Blog

  • Murari Lal Jalan: The Mysterious Owner of Jet Airways

    The Indian aviation industry and the entire world were baffled when a mysterious man decided to revive Jet Airways when the airline was in massive debt which was the aftereffect of its financial troubles.

    Jet Airways is one of the most prominent Indian airlines founded on 1st April 1992. It has been one of the largest airlines in India. Things were revealed to be going not so well in the business, when Naresh Goyal ceased the operation of the airlines on 17th April 2019. Jet Airways was reported to be bankrupt due to Goyal and Etihad Airways’ inability to pay more money to the airlines for any promotion. Many employees lost their jobs in the time span. During these years, many banks tried their best to recover their dues from the airline service provider. Nothing seemed to be going well for them.

    The UAE-based businessman, Murari Lal Jalan came as a blessing for Jet Airways along with Kalrock Capital when they decided to revive the airlines. People were extremely curious about him and the entire deal that led to the change of ownership of the airlines. Kalrock Capital applied for the resumption of Jet Airways on December 13, 2021, and got approval from the Ministry of Civil Aviation to start its operations until the Supreme Court ordered the liquidation of Jet Airways on November 7, 2024, officially ending any hopes of reviving the airline over five years after it went bankrupt.

    However, the mystery behind the man who came as a superhero, Murari Lal Jalan, needs to get solved. Therefore, in this article, we will talk about the owner of Jet Airways, Murari Lal Jalan, and will find out more about him. So, let’s get started.

    Murari Lal Jalan – Biography

    Name Murari Lal Jalan
    Born August 1, 1964
    Occupation Business
    Known as The owner of Jet Airways
    Net worth $200+ Million (2021)

    Murari Lal Jalan – Early Life
    Murari Lal Jalan – Career
    Jalan and Kalrock Capital Partnership to Revive Jet Airways
    Interesting Facts about Murari Lal Jalan
    Murari Lal Jalan – The Future Plans with Jet Airways

    Murari Lal Jalan – Early Life

    Murari Lal Jalan was born in Jharkhand, whose business interests are spread across diverse segments including mining, real estate, travel and tourism, trading, fast-moving consumer goods, industrial works, and now aviation. Murari Lal Jalan maintains a low profile among the business community, whether it’s in India or abroad. In February 2021, after almost a year Jet Airways was shut down. Jalan proposed to the promoters of Jet Airways in order to start a full-service airline in the country.

    Murari Lal Jalan – Career

    Paper Trading Business

    Murari Lal Jalan began his career in the paper trading business in Kolkata in the 1980s, where he worked as a trader for JK Paper and Ballarpur industries. In 2003, in the hopes of expanding his business, he acquired a Kolkata-based Kanoi Paper & industries, which was later renamed, Agio Paper.

    In 2010, Murari Lal Jalan encountered a setback when he received a lawsuit from Government agencies against his paper company, for violating pollution in the nation. The company had suspended its production since then, and he focused on some other businesses to thrive well.

    Real Estate and Health Care

    In 2015, Jalan stepped into the Healthcare sector and acquired Dr. Naresh Trehan and Associates Health services by investing Rs 75 Crores in the company through a secondary share sale transaction. They planned to establish a hospital in Dubai, but unfortunately, that plan wasn’t implemented in the future.

    After moving to UAE, he focussed on the Real Estate business and started his company MJ Developers, a firm, which mainly conducts its business in India, Brazil, and Russia. The headquarters of the company is situated in Dubai, UAE. MJ Developers is quite famous for developing residential properties in Uzbekistan.

    Chairman of Agio Image Group

    Murari Lal Jalan became the chairman of the Agio Image Group, which is renowned for selling photographic products to Konica, Sony, and Panasonic.

    Jalan and Kalrock Capital Partnership to Revive Jet Airways

    Step by step, Jalan grew his net worth by engaging in various sectors such as healthcare, mining, trading, and Real estate. However, his entry into the aviation business along with Kalrock Capital seemed almost sudden, which sounds like a zero-knowledge business to him. Besides, in an interview, he said that he has no experience in what he is doing in the aviation industry. He managed the finance for the bidding of Jet airways.

    In 2021, after two years of struggle to salvage Jet Airways, a revival plan was submitted by Kalrock Capital and a UAE-based businessman, Murari Lal Jalan, at the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT). This way, it was revealed that Jet Airways would be revived after its shutting down. The Jalan Kalrock consortium has decided to make an investment of Rs 1375 crore in Jet Airways over the next two years.


    Interesting Facts about Murari Lal Jalan

    Some of the interesting facts about the mysterious man, Murari Lal Jalan are:

    • Jalan is said to contract to have a partnership deed with the Patanjali Ayurveda owner – Baba Ramdev, according to the Indian Ministry of Corporate Affairs. Besides, it is cited that Jal had been involved in marketing Ayurvedic Products. Although, there is no concrete proof about it.
    • Murari Lal Jalan is said to be backed by Ajay Gupta, Atul Gupta, and Rajesh Gupta, the infamous trio also known as the Gupta brothers of South Africa. The trio is facing charges of corruption and has fleed the country to save themselves.
    • Murari Lal Jalan is a big fan of cricket and loves reading. Jalan delves into books between work and travel.
    • Murari Lal Jalan has been contributing to Uzbekistan’s transformation, especially in Namangan and Tashkent, through major investments in residential projects, luxury hotels, universities, and hospitals. His ventures support Uzbekistan’s market economy growth, helping shape the nation’s future.

    Murari Lal Jalan & The Jet Airways

    Murari Lal Jalan and Kalrock Capital initially considered starting a new airline but chose to go with the Jet Airways brand for its strong brand value and customer loyalty. Their revival plan aimed for Jet Airways to operate its previous domestic slots in India and resume international flights. However, the plan faced repeated delays due to COVID-19, financial challenges, and leadership changes. The consortium continued efforts to restart operations until November 7, 2024, when India’s Supreme Court ordered Jet Airways’ liquidation, officially ending the revival plans more than five years after the airline’s bankruptcy.

    Conclusion

    Although the man himself is a mystery and is surrounded by several rumours, Murari Lal Jalan cannot be ignored as he had the ownership of India’s one of the largest and most prestigious airline industries- Jet Airways. He along with Kalrock Capital planned to bring Jet Airways back from the dead by investing an additional $12 million to revive the airline as promised. However, India’s Supreme Court later ordered Jet Airways’ liquidation, ending any hope of its return more than five years after bankruptcy. This decision marked the official end to Jet Airways’ revival journey under Jalan’s leadership.

    Who is the owner of Jet Airways?

    U.K-based Kalrock Capital Partners and Murari Lal Jalan are the present owners of Jet Airways.

    What is the net worth of Murari Lal Jalan?

    The net worth of Murari Lal Jalan is approximately over $200 million as of 2021.

    How many aircraft does Jet Airways have?

    Jet Airways once operated with a fleet of 97 aircraft.

  • Rapido Success Story: From Startup to Unicorn

    Company Profile is an initiative by StartupTalky to publish verified information on different startups and organizations.

    Facing problems each day reaching the office on time? Don’t want to travel with the group, want to go alone to the destination? Driver’s not at home and meeting your friends outside is too urgent? Neither Mom nor Dad is ready to take you to your tuition at this point. Feeling bored alone and wanting to go outside?

    Yes, now there is no need to worry anymore because Rapido has come to relieve all from their respective headaches. All you need to do now is to install the app and go anywhere in the city safely. Even during the night because everything can be tracked online. Rapido joined the Unicorn Club in July 2024, with a $120 million investment from WestBridge Capital at a valuation of $1 billion.

    Read the Rapido success story, about its founders, startup story, history, valuation, tagline, business model, revenue model, and more below, and learn more unknown facts about the company.

    Rapido – Company Highlights

    Startup Name Rapido
    Headquarters Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
    Sector Mobility Tech
    Founders Pavan Guntupalli, Rishikesh SR and Aravind Sanka
    Founded November 2015
    Valuation $1.1 billion (September 2024)
    Parent Organization Roppen Transportation Services
    Website rapido.bike.com

    About Rapido
    Rapido – Industry
    Rapido – Founders And Team
    Rapido – Startup Story
    Rapido – Business Model
    Rapido – Revenue Model
    Rapido – Tagline, Slogan And Logo
    Rapido – Funding And Investors
    Rapido – Growth and Revenue
    Rapido – Product And Service
    Rapido – Challenges
    Rapido – Competitors
    Rapido – Future Plans

    About Rapido

    Rapido is a Bangalore-based Indian online bike taxi aggregator, which was founded in the year 2015. It operates in 100+ cities across the country and also travels to various places in and around them. It has got more than 15000 registered riders a day.

    Rapido – Industry

    The bike taxi market in India was last valued at $50.5 million in 2021. The same industry is expected to grow by a CAGR of 48.5% from 2022-2030 and is expected to reach $1478 million by 2030, as declared by Allied Market Research. Ola in another report via its policy research arm, Ola Mobility Institute (OMI), announced that the revenue potential of bike taxis in India stands at $5 billion. As per a KPMG survey, the bike taxi industry could provide 5.4 million jobs by 2030.

    Rapido – Founders And Team

    Pavan Guntupalli, Rishikesh SR, and Aravind Sanka are the founders of Rapido.

