{"id":78472,"date":"2025-11-03T19:15:17","date_gmt":"2025-11-03T13:45:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newswireindia.in\/index.php\/2025\/11\/03\/lenskart-ipo-2025-peyush-bansal-turns-criticism-into-strategy\/"},"modified":"2025-11-03T19:15:17","modified_gmt":"2025-11-03T13:45:17","slug":"lenskart-ipo-2025-peyush-bansal-turns-criticism-into-strategy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newswireindia.in\/index.php\/2025\/11\/03\/lenskart-ipo-2025-peyush-bansal-turns-criticism-into-strategy\/","title":{"rendered":"Lenskart IPO 2025: Peyush Bansal Turns Criticism into Strategy"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], November 3:<\/b> When social media called Lenskart\u2019s \u20b970,000-crore valuation \u201cobnoxious,\u201d Peyush Bansal didn\u2019t flinch. For him, criticism isn\u2019t a crisis \u2013 it\u2019s feedback wrapped in noise. The founder who built India\u2019s biggest eyewear brand knows one thing: if everyone\u2019s talking, you\u2019re doing something right.<\/span><\/p>\n

Backlash as a Badge of Relevance<\/b><\/h3>\n

At a fireside chat with S<\/span>\u00a0Sharma, Bansal didn\u2019t dodge the question. \u201cCriticism isn\u2019t always a bad thing,\u201d he said, smiling. \u201cShark Tank has somewhat trained me for the public world.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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He added, \u201cSometimes criticism can be a good thing. It\u2019s important to listen to another\u2019s point of view, but also have your own.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

This is classic Peyush Bansal energy \u2013 calm, slightly amused, and entirely in control. The founder of Lenskart, a company now synonymous with eyewear innovation in India, is rolling out one of the most anticipated listings of the year: <\/span>Lenskart IPO 2025<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The \u20b97,278-crore public issue, open from <\/span>October 31 to November 4<\/b>, is split between a <\/span>fresh issue worth \u20b92,150 crore<\/b> and an <\/span>offer for sale of \u20b95,128 crore<\/b>. The price band sits between <\/span>\u20b9382 and \u20b9402 per share<\/b>, valuing Lenskart at roughly <\/span>\u20b970,000 crore (around $8 billion)<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n

And despite the noise, the numbers speak louder than the tweets.<\/span><\/p>\n

Lenskart IPO 2025: Fully Subscribed in a Flash<\/b><\/h2>\n

By 5:00 PM on <\/span>November 3, 2025<\/b>, the IPO was <\/span>2.01 times subscribed<\/b>. Institutional investors (QIBs) were in at <\/span>1.64x<\/b>, non-institutional investors (NIIs) at <\/span>1.88x<\/b>, retail investors at <\/span>3.33x<\/b>, and even employees joined the rush with <\/span>2.62x<\/b> subscriptions.<\/span><\/p>\n

Translation: everyone wanted a piece of Lenskart.<\/span><\/p>\n

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For context, the issue was <\/span>fully subscribed on Day 1<\/b> \u2013 a clear sign that investors, both Indian and global, see serious potential in this brand. \u201cI\u2019m humbled by the Indian and global investors\u2019 participation in Day 1 of the IPO,\u201d Bansal said.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The listing is set for <\/span>November 10<\/b> on the <\/span>BSE and NSE<\/b>, with allotments finalized by <\/span>November 6<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Overvaluation Debate: Loud, Familiar, and Predictable<\/b><\/h3>\n

Not everyone\u2019s impressed. Market analyst <\/span>Sandeep Sabharwal<\/b> called the IPO \u201cobnoxiously valued,\u201d arguing that Lenskart doesn\u2019t justify a price north of \u20b915,000 crore, let alone \u20b970,000 crore.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not a business that offers massive scale or growth potential, and the company just turned profitable last year,\u201d he said. \u201cHighly avoidable IPO.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

That\u2019s harsh. But the criticism isn\u2019t new. Every major Indian startup IPO \u2013 from <\/span>Zomato<\/b> to <\/span>Paytm<\/b> \u2013 has faced the same music. When consumer tech firms go public, investors split into two camps: believers in scale, and purists demanding old-school profitability.<\/span><\/p>\n

Bansal\u2019s take? He\u2019s been here before. The Shark Tank India judge thrives on skepticism. For him, backlash just confirms that Lenskart is no longer a startup \u2013 it\u2019s a public story.<\/span><\/p>\n

A Broader IPO Reality Check<\/b><\/h2>\n

DSP Asset Managers Pvt.<\/b> \u2013 one of the institutional investors in the Lenskart anchor book \u2013 had to publicly defend its decision after social media backlash. The fund called Lenskart\u2019s business \u201cstrong and scalable,\u201d but admitted the deal was \u201cexpensive.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Analysts like <\/span>Gaurav Garg<\/b> of Lemonn Markets Desk agree the IPO is \u201cat a significant premium\u201d compared to global peers like <\/span>EssilorLuxottica SA<\/b>, the Paris-listed eyewear leader that trades at 45x forward earnings.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Meanwhile, <\/span>SBICAP Securities Ltd.<\/b> labeled Lenskart\u2019s valuation \u201cstretched,\u201d saying near-term listing gains could be muted. Still, they advised investors to subscribe, citing brand strength and growth potential in India\u2019s underpenetrated eyewear market.<\/span><\/p>\n

