In India, 90% of commerce occurs in small mom-and-pop stores, and many aspiring entrepreneurs lack the capital to start their own businesses, which Meesho addresses by providing a platform for them to sell online.

Meesho allows anyone in India to start and grow a social store on platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram, enabling them to sell products without needing upfront capital.

I run Meesho, which is focused on bringing small businesses online, as e-commerce was primarily about smartphones and selling online at that time.

In 2015, we initially focused on hyperlocal fashion, but learned that fulfillment is crucial, leading us to pivot towards a marketplace model that better serves small shop owners.

Talking to over 800 boutique owners was the most helpful thing in starting and running Shoptiques, allowing us to build exactly the solution they needed.

Creating a platform for successful women to share their stories and advice can lead to more women-led businesses.

The average user of Meesho is typically a woman from tier 2 or tier 3 cities, often with no prior business experience, who aspires to start her own venture without needing initial investment.

A group of female entrepreneurs at the hospital in India pooled their resources to save for healthcare, demonstrating the power of community and direct relationships in addressing needs.

Sheer Chat is an exciting startup in India, as it builds a vernacular social network for smaller towns and cities.