    Rapido Founders - Pavan Guntupalli, Rishikesh SR, Aravind Sanka
    Rapido Founders – Pavan Guntupalli, Rishikesh SR, Aravind Sanka

    Pavan Guntupalli

    Pavan Guntupalli is one of the co-founders of Rapido after being a co-founder of Roppen Labs. He pursued his studies at the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, and obtained a Btech degree in Electronics and Electrical Communications. Guntupalli then completed two Summer Internships at Reliance Communications and Breakthrough Management Group. Along with native languages, he is also well-versed in Korean. Previously, he was a software developer at Samsung Research India.

    Rishikesh SR

    Rishikesh SR is also one of the co-founders of the company. He pursued his education at PES University where he obtained a BE degree in Computer and Informational Sciences. He is the founder of IMPStant and the carrier. He also achieved the ‘Best Project of the Year Award’

    Aravind Sanka

    Aravind Sanka is the co-founder and CEO of Rapido. He is also the co-founder of theKarrier. He pursued his education at the Indian Institute of Technology, Bhubaneswar, from where he received a Btech degree in Mechanical Engineering. Previously he was the Finance Business Partner on Flipkart.com after completing a Summer Internship at Tata Motors.

    Rapido – Startup Story

    The foundation of Rapido dates back to the carrier days, which was modeled on a logistics and supply-chain-driven model that enabled their clients to seamlessly transport their belongings. Things were not bad for the company but according to Aravind Sanka, one of the co-founders of Rapido, they “quickly realized that shifting gears from B2B to B2C has more room for growth.”

    B2C meant that the company could no longer deal with trucks but had to shift to bikes to ease the transportation requirements of the customers because going for cars would again mean an added financial burden for the company, tons of competition, traffic, and delays. Therefore, with the simple idea to ease the journey of the customers, they started working initially with 15-20 people, who sowed the seeds for Rapido and made the success of the business possible with hard work, persistence, and dedication.

    The basic idea of the three founders was to hire people, especially those who owned two-wheelers. Along with that, the founders wanted to bring up something new, which was very different from Ola and Uber as they invested heavily in vehicles. They believed in making an app like the Rapido captain app, that will help the two-wheeler owners to register themselves and verify their details with the company.

    They thought Ola and Uber could never be affordable to all daily and the traffic in big cities is increasing every day. So they thought to dodge some of the obvious problems and plan for successful motorbike rides.

    Rapido’s parent organization is Roppen Transportation Services.


    CarDekho Company Profile – Displaying Almost Anything and Everything About Automobiles
    Buying a car used to be very difficult before the internet age because the
    industry was just too scattered. Today we have a lot of online portals that will
    take you through the process effortlessly. One such portal is CarDekho. Founded by Amit Jain and Anurag Jain in 2008, Cardekho is a car search …


    The tagline of the company is Ride Solo. Aravind Sanka says here that 60% of the working public changes three modes of vehicle while commuting daily. The founders wanted something reliable, convenient, and affordable for the common people to travel short distances so they came out with the tagline written above.

    The colors included in the logo are white, yellow, and black. It was designed by Shoby cc on Dribbble.

    Rapido Logo
    Rapido Logo

    Rapido – Business Model

    The Rapido app allows its users to book a ride after which a rider, known as captain, would arrive at the user’s location. The fare of each ride depends upon how many kilometers the user has to go. One’s those who want to perform as captains, have to register themselves through the Rapido captain app and get validated by submitting the required documents as mentioned above. Captains can use anything like scooters or motorcycles. However, there is a condition, which is that the vehicles have to be two-wheelers and can’t be much older than 2010.


    How Does Trivago Make Money? | Trivago Business Model, Growth And Statistics
    Trivago is a hotel search platform, whose main focus is to reopen the way
    travelers compare and search for hotels online. During this process, Trivago
    Hotels enables advertisers to expand their business, giving them access to a
    large consumer base who visit their platforms via a website or app. Tri…

    travellers


    Rapido – Revenue Model

    The revenue model of Rapido has two main aspects. It claimed that in the year 2019, the company had a 13X jump in its revenue.

    • Commission-based: The company makes wealth by performing as a bridge between the two – captains and the ride seekers. The company charges 20% of the total fare as its commission.
    • B2C Commission: The company earns here via B2C logistics, especially by helping logistics companies in delivering their commodities.

    Brand advertisement is a must in all cases. It’s a vital thing that not only helps the brands magnify their reputation, but it also helps them to grow.

    Rapido – Funding And Investors

    Rapido has raised $629.8 million in funding over 12 funding rounds as of September 5, 2024. In the last, Series E fundraising round in September 2024, the company raised $200 million from Westbridge Capital as a leading investor along with Think Investments, Nexus Venture Partners, and Invus Group at a valuation of $1.1 billion. In the previous Series E round in July 2024, led by the same investors, the company was funded by $120 million at a valuation of $1 billion making it a unicorn. Before that, the Series D round held on July 15, 2022, the company received funds worth $180 million from a clutch of investors including Westbridge Capital, TVS Motors, Shell Ventures, and Nexus Ventures, which was led by Swiggy.

    Date Amount Series Investors
    September 5, 2024 $200 million Series E Westbridge Capital, Think Investments, Nexus Venture Partners, and Invus Group
    July 29, 2024 $120 million Series E Westbridge Capital
    April 15, 2022 $180 million Series D Swiggy, Westbridge Capital, TVS Motors, Shell and more
    August 16, 2021 $52 million Series C Westbridge Capital, Nexus, Yamaha
    August 18, 2019 $55 million Series B Westbridge Capital
    April 23, 2019 $11.2 million Series A Nexus Venture Partners
    January 24, 2019 $7.09 million Series A Astarc Ventures, India Technology Fund, Integrated Capital, Ka Wing Kevin Kwong, Skycatcher
    March 1, 2018 $4 million Series A Skycatcher
    November 21, 2017 $288.09K Venture Round Skycatcher, Thompson Taraz Managers
    September 25, 2017 $370.2K Venture Round
    October 19, 2016 Seed Round AdvantEdge Founders
    May 1, 2015 $22.2k Seed Round

    Zoomcar Success Story – Founders | Business model | Revenue | Wiki
    Company Profile is an initiative by StartupTalky to publish verified information
    on different startups and organizations. The content in this post has been
    approved by the organization it is based on. No more worries about petrol mileage, fuel costs, insurance, and car breakdowns! Self-drive cars …


    Rapido – Growth and Revenue

    Rapido is now a unicorn, meaning its value has reached $1 billion. The 8-year-old company recently raised $120 million in a new funding round led by WestBridge Capital, according to a regulatory filing.

    Rapido was valued at around $800 million in 2022, after it saw the fundraising round led by Swiggy, which infused $175 million dated April 15th, 2022. This was quite an increase in the valuation of the company, which was previously valued at $235 million during the past funding round.

    The unicorn startup is growing rapidly. The growth is reflected in its financials. The company earned interest income and capital gain on the sale of mutual funds. It aims to cross the million mark a day but already boasts of having 5,00,000 captains, who have served 10 million customers across 90 locations. Some other prominent growth highlights of the brand are:

    • Rapido is present currently in over 100 cities in India.
    • The company boasts of having 20 million+ customers in FY23.
    • It also has 1.5 million+ driver partners.

    Ixigo Success Story – Business Model, Founders, Revenue, Funding and more
    Back then, people who wanted to travel to a different city had to go through a
    rigorous and cumbersome process of ticket booking and sorting out accommodation
    through offline mediums. What the country really needed was a portal that could
    shorten the worries of travelers through innovative travel pl…


    Rapido Financials

    Rapido Financials FY23 FY24
    Operating Revenue INR 443 crore INR 648 crore
    Total Expenses INR 1172 crore INR 1066 crore
    Profit/Loss INR -675 crore INR -371 crore
    Rapido Financials 2024
    Rapido Financials 2024

    Rapido has grown 4.4 times over the past two years, with revenue rising from INR 145 crore in FY22 to INR 648 crore in FY24. The ride-hailing company also reduced its losses by 45% in FY24, helped by better cost management. In 2024, the operating revenue of Rapido increased by 46.3% to INR 648 crore from INR 443 crore in 2023. The company’s total expenses decreased by 9%, dropping to INR 1,066 crore from INR 1,172 crore. The company reported a loss of INR 371 crore in 2024 compared to INR 675 crore in 2023.

    Rapido – Product And Service

    Bike Pink

    Rapido introduced the ‘Bike Pink’ service in Chennai on September 4, 2023, specifically designed to address the transportation needs of women riders by offering female captains a safer and more comfortable commuting experience.

    Cab service

    On November 8, 2023, Rapido entered the Bengaluru cab ride-hailing sector, which is now dominated by companies like Ola, Uber, BluSmart, and QuickRide. Rapido first offered cab services in Hyderabad.

    Rapido – Challenges

    The Belief in the Two-Wheeler Mobility Service

    Rapido has faced one too many challenges to date. The first and the most prominent challenge that Rapido had to battle since the company was established was the notion that the two-wheelers were not safe. This was ingeniously tackled by Rapido by launching insurance from day zero. “The app was built with a mechanism to track the speed of the captain. He would be deactivated if he went beyond a particular speed,” said Aravind.

