011. This move established the company's long-term focus on optical retail rather than general e-commerce. Sumeet Kapahi joined as a third co-founder in September 2011. During its early years, Lenskart experimented with a broader multi-category strategy. Watchkart.com and Bagskart.com were launched in 2011, followed by Jewelskart.com in 2012. The experiments were influenced by an ambition to replicate the category-based model associated with Titan. They did not become the company's long-term direction: by the end of 2014 the three adjacent-category websites had been closed, leaving Lenskart.com as the principal operating business. In 2015, Valyoo Technologies changed its name to Lenskart Solutions. The company developed beyond a pure online retailer by building physical stores, manufacturing capabilities, proprietary brands, and technology-assisted customer services. Its model became omnichannel, allowing customers to discover and order products digitally while also using stores for fitting and other optical retail interactions. The company is described as vertically integrated because it participates in product design, manufacturing, distribution, and retail. Its Bhiwadi facility in Rajasthan has been reported to have annual capacity of 50 million units. Brand development became an important part of the business. Lenskart launched John Jacobs in 2017 and promoted the brand through celebrity partnerships. Katrina Kaif became its first reported brand ambassador in October 2017, followed by Bhuvan Bam as its first reported male brand ambassador in March 2019. Lenskart also developed Lenskart Air and continued selling prescription eyewear, sunglasses, contact lenses, and other optical products. Expansion was supported by successive investment rounds. IDG Ventures India invested in the company in 2011. Later reported investors included TPG Growth, TR Capital, International Finance Corporation, Adveq Management, PremjiInvest, SoftBank Vision Fund, KKR, Temasek, Falcon Edge Capital or Alpha Wave Global, Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, and ChrysCapital. The supplied reference material reports valuations rising from more than $1 billion in 2019 to approximately $4.5 billion in 2022 and 2023, and $5 billion in a 2024 secondary transaction. These figures are financing valuations rather than public-market prices. Lenskart's international strategy accelerated with the 2022 acquisition of a majority stake in Owndays, a Japanese eyewear company. The reported cash-and-stock deal expanded the combined business's geographic reach and added an established Asian eyewear brand. In 2025, Lenskart reportedly acquired 80% of Spanish brand Meller, extending its acquisition-led expansion into Europe. The company has also faced criticism and legal scrutiny. In 2024, franchise owners alleged that Lenskart's company-owned, company-operated stores were opened close to franchise-owned, franchise-operated outlets, damaging franchise economics. Karnataka franchisees reportedly filed an FIR alleging financial fraud, including discrepancies in revenue reporting and misuse of accounting software. A Karnataka High Court stay in January 2025 halted the reported Economic Offences Wing investigation. Separately, a document circulated in 2026 allegedly described a dress code that treated different religious symbols differently, leading to accusations of religious bias. The supplied sources do not provide a definitive resolution to that episode. Lenskart is currently described as an active multinational eyewear company with an Indian base, a large store network, manufacturing operations, digital channels, proprietary brands, and acquired international businesses. The supplied material reports an IPO proposal in 2025 but does not confirm that the company became publicly listed.

2025
Meller stake acquired
[1]Lenskarten.wikipedia.org
Lenskart reportedly acquired 80% of Spanish eyewear brand Meller.
2022
Owndays acquisition announced
[1]Lenskarten.wikipedia.org
Lenskart announced the acquisition of a majority stake in Japanese eyewear company Owndays.
2017
John Jacobs launches
[1]Lenskarten.wikipedia.org
Lenskart added the John Jacobs brand to its proprietary eyewear portfolio.
2015
Valyoo Technologies becomes Lenskart Solutions
[1]Lenskarten.wikipedia.org
The corporate name was changed to reflect the primary Lenskart business.
2014
The company focuses exclusively on eyewear
[1]Lenskarten.wikipedia.org
Watchkart, Bagskart, and Jewelskart were discontinued, leaving eyewear as the core business.
2011
Eyeglasses and sunglasses are added
[1]Lenskarten.wikipedia.org
Lenskart broadened from contact lenses into general eyewear and launched several adjacent-category websites.
2010
Lenskart.com launches in India
[1]Lenskarten.wikipedia.org
The company ended its earlier website experiments and began selling contact lenses under the Lenskart name.
2009
Amit Chaudhary joins as co-founder
[1]Lenskarten.wikipedia.org
The company expanded its founding team and launched the Flyrr.com eyewear experiment in the United States.
2008
Valyoo Technologies is founded
[1]Lenskarten.wikipedia.org
Peyush Bansal founded the predecessor company, initially operating SearchMyCampus.com.

Products and positioning

Accessible, technology-enabled omnichannel eyewear with broad frame choice, integrated prescription services, and a mix of proprietary and acquired brands.

