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Is Indian eCommerce dead? (from a new startup founders' pov)

I'm talking about new startups, as a founder who's trying to build an ecommerce platform currently. I'm still very early, but it feels that the writing is on the wall. Flipkart, Myntra, Nykaa, Zomato, Swiggy etc. have all built great products and soon great businesses (I'm sure) But it does not make sense to me why we've barely seen anything new in the last 5 years. Even funding wise, if that is something one wants to look at. So many people have tried - none of the new ideas have worked. CAC is too high. Current platforms already solve problems. Retention is never there, people may try you out, but will move back to Amazon/Instamart. But this is not how things typically work. It's very clear that consumer spending is going to increase, online more so, at an even faster rate. I don't feel the current platforms solve everything, a better version can be built. SO, is it the founders of the current era that have failed to make a dent? Is it the fact that VCs have stopped paying attention to this space? Or is it that the current platforms indeed solve everything? Would love everybody's thoughts. And also if you have tried building/or have ideas on what potential next eCommerce platforms could loook like. Over and out.

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Anon00

Walmart

a year ago

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WildFoal7

Freelancer

a year ago

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Darkblack

Meesho

a year ago

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Harsh realities of Indian startup ecosystem

-Online brands are expanding offline to achieve scale -Late stage startups are gearing towards profitability earlier than planned -Biz models built on behavior during Covid are struggling (like edtech) -Startups which got funded due to TikTok ban are struggling -Finfluencers are soon expected to struggle -Credit Fintech w/o NBFC license is a struggle -Very few consumer content startups frm India are seeing scale and profitability -RMG is struggling due to regulations -India focused creator economy startups finding it difficult to scale -PLG led Indian SaaS startups not able to cross $20M ARR -Some VCs finding it tough to raise without DPI -Public markets thrashing innovative/vanity metrics of pvt VC funded cos. and their pvt market valuations -Series B and beyond is tough, down round/flat round is now common - Deals happening at single digit ARR multiple for SaaS valuations - Web3 startups not getting funded - Most GenAI startups not able to build any defensibility - Most B2B Commerce startups are not able to increase gross margins or reduce NWC - CACs are ever increasing - Compliance issues at many startups - Layoffs to continue - startups which got funded in 2021, will soon be out of runway - no liquidity event for vested ESOPs in most Indian startups - secondaries happening at 35% discount in some cases - deal closure times have become 2x - less FOMO amongst VCs - More instances of M&A falling through