After a customer’s e-scooter was discovered to be defective, the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission in Ranga Reddy, Telangana, ordered Ola Electric to reimburse INR 1,63,986 with interest and provide INR 10,000 in compensation. Following persistent issues with his Ola S1 Pro since its delivery in June 2022, Hyderabad counsel K Sunil Chowdary lodged a complaint.
The scooter’s charger was defective from the beginning, and unsolved battery problems have made it inoperable since August 2023, even with an extended warranty and Ola Care Plan. Despite raising these issues several times with the company, Ola Electric was unable to provide a satisfactory result to the customer.
Ola Electric Failed To Respond To Customer’s Legal Notice
Ola Electric did not show up for or reply to hearings in response to Chowdary’s legal notification from October 2023. Ola’s failure to fix the scooter was determined by the commission to be a service deficiency. Within 45 days, the refund and the 9% interest that has accumulated since August 2023 must be paid; otherwise, the interest rate would rise to 12% annually.
When Ola Electric Mobility’s three-month lock-in period ended earlier in the day on November 5, the company’s shares were down more than 7%.
Ola Claims that 99% of Customer Complaints are Resolved
On the other hand, contradicting from aforementioned development, Ola Electric last month made a statement mentioning that out of the 10,644 customer complaints it has received thus far, 99.91% have been handled and resolved successfully. In a regulatory filing on September 21, 2024, the manufacturer of electric two-wheelers notified the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) of the latest developments on long-pending customers’ issues. The CCPA issued a show-cause notice to the Bengaluru-based company earlier this month in response to subpar conditions at its service centres throughout the nation.
The Department of Consumer Affairs’ National Consumer Helpline reports that between September 1, 2023, and August 30, 2024, 10,644 complaints were filed against Ola e-scooters. Of these, 1,899 deal with new vehicle delivery delays, 3,389 with servicing delays, and 1,459 with unmet promises of services.
In a regulatory filing, Ola Electric stated that it wants to be clear that it has a robust framework in place to address any complaints regarding its electric two-wheeler. The company would like to emphasise that, in fact, 99.1% of the 10,644 complaints it received from the CCPA were resolved to the complete satisfaction of the customer because of Ola Electric’s robust redressal mechanism.
This calculating approach was a response to growing customer dissatisfaction, as seen by the 80,000 customer complaints that went viral on social media each month, along with the stories and pictures of Ola Electric vehicles soaking dust at repair facilities. The outcry attracted the attention of both lawmakers and consumer watchdogs.
The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) had sent Ola Electric a show-cause notice, citing potential violations of consumer rights, misleading advertising, and unfair business practices. The notification identified over 10,000 unresolved after-sales support issues.
We have lived in times when going out to eat meant the celebration of special occasions. Then came a period when visiting a restaurant became almost a weekend thing & now, we live in a ‘Netflix & chill’ era where we prefer food reaching us to going out to eat. And surprisingly this can be done with just a click.
The food & restaurant industry has undergone a huge transformation in the past few decades. One of the many factors that drove this transformation is the online food ordering platforms. Online food ordering today is almost synonymous with Swiggy.
In this article, let’s explore the journey of Sriharsha Majety, one of the brains behind this online food revolution.
Sriharsha Majety Biography
Name
Sriharsha Majety
Birthplace
Andhra Pradesh, India
Nationality
Indian
Education
Electrical and Electronics Engineering, BITS Pilani Master in Physics, BITS Pilani PGDM-Finance, IIM Kolkata
Majety has a diverse and impressive educational background that laid the foundation for his entrepreneurial journey.
He holds an engineering degree in Electrical & Electronics and a Master’s degree in Physics from the Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani.
After his Engineering, he signed up for the CFA Program but soon found that it wasn’t what he wanted to do. Majety had not settled with whatever came his way but always wanted to do things with passion. Further, he went on to pursue a postgraduate diploma in Management at the prestigious Management school, IIM, Calcutta.
This unique blend of technical and business education was instrumental in shaping his vision for the upcoming business adventures.
Majety’s career has many ups, downs & learnings. His professional life started as an Associate at Nomura International, a London-based company. He stayed there for a year before quitting. Later, he quit his job so that he could get connected with the startup ecosystem and build up his own business. He wanted to learn & explore things before jumping into his own business.
He traveled across Europe & Asia and this is what he says about his experience:
“I traveled 3500 km from Portugal to Greece by bicycle over 3 months and continued overland from Turkey to Kazakhstan through public transport and hitchhiking. Using the time from the career switch to gain some perspective and learn more about the world we live in has been my most rewarding decision to date.”
As a beginning to his entrepreneurial journey, in 2013, he along with his BITS companion Nandan Reddy, founded their first venture Bundl. Bundl was a logistics intermediary that linked courier service providers with small and medium-sized businesses.
A year passed by and both of them analysed the market to realise that there was a gap to be filled in the restaurant industry’s logistics which connects restaurants with customers.
Thus, came into the picture, the now-very-popular Swiggy, founded by Majety, Nandan Reddy & Rahul Jaimini who was an IIT Kharagpur alumnus and software engineer.
The journey there onwards, though had ups and downs, has been very successful to the point that Swiggy is one of the first names that comes to our mind when we say online food order.
Founded in 2014, Swiggy is one of the most successful food ordering and delivery platforms which was started as an eCommerce company called Bundl Technologies Pvt. Ltd.
It is headquartered in Bengaluru from where it had started its operations. It initially had six delivery executives and was serving around 25 restaurants. Later in 2015, Swiggy expanded its operations to eight more cities in India including NCR, Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata.
Over the years, Swiggy has found huge popularity & spread across many cities all over India. It has also diversified into many new areas like Cloud kitchen service, hyperlocal courier service, hyperlocal shopping, and Kitchen incubator business.
Swiggy also launched “She The Change- From Vision to Venture” to encourage & recognize women entrepreneurs. This initiative highlights how food delivery services support and encourage women’s entrepreneurship around the nation.
With little over 100 restaurant partners in 2015, Swiggy has decided to go public and received the approval of its shareholders for a $1.3 billion IPO in 2024. This stands as a testament to the huge success that Swiggy has acquired in the past ten years.
