As the creator economy explodes , influencer marketing agencies are emerging as the real power brokers reshaping how corporate India spends its advertising money.
The country’s influencer marketing industry has moved from the margins of advertising to its core, becoming one of the fastest-growing segments of the country’s digital economy. As brands redirect budgets toward social platforms and short-form video, influencer-led campaigns are no longer experimental — they are strategic.
In India’s advertising economy, influence has become infrastructure.
The Numbers: ₹3,375 Crore by 2026
The numbers reflect that shift. EY projects the sector will reach ₹3,375 crore by 2026 , growing at 18 per cent annually.
Globally, the market is expected to climb to 32.55billionin2025and38.9 billion by 2031, fueled by rising digital ad spend and the expansion of social commerce.
Consumer behavior is driving the momentum. Roughly half of mobile time in India is spent on social media , and the country ranks among the world’s largest digital markets. Instagram and YouTube dominate key categories such as fashion, beauty and lifestyle, where creators increasingly shape discovery and purchasing decisions.
Industry reports indicate influencer marketing is set to feature in three out of four brand strategies , with a strong majority expressing confidence in agency-led campaigns.
Here are the agencies running the show.
1. Monk-E (Monk Entertainment)
Founded: 2017 by Viraj Sheth and co-founded by Ranveer Allahbadia (BeerBiceps)
Monk Entertainment operates as a full-service influencer marketing and talent management agency. Managing an exclusive roster of around 120 creators , it offers talent management, video production and branded content services.
Key creators: Niharika NM, Mumbiker Nikhil
Brand partners: Nykaa Man, Groww, Puma, Skechers, Sony Music, Gillette
Monk-E is unique because of its co-founder Ranveer Allahbadia, one of India’s most well-known creators (BeerBiceps). This gives the agency insider credibility with both brands and creators.
2. Chtrbox
Founded by: Pranay Swarup, Rohit Raj, Varun Duggirala, Roshan Abbas, Gaurav Kapur
Acquired by: QYOU Media (US-based) in 2021
Creator network: Over 300,000 creators
Regional focus: 50-60% of campaigns integrate regional creators
Chtrbox made history in 2025 as the first influencer marketing agency to list on the BSE SME platform. It also announced international expansion through a Dubai hub.
Chtrbox operates via two verticals: Chtrbox for creator marketing and ChtrSocial for social media strategy. The agency is investing heavily in AI-led analytics and audience insights.
Brand partners: More than 100 leading brands
3. Creator18
Launched: June 2025
Parent company: Network18
Exclusive creators: Over 1,000 creators
Creator18 represents Network18’s formal push into influencer marketing and creator-led advertising. Positioned as a vertical designed to expand Network18’s advertising reach, the platform enables the company to enter news-adjacent categories such as culture, commerce and fashion.
Backed by Network18’s scale — including more than 13 billion quarterly YouTube views across its channels — Creator18 integrates branded content, cross-platform distribution and AI-enabled newsroom capabilities.
This is a significant development because Network18 is one of India’s largest media conglomerates. Its entry into influencer marketing signals that the sector has arrived.
4. Collective Artists Network (formerly KWAN)
Founded by: Vijay Subramaniam, Dhruv Chitgopekar, Kshitij Mehta, Avinash Biadaia, Jovan Martins
Celebrity roster: Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh, Hrithik Roshan, Kartik Aaryan, Yash, Rashmika Mandanna
Digital creators: Bhuvan Bam
Sports stars: Ravindra Jadeja, Rishabh Pant, Yuvraj Singh
Music artists: Pritam, Divine
Collective Artists Network (formerly KWAN) is not just an influencer agency — it is a pop-culture marketplace. The network operates Collective Creative Labs (full-service agency integrating pop culture with marketing) and BigBang.Social (creator-led marketplace).
International brand partners: DAMAC Properties, Yas Island, Qatar Airways, Dubai Tourism
If Monk-E and Chtrbox focus on digital creators, Collective Artists Network plays in the big leagues: movie stars, cricketers, and musicians alongside top digital talent.
