Abhinav Singla, Founder & CEO of Lean Hippo Marketers, has been working with corporates and startups for over 20 years. He believes that businesses must evolve into brands to stay relevant in the long run — a conviction that led him to establish Lean Hippo Marketers in 2012. Alongside the agency, Abhinav also runs the D2C men’s personal care brand, Cocky.
Early Career
Abhinav is a serial entrepreneur and has built multiple ventures across sectors. His entrepreneurial journey began at the age of 15 when he started a web design company. Over time, he expanded into areas such as film production, publication, advertising, and live entertainment.
One of the highlights of his early career was “The Student Inc”, a fortnightly newspaper directed toward college students. Through this venture, Abhinav was featured in national media including The Indian Express and Aaj Tak as one of the youngest publishers and editors in the country at the age of 20.
He also founded Grey Matter Events, an event management company that organised a week-long music festival “Zeal2007” in Goa featuring artists from across the globe. His ventures also include a successful hospitality business, Fork You, a well-known South Delhi restaurant brand from which he made a successful exit.
Alma Mater & Important Roles
Abhinav completed his post-graduation in Advertising and PR from MICA. He later worked as a Communications Officer at the Commonwealth Games and as a Marketing Manager at Radio Mirchi.
Through Lean Hippo Marketers, he has built an agency portfolio that includes major corporate, international, and retail brands. He believes clients choose LHM for its deep understanding of both classical marketing fundamentals and modern digital execution. His core philosophy: marketers first, digital marketers next.
His day-to-day role extends beyond strategy, creative, and technical oversight — he focuses on removing roadblocks, enabling teams, and ensuring empowered execution.Abhinav believes brand expectations have risen sharply as the digital ecosystem has evolved over the past decade. Market leaders now demand continuous content innovation and modern interfaces, increasing the need for versatile, multi-disciplinary digital agencies. Lean Hippo works relentlessly to stay ahead of this curve and deliver relevant, high-impact digital solutions to both established and emerging brands.
Beyond Work
Competitive shooting is a serious parallel pursuit for Abhinav, where he trains regularly and competes at the state and regional level. The sport’s emphasis on precision, composure, and repeatable performance strongly influences his professional mindset. Apart from shooting, he is a dedicated cinephile, car enthusiast, and fitness enthusiast.