Majety being the biggest stakeholder among the three founders, is seen as the face of Swiggy.
On 9th October 2024, IPO-bound Swiggy granted $271 million Esops to the founder Sriharsha Majety, and the top management of the company. Majety has been given most of the company’s stock options, worth almost $200 million. This will increase his 6.23% stake in the company by an extra 2.2 to 2.5%. Together with selling shares worth $7.5 million in the IPO, this move makes his position stronger before the company goes public.
Sriharsha hails from a family of entrepreneurs who stand as a great inspiration for him. His father used to own a restaurant in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh. His mother is a doctor.
He is married to Neetha Majety whom he had met in IIM Kolkata.
Sriharsha, unlike many other successful business giants, stays below the radar & doesn’t seem to like the limelight much. Not much is known about his family as he is generally seen talking more about business in interviews.
Sriharsha Majety – Personal Investments
Below are the personal investments made by Sriharsha Majety:
Announced Date
Organization Name
Lead Investor
Funding Round
February 13, 2023
Stable Money
–
Seed Round
December 28, 2022
The Whole Truth
–
Series B
December 8, 2022
Vidyut
–
Seed Round
December 6, 2022
Virgio
–
Series A
November 1, 2022
Virgio
–
Series A
September 1, 2022
Tortoise
–
Seed Round
May 18, 2022
Blissclub
–
Series A
February 2, 2022
Headout
–
Series B
July 7, 2021
The Whole Truth
–
Series A
May 2, 2019
Pesto Tech
–
Seed Round
Sriharsha Majety – Partner Investments
Sriharsha also made some partner investments and below is the detail about them:
Announced Date
Organization Name
Lead Investor
Funding Round
April 17, 2022
Urban Piper
–
Series B
April 15, 2022
Rapido
Yes
Series D
Sriharsha Majety – Awards & Recognitions
Sriharsha has been awarded with the following accolades:
The Economic Times recognized Majety with the “Entrepreneur of the Year” Award in 2019.
He was also enlisted under IIFL Wealth Hurun India 40 & Under Self-Made Rich List 202
Sriharsha Majety – Quotes
Talking about Swiggy, he says,
💡
A culture of innovation is who we are at Swiggy. We have a huge, crazy love for tinkering and we’re always pushing boundaries.
While talking at the 6th Edition of ASCENT eConclave 2021, he says, “It has been a very character-building year for me. I find myself asking deeper questions every time while deciding what can go wrong and doing premortems a lot better.”
FAQs
Who is Sriharsha Majety?
Sriharsha Majety is co-founder and CEO of Swiggy.
What is Swiggy?
Swiggy is an Indian online food ordering and delivery platform, founded in 2014. Headquartered in Bangalore, Swiggy operates in over 580 cities across India as of July 2023.
What is Sriharsha Majety education?
Sriharsha holds an engineering degree in Electrical & Electronics and a Master’s degree in Physics from the Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani. After his Engineering, he signed up for the CFA Program but soon found that it wasn’t what he wanted to do. Further, he went on to pursue a postgraduate diploma in Management at the prestigious management school, IIM, Calcutta.
Who is Sriharsha Majety wife?
Sriharsha Majety is married to Neetha Majety whom he had met in IIM Kolkata.
Swiggy has been making the lives of urban customers more convenient for customers since 2014. Since Swiggy was founded, it has acquired five companies and subsidiaries as it has expanded its empire and diversified its business. The leading on-demand food delivery platform is now a logistics hub of excellence.
Swiggy is a food tech company with its headquarters placed at Bangalore, India. The company was founded back in 2014 by the efforts of Nandan Reddy, Phanu Kishan Addepalli, Rahul Jaimini, and Sriharsha Majety.
The current CEO of the firm is Sriharsha Majety. Some of the most popular competitors of Swiggy are Fresh Menu, Zomato, Uber Eats, Grofers, etc. The six acquisitions made by Swiggy are:
LYNK Logistics is a company that distributes fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) to retail stores. LYNK, founded in 2015 and based in Chennai, works with FMCG brands to supply products to stores. It has a network of over 100,000 retail stores in eight cities.
Lynk is creating a complete platform to help consumer brands reach 80% of India’s buyers, who shop mainly at small Kirana stores. Using strong technology, they are improving how brands reach the market, building a modern supply chain for local trade, and making it easier for Kirana stores to get credit on a large scale.
They have partnered with many well-known consumer brands across India’s major cities and have a fast-growing network of Kirana stores.
Swiggy acquired Link Logistics in July 2023 for $23 million. This move marks Swiggy’s first step into the retail business-to-business (B2B) sector.
Dineout
Founded
2012
Founders
Ankit Mehrotra, Vivek Kapoor, Nikhil Bakshi, and Sahil Jain
Industry
Food and Technology
Acquired In
2021
Status
Active
Website
www.dineout.co.in
Swiggy Acquisitions – Dineout Website
Dineout was born when its founders landed their first investment from Travel Boutique Online. They finally made their breakthrough when it was acquired by Times Internet. The startup has also expanded its empire over the years by acquiring inResto, Gourmet Passport, and Torqus.
Eventually, around 2016, they launched Dineout Plus coming up with brand-new offerings for their audiences like a corporate dining rewards program that gave a flat 25% discount at 5-star restaurants, and an exclusive bill payment wallet for diners: Dine Out Pay.
The startup has also come up with a month-long campaign GIRF (The Great Indian Restaurant Festival) to create amazing experiences and offer bigger deals for their customers. With their B2B and B2C services, they have partnered with many restaurants across their network of around 20 cities.
India’s largest dining out and restaurant tech solutions platform helps diners discover restaurants and offers, enabling hassle-free reservations.
Swiggy saw the opportunity to expand its offerings in dining out table reservations and events with a leading dining out and restaurant tech platform on July 22, 2021. This will enable Swiggy to cater to every food occasion. Reach more customers and expand growth opportunities. Revolutionizing the restaurant industry. Improving the customer experience at the restaurant and delighting customers. Dineout was acquired by Swiggy in May 2022.
Supr Daily allows you to buy groceries through an online platform with a wide selection of organic and healthy foods.
