Qoruz: Transforming Influencer Marketing with Data and Transparency

Qoruz is redefining influencer marketing in India at a time when the sector was still reliant on unstructured, Excel-based methodologies. Over the last decade, this leading creator intelligence platform has been committed to enhancing data access, transparency, and scalability within the creator ecosystem.

Founded in 2015 by Praanesh Bhuvaneswar, Prabakaran B, Aditya Gurwara, and Priya Vivek, Qoruz empowers brands to identify, assess, and partner with creators using a systematic, data-driven approach. In the last two years, the company has also expanded its reach to Dubai, showcasing its growing international presence. Qoruz successfully raised $1 million in a pre-Series A round and is gearing up for a Series A funding round targeting between $8–10 million. Priya has indicated that the aim with this Series A is to establish a foothold in the US market, with a valuation goal of approximately ₹280–300 crore.

Pioneering the Creator Economy

In a dialogue with Startup Superb, Priya Vivek, co-founder and head of revenue and partnerships, shared insights about her professional journey and the development of Qoruz. Priya’s career commenced in the telecom sector with Sify, Airtel, Tata Teleservices, and GTT in the UK before transitioning to Hindustan Times, where she met her co-founders and recognised the early signs of the emerging creator economy. At that time, influencer marketing was virtually non-existent. They monitored Twitter trends and blogs, anticipating significant growth in this area.

Innovative Business Model

Qoruz functions with a hybrid marketplace and Software as a Service (SaaS) model. The marketplace facilitates direct connections between brands and creators, while the SaaS platform aids in discovery, analytics, campaign planning, implementation, and performance evaluation. The cost of the subscription service begins at Rs 10 lakh annually.

Operating from Bengaluru, Qoruz has collaborated with over 500 brands, including high-profile names like Amazon, Flipkart, Dabur, Jiostar, L’Oréal, and Coca-Cola. The platform boasts a network of more than 40 lakh creators and has influenced upwards of Rs 1,500 crore in brand expenditure.

Leveraging Data for Competitive Advantage

Priya credits Qoruz’s competitive edge to its ownership of data and proprietary algorithms that drive valuable insights, API integrations, and measures for brand safety, such as identifying fake followers and bot-driven engagement. Furthermore, the platform is integrating artificial intelligence capabilities for campaign ideation, influencer discovery, and competitive analysis, positioning itself as a comprehensive planning engine. Nevertheless, Priya emphasised that trust remains with human creators.

Qoruz reports an impressive SaaS retention rate of 80–85% and is approaching EBITDA break-even, all while aiming for approximately Rs 100 crore in revenue by FY27. Priya reiterated that the company is focused on enhancing both SaaS uptake and marketplace interactions.