    The Drug Bust

    In the Bengaluru drug bust case, two agents from Dunzo and Rapido were arrested for delivering huge amounts of drugs. This was a part of the nationwide crackdown on narcotics.


    Rapido – Competitors

    The competitors of Rapido are RideAmigos, GoKid, Vollo, and GrabTaxi.

    • RideAmigos specializes in transportation solutions and provides trip planners, trip-tracking, and gamification. Transportation is their main priority
    • GoKid’s slogan is ‘greener way to go’. It’s the App for Kids CarPooling. It drastically reduces traffic and emissions to organize kid’s carpools.
    • Vollo is a startup company for bus searches, fast and easy travel, and booking. Especially it’s a comparison tool for timetables and routes of various buses. Its mission is to serve the best to its users and make planning easier.

    Rapido – Future Plans

    The primary goal of the company is to keep its app updated along with adding newer and more interesting features that would make it more convenient for both the captains and the users. The founders are also thinking about reducing the rates. Moreover, they are looking to add fuel to their rides with something unique, which will allow the users to travel faster. Furthermore, they are also planning to include a subscription-based power pass for its regular customers. The intention is to make his/her rides more affordable.

    Rapido, the two- and three-wheeler ride-hailing platform with the quickest growth, is getting ready to introduce the taxi service on a wide network shortly. According to reports from October 28, 2023. Rapido’s planned facility will offer a service comparable to that of Ola and Uber.

    FAQs

    What is Rapido?

    Rapido is a bike taxi aggregator online, which provides mobility solutions for its users. Founded in 2015, Rapido is headquartered in Bengaluru.

    Who is Rapido CEO?

    Aravind Sanka is the co-founder and CEO of Rapido.

    Who is Rapido owner?

    The parent organization of Rapido is Roppen Transportation Services and the company was founded by Aravind Sanka, Pavan Guntupalli, and Rishikesh SR.

    Who is Rapido founder?

    The Rapido founders are Aravind Sanka, Pavan Guntupalli, and Rishikesh SR.

    Who are the Rapido competitors?

    Rapido competitors are Ola, Uber, Bounce, Vogo, and more.

    What is Rapido net worth?

    Rapido’s valuation is $1.1 billion after raising $200 million in funding led by WestBridge Capital as of September 2024.

    How to start Rapido business?

    If you are looking to start Rapido business, then you must be looking to start with being a captain on Rapido’s fleets. Here are some of the primary requisites for becoming a Rapido Captain:

    • Android phone with at least a 3G mobile data connection
    • A motorbike at least of 2009 or any newer model
    • A valid driving license
    • Registration certificate of the vehicle
    • Valid bike insurance
    • PAN card

    What is Rapido tagline?

    Ride Solo is Rapido tagline.

    What is Rapido revenue?

    Rapido has grown 4.4 times over the past two years, with revenue rising from INR 145 crore in FY22 to INR 648 crore in FY24. In 2024, the operating revenue of Rapido increased by 46.3% to INR 648 crore from INR 443 crore in 2023.

  • DealShare: Connecting India With the Best Deals

    Company Profile is an initiative by StartupTalky to publish verified information on different startups and organizations.

    India’s eCommerce market has seen rapid growth in the last decade, while the similar is still growing. With business giants like Amazon, Flipkart, Meesho, Swiggy, and more, a widened pathway has been built faster than the actual roads in and around the cities of India.  

    An alike competitor stepped up in 2018 by the name of DealShare and soon became a unicorn. It was a blessing for the Indians living in rural areas and still is. Targeting the right audience, DealShare allows its customers to share deals, and then offer discounts as per the demand of the product.  

    Let’s take a look at the extravagant journey that the company has made through time. 

    DealShare – Company Highlights 

    Name DealShare
    Headquarters Bengaluru, India
    Sector eCommerce
    Founder Rajat Shikhar, Sankar Bora, Vineet Rao, and Sourjyendu Medda
    Founded 2018
    Valuation $1.7 Billion (November 2024)
    Website dealshare.in

    DealShare – About
    DealShare – Industry
    DealShare – Founders and Team
    DealShare – Startup Story
    DealShare – Mission and Vision
    DealShare – Name, Tagline, and Logo
    DealShare – Business Model
    DealShare – Challenges Faced
    DealShare – Funding and Investors
    DealShare – Growth
    DealShare – Awards and Achievements
    DealShare – Competitors
    DealShare – Future Plans

    DealShare – About

    A hyperlocal online buying platform that in the beginning operated through WhatsApp, aims at non-metro and rural markets. In the year 2020, DealShare raised USD 2 million through a financing round and expanded to a hundred cities and towns in the country. 

    The product categories that are covered by this platform are grocery items, fruits and vegetables, beauty as well as wellness products, baby care, home décor, electronics, and more. DealShare keeps on promoting various offers as well as discount coupons. These coupons can be used from mobile apps or on their official websites. 

    DealShare – Industry

    With India introduced to digital platforms in recent years, the country has been growing tremendously within the same niche. The eCommerce industry in the South Asian country saw high gains in the financial year 2022-23. 

    The online market in India is regarded as the second largest market in the world, having more than 950 million users. Almost 100% of pin codes in the country have registered deliveries from eCommerce platforms. Even in the tier-2 and tier-3 cities, the eCommerce market is booming as three out of every five shoppers are from these regions. 

    DealShare – Founders and Team

    Jaipur was the first-ever headquarters of DealShare when it began operations through WhatsApp groups in the year 2018. The company embarked on its journey with a mere 100-150 customers and was formed by four brilliant minds, Rajat Shikhar, Sankar Bora, Sourjyendu Medda, and Vineet Rao. 

    Rajat Shikhar

    Rajat Shikhar - Co-founder & Chief Product Officer, DealShare
    Rajat Shikhar – Co-founder & Chief Product Officer, DealShare

    The alumnus of the Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee is one of the four co-founders of DealShare. With being the Chief Product Officer at DealShare the shining personality previously played the same role while working with Foodpanda until 2018. 

    Rajat has a degree in B.Tech and has completed his MBA in marketing from the Indian Institute of Management, Indore. 

    Sankar Bora

    Sankar Bora - Co-founder, DealShare
    Sankar Bora – Co-founder, DealShare

    His profile might put you in awe, as Sankar has achieved a lot in his life. Showcasing his talent, Sankar Bora while being the co-founder and previous Chief Operating Officer of DealShare, is also a co-founder of Myntra fashion eCommerce company. 

    Alumnus of the National Institute of Technology Calicut, Bora even launched an ed-tech company called AEON Learning and is again a co-founder of Miraistore.

    Vineet Rao

    Vineet Rao - Co-founder, DealShare
    Vineet Rao – Co-founder, DealShare

    Before he began his journey as a founder with DealShare, Vineet Rao founded a cross-border eCommerce platform, Shopwest in 2016 and SpectraVR Studios a year before in 2015.  

    The man is a technology leader when it comes to social databases as well as within the field of AI-based personal assistants. He is an alumnus of IIM, Bombay. 

    Sourjyendu Medda

    Sourjyendu Medda - Co-founder, DealShare
    Sourjyendu Medda – Co-founder, DealShare

    Another appealing person in the group of founders of DealShare is Sourjyendu Medda. He has spent over 15 years learning with retail and FMCG organizations. Medda completed his B.E. from Jamshedpur and then became a gold medalist by completing his MBA in marketing from IIM Bombay. 

    Having a track record of business management skills within the marketing, CRM, pricing as well as sales and operations niche, Medda serves his interest in providing affordable consumption of products for the lower and middle-income population. 

    However, three of the four founders have quit their journey with DealShare. Last year Vineet Rao and Shankar Bora resigned from their position, and in the early days of 2024, even Sourjyendu Medda stepped down from the position of CEO.
    Kamaldeep Singh has since taken over as the new CEO of DealShare.


    What is the future of Ecommerce? – 10 Future Projections
    By 2026, revenue in the Ecommerce market is predicted to reach $6.43 Trillion in revenue. Read about some indicative signs of this prediction.


    DealShare – Startup Story

    It was the common interest of the four founders of DealShare to serve the untouched market within the country that served the requirements of middle and lower-income populations. DealShare came into action in 2018, with its first headquarters being in Jaipur, Rajasthan. 

    In its early years, DealShare operated through WhatsApp groups and had no application. And during this period the deliveries were only made on weekends, while the whole week was spent gathering the orders. 

    The founders began with DealShare and promoted the concept of group buying and community-driven selling. 

    DealShare – Mission and Vision

    Mission: DealShare’s mission is to target the new 500 million users in non-metro and rural markets who haven’t shopped enough online and who are still not comfortable on other platforms.

    Vision: DealShare’s vision is to make shopping more affordable and convenient for Indian consumers. DealShare aims to serve the middle and lower income class of India. It also aims to give them a range of options while buying products. 

    DealShare Logo
    DealShare Logo

    With the tagline “India ki sabse sasti dukaan,” they have expanded and maintained a large customer base, having exponential growth even during the challenging times of COVID-19.

    DealShare – Business Model

    DealShare has an innovative business model that is based on group buying and community-driven selling. The company proposes a platform where users can avail discounts on various products by sharing deals with their relatives and friends. 

    DealShare – Challenges Faced

    As of the year 2024, the company faced quite a few challenges. These challenges ranged in various aspects. DealShare had its struggle with shuttering warehouses, implementing layoffs, as well as scaling down operations in various states. 