Additionally, it also provides options from other categories such as baby care, pet needs, and more to your doorstep. Pioneering the grocery revolution in India, it is currently operating in more than eight cities.
The startup operates with the motto “Do more, with less” aiming to make their customers happy, and give them a stress-free start to the day and a superior consumer experience.
Swiggy acquired Supr Daily in 2018 to create a niche in solving critical consumer needs and fulfilling their daily orders, expanding its channels for revenue. Since then, the startup has been revamped to unlock its potential and share its mission with Swiggy.
Forty-Eight East is a food tech startup that brings you the cuisines of different nations: South Asia, South East Asia, Central Asia, East Asia, and the Middle East.
Providing international taste to its customers with a weekly changing menu in a quick-service restaurant setting. Starting with the idea of bringing different Asian delicacies beyond noodles and Thai food to the Indian people, Joseph Cherian started setting up a kitchen in Bengaluru Karnataka. He was joined by friend and chef Nabhojit Ghosh. Which later expanded from one kitchen to eight.
Things took a turn when Joseph Cherian joined Swiggy as COO after the startup was acquired by it in 2017. Swiggy acquired 48 East with the purpose of solving gaps in its consumer supply through various strategies. Equipping Swiggy with additional capabilities, broadening its senior leadership, and serving a more satisfying consumer experience.
Kint.io
Founded
2014
Founders
Jagannathan Veeraraghavan, Pavithra Solai Jawahar
Industry
Artificial intelligence, Computer
Acquired In
2019
Status
In-Active
Website
www.kint.io
Swiggy Acquisitions – Kint.io Logo
The local Bengaluru-based AI platform known for designing and developing software was the first technology-led acquisition for Swiggy. Kint.io, which is led by Jagannathan Veeraraghavan and Pavithra Solai Jawahar, applies deep learning and computer vision to object recognition in videos.
Several founding members joined Swiggy’s team to boost computer vision technology, consumer experience, and scale tech capabilities by bringing in entrepreneurial teams that solve unique customer problems. All the while leveraging the network and resources of Swiggy.
Swiggy made a smart move as consumer intent companies are rapidly growing to stay ahead of the game and make a profit in the long term. The aim is to use the platform to help people apply and discover restaurants using images and recommendations based on them. Enhancing the company’s computer vision technology and improving the overall consumer experience.
Scootsy Logistics Private Limited
Founded
2015
Founders
Rishi Khiani, Sandeep Das, Yash Sippy
Industry
Transportation, Logistics, and Storage
Acquired In
2018
Status
Active
Website
www.scootsy.com
Swiggy Acquisitions – Scootsy
Starting with Ant Farm one can turn to Scootsy for quick, curated delivery across the city. The Mumbai-based startup was founded by former Times Internet chief executive Rishi Khiani, Sandeep Das, and Khiani the co-founders of Scootsy. The platform offers quality experiences to its discerning consumers.
Following an acquisition, the company further partnered up with Burger King. The experience of ordering from the platform itself is described as the closest one can get to eating at a fine dining establishment. They have a curated list of restaurants, food stores, boutiques, and gift shops to make your life easier and better.
Swiggy acquired Scootsy for approximately ₹ 50 crores according to sources in 2018. Swiggy plans to expand into new cities, tap into orders from high-end restaurants, and strengthen its restaurant network. Over time, Swiggy has transitioned Scootsy’s operations to its platform and integrated Scootsy to deliver premium culinary offerings in Mumbai.
Conclusion
Swiggy has been in the market for almost 8 years. Swiggy was started as an online food delivery platform that is now operating in more than 500 Indian cities. Swiggy has a constant focus on implementing new technologies and creating data-driven marketing approaches.
In order to improve its services, Swiggy has acquired multiple startups along the path. The startups acquired by Swiggy are Dineout, Kint.io, Scootsy Logistics Private Limited, 48East, and Supr Daily.
FAQs
How much does Swiggy Acquire Dineout for?
Swiggy acquired Dineout for almost $200 million on 14th Feb 2022.
Did Swiggy Acquire Instamart?
Swiggy launched Instamart on 10 August 2020.
Has Zomato acquired Swiggy?
Swiggy is the biggest competitor of Zomato. However, there were reports of a stock-based merger proposed by Swiggy which eventually came to a dead end because of the difference in both companies’ valuations and business ailments.
Swiggy acquired which company?
Swiggy has acquired 6 companies to date, which are LYNK Logistics, Dineout, Kint, Scootsy, Supr Daily, and 48East.
Swiggy is owned by which company?
Swiggy is owned by Prosus, SoftBank Group, and Accel and it was founded by Sriharsha Majety, Nandan Reddy, and Rahul Jaimini.
Paytm, a major player in digital payments, has introduced a new feature that lets users download UPI statements straight from the app. By providing transaction data in an easily readable, downloadable PDF format, this update seeks to simplify the process of keeping track of spending and being ready to file taxes.
The “Balance & History” area of the app is where Paytm users may access the new UPI statement download option. In order to generate comprehensive statements that include transaction amounts, recipient information, bank accounts used, and timestamps, users can choose particular date ranges or even full fiscal years. These documents, which are organised, help users manage their financial records, budget, and keep tabs on their expenditures.
It is anticipated that both people and tax professionals will find the UPI statement download service very helpful. Users can keep thorough records with this function, which makes tax filing and spending reviews easier.
Service Will Bring in More Transparency and Help in Managing Finances
According to a Paytm spokesperson, the service is made to satisfy the demands of consumers who value openness and simplicity in handling their money. The company’s dedication to developing mobile payments motivates it to provide services that make financial management easier and give its customers convenience. The company provides quick access to transaction history through the UPI statement download, enabling consumers to make wise financial decisions.
Along with this capability, Paytm keeps improving its services by adding features like UPI Lite, which enables uncluttered bank statements for minor transactions under INR 2,000.
The platform’s reputation as a complete digital payments solution is further supported by its ability to link RuPay Credit Cards with UPI, auto-pay for smooth bill payments, and self-account transfers.
Paytm Receives NPCI Approval to Onboard New UPI Customers
Last month, One97 Communications (OCL), the firm that runs the Paytm brand, announced on 22 October 2024 that it has been given permission by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) to onboard new UPI users.