Eyewear · 2011
Prescription eyeglasses
Lenskart's core offering includes prescription frames and lenses sold through its digital channels and physical optical stores. The range covers multiple designs and price points, with store-based services supporting fitting and prescription fulfilment.
Eyewear · 2011
Sunglasses
The company sells regular and fashion sunglasses through its online platform and stores. Sunglasses form part of the broader expansion beyond the contact-lens category that established Lenskart as a general eyewear retailer.
Vision care · 2010
Contact lenses
Contact lenses were Lenskart's initial product category when Lenskart.com launched in India. They remain part of the company's wider vision-care assortment alongside frames, prescription lenses, and sunglasses.
Eyewear brand
Lenskart Air
Lenskart Air is a proprietary eyewear line associated with lightweight frames and the company's accessible, technology-oriented retail proposition. Specific product specifications and launch date are not established in the supplied sources.
Eyewear brand · 2017
John Jacobs
John Jacobs is a Lenskart-owned or proprietary eyewear brand launched in 2017. It broadens the group's branded frame portfolio and is positioned separately from the main Lenskart label.
Acquired eyewear brand
Owndays
Owndays is a Japanese eyewear brand in which Lenskart acquired a majority stake in 2022. It operates as an international brand within the combined group's expansion strategy.
Acquired eyewear brand
Meller
Meller is a Spanish eyewear brand in which Lenskart reportedly acquired an 80% stake in 2025.

Controversies

2026
Workplace dress-code controversy
A document circulated online allegedly permitted some religious attire while restricting visible Hindu symbols, prompting claims that the policy was religiously unequal. The available material does not establish the document's final status or any completed investigation.
Source
2024
Franchise-owner allegations
Franchise owners accused Lenskart of unfairly opening company-operated stores near franchise-operated outlets and alleged financial and accounting irregularities. A Karnataka FIR and an Economic Offences Wing investigation were reported.
Source

2019Bhuvan Bam brand ambassadorship
India
Bhuvan Bam became Lenskart's first reported male brand ambassador, extending the company's celebrity-led marketing approach to a prominent digital entertainer.
Outcome. The supplied sources do not report a quantified campaign outcome.
Source
2017Katrina Kaif brand ambassadorship
India
Lenskart signed Katrina Kaif as its first reported brand ambassador, using celebrity visibility to support its consumer eyewear positioning.
Outcome. The partnership increased the prominence of Lenskart's consumer marketing; the supplied sources do not quantify its commercial effect.
Source

Brand decisions

2025
Acquire an 80% stake in MellerM&A
Background
The company continued its international brand-acquisition strategy after the Owndays transaction.
Action taken
Lenskart reportedly acquired 80% of Spanish eyewear brand Meller.
Aftermath
The deal expanded the group's presence into a European eyewear brand, although longer-term integration results are not established in the supplied sources.
Reported purchase price. More than €40 million (2025)
Source
2022
Acquire majority control of OwndaysM&A
Background
Lenskart sought to accelerate international expansion through an established Japanese eyewear business.
Action taken
The company announced a cash-and-stock acquisition of a majority stake in Owndays.
Aftermath
The transaction created a larger multinational eyewear group with an expanded Asian footprint.
Reported transaction valuation. Approximately US$400 million (June 2022)
Source
2014
Concentrate on eyewearStrategy
Background
The company's experiments in watches, bags, and jewellery did not become durable businesses.
Action taken
Lenskart shut the adjacent-category websites and focused resources on its eyewear platform.
Aftermath
The decision established eyewear as the company's sole core category and supported later vertical integration.
Source

Recent events

2025
Lenskart acquires a controlling stake in Meller[1]Lenskarten.wikipedia.org
M&A
Lenskart reportedly acquired 80% of Spanish eyewear brand Meller for more than €40 million.
2025
Lenskart reportedly prepares an initial public offering[1]Lenskarten.wikipedia.org
Other
The supplied reference material reports that Lenskart launched an IPO seeking up to $828 million; completion and listing status are not established here.
2022
Lenskart agrees to acquire a majority stake in Owndays[1]Lenskarten.wikipedia.org
M&A
The company announced a cash-and-stock transaction for control of Japanese eyewear brand Owndays, reportedly valuing the target at approximately $400 million.
2019
Bhuvan Bam joins Lenskart as male brand ambassador[1]Lenskarten.wikipedia.org
Campaign
Lenskart appointed entertainer Bhuvan Bam as its first reported male brand ambassador.
2017
Lenskart introduces the John Jacobs eyewear brand[1]Lenskarten.wikipedia.org
Product launch
Lenskart expanded its proprietary brand portfolio with John Jacobs.
2017
Katrina Kaif becomes Lenskart brand ambassador[1]Lenskarten.wikipedia.org
Campaign
The company signed Katrina Kaif as its first reported brand ambassador.
2010
Lenskart launches its Indian eyewear e-commerce business[1]Lenskarten.wikipedia.org
Product launch
The company discontinued its earlier websites and launched Lenskart.com in India, initially selling contact lenses before adding eyeglasses and sunglasses.

Sources6 sources

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