    The most upsetting challenge was when Vineet Rao decided to step down from the position of CEO. There were no details about his resignation but it did happen during a critical time.  

    DealShare – Funding and Investors

    Dealshare has received a total funding of USD 390.3 million over 7 rounds. The investors involved were Tiger Global Management, Alpha Wave Incubation, Matrix Partners India, West Bridge Capital, and a few more. 

    Announced Date Round Number of Investors Money Raised Lead Investors
    January 27, 2022 Series E 8 $210 million Alpha Wave Global, Tiger Global Management
    July 8, 2021 Series D 7 $144 million Tiger Global Management
    April 21, 2021 Debt Financing 1 $9.3 million Alteria Capital
    March 4, 2021 Debt Financing 1 $3.4 million InnoVen Capital
    December 8, 2020 Series C 6 $21 million Westbridge Capital
    September 28, 2019 Series A 1
    April 10, 2019 Series A 4 $2.6 million Alpha Wave Global, Matrix Partners India

    DealShare – Growth

    Year FY22 FY23 FY24
    Operating Revenue INR 1863.6 crore INR 1963.5 crore INR 499 crore
    Total Expenses INR 2340.3 crore INR 2557.6 crore INR 768.18 crore
    Loss INR 440.7 crore INR 502.7 crore INR 167.7 crore
    DealShare Financials
    DealShare Financials

    In FY24, DealShare experienced significant changes following the departure of three co-founders in their last fiscal year, which visibly impacted the financial performance of the company. The grocery-focused eCommerce platform reported a massive dip in its revenue from operations, which dropped to INR 499 crore in FY24 from INR 1,963.5 crore in FY23. That is a whopping decline of 74.6%. 

    DealShare’s Total Expense also fell by 70%, reaching INR 768.18 crore in FY24, down from INR 2,557.6 crore in FY23. Despite the decline in operating revenue, DealShare managed to reduce its losses by 66.6%, with losses narrowing to INR 167.7 crore in FY24 from INR 502.7 crore in FY23.

    DealShare – Awards and Achievements

    DealShare received the following awards and recognitions:

    • Social Commerce Startup of the Year 2022
    • Recognized as the most valuable Indian Unicorn in 2022 by Global Data Thematic Research
    • Featured in the 2022 LinkedIn Top Startups list

    DealShare – Competitors

    The main competitors of DealShare are as mentioned below:

    • Flipkart
    • Bulbul
    • GlowRoad
    • CityMall
    • Meesho
    • SimSim
    • Mall91

    DealShare – Future Plans

    DealShare announced its plan in the middle of 2023 that the company will invest to strengthen its private labels and local and regional brands. The company plans to execute this plan within the next five years. 

    FAQs

    Who are the founders of DealShare?

    Vineet Rao, Rajat Shikhar, Sourjyendu Medda, and Sankar Bora founded DealShare in 2018.

    What does DealShare do?

    DealShare is an eCommerce platform that targets middle and low-income audiences and is based on group buying and community-driven selling. 

    Who are the main competitors of DealShare?

    The main competitors of DealShare include:

    • Flipkart
    • Bulbul
    • GlowRoad
    • CityMall
    • Meesho
    • SimSim
    • Mall91
  • Hitesh Doshi: The Journey From ₹5,000 to $5.2 Billion Renewable Energy Tycoon

    Waaree Energies is led by the visionary Chairman and Managing Director Hitesh Chimanlal Doshi, who has not only changed the face of Indian solar but has also set an example of entrepreneurship. He was born on Feb 22, 1967, in a small village, Tunki, in Maharashtra, where he grew up in an economic and resource-poor family. 

    Doshi had a dream to make a better future for himself and to be part of constructing India’s energy needs. What started as a small venture manufacturing pressure and temperature gauges has evolved into a colossal enterprise: India’s largest solar energy company, Waaree Energies.

    In this StartupTalky story, we will cover his early life, his struggles, Waaree Group’s founding, and more. We will look at how innovative Hitesh Doshi has been in becoming a business tycoon. We will also learn about the investments made, controversies, and remarkable recognitions he has achieved for his role in India’s renewable energy sector. 

    Biography

    Name Hitesh Doshi
    Born February 22, 1967
    Birth Place Tunki, Maharashtra
    Education Khoteawar Maharaj Vidhyalay Eklara Buldhana Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce, Shri Chinai College of Commerce & Economics, University of Mumbai. Doctorate in professional entrepreneurship in business project management, European Continental University
    Profession Chairman and Managing Director of Waaree Group
    Net Worth $5.2 Billion
    Parents Chimanlal Doshi (Father)
    Children Chaitali Doshi (Daughter) Ankit Doshi (Son)
    Siblings Pankaj Doshi Kirit Doshi Viren Doshi

    Hitesh Doshi – Early Life and Education
    Hitesh Doshi – Career
    Hitesh Doshi – Waaree Energies
    Hitesh Doshi – Investments
    Hitesh Doshi – Awards and Recognitions

    Hitesh Doshi – Early Life and Education

    Hitesh Doshi - Chairman and Managing Director of Waaree Energies
    Hitesh Doshi – Chairman and Managing Director of Waaree Energies

    The founder of Waaree Group, Hitesh Chimanlal Doshi, comes from a modest background in the Buldhana district of Maharashtra, India. Doshi grew up in a village without electricity or telephones. The family was always under financial constraint, and his father had a small grocery store, but he kept plugging away to build a better future. 

    Education was a way to provide Doshi with avenues of opportunity; however, his village school taught up to only the 7th grade. Doshi had to cycle daily to a nearby village to pursue further studies. It didn’t scare him; it motivated him to forge beyond the walls of his upbringing. Doshi later went to Shri Chinai College of Commerce & Economics at the University of Mumbai and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in commerce in 1987.

    Doshi spent his college years in a hostel in Nagdevi, Mumbai, where he began his entrepreneurial career. Doshi soon became aware that financial independence is important, so he traded and ran a bit of business to keep himself, picking up valuable skills and experience that would one day help him in the renewable energy sector.


    18 Solar Business Ideas | Solar Business Opportunities
    The trending demand for environmental concerns has given rise to solar business opportunities. Here are some best solar businesses ideas.


    Hitesh Doshi – Career

    Doshi started his first business with a small loan of INR 5,000 from a relative, manufacturing pressure and temperature gauges. The Waaree Group took this modest beginning as a big step towards its success.

    Founding Waaree Energies was a bold step into the renewable energy sector by Hitesh Doshi. Doshi’s company began producing temperature and pressure gauges for industrial uses and soon realized a burgeoning business niche in solar energy. Globally, there is an increasing demand for alternative, sustainable energy solutions, which was a crucial time for India’s energy landscape.

    In the early days of Waaree Energies, Doshi spent most of his time creating solar modules. At this time, India was not a major player in the global solar market, and domestic manufacturers were few. As Doshi led Waaree Energies, it managed to carve a space for itself as a niche player in India’s solar market, providing high-quality products for both the residential and industrial markets.


    Waaree Energies: Pioneering Solar Innovation | Founder | Growth | Revenue | Business Model
    Waaree Energies is a leading Indian solar energy company providing innovative solutions in renewable energy. Learn about its success story, business model, revenue model, growth, funding, challenges, competitors, and more.


    Hitesh Doshi – Waaree Energies

    Waaree Office
    Waaree Office

    Seeing increasing demand for clean energy all over the world, Waaree Energies began scaling up its operations. The company expanded its solar module manufacturing capability in the mid-2000s and gained a reputation for reliability and quality. Doshi, however, helped Waaree Energies become a leader in India’s solar energy sector even in the face of stiff competition from international players, especially China.

    Doshi recognized Waaree’s footprint beyond India, and he realised that the company had the potential to tap into global markets. Government incentives to encourage renewable energy adoption allowed the company to begin exporting solar modules to places like the U.S. The turning point for Waaree was that it was able to reach more lucrative international markets and spread its revenue base.

    In 2015, Doshi was instrumental in setting up Waaree Energies’ modern solar module manufacturing facility in Tumb, Gujarat. Investment in the plant was INR 8,000 crore, and it became one of the largest solar panel manufacturing facilities in India. This was a huge expansion, which helped Waaree to increase its production capacity and to serve better the rising domestic and international demand for solar panels.

    By 2018, Waaree Energies had become a leader in India’s solar sector. It gained a reputation as a high-performance solar panel company that was trusted across residential and commercial markets. However, Waaree’s expansion was not only manufacturing; it also included a push into solar power generation and EPC services, which were vital to meet the requirements of large-scale infrastructure projects.

    Waaree Energies, under Doshi’s leadership, filed for an initial public offering (IPO) on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE). This was a big step for the company and a marker of readiness for the next stage. The Waaree Energies IPO generated INR 2,800 crore (around $514 million), which became one of the major investments by Doshi and his company. The IPO was meant to raise capital to expand production capacity and advance research and development, as India pushed for more renewable energy.

    Waaree, a part of Waaree Bluegrip, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Waaree Group, headquartered in Rajkot, India, continued its international growth strategy through solidification of the company’s position in the U.S. market. Waaree took advantage of the U.S. government’s clean energy focus by offering high-quality, competitively priced solar products free from Chinese influence, Doshi said. Waaree’s strategic move helped it gain a competitive advantage in one of the biggest solar markets in the world.

