Amazon India
 | |
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | E-commerce, Cloud computing, Logistics |
| Founded | June 2013 |
| Founder | Jeff Bezos |
| Headquarters | Bengaluru, Karnataka, India |
Key people | Amit Agarwal (VP and Country Head), Manish Tiwary (VP, Amazon India Operations) |
| Products | Online marketplace, Amazon Prime, Amazon Pay, AWS, Kindle, Alexa |
| Revenue | ₹16,200 crore (US$1.9 billion) (FY21) |
Number of employees | 100,000+ (2025) |
| Parent | Amazon |
| Website | www |
Amazon India, launched in June 2013, is the Indian subsidiary of the global e-commerce giant Amazon. Operating as a leading online marketplace, it offers a diverse range of products, including electronics, apparel, books, and household goods, alongside services like Amazon Prime, Amazon Pay, and AWS. Since its inception, Amazon India has grown to become one of the largest e-commerce platforms in the country, competing with local players like Flipkart and Myntra. The company focuses on customer convenience, competitive pricing, and fast delivery, leveraging its global technological infrastructure and local innovations like Amazon Pay Smart Stores. Amazon India aims to empower small and medium businesses (SMBs) and create job opportunities, with a commitment to invest $1 billion to digitise 10 million MSMEs by 2025.[1]
Founders & Leadership
Amazon India, as a subsidiary of Amazon, was established under the vision of Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon. Bezos, a graduate of Princeton University with a degree in electrical engineering and computer science, founded Amazon in 1994 as an online bookstore in the United States. His innovative approach to e-commerce and customer-centric philosophy shaped Amazon India's operations. In India, the company is led by Amit Agarwal, Vice President and Country Head, who holds a degree from IIT Kanpur and Stanford University. Agarwal, a key member of Amazon's global leadership team, has driven the company’s expansion in India since 2013.[2] Manish Tiwary, Vice President of Amazon India Operations, oversees marketplace operations and logistics.
Origin & Founding Story
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Amazon India was launched in June 2013 as part of Amazon’s global expansion strategy to tap into India’s growing e-commerce market. Founded by Jeff Bezos, Amazon initially started as an online bookstore in 1994 in Seattle, USA, before diversifying into various product categories and services. The decision to enter India came after recognising the country’s burgeoning internet penetration and rising consumer demand for online shopping. Amazon India began operations with a focus on books and electronics, quickly expanding to include apparel, home goods, and more. The company adapted its global model to suit Indian preferences, introducing cash-on-delivery and regional language support. Under Amit Agarwal’s leadership, Amazon India prioritised building a robust logistics network and partnerships with local sellers, establishing itself as a key player in India’s e-commerce ecosystem.[1]
Timeline
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 2013 | Amazon India launched in June, starting with books and electronics.[1] |
| 2015 | Amazon invests $2 billion to expand operations in India.[3] |
| 2016 | Introduction of Amazon Prime in India, offering fast delivery and streaming services.[4] |
| 2018 | Amazon Pay Smart Stores launched to enable digital payments at physical stores.[1] |
| 2020 | Jeff Bezos announces $1 billion investment to digitise 10 million MSMEs by 2025.[1] |
| 2021 | Amazon Global Selling Propel Accelerator launched to support Indian startups in global markets.[5] |
| 2023 | Amazon India reports revenue of ₹16,200 crore in FY21, a 49% increase from FY20.[1] |
| 2025 | Commitment to create 1 million jobs in India by 2025 announced.[1] |
Funding
Amazon India, as a subsidiary, does not raise independent funding but operates with investments from its parent company, Amazon. The following table outlines key investment commitments for Amazon India:
| Date | Investment Type | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 2014 | Strategic Investment | $2 billion | Amazon[3] |
| January 2020 | Strategic Investment | $1 billion | Amazon[1] |
Business Model
Amazon India operates a platform business model, serving as an online marketplace that connects buyers and sellers. Its primary revenue streams include commissions and fees from third-party sellers, subscription fees from Amazon Prime, advertising revenue, and sales of its own products like Kindle and Alexa devices. The company also earns significant revenue through AWS, offering cloud computing services to enterprises, startups, and government agencies. Amazon India caters to diverse customer segments, including individual consumers, small and medium businesses (SMBs), and large enterprises. Its Amazon Pay service facilitates digital payments, while programs like Amazon Pay Smart Stores support offline merchants. The company’s focus on low prices, fast delivery, and a wide product range drives customer retention and growth.[6]
