Fashinza co-founder Pawan Gupta has officially stepped down from the company. He started the Gurugram-based startup with Abhishek Sharma in 2020 and was serving as the CEO. However, he became less involved in the company’s daily operations last year and formally exited in December 2025.
After his departure, Abhishek Sharma is now the only remaining founder and will continue leading the company as CEO. Fashinza became popular for helping fashion brands manage sourcing and manufacturing through technology, but the company’s business model has changed over the years.
Company Says Exit Was Friendly
According to the company, Gupta’s exit was a personal decision and happened on good terms. Abhishek Sharma said Gupta wanted to explore opportunities in the fast-growing Artificial Intelligence (AI) sector and that his departure was not linked to the company’s business performance.
Still, reports from people close to the matter suggest there may have been bigger reasons behind the move. Fashinza’s revenue reportedly dropped sharply from ₹33 crore in FY22 to around ₹6 crore in FY25. Sources also said the company moved away from its original tech-focused idea and became more manufacturing-driven.
People familiar with the company said Gupta was more interested in building products and technology, which may not have matched the company’s new direction.
Pawan Gupta Exploring AI Startup Ideas
After leaving Fashinza, Gupta is currently taking a break and exploring new ideas in the AI space. He has reportedly been meeting business leaders and travelling to San Francisco to understand global AI trends better.
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He is planning to start a new AI venture from India that will mainly target international markets, especially the US. While he has not finalised a business plan yet, he is looking at AI opportunities in healthcare, logistics, marketing, and e-commerce.
Betterhalf Founder Also Shared Startup Challenges
In a separate development, another entrepreneur named Pawan Gupta has also been in the spotlight. He is the co-founder and CEO of Betterhalf, an AI-powered matrimony app launched in 2016.
Gupta recently shared that Betterhalf faced financial challenges in early 2022, including high cash burn and negative contribution margins. He said the company spent six months reducing marketing costs and improving revenue.
He also spoke about the importance of user privacy and advised young entrepreneurs to work on problems they personally understand and stay focused on long-term goals.