    Under the leadership of Doshi, Waaree Energies focused on innovation and brought new solar technologies to market to improve efficiency and costs. The company started to concentrate more on the development of high-efficiency solar modules to fortify India’s position as a global leader in renewable energy.

    To date, Waaree Energies, under the leadership of Hitesh Doshi, has been expanding and innovating. As a leading contributor to India’s renewable energy goals, the company has played an important role in India’s aspiration to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels and achieve greater energy independence. Doshi has been instrumental in pushing the boundaries of sustainable manufacturing in India’s solar landscape, and Waaree’s impact on India’s solar landscape is undeniable.

    Hitesh Doshi – Investments

    The Chairman of Waaree Energies, Hitesh Chimanlal Doshi, has been investing heavily in the renewable energy sector through his company, Waaree Energies. Solar cell manufacturing is the company’s focus, and it has emerged as a leading player in the Indian energy landscape, with a manufacturing capacity of 12,000 MW installed. Doshi’s family also owns a large stake in Waaree Renewable Technologies and Waaree Technologies, both listed companies in engineering and energy storage solutions.


    Solar Energy’s Revolutionary Impact on India
    India’s determination to drive development through revolutionary energy reforms is being observed by the entire globe.


    Hitesh Doshi – Awards and Recognitions

    • Global Solar Leader Award (2024)
    • Renewable Energy Leader of the Year award (2015)

    FAQ

    Who is the owner of Waaree Group?

    The owner of Waaree Group is Hitesh Doshi.

    Is Waaree an Indian company?

    Yes, Waaree is an Indian company.

    How much is Hitesh Chimanlal Doshi worth?

    As of 2024, Hitesh Chimanlal Doshi’s net worth is estimated to be around $5.2 billion.

  • BCCI May Petition NCLT to Have Byju’s Bankruptcy Proceedings Withdrawn

    According to media sources, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is expected to petition the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), located in Bengaluru, to have its bankruptcy claim against the ed-tech company Byju’s withdrawn.

     It may follow the Supreme Court’s decision last month to overturn the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal’s (NCLAT) October 23 verdict authorising a INR 158 crore settlement between Byju’s (Think and Learn Pvt Ltd) and the BCCI.

     The NCLAT’s previous decision, which had stopped Byju’s insolvency procedures after its agreement with the BCCI, is overturned by this ruling. The Supreme Court incorrectly approved the settlement after concluding that the NCLAT had not followed the procedural guidelines set down in the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC). The INR 158 crore that the BCCI had placed in an escrow account will now be moved to an escrow account run by the Committee of Creditors (CoC) as a result of this ruling.

    Supreme Court’s Further Instructions

    According to reports, the court rebuked the NCLAT for ending the Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process (CIRP) too soon. The court further explained that any withdrawal request must be submitted via the Interim Resolution Professional (IRP) rather than by the parties themselves.

     According to reports, Byju’s US lenders have demanded that the Committee of Creditors be reorganised and that the IRP assigned to Byju’s be removed. Arguments in this matter are anticipated to be heard by the NCLT on November 18.

     Byju Raveendran, the founder of the struggling education technology business Byju’s, declared last month that the once-highest valued startup in India now has no value and that the former empire should be rebuilt from the ground up, brick by brick.

    Downfall of Byju’s

    Byju’s was valued at $22 billion in 2022, but its fortunes have declined because of a severe financial shortage, regulatory problems, and investor disagreements. One such dispute involved a fight with US bankers for $1 billion in outstanding debts, which ultimately led to the company’s insolvency.

    “To be successful, I simply need to see a 1% likelihood. The outcome of the court order doesn’t worry me. No matter what, I’ll find a way out.” Raveendran recently informed the media from his home in Dubai that there is no problem in the world that cannot be solved.

    Current Market Dynamics of Edtech Startups in India

    In the last year, over a dozen Indian edtech startups have been bought out, highlighting a difficult funding environment for smaller businesses and causing a wave of consolidation throughout the troubled sector.

    The list of recent deals includes the acquisition of test prep company Ekagrata Eduserv by Google-backed edtech startup Adda247, the acquisition of Housing.com cofounder Advitiya Sharma’s startup Genius Teacher by Noida-based Schoolnet, the acquisition of Doubtnut by Peak XV-backed Allen Career Institute, and the acquisition of Macmillan Learning India by mid-tier IT services company Happiest Minds. According to industry leaders, the fact that smaller businesses frequently provide distinctive offerings and specialise in specialised fields is what is driving the consolidation.


    BYJU’S Faces Legal Challenges: BCCI’s Insolvency Petition Accepted by NCLT
    Explore the latest developments as the country’s education tech giant BYJU’s encounters significant financial and legal issues.


  • Starlink, Owned by Musk, is Pursuing Indian security Clearance for Satellite Broadband

    The telecoms minister stated on 12 November 2024 that Elon Musk’s Starlink is requesting security clearance for a licence to provide satellite internet services in India and will receive permission if all requirements are met.

    When New Delhi announced last month that it will allocate satellite broadband spectrum administratively rather than through an auction, as Musk had requested, Starlink’s long-term aspirations to join India took a significant boost. Mukesh Ambani, a rival Indian telecom mogul, has requested an auction.

    In order to receive security clearance, Starlink must convince New Delhi that it processes and maintains data locally and that its satellite signals are secure, according to Indian telecom minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, who made this announcement recently. “You receive the licence once all the requirements are met. At an event in New Delhi, Scindia stated, “We will be very happy if they (Starlink) do that.”

    Musk’s plans to provide broadband to Indians, a market that Ambani’s Reliance Jio now controls with 14 million wired connections, would be one step closer if Starlink were granted security clearance. According to a media report, Ambani, the richest man in Asia, has over 479 million Indian telecom users. However, he is worried that after investing $19 billion on airwave auctions, he now runs the risk of losing internet customers as well as maybe data and phone clients to Musk as technology develops. A report claims that Reliance already has security clearance to begin offering satellite broadband services.

    According to various media reports, Starlink has informed the Indian government that it is prepared to abide by all of New Delhi’s security regulations.

    To begin providing satellite broadband services, businesses must still acquire spectrum after receiving security clearance. Ambani provided free data on his mobile services, and Musk has used similar forceful strategies. Musk upset regional telecom companies by pricing Starlink at $10 a month in Kenya as opposed to $120 in the US.

    Fierce Competition in Indian Spectrum Satellite Space

    Hours after Elon Musk denounced the auction process that rival billionaire Mukesh Ambani was pursuing as “unprecedented,” the Indian government recently announced that it will distribute spectrum for satellite broadband administratively rather than through an auction.

    The process of allocating spectrum for satellite services in India, a market expected to expand 36% annually to reach $1.9 billion by 2030, has been a divisive topic since last year in what is perceived as a battle between billionaires.

    Musk’s Starlink contends that administrative licence distribution follows a worldwide pattern, while India’s Reliance, which is run by billionaire Mukesh Ambani, claims that an auction is necessary to guarantee fair competition and that Indian law does not specify how individuals can receive satellite broadband services. At a ceremony in New Delhi, Telecoms Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia stated that the telecom watchdog would determine the spectrum’s pricing and that it would be administratively distributed in accordance with Indian law.


    Elon Musk Commits to Delivering Highest Quality of Service in India
    Elon Musk supports India’s administrative decision to allocate satellite spectrum, benefiting Starlink. He vows to provide top-quality service in India.


  • IndiaMART Business Model | How IndiaMART Makes Money

    Established in 1996, IndiaMART is a leading online marketplace in India that connects buyers and suppliers, facilitating B2B transactions. It has grown to become one of the largest platforms in the country, offering a user-friendly website and mobile app featuring a wide array of products and services, from industrial machinery to consumer goods. With its headquarters in Noida, IndiaMART also has branch offices in major cities across India, including Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Delhi, enhancing its nationwide reach.

    This article will examine IndiaMART’s business model, exploring how it makes money and showcasing what makes it stand out in the B2B marketplace.

    About IndiaMART
    IndiaMART Business Model
    How IndiaMART Makes Money – Revenue Model of IndiaMART
    IndiaMART Unique Selling Proposition
    IndiaMART SWOT Analysis

    About IndiaMART

    IndiaMART Office
    IndiaMART Office

    Founded in 1996 by Dinesh Agarwal and Brijesh Agrawal, IndiaMART has become India’s leading online B2B marketplace, revolutionizing business connections and transactions. Initially created to connect Indian manufacturers with global buyers, it started as a simple directory for the Delhi NCR region when internet use in India was just 15,000 users. By 1999, IndiaMART had grown to over 1,000 listings.

    During the late 1990s dot-com boom, the platform adapted to support direct buyer-seller transactions and emphasized exports. Offering web page creation for SMEs and later adding lead generation and premium listings, IndiaMART adopted a subscription-based revenue model. Today, it connects 8 million suppliers with 198 million buyers, using AI and machine learning to enhance matchmaking and user experience.


    IndiaMART | Founder| Business Model | Revenue & Growth
    Indiamart is a leading B2B e-commerce company in India. Know about Indiamart’s business model, founder, competitors, and the story of its growth.