In a letter to Vijay Shekhar Sharma, the founder and CEO of the Noida-based company, NPCI chief Dilip Asbe gave the company permission to start onboarding new users. The NPCI’s procedural rules and agreements with Payment Service Provider (PSP) banks govern the permissions.
According to the filing, “Paytm would like to notify the exchange that the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has authorised the company to onboard new UPI users in accordance with all NPCI procedural standards and circulars, as stated in a letter dated October 22, 2024.” The corporation may see a rise in UPI transaction volumes as a result of the decision to onboard new users.
The fintech major’s associate entity, Paytm Payments Bank, was subjected to severe restrictions by the banking regulator in January, which resulted in a substantial decline in its UPI market share. The NPCI’s approval will fume fresh energy into the business operations of Paytm.
More than 75 anchor investors have contributed about INR 5,085 crore (about $600 million) to Swiggy, one of the top food and grocery delivery services in India. The Bengaluru-based business, which rivals Zomato, which is run by Deepinder Goyal, revealed the investment in a stock exchange filing on 5 November 2024.
Specifications of the IPO: Scale and Composition
The INR 11,327.43 crore Swiggy IPO consists of a primary issuance as well as a secondary offering by current shareholders. The secondary offering, also known as the Offer for Sale (OFS), is worth INR 6,828 crore, while the primary issue, or fresh money raise, is worth INR 4,499 crore.
Second only to Zomato’s public debut in 2021, this IPO is anticipated to be among the biggest in India this year and among the largest in the food technology sector. Swiggy wants to be valued at INR 87,300 crore ($11.3 billion), which is at the upper end of the pricing range of INR 371-390.
Important Investors and Allocation Information
Swiggy’s anchor segment has been supported by a wide range of domestic and foreign investors, with a sizable percentage of the shares going to Indian institutions. SBI Mutual Fund, Kotak Mutual Fund, HDFC Life, and Axis Mutual Fund are examples of domestic investors.
By indicating strong institutional backing, the anchor allocations are intended to stabilise the IPO and perhaps draw in more retail and non-institutional investors.
Evaluation and Financial Performance
Swiggy has prioritised expansion, as seen by its most recent financial reports, which show notable advancements. Swiggy reported revenue of INR 11,247 crore for FY24, up 36% from INR 8,265 crore for FY23.
In comparison to the prior fiscal year, losses also significantly decreased, falling 44% to Rs 2,350 crore. The business’s future growth, especially in its network of dark stores, as well as investments in marketing, technology, and possible acquisitions, will be financed by the IPO proceeds from the main issue.
In an attempt to fortify its position against its main rival, Zomato, which has a market worth of INR 2.1 trillion, or INR 2.18 lakh crore (as of November 6, 2024), Swiggy has entered the public market.
Current Anchor Book Investors
Notable international investors that have made anchor book investments in the company include New World Fund, Fidelity, Omnis Portfolio Investments, Nomura, Government Pension Fund Global, PGGM World Equity, Blackrock, Carmignac, Eastspring Investments, Citigroup, TOCU Europe, Integrated Core Strategies, CLSA, Matthews Asia Funds, and Societe Generale.
ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund, Kotak Mahindra AMC, SBI Mutual Fund, Axis Mutual Fund, Aditya Birla Sun Life Trustee, 360 ONE, Mirae Asset, Nippon Life India, Bandhan Mutual Fund, Invesco India, Motilal Oswal Mutual Fund, Sundaram MF, Tata MF, UTI Mutual Fund, DSP India Fund, Ashoka Whiteoak, Baroda PNB Paribas, Helios MF, and Avendus were among the domestic institutional investors that took part in the anchor book.
Blogging has become a good career option in recent times. At first, it was considered a good hobby or a skill to add to your resume but now, people are gravitating towards it and are interested in making it their career choice. One of the most common ways of sharing and transmitting knowledge and news has rapidly become blogging. Millions of blogs are practically online. It’s a great way to express yourself and a great way to share information, thoughts, and feelings with others as well. The best part is anyone can be a blogger who has a flair for writing.
Blogging started getting popular in 1999 and since then it has not looked back. More and more people now are opting for blogging, which is not only allowing bloggers to share their views on some topics but is also helping businesses to talk about their products and services, and share a significant amount of information about the industry that they are tied to, it’s changing recent trends and much more. These blogs that we see, need hosting platforms where the bloggers store their files, data, and website code.
As a novice, you would want a forum for blogging that is easy to set up, has a low learning curve, and needs no coding skills. You’ll also need to think about what kind of blog, you want to create at the present and in the future. You may want to update the look of your site as your blog expands and add more features for your growing audience. That implies that it is important to choose a flexible blogging platform, with room to grow.
In this article, we will talk about what to look for in a hosting platform and some popular platforms where you can host your blogs. However, before we start with the same, let’s once quickly recap why we need these hosting websites and choose them carefully!
What is a Web Hosting Platform and Why Do You Need it?
Just like a blog or a blogging channel is important for audiences who are always eager to consume content and roll their eyes over what’s new online, web hosting platforms play a central role for the bloggers to help their blogs stay alive and easy to access for the audiences. These hosting platforms for the websites and blog sites help the users store everything essential for the blog including the essential files related to the website and other data.
In simple words, it is the web host or the hosting platform of your blog site that makes it connected with the internet and the audiences. Along with playing a significant part in the creation and accessibility of your blog, web hosting for bloggers also is central to SEO. Yes, it is the web hosting site that is peculiarly responsible for the speed of the website, its security, and more. Hence, going for a foolproof web hosting platform is the key to successful blogging.
What Should You Look For in a Hosting Platform?
Many variables go into this, and you can get confused about things as you try to find the best web host for your site. What you should know is that at the lower level, most web hosting services would all be pretty identical with the same features. But, here’s what you want to look for in a good hosting company:
Security
Website security is critical, you don’t want to get hacked, and you definitely want the customer data to be safe. So, remember to check what kind of security features are available with the platform before going ahead with it.
SSL Certificates
Google is all about ensuring that sites are safe today, particularly if personal data or credit card information is collected. SSL certificates help encrypt data, so when you see “https” in the URL, you can tell if it’s there. It is best to set this up from the start.
