Nothing, a hardware startup backed by Tiger Global, announced the official opening of its first retail store in India. This landmark store is located in Bangalore. As Nothing's largest single market, India has concentrated the brand's huge user base.
This new two-story retail space will not only display the full range of Nothing’s products, but also other projects within its ecosystem. Consumers can not only purchase hardware equipment and peripheral products here, but also experience personalized customization services for specific products. Nothing co-founder and CEO Carl Pei said that the team is committed to creating an interesting space, with design inspiration derived from all aspects of the brand world. For example, the in-store design incorporates factory elements, simulating the process from the production line to the product leaving the factory, and even displays the mechanical device for USB interface testing or waterproof testing of mobile phones, aiming to present the behind-the-scenes manufacturing world in front of consumers.
It is worth noting that the store will sell both the Nothing main brand and its popular brand CMF, which focuses on high cost performance. CMF, which was officially spun off last year, is headquartered in India and has a joint venture with local original design manufacturer (ODM) Optiemus. Pei Yu emphasized the differentiated positioning of the two brands: Nothing is more niche and high-priced, while CMF focuses on the mass market. But he also pointed out that CMF is not simply a cheap OEM product, but a product that has also been injected with design efforts, aiming to break the common "off-the-shelf OEM" model in the market at the same price point.
According to data disclosed by analyst firm IDC, India has become Nothing’s strongest market, with its smartphone market share exceeding 2%. The brand was named India's fastest growing brand in the second quarter of 2025, with shipments increasing by as much as 85% year-on-year. At the same time, other hardware giants are also stepping up their efforts to deploy offline retail channels in India. For example, Apple will open its sixth store in India this month in Borivali, Mumbai.
This is also Nothing’s first overseas store after its London headquarters. The startup, which has raised a total of US$450 million in financing, revealed that it plans to open more stores in Tokyo and New York in the future, but has not yet announced a specific timetable. The company completed a US$200 million Series C round of financing last year led by Tiger Global Management, with a valuation reaching US$1.3 billion.