    IndiaMART Business Model

    IndiaMART Business Models
    IndiaMART Business Model

    IndiaMART offers both free and paid services, especially for SMEs. SMEs can register for free and are added to their industry list, with a free website on IndiaMART. Similar to platforms like YouTube and Spotify, users can pay to upgrade their profiles. Premium memberships offer more business options, generating revenue through subscription fees. 

    IndiaMART encountered major challenges during economic downturns, such as the 2007-2009 Global Financial Crisis, which caused a decline in exports. To adapt, the company shifted its focus to the domestic B2B market, strengthening its position within India.

    IndiaMART hosts a vast database of sellers across various industries, making it a key source for diverse products and services.IndiaMART also offers powerful marketing tools, including email marketing, SEO strategies, and social media marketing, to boost sellers’ outreach and engagement. Partnerships with financial institutions, payment gateways, and media companies strengthen IndiaMART’s services and reliability. 

    How IndiaMART Makes Money – Revenue Model of IndiaMART

    IndiaMART Financials - IndiaMART Business Model Explained
    IndiaMART Financials

    IndiaMART employs a multi-faceted revenue model centered on connecting buyers and suppliers in the B2B marketplace.

    Subscription Fees

    One of the primary streams is subscription fees, where suppliers pay for premium memberships that enhance their visibility on the platform. These subscriptions, available on a monthly or annual basis, offer various benefits, including improved search rankings and access to additional features.

    Pay-Per-Lead

    Additionally, IndiaMART operates a pay-per-lead model, allowing suppliers to purchase leads generated from buyer inquiries, which connects them directly with potential customers actively seeking their products or services.

    Advertising Revenue

    Another significant revenue source is advertising revenue, with businesses paying to promote their products or services through advertisements on the IndiaMART website and mobile applications, thereby increasing their visibility to a broader audience.

    Request for Quote(RFQ)

    The platform also offers Request for Quote (RFQ) services, enabling suppliers to pay for access to buyer requests for quotes, and facilitating direct responses to inquiries.

    Payment Facilitation

    Furthermore, IndiaMART has introduced payment facilitation services that enable buyers to securely complete transactions with suppliers, further streamlining the purchasing process.

    IndiaMART has shown impressive financial performance in recent years, underscoring its strong presence in the B2B marketplace. For the fiscal year ending March 2024, the company reported total revenue from operations of ₹1,197 crore. In terms of profitability, IndiaMART achieved a Profit After Tax (PAT) of ₹374.3 crore for FY 2024. Additionally, the operating profit margin was reported at 42.23%, demonstrating effective cost management and operational efficiency that contribute to its overall financial health.


    List of Startups Acquired by IndiaMart
    IndiaMART has invested around Rs 900 crores in 13 startups since April 2021. Here is the list of startups acquired by IndiaMart.


    IndiaMART Unique Selling Proposition

    IndiaMART’s Unique Selling Proposition (USP) lies in its ability to offer a comprehensive, trustworthy, and efficient B2B marketplace that seamlessly connects buyers and suppliers.

    IndiaMART SWOT Analysis

    Strengths

    • IndiaMART holds over 60% of the market share in India’s B2B listings, making it a leader in the industry.
    • The platform connects 7.9 million+ suppliers with a wide pool of buyers, facilitating varied business interactions and expanding market access.
    • IndiaMART’s revenue reached ₹1,197 crore in FY 2024, a 20.71% increase from the previous year, showing consistent growth.
    • Advanced use of AI and machine learning improves search functions and matchmaking, enhancing user experience and efficiency.
    • The platform generates millions of business inquiries yearly, offering valuable leads that help boost supplier sales.

    Weaknesses

    • IndiaMART’s reliance on India for most of its revenue poses risks during economic downturns.
    • The platform is less strong in consumer services compared to industrial sectors, indicating some market gaps.
    • Competes with major players like Alibaba and TradeIndia, which can affect profit margins and market share.

    Opportunities

    • Expanding into areas like agro and pharma could diversify revenue and attract more users.
    • Increasing digitization among MSMEs creates a major growth opportunity that aligns with IndiaMART’s services.
    • Expanding globally could allow IndiaMART to access more markets and meet international demand for Indian products.

    Threats

    • Economic challenges can reduce buyer spending, affecting transactions on the platform.
    • Adapting to changing data protection and e-commerce regulations requires continuous investment and can be challenging.
    • Fast technological changes mean IndiaMART needs to keep innovating to stay competitive; falling behind could lead to market loss.

    Conclusion

    IndiaMART is a powerful leader in the B2B marketplace, utilizing its vast network, advanced technology, and strong financial results to effectively connect millions of suppliers and buyers. Its unique selling proposition is centered around a comprehensive platform that primarily serves small and medium enterprises (SMEs), equipping them with essential tools for growth and improved market access.

    FAQ

    Is IndiaMART profitable?

    Yes, IndiaMART is profitable, with steady revenue and profit growth despite some quarterly fluctuations.

    How does IndiaMART work for buyers?

    IndiaMART allows buyers to search for products, compare suppliers, and directly connect with sellers. It offers product listings, price quotes, and a secure payment option.

    Who is CEO of IndiaMART?

    The CEO of IndiaMART is Dinesh Chandra Agarwal.

  • Valery Miroshnikov: Banking Reform and Crisis Aversion





    Category Investor · Top Manager
    Date of birth Jul. 28, 1969
    Place of birth Moscow
    Nationality Russia
    First name Valery · VALERY · Valeriy · ВАЛЕРИЙ · Валерий · 瓦列里 · Valeri · Valerīi · Valerij · Valerij · Walerij
    Last name Miroshnikov · Мирошников · МИРОШНИКОВ · MIROSHNIKOV · 米罗什尼科夫 · Mirochnykow · Mirosohnkow · Mirosschnykov · Miroshnykov · Mirošnikov · Mirošnykov · Mirosnikov
    Patronymic Aleksandrovich · Александрович · Alexandrovich · Oleksandrovitch · Oleksandrowytsch · Oleksandrovich · Oleccandrowych · Olexandrovych · Olexandrovych · Aleksandrowić · Aleksandrovič
    Speciality Economist
    Career Expert of the Main Department of Commercial Banks Inspection at the Central Bank of the Russian Federation (1993-1996) · Deputy Head of the Department for Work with Troubled Credit Organizations and Deputy Director of the Department for Organizing Bank Bailouts of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation (1996-1999) · Deputy Head of the State Corporation Agency for the Restructuring of Credit Organizations (ARCO) (1999-2004) · Deputy Head of the State Corporation Deposit Insurance Agency (DIA) (February 2004-March 2005) · First Deputy Head of the State Corporation Deposit Insurance Agency (DIA) (March 2005-July 22, 2019) · Private investment – real estate (as of 2024)
    Languages spoken Russian · English
    Source of Wealth Investments
    Industries Real estate · Deposit insurance


    Biography

    Valery Miroshnikov, for nearly three decades, was involved in establishing a stable financial and economic system in the Russian Federation. He started from a fairly low position in the Central Bank and advanced to become a top manager at the Deposit Insurance Agency (DIA). Thanks to his unique experience in normalizing the operation of troubled organizations, he became one of the creators of the legislative framework for supervising deposit safety. The expert’s portfolio includes cases of third-party management of incapacitated organizations in order to restore their sustainable operations.

    Name

    Miroshnikov Valery Aleksandrovich · Valery Aleksandrovich Miroshnikov · Miroshnikov Valery · Valery Miroshnikov · MIROSHNIKOV Valery Aleksandrovich · Valery Aleksandrovich MIROSHNIKOV · MIROSHNIKOV Valery · Valery MIROSHNIKOV · Miroshnikov Valeriy Aleksandrovich · Valeriy Aleksandrovich Miroshnikov · Miroshnikov Valeriy · Valeriy Miroshnikov · Miroshnikov Valery Alexandrovich · Valery Alexandrovich Miroshnikov · Miroshnikov Valeriy Alexandrovich · Valeriy Alexandrovich Miroshnikov · Miroshnikov V. · V. Miroshnikov · Miroshnikov V.A. · V.A. Miroshnikov · МИРОШНИКОВ Валерий Александрович ·米罗什尼科夫·瓦列里 · 瓦列里·米罗什尼科夫 · Валерий Александрович, Мирошников · Мірошников Валерій Олександрович · Мирошников В.А. · В.А. Мирошников 

    The Early Years

    Valery Miroshnikov began his career at the Central Bank
    Valery Miroshnikov began his career at the Central Bank

    Valery Miroshnikov was born in 1969. During childhood, he changed several schools due to his relatives’ service-related relocations but received his high school diploma in the capital of the RSFSR.

    In 1992, Miroshnikov Valery completed his studies at a higher education institution in the same city. His first professional education was in highway construction. During this period, the country was experiencing serious historical changes. Because of this, documents like job placement assignments after graduation were rarely issued. The future for the highly qualified financial expert, however, would not be connected with his acquired specialty: he received a placement at an organization building roads in the capital region but did not take advantage of this opportunity.

    After the road construction institute, he took his first steps in the retail and wholesale business, selling industrial electrical equipment, which proved to be quite profitable. Valery Aleksandrovich Miroshnikov decided to invest the earned funds in self-development and professional growth: he attended accounting courses at a leading economic academy in the capital.