And <\/span>Choice Equity Broking\u2019s Rajnath Yadav<\/b> echoed that: profitability is thin, but the global expansion is real \u2013 about <\/span>40% of revenue already comes from overseas<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Lenskart\u2019s Edge: Vision Beyond Eyewear<\/b><\/h3>\n

Beyond valuations, Bansal\u2019s strategy is clear: build for the long term, not the next quarter. Half of <\/span>Lenskart\u2019s manufacturing now happens in India<\/b>, a deliberate choice in a world that loves easy imports.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cThe easier choice for us is to import everything,\u201d Bansal said. \u201cBut the tough choice was to set up an engineering team, build hardware and software, and control our data. We didn\u2019t want to be just distributors of glasses.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

That\u2019s a mic drop moment \u2013 especially in a sector where most players are still middlemen.<\/span><\/p>\n

Then comes the tech play. Earlier this year, Lenskart launched <\/span>\u201cPhonic\u201d smart glasses<\/b> in partnership with <\/span>Qualcomm<\/b>, featuring Bluetooth connectivity. A camera and video-capable version is on the way.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI think there\u2019s a lot of AI happening in India,\u201d Bansal said. \u201cIt\u2019s not just the US or China. At Lenskart, we\u2019re high on AI \u2013 our smart glasses are proof.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

For a brand that started by selling lenses online, that\u2019s one hell of a pivot into the future.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Big Picture: India\u2019s Startup Market Under Scrutiny<\/b><\/h2>\n

Lenskart\u2019s IPO lands at a time when the <\/span>Indian IPO market<\/b> is buzzing but cautious. Since 2021, around <\/span>32 startups<\/b> have gone public. Fourteen now trade below their issue prices \u2013 Paytm and Fino Payments Bank being the most famous casualties.<\/span><\/p>\n

Investors have learned to ask harder questions. Are these companies profitable? Do valuations make sense? Can they sustain growth beyond the hype?<\/span><\/p>\n

Lenskart sits right at the center of that debate. It offers scale, reach, and strong investor pedigree \u2013 with billionaire <\/span>Radhakishan Damani<\/b> joining the pre-IPO round with a \u20b9900-crore investment. Yet, the brand must prove that it can sustain its momentum while delivering consistent earnings.<\/span><\/p>\n

From Microsoft to Market Street<\/b><\/h3>\n

Bansal\u2019s own story mirrors his response to critics. \u201cIn my mid-year review at Microsoft, my manager said I handle criticism really well \u2013 and that was the only thing she said,\u201d he recalled with a laugh.<\/span><\/p>\n

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That thick skin might be his biggest asset right now. As Lenskart transitions from a high-growth startup to a public company, scrutiny will only increase. And Bansal seems fine with that.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

His philosophy is simple: <\/span>listen, adapt, but don\u2019t bend.<\/b><\/p>\n

Verdict: India\u2019s Eyewear Titan Enters a New Lens<\/b><\/h2>\n

At \u20b970,000 crore, Lenskart isn\u2019t just selling eyewear \u2013 it\u2019s selling belief. The company\u2019s 4\u20136% share of India\u2019s prescription eyewear market leaves massive headroom for expansion, especially as unorganized local players fade out. <\/span>So yes, the valuation might look stretched. The profitability might still be warming up. But the demand, brand recall, and investor faith? Hard to argue with.<\/span><\/p>\n

The <\/span>Lenskart IPO 2025<\/a><\/strong> may not please valuation purists, but it\u2019s undeniably a statement \u2013 one that says Indian consumer tech isn\u2019t afraid to dream in billions.<\/span><\/p>\n

Also Read: PM Modi Launches One Lakh Crore Research Innovation Drive<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], November 3: When social media called Lenskart\u2019s \u20b970,000-crore valuation \u201cobnoxious,\u201d Peyush Bansal didn\u2019t flinch. For him, criticism isn\u2019t a crisis \u2013 it\u2019s feedback wrapped in noise. The founder who built India\u2019s biggest eyewear brand knows one thing: if everyone\u2019s talking, you\u2019re doing something right. Backlash as a Badge of Relevance At a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":78473,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[638],"tags":[637],"class_list":["post-78472","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-finance","tag-finance"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newswireindia.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/78472","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newswireindia.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newswireindia.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newswireindia.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newswireindia.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=78472"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newswireindia.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/78472\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newswireindia.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/78473"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newswireindia.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=78472"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newswireindia.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=78472"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newswireindia.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=78472"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}