Backups
Backing your site up on a regular basis is really necessary, so make sure you are provided with convincing backup options by your hosting company.
Customer service
You’re going to run into problems when you start building a site, so you must choose a hosting service that has very good customer support to help you get out of trouble if you encounter any.
Email
You would want to use the same domain as your URL with a professional email address. So, make sure you can also allow your hosting company to add email as well.
Reliability
You don’t want to be down on your web, ever. That means it’s crucial to work with a reliable hosting company that keeps downtime to a minimum.
Affordability
Along with all the factors mentioned above, it’s true that you also need to be aware of the pocket pinch of web hosting services as well, and ensure that the cost of the hosting is bearable in the long run. Web hosting is not a short-term plan, and you should be careful to choose a hosting provider that is affordable.
Flexible subscription plans
Subscription plans are different for different web hosting platforms. Here, flexibility is needed. You will get monthly hosting plans, plans that work quarterly, yearly options, and half-yearly options, even more. Choose your subscription plans wisely, and never go for a costly or inconvenient subscription plan.
Stick to the website requirements
Know your website requirements very well right at the first. Here, you need to know whether you will be starting with a static or a dynamic website. Also, the type of blog site you want to create. For example, if you are up for a writer’s blog, then it shall not be that heavy a site, whereas if you decide to host a travel/cooking blog with regular vlog updates in it, then you should better go for a more powerful hosting platform with convincing services.
Scalability options
The options for scalability are also a must. Suppose you are starting with a blog site yourself, just as a personal blog. Now, you can either keep it that way or eventually, as your audiences grow, expand it, thereby making it workable on behalf of an organization. Such a thing requires your blog site to be scalable enough, which depends largely on the hosting site you choose!
Ease of use
No matter what, hosting and upgrading the same, should be easy to do. The ease of use of hosting sites matters much for bloggers. An easy-to-use hosting site helps bloggers carry on with their work with a growing passion, without letting them fret about hosting issues.
There are several blog hosting platform that enables bloggers to get started with their blogging career. Some of the most popular and top ones are:
WordPress
Hosting Platform
WordPress
Rating
4.4 out of 5
Free Trial
Free platform
Top 10 Blog Hosting Platforms – WordPress
WordPress.org is the most popular software for blogging in the world. WordPress, founded in 2003, now commands nearly 60% of the CMS market and controls more than 30% of all internet. WordPress.org is a free, open-source blogging platform that allows you to develop your blog or website in minutes. It is a self-hosted solution, meaning you would need to sign up with a hosting company for WordPress. When you want to have complete influence over the future of your blog, WordPress is a great choice.
Pros of WordPress
You can have control over every feature of the website
There are free themes available, that you can use to create your website and make it unique
Creating SEO-friendly URLs is very easy on WordPress
WordPress provides over 59000 plugins so that different aspects like contact forms, galleries, and others can be added to your website
The drag-and-drop editor is a plus point in WordPress as it helps in easy content creation
Cons of WordPress
Backups and Security have to be managed by yourself
The website can go down anytime, without any prior notice
The slow speed of the page can be a factor in not choosing this hosting platform
Constant Contact
Hosting Platform
Constant Contact
Rating
4 out of 5
Free Trial
14 days
Top 10 Blog Hosting Platforms – Constant Contact
The Constant Contact website is an intelligent AI-powered website builder that allows you to create a free blog, company website, and even an online store within minutes. You can begin with their huge set of templates and use an easy-to-use drag-and-drop interface to customize your website design. Other helpful tools such as a personalized logo builder, a professional stock photo archive of over 550,000 images, an online shop, and much more are also available for you.
Pros of Constant Contact
The website is easy to build with tools compared to other hosting platforms
Provides good backup and security
Old Templates can be kept securely and can be used in the future
Cons of Constant Contact
The templates are not that stylish and look a little bit outdated
There are no unique features that can make the blog website look more interesting
This blogging platform was created by HostGator, which is one of the most popular and top web hosting companies. Gator provides a drag-and-drop tool that can be used in building any kind of website which includes online stores apart from blogs, and business sites. Gator is said to be the perfect option for those who are interested in an all-in-one platform for blogs.
Pros of Gator
The drag and drop feature helps your website creation easier
Backup and Security are managed by the HostGator itself
SSL certificates and domains are free on every plan
Cons of Gator
There is a limited number of Plugins that can be used on a website
Medium was launched in 2012 and since then it has become a big community for writers, bloggers, and journalists. Medium is an online publishing platform and anyone can use it according to their choice. It is very easy to use, after creating an account you can start publishing your blogs. Medium has somewhere between 85 to 100 million users per month, quite a big number and is one of the best web hosting platform for blogs.
Pros of Medium
It is easy to use as no coding knowledge is required
Designing the website is not an issue and one can just focus on their blogs only
The audience can be reached very easily as it targets people with similar interests
Cons of Medium
It is not easy to earn money through Medium as you cannot run ads on your own
There are no good features that can help you build your brand
You don’t get to have the option of using your domain name
Squarespace
Hosting Platform
Squarespace
Rating
4.4 out of 5
Free Trial
14-days
Top 10 Blog Hosting Platforms – Squarespace
Squarespace was started in the year 2003 and this website-building service enables you to create beautiful websites. The best part is Squarespace provides drag-and-drop tools which are easier for people during the time of the creation of the websites. For those who want to create a strong online presence through their blogs, Squarespace is perfect for them.
Pros of Squarespace
Anyone can use Squarespace as it is very easy to use, there is no need for any technical knowledge
Squarespace provides a unique and good number of templates that can be used for the creation of the website
SSL Certificates are provided along with domain names
Cons of Squarespace
There are not many unique features that can make websites more unique and creative
Wix is a host platform for building websites. It offers a solution for small businesses to build a website using drag-and-drop tools. You can also add a blog to your website by adding the Wix Blog app. Wix.com was founded in 2006 as a platform where anyone could create their own stunning website with no coding skills required. It has currently over 200 million users across the globe.