    Valery Miroshnikov: Choosing a New Profession

    Miroshnikov Valery has significant experience in rehabilitating problematic banks
    Miroshnikov Valery has significant experience in rehabilitating problematic banks

    In the early 1990s, commerce began developing rapidly in Russia and other former Soviet republics. As a result, private financial institutions started popping up to serve the interests of rapidly growing entrepreneurship. The Central Bank of Russia was experiencing difficulties with experienced specialists leaving for business, as Valery Miroshnikov recounted. Thus, due to the shortage of professionals in the banking sector, the expert’s vector changed towards the financial industry.

    In 1993, Miroshnikov Valery got a job at the Bank of Russia in the lowest position of inspector. The accounting courses he had completed contributed to his vertical growth to chief expert. But he felt a lack of specialized knowledge for further career advancement.

    Thus, also in 1993, he decided to pursue another higher education at the All-Russian Distance-Learning Institute of Finance and Economics. Meanwhile, Valery Aleksandrovich Miroshnikov continued being an effective employee of the Central Bank, inspecting various private financial structures, including those in a pre-bankruptcy state. At that time, Russia began implementing practices to rescue failing banks and assist in normalizing their situation — for this, the Central Bank delegated temporary external management to such organizations. This became the specialist’s focus, and he was involved in several cases in different regions of Russia where anti-crisis measures were implemented effectively.

    Miroshnikov Valery: First Experience in Bank Revitalization

    Valery Miroshnikov worked on laws regarding deposit insurance
    Valery Miroshnikov worked on laws regarding deposit insurance

    In 1995, the banking sector in Russia was experiencing another period of instability. Difficulties arose at a bank in the Samara Region. Valery Miroshnikov was given authority over the temporary external administration from the Central Bank. The specialist’s life was closely tied to Moscow, including due to his university studies, but managing the failing financial institution required temporary relocation to Togliatti.

    At that time, there were not enough experienced specialists in helping insolvent organizations in Russia. Miroshnikov Valery was directly involved and helped pioneer the mechanisms for bank resolution and liquidation. Subsequently, he developed into a noted expert in bank resolution.

    In 1996, he obtained his second higher education, this time in economics. This provided the chance to take the position of deputy head of the Bank of Russia’s department for working with crisis financial institutions. Simultaneously, Miroshnikov Valery served as deputy head of the regulator’s new department responsible for the resolution of financial institutions in unstable positions and delegating temporary administrations to them. His accumulated experience and professionalism led to career growth and appointment as deputy director of a specialized quasi-governmental non-profit organization — the Agency for the Restructuring of Credit Organizations (ARCO).

    The Black August Syndrome

    Valery Miroshnikov and the DIA team increased Russian’s trust in their banks
    Valery Miroshnikov and the DIA team increased Russian’s trust in their banks

    In 1998, Russia was hit by a severe economic crisis, resulting in technical default and the paralysis of the entire financial system. During this era, Valery Miroshnikov, as a member of the regulator’s team, was intensely focused on addressing the consequences of state bankruptcy.

    The ruble’s fall and the loss of personal savings created anxiety in society. Valery Miroshnikov realized that the management of financial institutions could simply withdraw deposits in such a situation, further worsening market conditions. That is when the idea emerged to build a mechanism for protecting citizens’ funds in credit institutions. This initiative was later implemented through ARCO.

    1999 saw the birth of this Central Bank-supervised agency, with its main goal being the restoration of Russia’s banking system after the decline. Valery Aleksandrovich Miroshnikov actively participated in the legislative process to ensure the effective and balanced regulation of the financial sector. Thanks to the efforts of the regulator and ARCO, the banking market was saved from unscrupulous players. This work was particularly handled by Valery Miroshnikov. DIA, which later succeeded ARCO, uses the experience gained during the economic crisis. Russia’s banking system would find ways to normalize the situation.

    As a result, under the leadership of Miroshnikov Valery Aleksandrovich, ARCO took over management of fifteen projects. This work resulted in the maximum possible fulfillment of obligations that failed financial organizations had to creditors, depositors, entrepreneurs, and the state.

    Valery Miroshnikov: DIA and the Global Deposit Insurance System

    Valery Miroshnikov is a unique expert in banking insurance
    Valery Miroshnikov is a unique expert in banking insurance

    The experience of creating such a financial product as bank deposit insurance originates in the West. During the Great Depression, the USA faced the mass bankruptcy of credit institutions, which prompted the creation of a corresponding system in 1933.

    In Russia, a well-thought-out and permanent method for guaranteeing deposit funds began developing at the beginning of the 21st century, with Valery Miroshnikov at its forefront.

    In 2004, the country’s financial and economic leadership realized that ARCO had accomplished its anti-crisis objectives. When the need to maintain the agency in its existing form disappeared, Valery Miroshnikov remained in the structure’s management. The DIA emerged based on ARCO’s capital, and is acknowledged as its successor. The Russian deposit insurance system was effectively already operating by that time but was in need of development and scaling. Valery Miroshnikov became deputy general director of the new agency, also created as a non-profit organization. The core staff from the liquidated ARCO also transferred there.

    According to the deputy head of the DIA Valery Miroshnikov, the introduction of the state mechanism for protecting bank deposits and the creation of the DIA significantly increased the volume of deposits. This, in turn, demonstrated Russians’ trust in the new system and the country’s financial and economic leadership.

    In the summer of 2004, a new function came under the deputy head’s umbrella as the DIA also took on the role of bankruptcy trustee in failing financial organizations. His area of responsibility included managing the assets of crisis institutions and finding ways to minimize creditor losses.

    In 2005, Miroshnikov Valery Aleksandrovich stepped into a new role – that of the first deputy general director of the Deposit Insurance Agency.

    State oversight of bankruptcy trustees in failing institutions brought greater transparency to this sector, as explained by Valery Miroshnikov. DIA played a leading role in this matter. Today, the agency guarantees the safety of citizens’ funds across all deposits in credit institutions. The DIS (Deposit Insurance System) is funded through mandatory bank contributions to a special fund.

    Valery Miroshnikov: DIA and Legislative Progress





    Year Position Company
    As of 2024 Investment Real estate business
    2005-July 2019 First Deputy General Director State Corporation Deposit Insurance Agency (DIA)
    2004-2005 Deputy Director General State Corporation Deposit Insurance Agency (DIA)
    1999-2004 Deputy Director General State Corporation Agency for Restructuring of Credit Organizations (ARCO)
    1996-1999 Deputy Head Department for Work with Troubled Credit Organizations and Deputy Director of the Department for Organizing Bank Bailouts of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation
    1993-1996 Expert Main Department of Commercial Banks Inspection at the Central Bank of the Russian Federation


    Miroshnikov Valery Aleksandrovich contributed significantly to developing the Federal Law “On Deposit Insurance in Banks of the Russian Federation.”

    In 2003, parliamentarians approved the new legislative act. It established clear procedures and conditions for returning funds to depositors, protecting their financial interests and guaranteeing the integrity of monetary savings.

    Developing this bill was not easy. Two major financial institutions — Sberbank and VTB — expressed concerns that they would bear the greatest burden. However, thanks to the efforts of Miroshnikov Valery, other industry specialists, and legislators, they managed to develop a version suitable for all parties, where the contribution rate for banks was set at 0.15% of the settlement base for the final accounting period.





    Number of DIA member banks

    12000 8000 4000 0

    2009 937

    2010 925

    2011 909

    2012 896

    2013 891

    2014 3480

    2015 3422

    2016 9933

    2017 9555

    2018 9233

    2019 8906


    During the law’s preparation, Miroshnikov Valery studied similar regulations in foreign countries, particularly the USA. This led to the incorporation of the most effective international practices into the Russian legislative framework.

    Valery Miroshnikov also participated in developing the Federal Law “On Restructuring of Credit Organizations” (1999) and the Federal Law “On Bankruptcy” (2002). These documents also helped strengthen Russia’s financial system, increase its transparency, and protect the interests of creditors and depositors.

    The DIA continued this work of improving deposit insurance legislation, Valery Aleksandrovich Miroshnikov highlights.

    In 2006, the agency’s team developed and proposed changes to legislative regulations regarding serious punishments for top management at financial structures. Miroshnikov Valery Aleksandrovich spoke about this in the media. The proposals developed were aimed at increasing the security of Russian deposits exceeding 100,000 rubles, because at that time, in the case of a financial institution’s collapse, depositors could not be compensated for more than this amount.

    In 2012, the DIA initiated a proposal to tighten regulations on storing transaction data in bank databases. This proposal was prompted by cases involving the then-troubled Bank of Moscow and the International Industrial Bank. With the participation of Valery Miroshnikov, DIA was working to normalize these institutions’ operations. However, it was discovered that all electronic documentation of transactions had been destroyed, and specialists had to piece together information about the credit organization’s actions that led to its decline from the small amount of data preserved on paper.

    Valery Miroshnikov, DIA, and a professional team of experts, through their work on deposit insurance legislation and the rehabilitation of financial institutions, significantly increased public trust in financial institutions overall. During the financial expert’s years of work at the Central Bank and affiliated organizations, Russia achieved stability in protecting depositors’ savings and created a transparent and reliable banking system.

    Miroshnikov Valery Aleksandrovich: Expansion of Insurance Tools

    In 2008, Russia was again shaken by economic decline and a weakening of the financial system. That year, the Central Bank revoked licenses from 33 credit organizations.

