Meesho
 Meesho Logo | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | E-commerce |
| Founded | 2015 |
| Founders | Vidit Aatrey, Sandeep Anand |
| Headquarters | |
Area served | India |
Key people | Vidit Aatrey (CEO), Sandeep Anand (Co-founder) |
| Services | Online retail, social commerce |
| Website | meesho.com |
Meesho is an Indian social commerce platform that enables individuals and small businesses to start their own online stores with no upfront investment. Founded in 2015 by Vidit Aatrey and Sandeep Anand, Meesho has become one of India's leading e-commerce platforms, particularly known for empowering small entrepreneurs and resellers.
History
Meesho was founded in 2015 by Vidit Aatrey and Sandeep Anand, two former IIT Delhi graduates, with the vision to democratize e-commerce in India and create income-generating opportunities for people, especially women, from across the country. Meesho’s initial focus was on helping small businesses and resellers to sell products online without needing technical expertise.
The company uses a social commerce model where users can share products via social media platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram, driving sales through personal networks. This model has helped Meesho scale quickly by tapping into the vast social media reach of millions of Indians.
Business Model
Meesho operates on a commission-based model where it acts as a platform for resellers. Resellers list products on Meesho, and the company handles logistics, payment, and returns. The resellers share the products within their networks, and the transaction is completed through the platform. [1]
Meesho provides its resellers with access to a wide variety of products, ranging from clothing to home goods to beauty products, all sourced from its network of suppliers. The platform handles everything from product sourcing and logistics to payments and customer support. This makes it possible for individuals, especially homemakers and small businesses, to start their own online stores with minimal investment. [2]
Funding
Meesho has raised multiple rounds of funding to fuel its growth:
- 2022 – Series F: Meesho raised $300 million, bringing its valuation to $5 billion. The round was led by SoftBank, Prosus Ventures, and Facebook.
- 2021 – Series E: Meesho raised $195 million, reaching a valuation of $2.1 billion.
- 2019 – Series D: Raised $125 million, including investments from Facebook and Shunwei Capital.
The company’s ability to build an inclusive e-commerce platform for millions of people has been a driving factor in attracting major venture capital and strategic investors. [3]
Achievements
Meesho has grown rapidly since its inception and is now one of the top players in the Indian e-commerce industry. Some of its key milestones include:
- Empowering 13 million+ resellers in India by 2023, with a particular focus on women entrepreneurs. [4]
- Becoming one of the fastest-growing e-commerce platforms in India, achieving a valuation of over $5 billion in 2022. [5]
- Offering over 50 million products through a wide range of categories, such as fashion, beauty, home, and electronics.
Impact on Social Commerce
Meesho’s innovative business model has led to the rise of social commerce in India, which leverages social media platforms to facilitate online shopping. The platform has become a key enabler for resellers, especially women and homemakers, to generate income by setting up their online businesses. It has pioneered the concept of "Reseller Economy" in India, where individuals, primarily from Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, can sell products via social media without any upfront investment. [6]
Partnerships
Meesho has collaborated with several key partners to further expand its offerings:
- Facebook: Meesho partners with Facebook to enable resellers to sell products directly through Facebook, using the platform’s vast user base to promote and sell products.
- SoftBank: SoftBank has been one of the key investors in Meesho, helping the platform scale its operations.
- Flipkart: Meesho partnered with Flipkart to access a wider network of suppliers and products, thus broadening its catalog. [7]
Recognition
Meesho has received numerous awards and accolades for its impact on the Indian e-commerce and social commerce industries:
- Best Social Commerce Platform – Indian Retail Awards (2023) [8]
- Most Innovative E-commerce Platform – Retail Asia Awards (2022) [9]
Competitors
Meesho faces competition from various e-commerce giants, including:
See Also
References
- ↑ Inc42: How Meesho Became a Social Commerce Leader in India (May 2023)
- ↑ YourStory: How Meesho Pioneered Social Commerce in India (November 2022)
- ↑ Economic Times: How Meesho is Paving its Way to the Top of Indian E-Commerce (December 2022)
- ↑ Financial Express: Empowering Indian Women with Meesho (May 2023)
- ↑ Forbes: How Meesho Took India's Social Commerce Market by Storm (December 2022)
- ↑ BusinessLine: How Meesho Empowered Small Businesses and Women Entrepreneurs (March 2023)
- ↑ Times of India: How Meesho is Partnering with Facebook and SoftBank for Expansion (April 2023)
- ↑ CNBC TV18: Meesho Wins Best Social Commerce Platform (May 2023)
- ↑ Retail Asia: Meesho Wins Most Innovative E-commerce Platform (September 2022)