At 15, Abhinav Singla built his first website. Today, he’s building much more: three companies and a name in India’s D2C scene. With Lean Hippo Marketers, Lean Hippo Media, and COCKY under his belt, Abhinav represents a new-age founder who’s not afraid to mix strategy with storytelling.
“Entrepreneurship has always been my language. I’ve never known another way to function,” says Abhinav, reflecting on his early start.
Lean Hippo Marketers, the creative agency he founded in 2012, was never just about making things look good. “We’ve always believed in doing lean work with hippo-sized outcomes,” he smiles. Over the years, the agency has worked with corporates, startups, and D2C brands to deliver measurable results with minimal waste — blending data with design, and performance with personality.
Alongside the agency, Abhinav launched Lean Hippo Media — a venture built for the evolving world of content creation. “Today’s consumer is not just scrolling, they’re searching for real stories. That’s where the media arm comes in — to build narratives that entertain, educate, and influence,” he explains.
But perhaps his boldest move yet is COCKY — a men’s grooming and wellness brand that dares to speak the way men actually think. “The market is crowded with functional claims and gender-neutral packaging. I wanted to build a brand that made confidence feel fun again, something that breaks the clutter and disrupts an industry obsessed with stereotypical masculinity” Abhinav says.
COCKY’s product line includes THE ONE collection (Bodywash, shampoo, facewash, hair serum, sunscreen, and more) and Formula H, a 1st in India mood boosting serum designed to boost oxytocin levels and help in antiaging. Every product is rooted in science, simplified for men, and wrapped in a voice that stands out on the shelf. “Men don’t want 7-step routines. They want solutions that work and fit their personality,” he adds.
And amidst all this brand-building, Abhinav finds a little time to pursue his other passion —shooting. “Shooting keeps me humble,” he says. “It’s just you, your breath, and the next move. No excuses.”
He trains on weekends and competes in shotgun championships. “It’s funny — I spend my weekdays aiming for conversions, and weekends aiming for clays,” he laughs.
This duality, he says, makes him sharper. “Sport teaches you to manage pressure. It gives you feedback faster than business.”
From shooting ranges to boardrooms, from creative brainstorms to product labs, Abhinav continues to lead with clarity, confidence, and cocky ambition. And he’s only getting started.
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