    Drawing on previous crisis experience, the DIA was apportioned additional powers to rehabilitate financial institutions. These measures were coordinated by Valery Miroshnikov. DIA received state funding in the amount of 200 billion rubles.

    One of the agency’s key anti-crisis decisions was to reduce banks’ contribution rate to the deposit insurance fund from 0.13% to 0.1%. Additionally, the government increased the maximum compensation to depositors from 400,000 to 700,000 rubles. Valery Miroshnikov, possessing a deep understanding of crisis management mechanisms, actively participated in developing and implementing these measures. Thanks to his efforts, the situation in the banking sector was stabilized and depositors’ interests were protected during the period of economic instability.

    From 2006 to the present, the compensation amount for clients of financial institutions in insurance cases has increased 14-fold, rising to 1.4 million rubles. Miroshnikov Valery Aleksandrovich, as a top manager at the DIA, supervised the fulfillment of all obligations to depositors. During his work at the non-profit organization, approximately 700 insurance cases were taken under consideration.

    Over the years, the list of bank deposits eligible for compensation to account owners in insurance cases also expanded. Miroshnikov Valery led this initiative. The DIA was also given the function of maintaining a registry of non-state pension funds that joined the system guaranteeing the rights of insured persons.

    In 2016, the DIA launched the initial phase of a large-scale digitalization of compensation processes. Customers of Intercommerce Bank (whose license was revoked by the Central Bank in early 2016) participated in the pilot project. According to Valery Miroshnikov, implementing electronic technologies in the financial sector is a fundamental factor in improving customer service.

    In total, Miroshnikov Valery devoted about 30 years to building up the financial sustainability system.

    In 2019, Miroshnikov Valery voluntarily stepped away from his duties at the Deposit Insurance Agency and began developing his expert consulting work. The former influential manager is considered a unique and among the most competent specialists in finance and deposit insurance. Today, the former DIA executive specializes in real estate investments, considering this sector one of the most promising in Russia and worldwide.

    Key Takeaways

    • He spent nearly three decades helping establish Russia’s financial and economic system, particularly in banking regulation and deposit insurance. 
    • He helped transform ARCO into the Deposit Insurance Agency (DIA) in 2004, where he eventually became First Deputy General Director. 
    • In 2016, he oversaw the initial phase of digitalizing compensation processes in the DIA, starting with a pilot project at Intercommerce Bank. 
    • Throughout his career, he pursued continuous education, obtaining a second degree in economics while working at the Central Bank. 
    • His work significantly increased public trust in Russian financial institutions and helped create a more transparent and reliable banking system. 

    FAQ

    1. Where did Valery Aleksandrovich Miroshnikov graduate from high school? 

    Valery Aleksandrovich Miroshnikov graduated from a school in Moscow.  

    2. What region did Miroshnikov Valery work in during his first bank revitalization case? 

    Miroshnikov Valery worked in the Samara Region (Togliatti) in 1995.

    3. When did Miroshnikov Valery start working at the Central Bank of Russia? 

    Miroshnikov Valery started working at the Central Bank of Russia in 1993 as an inspector. 

    4. What position did Valery Miroshnikov hold at the DIA before becoming first deputy general director? 

    Valery Miroshnikov served as deputy general director of the DIA when it was first created. 

    5. What major crisis did Miroshnikov Valery face in his early career at the Central Bank? 

    Miroshnikov Valery faced the severe economic crisis and technical default of 1998. 

  • With the Expansion of the ESOP Pool, Ixigo Grants 17.57 Lakh Stock Options

    With the issuance of 17.57 lakh stock options under ESOP 2024, online travel aggregator (OTA) Ixigo has extended its employee stock option plan (ESOP). The company stated in an exchange filing that the issuance of 17,57,156 options under ESOP 2024 was authorised by its nominating and compensation committee.

    Each option will convert into an equal number of equity shares, and they will vest over a four-year period in equal annual increments of 25% each. At an exercise price of INR 93 per share, the options have been granted.

    The Reason Behind This Move

    Ixigo stated that the goal of the allocation is to retain and reward the finest talent, just like it is for issuing ESOPs. Additionally, the business stated that it wishes to provide current staff with additional pushed prizes.

    The announcement was made just days after Ixigo released its second-quarter FY25 financial results. In the September quarter of 2024, its consolidated net profit fell 51% to INR 13.08 Cr from INR 26.70 Cr in the same quarter the previous year. On a sequential basis, profit decreased from INR 14.85 Cr by 12%.  The main cause of the earnings drop was an increase in total tax costs, which in Q2 FY25 was INR 5.26 Cr.

    Acquiring 51% Stake in Zoop Web Services

    In addition to its financial results, the firm disclosed that it had paid INR 12.54 Cr ($1.4 Mn) for a 51% investment in train food delivery startup Zoop Web Services, which was acquired through a combination of primary and secondary share transactions.

    Several public startups have announced the issuance of stock options under ESOP programmes in recent months. IdeaForge, a drone business, gave its staff more than 2,600 stock options earlier. The supply chain giant Delhivery also gave its workers roughly 73,000 stock options earlier this month.

    Current ESOP Scenario in India

    According to a 2024 survey of 160 companies, 78% of them offered employee stock option plans (ESOPs) to their staff, a considerable increase from 59% in 2021. This indicates that ESOPs are becoming more and more popular among startup owners. More firms are now offering ESOPs to all employees, not only senior management, according to a survey done by Saison Capital, XA Network, and Carta. Compared to one in four in 2021, one in three firms now provides these plans to all employees.

     Furthermore, the median ESOP pool size grew from 9% in 2021 to 12.6% in 2024, and 90% of founders now talk about ESOPs with candidates during interviews or job offers, up from 75% in 2021. Additionally, the reasons for providing ESOPs have changed; in 2024, 40% of founders cited cost reductions, up from 28% in 2021.

    The founders cited the necessity to retain people as the second most important reason for putting these plans into action, behind creating a sense of ownership and company culture. Even with this increase, fewer than 30% of founders still fully understand the complexity of ESOPs, a percentage that hasn’t changed since 2021.


    Tirunelveli Emerges as a Thriving Hub for Startups
    Tirunelveli is rapidly becoming a thriving center for startups, fostering innovation and growth in South India’s entrepreneurial landscape.


  • By FY27, Apple Aims to Produce 32% of iPhones and 26% of Value in India

    By 2026–2027, a year after the end of the five-year production-linked incentive (PLI) programme for handheld devices, Apple Inc. and its suppliers hope to assemble 32% of the iPhone’s global production volume and 26% of its value in India.

    If global iPhone sales stay at 2023-24 (FY24) levels, this may amount to a production value of more than $34 billion. According to media reports, the figures are based on conversations on product assembly in India between Apple Inc. and its suppliers as well as the federal and state governments. 

    India to Produce 17-18% World’s iPhone

    Apple‘s vendors project a freight-on-board (FOB) production value of $9 billion for the first half of 2024–2025 (FY25). According to projections, India would produce 17–18% of the world’s iPhones by the end of the fiscal year and 14% of their total worth.

    Only 12–14% of the world’s iPhone production volume moved to India in FY24, although the value accounted for more than 10%. The corporation is anticipated to conclude FY25 with a production value of $18 billion (market value around $27 billion), according to vendor planning.

    The Marketing Dynamics of iPhone

    Sales, distribution costs, and dealer margins make up the market value of iPhones, whereas FOB denotes the value at the time of shipment. India’s iPhone production was valued at $14 billion in FY24. Given that iPhones accounted for 51% of Apple Inc.’s $391 billion global revenue in the fiscal year that ended on September 30, 2024, the country stands to gain greatly from the move of iPhone production from China.

    With $201 billion in global sales, the iPhone is 21% more than the Tata Group‘s $165 billion overall revenue and 67% higher than Reliance Industries’ $119 billion revenue for FY24. Worldwide, Apple’s iPhone sales are on par with Microsoft’s ($211 billion) and surpass those of several companies, including Chevron ($200 billion), Honda Motor ($141 billion), Ford Motor ($176 billion), and Nestlé ($103 billion). Therefore, any increase in manufacturing capacity for India would result in significant additional income for the nation. 

    India is Becoming a Centre Stage for iPhone Production

    The significance of this change is demonstrated by the fact that JP Morgan earlier predicted that by 2026–2027, 25–30% of iPhone manufacture would relocate to India. By the fifth year of the PLI scheme, Apple had originally promised to move just 10% of its production to India. But in the scheme’s third year, it has already surpassed that amount. If US President-elect Donald Trump raises taxes on mobile devices (which are presently 15%), especially with regard to China, with whom the US is engaged in a trade war, the scenario could shift even further.

    India, Vietnam, and other Southeast Asian nations may benefit from the punitive tariffs that Trump has suggested may reach 60%. Of course, if the government does not discover more measures to reduce tariff rates on components used in mobile devices, ease labour regulations, and improve logistics, Apple’s vendor targets may alter. This is because China and Vietnam are more affordable than India. Furthermore, the difficulty of reaching value-addition goals of 35–40% by the PLI scheme’s conclusion may make matters more difficult.


    Apple Establishes First Indian R&D Subsidiary
    Apple Inc. establishes its first R&D subsidiary in India, marking a key investment in innovation and technology development within the country.