Meesho

Meesho Private Limited formely Fashnear Technologies Private Limited was established by IIT Delhi graduates Vidit Aatrey and Sanjeev Barnwal in December, 2015{{Cite web |title=Meesho Creates Stores for Indian SMBs Selling Through WhatsApp |url=https://www.ycombinator.com/blog/meesho |access-date=2023-05-17 |website=Y Combinator |language=en |archive-date=17 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230517102346/https://www.ycombinator.com/blog/meesho |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=Vidit Aatrey & Sanjeev Barnwal: Redefining Distribution With Meesho |url=https://www.forbesindia.com/article/30-under-30-2018/vidit-aatrey-sanjeev-barnwal-redefining-distribution-with-meesho/49381/1 |access-date=2024-06-01 |website=Forbes India |language=en |archive-date=17 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230517102343/https://www.forbesindia.com/article/30-under-30-2018/vidit-aatrey-sanjeev-barnwal-redefining-distribution-with-meesho/49381/1 |url-status=live }} In 2016, the founders came up with the idea of re-establishing the platform as Meesho, one that would enable country-wide shipping for resellers with the use of social media sites as tools for marketing.{{cite web |last1=Russell |first1=Jon |title=Meesho wants to make selling through WhatsApp more efficient and less painful |url=https://techcrunch.com/2016/08/17/meesho-wants-to-make-selling-through-whatsapp-more-efficient-and-less-painful/ |website=TechCrunch |access-date=26 August 2023 |location=Palo Alto, California |date=18 August 2016 |archive-date=10 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190910121238/https://techcrunch.com/2016/08/17/meesho-wants-to-make-selling-through-whatsapp-more-efficient-and-less-painful/ |url-status=live }}

Meesho had 209,000 users and 1.2 million orders per month in February 2019 and 563,000 users and 3.1 million orders per month in March 2020.{{Cite web |date=2021-11-16 |title=Meesho logs 17.8 mn users in Sept; aims to reach 100 mn by Dec 2022 |url=https://www.businesstoday.in/entrepreneurship/news/story/meesho-logs-178-mn-users-in-sept-aims-to-reach-100-mn-by-dec-2022-312391-2021-11-16 |access-date=2023-05-17 |website=Business Today |language=en}} It saw big growth during 2021 and 2022.{{Cite news |last=Purnell |first=Newley |date=2022-10-22 |title=Meta-Backed Meesho Is Beating Amazon, Walmart in Race for Indian Shoppers |language=en-US |work=Wall Street Journal |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/meta-backed-meesho-is-beating-amazon-walmart-in-race-for-indian-shoppers-11666431001 |access-date=2023-05-30 |issn=0099-9660 |archive-date=27 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230127104945/https://www.wsj.com/articles/meta-backed-meesho-is-beating-amazon-walmart-in-race-for-indian-shoppers-11666431001 |url-status=live }} Meesho's monthly transacting user count rose 26 times during 2020–2022. Globally, Meesho mobile app was among the top most downloaded apps in 2021.{{Cite web |title=How Meesho's Big, Bold Bets Took It Close To $5-billion Valuation At Lightning Speed |url=https://www.forbesindia.com/article/take-one-big-story-of-the-day/how-meeshos-big-bold-bets-took-it-close-to-5billion-valuation-at-lightning-speed/71477/1 |access-date=2023-05-17 |website=Forbes India |language=en |archive-date=16 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230316214736/https://www.forbesindia.com/article/take-one-big-story-of-the-day/how-meeshos-big-bold-bets-took-it-close-to-5billion-valuation-at-lightning-speed/71477/1 |url-status=live }} In 2022, Meesho had about 120 million monthly users and about 910 million orders were made through the platform. It soon became one of India's fastest growing e-commerce platforms. Its gross merchandise value (GMV) increased ninefold in two years{{Cite news |date=2023-04-24 |title=Meesho’s growing scale, differentiated business model make profitability a reality in 2023: Jefferies |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/business/meeshos-growing-scale-differentiated-business-model-make-profitability-a-reality-in-2023-jefferies/article66774340.ece |access-date=2023-05-17 |issn=0971-751X |archive-date=17 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230517143457/https://www.thehindu.com/business/meeshos-growing-scale-differentiated-business-model-make-profitability-a-reality-in-2023-jefferies/article66774340.ece |url-status=live }} and was at about $5 billion in 2022 (for comparison, Flipkart's GMV stood at $23 billion).{{Cite web |date=2023-04-22 |title=Meesho’s average monthly user count 55 per cent that of Flipkart, Amazon India: Report |url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/companies/meeshos-average-monthly-user-count-55-per-cent-that-of-flipkart-amazon-india-report/article66767112.ece |access-date=2023-05-17 |website=www.thehindubusinessline.com |language=en |archive-date=17 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230517140443/https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/companies/meeshos-average-monthly-user-count-55-per-cent-that-of-flipkart-amazon-india-report/article66767112.ece |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |date=2022-12-22 |title=With 910 million orders in 2022, Meesho grew 135% y-o-y |url=https://www.financialexpress.com/industry/with-910-million-orders-in-2022-meesho-grew-135-y-o-y/2922533/ |access-date=2023-05-17 |website=Financialexpress |language=en}}