Pros of Wix
There are a number of creative templates that you can use to make your website look good
No technical or coding skills are required while creating the site
Wix provides proper security for your sites
Cons of Wix
After you select a template, you cannot change it to another one
Tumblr, founded by David Karp in 2007, is a microblogging and social networking platform where users can share a mix of content—text, photos, videos, and links—and connect through reblogging and commenting. Tumblr is especially popular among younger audiences because of its strong creative and fandom communities. Key features include a Dashboard for following posts, multiple post types like text and photos, and tagging to boost discoverability. Yahoo acquired Tumblr in 2013. Tumblr launched Post+ for monetization but discontinued it in 2024.
Pros
Covers a range of interests, from fandoms to art, with tagging for easy discoverability.
Users discuss social issues and current events, fostering strong community ties.
Simple to set up and customize, unlike more complex platforms.
One account can manage several blogs for varied content.
Ideal for showcasing multimedia content, perfect for artists.
Cons
Reblogging can amplify unverified information.
Users report app glitches and intrusive ads.
Limited customization and content theft concerns, especially for artists.
Hostinger
Hosting Platform
Hostinger
Rating
4.4 out of 5
Free Trial
Not available
Top 10 Blog Hosting Platforms – Hostinger
Established in 2004, Hostinger is a broadly utilized web-facilitating supplier offering reasonable plans beginning at INR 159 every month. It gives shared, VPS, and cloud facilitating choices, with a 99.9% uptime assurance and quick normal reaction seasons of 511 ms. Hostinger’s custom control board, hPanel, improves in the vicinity of the executives, and most plans incorporate free additional items like a space, SSL, and email. Its worldwide server farms, remembering one for India, guarantee ideal execution because of the client area and its platform is one of the best web hosting for bloggers.
Pros
Hostinger’s common facilitating begins at $2.99/month, ideal for private ventures.
Quick burden times (470-935 ms) and a 99.9% uptime ensure.
Easy to understand hPanel with broad elements.
Cons
Initial rates increase significantly after the first term.
This may not suit high-traffic, large websites.
Hubspot CMS
Hosting Platform
Hubspot CMS
Rating
4.4 out of 5
Free Trial
Free plan available
Top 10 Blog Hosting Platforms – Hubspot CMS
HubSpot CMS is a comprehensive and intuitive website creator that is embedded with the functionalities of HubSpot’s CRM and marketing features. It offers intelligent content serving for more tailored experiences, a drag-and-drop interface, SEO capabilities, and even a web application firewall and vulnerability scanning for security. Such CMS complements an inbound marketing strategy where prospect engagement is maximized and lead generation, as well as tracking functions, are improved.
Pros
Integrates website management and marketing tools in one platform.
User-friendly interface with drag-and-drop content creation.
Personalizes content and provides strong customer support.
Cons
HubSpot CMS is expensive for small businesses and has a steeper learning curve.
Limited design flexibility and reliance on HubSpot tools can increase costs.
Weebly
Hosting Platform
Weebly
Rating
4.2 out of 5
Free Trial
Free platform
Top 10 Blog Hosting Platforms – Weebly
Weebly is an easy-to-use website builder that enables users to create professional sites without technical skills. It offers a drag-and-drop editor, responsive themes, and powerful eCommerce features for online stores. Users can customize headers, backgrounds, and SEO settings, while the App Center provides third-party integrations for marketing and analytics. Weebly also supports blogging, video backgrounds, and custom code options, making it a versatile platform for businesses and individuals looking to build and manage their websites.
Pros
Drag-and-drop editor makes website creation easy for beginners.
Mobile-responsive templates adjust automatically to various screen sizes.
Integrated eCommerce tools and basic SEO features for optimization.
Cons
Fewer template options compared to competitors, restricting design choices.
Blogging features are less advanced than those of platforms like WordPress.
Your natural instinct would be to go for the option of value, something that is inexpensive, but has some nice features and provides plenty of customer support. Blogging as a career option is turning out to be a popular choice. So, selecting the proper hosting platform for blogs is a necessity. One has to choose a platform that will have all the variables that are needed in a blog hosting platform.
FAQs
What are the top web blog hosting platforms?
Some of the top blog hosting platforms are:
WordPress
Wix
Squarespace
Gator
Medium
What is Medium?
Medium is an online publishing platform. Anyone can use it for free and start writing their journey or start their journey of writing.
Is blogging a good career choice?
Blogging seems to be a great choice for your career for those who have a flair for writing. You can be your own boss and can have flexible schedules.
Is web hosting necessary for a blog?
Web hosting platforms play a central role for the bloggers to help their blogs stay alive and easy to access for the audiences. These hosting platforms for the websites and blog sites help the users store everything essential for the blog including the essential files related to the website and other data.
What is blog hosting?
Blog hosting is a service that gives you the space and tools to make your blog available on the internet.
India is the second-largest country in the world. The average age in India is about 28 years. We are an immensely big young nation and we do what every other country does but more in volume. With a population of more than 144 crores, India is a hotspot in demand generation. This makes it a prominent place for old businesses and new businesses.
India is not only big in terms of people, but we also are a huge celebrating nation. Speaking of both regional and national events, India has the most festivals in the world. Needless to say with this young generation driving fast-paced technology, Indians are not normal citizens anymore.
We are turning more into global citizens. Global citizens are not just confined to their nation but are open to accepting global traditions. They break open the national boundaries of culture and tradition the fastest of all. We love shopping cultures. This explains why millennials are all excited about global festivals like ‘Halloween’, ‘Thanksgiving’, and ‘Black Friday’.
This article is about one particular festival. A global festival starter to be precise. The Black Friday. How it affects our new businesses and startups in providing them with a boost. A cultural boost read on to discover.
Black Friday is the Friday that precedes Thanksgiving in the United States. Retailers all around put sales on the occasion to kick-start the festive season. The next month is December and it means Christmas around the world. This is the sweet spot just after Thanksgiving and right before Christmas.
Black Friday has been the busiest day in the US and continues to be the show starter even now. This festival provides a good boost for retailers and businesses in the US. Since India is open to all cultures, we also flow with this wind.
India and Festivals Culture
As mentioned previously we all know that India is a land of festivals and homogenous culture. When globalization and technology hit, we opened our wings to the world. Make no mistake that culture travels faster than goods.