5. Only Much Louder (OML)
Founded: 2001 by Vijay Nair, Girish Talwar, Ajay Nair
Creator roster: Over 500 creators (comedians, writers, actors, musicians, digital entertainers)
OML is one of India’s most influential talent management and pop culture companies , originally rooted in India’s indie music movement.
OML first gained national recognition for pioneering independent music experiences in India through the NH7 Weekender festival , widely regarded as one of the country’s most iconic multi-genre music festivals.
Today, OML operates at the intersection of youth culture, comedy, music, and digital storytelling, producing content across OTT platforms, television, and digital channels.
6. mFluencer
Founded: Late 2020 by Bhupendra Singh and Ashish Malik
Network size: 300,000+ influencers across 300 cities and 50 languages
Specialization: Instagram and YouTube marketing, nano and micro campaigns, barter collaborations, user-generated content
mFluencer stands out for its language and geographic reach — 50 languages and 300 cities. This is critical for brands trying to reach India’s non-metro consumers.
7. Confluencr
Founded: 2019 in Mumbai by Sahiba Dhandhania and Hitesh Lalwani
Focus: IAMAI- and ASCI-certified data-driven campaigns
Key clients: Yatra, GOVO, FRND, Glance, Hirect, Houm Technologies, Renor Audio
Sectors: Fintech, lifestyle, e-commerce
Confluencr positions itself as a data-first agency , emphasizing certification and compliance (IAMAI and ASCI standards).
8. Grynow
Founded: 2018 by Washib Khan
Specialization: Micro-influencer marketing
Global footprint: India, Middle East, USA, UK, Indonesia, Philippines
Campaigns delivered: Over 3,500
Brand partners: Amazon, Meta, Puma, Coca-Cola, Sony, H&M, McDonald’s, Crocs, KitKat
Grynow has executed campaigns across informational, promotional, meme-based, and educational formats.
9. Vavo Digital
Founded: 2020 by Neha K Puri and Radhika Agrawal
Platforms: Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, Twitter, AI filters
In-house product: Sehaye (barter-based application launched in 2022, streamlining approximately 40% of campaigns)
Clients: Zink London, IndiGo, Urban Company (with Samsung), Neeman’s, Cake Zone, McDonald’s, Dabur, Flipkart, Meesho
Expansion: Opened Dubai office; focusing on tier 2 and tier 3 cities
10. WhizCo
Founded by: Prerna Goel, Aastha Goel, later joined by Keshav Jindal
Evolution: Started as 2017 Instagram community “Talent Swag”
Creator network: Over 100,000 creators (India and Middle East)
Platform partnerships: Roposo, ShareChat, HiPi, Moj, MXTakaTak, Triller, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Pinterest
Campaigns: Onboarding creators for Josh, promoting Kuku FM audiobooks, Swiggy in-app activations, 20+ live commerce initiatives in 2024
11. OpraahFx
Founded: 2017 in Delhi by Pranav Panpalia
Creator network: Over 10,000 influencers
Campaigns executed: Over 500
Key creators: TechnoGamerz, Mythpat, Slayy Point, Total Gaming, Desi Gamers
Brand partners: Netflix, Tinder, BMW, Oppo Mobile, OYO Rooms, Berger Paints
OpraahFx is particularly strong in gaming and youth culture — a category where traditional advertising struggles to reach audiences.
