Coding Her Way Up: How Ankiti Bose Co-Founded Zilingo and Brought Southeast Asian Fashion to the Digital Age.

Ankiti Bose is a remarkable entrepreneur who co-founded Zilingo, a company that revolutionized Southeast Asia’s fashion industry by bringing it into the digital age. Born and raised in India, she combined her strong academic background in economics and mathematics with her passion for technology and business, launching Zilingo in 2015 at the age of 23.

Her journey began while working as an investment analyst in Singapore, where she noticed a significant gap in the digital presence of small and medium-sized fashion retailers, especially in markets like Thailand and Indonesia. These merchants lacked access to online platforms, financing, and the technology needed to compete against larger global brands. Motivated by this observation, she teamed up with Dhruv Kapoor to create a platform that not only connected these retailers to consumers but also provided essential backend support like inventory management, financing, and data analytics.

Zilingo quickly became more than just an e-commerce site; it evolved into a comprehensive technology and commerce platform supporting small fashion businesses. The company focused on democratizing fashion by empowering local retailers and streamlining the supply chain to make Southeast Asian fashion accessible to a broader audience. By leveraging advanced technology, Zilingo aimed to offer a seamless and personalized shopping experience that was new to the region.

Under Ankiti’s leadership, the company expanded its operations beyond Southeast Asia into global markets including the United States, operating in multiple countries with a wide staff and numerous partners across the fashion supply chain. This expansive growth marked Zilingo as a major player in fashion tech, valued at nearly a billion dollars at its peak.

Despite its successes, Zilingo faced challenges, especially during the global pandemic. Internal disputes and allegations surfaced, resulting in Ankiti being suspended as CEO in 2022. She contested these claims, and ongoing investigations have revealed complexities in management and corporate governance. Nevertheless, her impact in the industry remains significant.

Ankiti Bose’s story is inspiring not only because of her rapid rise as a young entrepreneur but also because of her commitment to empowering small businesses and fostering women’s leadership in a competitive industry. She symbolizes how innovation, technology, and perseverance can drive transformation in traditional sectors like fashion.

Her journey offers valuable lessons for aspiring entrepreneurs in India and beyond, showcasing the power of identifying market gaps and leveraging modern tools to create scalable and impactful businesses. Through Zilingo, Ankiti helped bring Southeast Asian fashion into the modern era, shaping the future of retail with a vision rooted in inclusion and growth.