India has seen increasing celebrations of Western festivals and occasions continuously. From malls covered in themes of Halloween to the lights and blushes of Christmas. Our culture has globalized. So does the behavior of consumers.
Now we look forward to not only the Diwali sale but also the ‘Black Friday’ sale. Shopping in India is a culture and globalization has boosted it for sure. Now brands and new businesses look forward to launching in the festive season.
Black Friday is synonymous with huge discounts. It is also synonymous with shopping like absolute animals. Shoppers go mad and they raise a ruckus. The news reported that an employee had to climb on a table to avoid a crush of shoppers at a Chattanooga Victoria’s Secret Pink store.
People wrestle over discounted clothes and fight for plants and pots. This is what a good Black Friday deal can do to consumers.
As per the reports, Black Friday 2023 online revenue reached over $9.80 billion, a 7.46% increase from last year. It was 188% higher than the average daily online sales and 179% higher than Q4’s daily sales. However, Black Friday’s revenue was 21% lower than Cyber Monday. From 2022 to 2023, online retail spending grew by 7.69%.
Black Friday Online Sales from 2013 to 2023 with Projection for 2024-2025
Black Friday Business Intrusion
If you think that consumers are the only demographic that enjoys Black Friday, you’re probably wrong. Brands all over the world start preparing to fulfill the demand months before this day. They know how to make and generate demand for their goods. So they also wash their hands in celebrations, with campaigns.
Businesses try to capture people with campaigns. If you’re a startup, winning this day of the year can ramp up your whole game. This is a high tide and if you know how to surf, you are all set. Here we’ll discuss how brands manage to get a large economic pie.
How Black Friday Can Help You Get Initial Boost for Your Startup?
Campaigns Plan
As people celebrate, brands lend a hand with campaigns. They start decoding the market in September itself. So September and October are the planning months.
Brands and newbies need to be sure about their goals. There can be explicitly two goals – To acquire new customers or to increase current profits. It will be the compass for planning further. Figure out deals, deals that are mouth-watering. This is the month when credit cards get warm.
Channeling Traffic
You can’t really imagine your sales without creatives. It is imperative to spread the marketing butter all over social. Make your signs a little squarish for better communication. Spend October spreading the news, discounts, and whatever. Try paid marketing, diversifying your posters, and emailing. The point is to buy traffic earlier than others.
Buyer Momentum
If your goal is to maximize profits, then you need to notice and enhance the AOV. Average order value can be enhanced by grouping products. Grouping products with others will lead to more freedom to give discounts. As well as it will also increase your revenues.
Conversion Rate
While established brands go for more orders, new businesses or startups go with more conversion rates. Converting more people into consumers will take spending. So before a successful Friday sale, comes spending. Figure out a CAC, and customer acquisition cost and plan your deals and discounts accordingly.
Create Urgency with Limited-Time Offers
Urgency is a powerful sales tool. To build excitement and urgency, try offering new deals every hour on Black Friday. Updating deals throughout the day keeps customers interested and encourages quick purchases. Use announcements, app notifications, and clear ads to make sure people see these deals and feel the need to act fast.
Exceptional Customer Service
Deals and promotions are important, but great customer service can set your small business apart. In a physical store, focus on helping customers quickly, having friendly and knowledgeable staff, and creating a welcoming atmosphere. Happy customers are more likely to come back or tell others about your store, which helps your business grow.
For online sales, it’s a bit different. A good website design, smooth navigation, and excellent customer support can make a big impact and keep customers satisfied.
Black Friday is followed by Cyber Monday which means more space for spicy offers. Brands should keep in mind that Black Friday and Cyber Monday aren’t just for eCommerce but can be a big sales day if you apply the right Black Friday tactics, Black Friday promotion ideas, Black Friday promos, Cyber Monday ads, and Cyber Monday marketing techniques. That will be the recipe for your successful sales season. As always, it’s not too late to get started.
FAQs
What is Black Friday?
Black Friday is the day stores began to turn a profit for the year as it is the biggest shopping day in the United States.
How to boost sales on Black Friday?
Build anticipation about your product, make exclusive offers, and reward your previous customers.
Do companies make money on Black Friday?
Yes, Black Friday is the most profitable week or month for the majority of retailers.
When is Black Friday sale in 2024?
The Black Friday sale starts on 29th November followed by Cyber Monday which is on 2nd December 2024.
In the midst of its ongoing legal battle with a national news agency, the Indian government has placed the online encyclopaedia Wikipedia under notice. The government has complained to Wikipedia on multiple occasions about the website’s bias and falsehoods.
The government has also reportedly indicated that a small group controls the website’s editorial direction. According to media reports, the government has questioned why Wikipedia shouldn’t be regarded as a publisher rather than a middleman.
Asian News International (ANI), a news agency, is suing Wikipedia for allegedly publishing “defamatory” articles against it. According to ANI, a passage in the news organisation’s Wikipedia page incorrectly charges it of being “a propaganda tool for the incumbent government” and “propagating material from fake news websites.” ANI had called for the removal of the page.
The Delhi High Court strongly objected to Wikipedia’s unwillingness to provide the identities of people who made revisions to the ANI entry page and sent it a contempt notice on September 5.
Court Ordered Wikipedia to Leave India
The court was enraged by the news agency’s failure to comply with its order in connection with a defamation complaint. The court had instructed Wikipedia to cease operations in India if it did not wish to do so, and that it would request that the central government block the platform in the country.
The court threatened to shut down Wikipedia if it didn’t comply with its instructions in August, ordering the website to reveal the identity of people responsible for the allegedly defamatory alterations to the ANI page.
Very Few Individuals Making Content Decisions
Wikipedia has been accused of launching a war on India in a dossier released by the news website Opindia. According to the document, a select few individuals worldwide manage all of the content on Wikipedia. Only a small number of people have the final say over what content is uploaded and what isn’t, according to the report.
Google and Wikimedia have a formal business partnership, and Google has donated millions of dollars to the Wikimedia Foundation. The defamatory material on Wikipedia effectively turns into a fact sheet for the relevant public figure and/or organisation when Google uses Wikipedia to create knowledge panels. According to the dossier, such controversial pages involving public figures and groups are typically locked, meaning that only a small group of editors and administrators can make changes.