Products / Services
Amazon India offers a wide range of products and services, including:
- Online Marketplace: Sells electronics, apparel, books, home goods, and more from third-party sellers and Amazon’s own inventory.[1]
- Amazon Prime: Subscription service offering fast delivery, video streaming via Amazon Prime Video, and music streaming via Amazon Music.[6]
- Amazon Pay: Digital payment platform supporting UPI, gift cards, and bill payments, including Amazon Pay Smart Stores for offline merchants.[1]
- AWS: Cloud computing services for businesses, including storage, computing, and database solutions.[6]
- Kindle and Alexa: E-readers and voice-activated devices for consumers.[6]
- Amazon Advertising: Sponsored ads and video advertising for brands on the platform.[6]
Growth & Metrics
Amazon India has grown significantly since its launch, serving millions of customers across India. In FY21, the company reported a revenue of ₹16,200 crore, a 49% increase from ₹10,847.6 crore in FY20.[1] It has a seller base of over 1.3 million merchants and has enabled 10 million MSMEs to go online as of 2023.[4] The company employs over 100,000 people directly and indirectly, with plans to create 1 million jobs by 2025.[1] Amazon India’s logistics network covers over 19,000 pin codes, ensuring nationwide reach. Its Amazon Prime membership has millions of subscribers, driven by fast delivery and exclusive content.[5]
Legal Entity Information
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Legal Name | Amazon Seller Services Private Limited |
| Foundation Date | 5 June 2013 |
| Registrar of Companies (ROC) | ROC Bangalore |
| Corporate Identification Number (CIN) | U72200KA2013FTC069341 |
| Registered Address | Brigade Gateway, 26/1, Dr. Rajkumar Road, Malleswaram (W), Bangalore, Karnataka - 560055, India |
| Email ID | compliance@amazon.in |
| Company Status | Active |
| Directors | Amit Agarwal, Manish Tiwary |
| Authorized Share Capital | ₹1,900 crore |
| Paid-up Capital | ₹1,800 crore |
Acquisitions and Investments
Amazon India has made strategic investments in several Indian startups to strengthen its ecosystem:
- BankBazaar (2015): Invested $60 million in the financial product comparison platform to enhance payment solutions.[3]
- Shoppers Stop (2017): Acquired a 5% stake for ₹180 crore to explore offline-online retail convergence.[3]
- QwikCilver Solutions: Minority investment to power Amazon Pay’s gift card services, later sold to Pine Labs.[4]
- Axio (formerly Capital Float): Investment to support Amazon Pay Later, enabling customer lending.[4]
Media & Public Recognition
Amazon India has received significant media coverage and recognition:
- Recognised as one of India’s top e-commerce platforms by StartupTalky in 2022.[1]
- Featured in YourStory for its role in digitising MSMEs in 2020.[2]
- Awarded for innovation in logistics and e-commerce at the India Digital Awards in 2021.[7]
- Covered by The Economic Times for its $1 billion investment announcement in 2020.[8]
FAQs
- What is Amazon India’s primary business?
- Amazon India operates an online marketplace, offering products and services like Amazon Prime, Amazon Pay, and AWS.[6]
- When was Amazon India launched?
- It was launched in June 2013.[1]
- Who leads Amazon India?
- Amit Agarwal is the Vice President and Country Head.[2]
- What is Amazon Pay Smart Stores?
- It’s a programme enabling offline merchants to accept digital payments via QR codes.[1]
External Links
Related Startups
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 "Amazon Startup Story - Founder, Funding, Revenue Model". StartupTalky. 9 August 2022. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Sharma, Shradha (28 June 2019). "Exclusive, in-depth chat with Amazon India head Amit Agarwal". YourStory. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 "6 Startups That Amazon Has Invested In In India, And Why". OfficeChai. 11 June 2018. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 "Here's how Amazon Smbhav Venture Fund supports Indian SMBs and startups". About Amazon India. 30 August 2023. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Meet 10 startups who made it to Amazon's Global Selling Accelerator programme". About Amazon India. 17 February 2021. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 "Amazon Business Model - How Does Amazon Make Money". StartupTalky. 11 April 2025. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
- ↑ "India Digital Awards 2021: Amazon India Recognized for E-commerce Innovation". IAMAI. 15 March 2021. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
- ↑ "Amazon to invest $1 billion in India, says Jeff Bezos". The Economic Times. 16 January 2020. Retrieved 2 June 2025.