12. Influencer.in
Parent company: Social Beat
Co-founded by: Vikas Chawla
Creator network: More than 750,000 creators
Sectors: Fashion, travel, food, beauty, fitness, technology, edutech, parenting, finance, gaming
Brand partners: Flipkart, TATA CLiQ, boAt, Samsung, Go Colors!, Samsonite, Snapdeal, Sebamed, ITC Limited, Puma
13. One Impression
Founded: 2018 in Gurugram by Apaksh Gupta and Jivesh Gupta
Global footprint: 14+ countries (India, USA, UAE, Indonesia)
Creator network: Over 7 million creators (celebrities to nano-influencers)
Funding: Raised 10millionSeriesA(2023)ledbyKrafton,following1 million seed round
Brand partners: Amazon, HUL, Meesho, Mamaearth, Cetaphil, Galderma, Kama Ayurveda, Myntra, Mars, Panasonic
14. Qoruz
Founded: 2015 in Bengaluru by Praanesh Bhuvaneswar, Prabhakaran B, Aditya Gurwara, Priya Vivek
Business model: AI-powered SaaS platform (not a traditional agency)
Capabilities: Influencer discovery, campaign management, performance tracking, competitor analysis, media planning, benchmarking
Qoruz is different. It is a technology platform that brands can use to manage influencer marketing in-house, rather than an agency that executes campaigns.
15. Kofluence
Founded: 2019 by Sreeram Reddy Vanga and Ritesh Ujjwa
Business model: AI-powered ad tech influencer marketing platform
Creator network: 750,000+ verified creators across 30+ sectors
Key verticals: Retail, fintech, gaming, lifestyle, beauty, consumer tech
Funding: $4 million Pre-Series A (2022)
Brand partners: Swiggy, Meesho, Flipkart, Netflix
Kofluence, like Qoruz, positions itself as a technology-first platform rather than a traditional agency.
16. Zefmo Media
Co-founded by: Shudeep Majumdar (CEO)
Founded: 2017 in Gurugram
Creator ecosystem: 300,000+ influencers; searchable database of 4 million+ profiles
Recognition: ASSOCHAM, NASSCOM; endorsed by Startup India (DPIIT)
Zefmo focuses on measurable ROI through structured influencer collaborations, celebrity partnerships, and digital amplification.
17. BuzzFame
Founded by: Sorav Jain
Headquarters: Chennai
Specialization: Strong regional presence (Tamil Nadu and South India)
Sectors: Fashion, lifestyle, food, travel, technology
Brand partners: Nippo, Oliva, The Chennai Mobiles, Poorvika, Levista Coffee, Casagrand, Naturals, Vecura
BuzzFame uses AI-driven matching and has executed hundreds of campaigns.
18. SocioClout
Founded by: Bitesh Singh
Headquarters: Gurugram
Philosophy: “Brave or Nothing” — performance-led, insight-driven
Unique differentiator: Bridging the gap between mainstream brands and regional, vernacular influencers
Target demographic: Age 15-50 across tier 2 and tier 3 markets
Brand partners: Amazon, Indeed
SocioClout focuses on culturally contextual storytelling rather than urban-centric campaigns.
19. Buzzoka
Founded: 2017 by Ashitosh Harbola and Prateek Mishra; Rahul Puri (COO)
Positioning: Strategy-first influencer platform
In two years: 379 campaigns for 150+ brands
Noteworthy campaigns: Engaged 2,000+ influencers for SBI YONO, TikTok campaigns for HDFC Life and SBI, nano-influencer programme targeting 20 million creators
Expansion: Meme marketing and influencer-led commerce
The Big Picture: Influence Has Become Infrastructure
India’s influencer marketing sector has evolved into a structured and scalable industry.
From Monk-E’s exclusive roster of 120 creators to One Impression’s 7 million+ creator network , from OML’s two-decade heritage in indie music to Creator18’s media conglomerate backing , from Kofluence’s AI-powered tech platform to Chtrbox’s stock market listing — the landscape is diverse, competitive, and rapidly growing.
As regional creators gain prominence and digital consumption deepens, agencies are poised to play an increasingly decisive role in shaping brand growth strategies.
EY projects the sector will reach ₹3,375 crore by 2026. Globally, the market is expected to climb to $38.9 billion by 2031.
Three out of four brands now include influencer marketing in their strategies.
In India’s advertising economy, influence has become infrastructure.