Elon Musk Urging People to Not to Donate to Wikipedia
Elon Musk, the creator of SpaceX, said last month that “far-left activists” were in charge of Wikipedia and advised users to cease making donations.
According to rumours earlier this year, the Centre was reportedly planning to notify Google for the “biased” way in which its AI platform Gemini responded to a query concerning Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Prior to the Centre sending out a notification, Google claimed to have fixed the problem and to be “constantly working on improving” the system.
In an effort to democratise financial services nationwide, WeCredit, an Udaipur-based firm, has joined the ONDC (Open Network for Digital Commerce) Network, which is supported by the Indian government, as a Buyer App.
According to the press note, the strategic integration will make it possible for users—both people and businesses—to easily access lending and borrowing services through the ONDC Network, offering a simplified experience for anyone looking for financial solutions.
According to WeCredit co-founder Mukul Devpura, the company is excited to be a part of the ONDC Network and sees this as a major chance for investment and expansion within its broader business plan.
Making an Effort to Streamline the Loan Application Procedure
The landscape of digital banking has undergone a dramatic change with WeCredit’s admission into the ONDC Network. The firm will concentrate on improving financial accessibility and streamlining the loan application procedure, enabling consumers to more effectively reach their financial objectives.
The advancement supports ONDC’s overarching goal of promoting a more transparent and inclusive digital economy. Firm is delighted to be a part of a movement that seeks to make e-commerce more equitable and accessible for all people and businesses, regardless of their size or location, as India prepares for a digital revolution. According to Devpura, ONDC is about more than just expanding businesses; it’s also about helping to transform Indian trade by encouraging cooperation, diversity, and creativity.
Plans to Increase the Range of Products Offered
WeCredit will first concentrate on credit products as part of its staged strategy, with plans to soon broaden its offerings to include investment options, insurance, and a few retail categories.
WeCredit will function as a Technology Service Provider (TSP) on the ONDC Network in addition to being a Buyer App. Because of this function, WeCredit may assist companies that want to access the network without having to invest in a large internal IT infrastructure.
“ONDC is dedicated to furthering its goals of democratising digital commerce and promoting financial inclusion,” said T Koshy, MD and CEO of ONDC. Both small and large enterprises will be better able to negotiate the digital financial landscape thanks to WeCredit’s capabilities, which will create new avenues for growth and businesses.
What WeCredit Does?
WeCredit is a website that offers loans to both people and companies. It gives consumers a platform that enables them to apply for credit cards and loans instantly, with little paperwork and at affordable interest rates. In order to satisfy their credit needs, they concentrate on putting prospective borrowers in touch with various banks and regulated organisations. Over $2.86 billion has been raised by WeCredit and its rivals in 102 investment rounds with 375 investors, according to Tracxn. The competition set consists of three public companies, two acquired companies, and one private unicorn.
According to various media reports, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India will meet with important representatives from the main rapid commerce platforms, such as Blinkit, Swiggy, Instamart, and Zepto, within the next ten days.
Reports further state that the main goal of the discussion is to address the grave concerns about the sale of consumer goods, particularly packaged food items, that are getting close to expiration dates on these online platforms.
Consumer Forums and Trade Bodies Urging Regulator to Step In
Numerous consumer forums and trade organisations have been advocating for the Union government to take action against e-commerce and quick commerce companies for failing to provide mandatory disclosures, including the expiration and best-before dates of groceries and other daily essentials sold on their platforms.
Additionally, they have urged the government to look at how fast-moving consumer goods companies are abusing these channels by selling products that are about to expire. Although the original shelf life was substantially greater, consumers have complained that these convenience platforms are delivering products with significantly shorter shelf lives.
According to Sachin Taparia, founder of LocalCircles, an independent community platform that conducted a survey with 12,000 people nationwide, at least 57% of respondents are worried about online businesses failing to display their best before dates. The results of the survey were forwarded to the FSSAI and the Department of Consumer Affairs last month.
A packet of bread, which usually has a five- to seven-day shelf life, was sent to certain customers with just one day remaining before it expired. According to Taparia, customers who bought other perishable goods noticed similar issues.
Violation of the Food Safety and Standards Amendment Regulations of 2020
The Food Safety and Standards Amendment Regulations of 2020, which require platforms and sellers to offer only food items with a minimum shelf life of 30% or at least 45 days left for sale, are allegedly being disregarded by these quick service organisations.
In order to stop the sale of products that are about to expire, the food regulator will also meet with state food safety commissioners this week and give them instructions to scrutinise e-commerce and quick-commerce businesses more closely. Officials say they will probably be told to perform unexpected on-site inspections to make sure that these online platforms’ warehouses and dark stores don’t include goods with less than 30% of their shelf life left.
For various reasons, the Competition Commission of India and the Central Consumer Protection Authority, which is housed under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, have also begun to examine the fast delivery behemoths.
The All-India Consumer Products Distributors Federation had previously urged the ministry to enact stronger rules in order to stop these kinds of abuses. They assert that the packaged goods business is increasingly using the quick commerce platforms as a means of pushing unsold inventory. The federation had issued a statement stating that “this practice, often disguised by steep discounts, poses a significant risk to consumer rights and threatens the stability of traditional retailers.”
Among the businesses that do not provide best-before dates in their product photos or descriptions are Swiggy, Instamart, Zomato’s Blinkit, and Zepto. By displaying the production and expiration dates of the packaged items offered on its website, Flipkart Minutes, on the other hand, distinguishes itself as the only platform that offers transparency.
Zomato is Already Under Scanner
Food safety officials in Telangana recently discovered 18 kg of button mushrooms classified as packed on October 30 during a raid at Zomato’s Hyperpure warehouse. The inspection was conducted on October 29.
However, Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal asserted that the warehouse crew had already spotted these mushrooms and “were rejected during an inward” quality check, with a future packaging date at the company’s Hyderabad plant.” This is unusual and was caused by a vendor-side manual typing error. However, Goyal had stated on X, “The concerned vendor has been delisted from our database.”
Nitin Konde