According to report as of August 2023 Meesho delisted 42 lakh counterfeit listings and 10 lakh restricted products under its initiative Project Suraksha. During the same period, the platform blocked access for over 12,000 user accounts flagged for policy violations.{{cite web | title=Meesho delists 42 lakh counterfeit, 10 lakh restricted products in six months | website=CNBCTV18 | date=2 August 2023 | url=https://www.cnbctv18.com/startup/meesho-delists-42-lakh-counterfeit-10-lakh-restricted-products-in-six-months-17411281.htm | access-date=13 May 2025}}

In 2023, Meesho was named one of the most influential companies of the year by Time (magazine).{{cite web |title=TIME100 MOST INFLUENTIAL COMPANIES 2023 |url=https://time.com/collection/time100-companies-2023/6285212/meesho/ |website=Time |publisher=Tara Law |access-date=21 June 2023}}{{cite web |title=Meesho on TIME's 100 most influential companies |url=https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/trends/meesho-on-times-100-most-influential-companies-10839501.html |website=moneycontrol.com/ |publisher=MONEYCONTROL NEWS |access-date=22 June 2023}} In the same year, Meesho also became the fastest shopping app to cross over 500 million downloads.{{cite web |title=Meesho becomes world's fastest shopping app to cross 500 mn downloads |url=https://www.business-standard.com/amp/companies/news/meesho-becomes-world-s-fastest-shopping-app-to-cross-500-mn-downloads-123060100771_1.html |website=business-standard.com/ |publisher=Peerzada Abrar |access-date=1 June 2023 |archive-date=2 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230602092037/https://www.business-standard.com/amp/companies/news/meesho-becomes-world-s-fastest-shopping-app-to-cross-500-mn-downloads-123060100771_1.html |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title='Meesho becomes world’s fastest shopping app to cross 500 million |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/meesho-becomes-worlds-fastest-shopping-app-to-cross-500-million-downloads/articleshow/100704012.cms |website=timesofindia.indiatimes.com/ |publisher=Asmita Dey |access-date=2 June 2023 |archive-date=3 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230603022219/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/meesho-becomes-worlds-fastest-shopping-app-to-cross-500-million-downloads/articleshow/100704012.cms |url-status=live }}

In 2024, Meesho introduced Valmo, a logistics marketplace, to provide shipment services to sellers by aggregating multiple logistics providers. Meesho employs over 3,000 small businesses and 10-12 large firms for warehousing and sorting operations within its logistics framework.{{cite web | title=Meesho launches logistics vertical Valmo | website=The Economic Times | date=2024-02-07 | url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/startups/meesho-launches-logistics-vertical-valmo-to-charge-under-a-rupee-per-order-for-services/articleshow/107500845.cms?from=mdr | access-date=2024-04-04}} According to media reports, Valmo operating in approximately 15,000 pincodes in India with around 6,000 partners. It is reported to handle over 50% of Meesho’s daily orders.{{cite web | title=Meesho's logistics platform Valmo now handles 50% of orders, more than double from last year | website=Moneycontrol | date=26 March 2025 | url=https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/startup/meesho-s-logistics-platform-valmo-now-handles-50-of-orders-more-than-double-from-last-year-12976586.html | access-date=1 May 2025}}

According to a report by The Hindu, Meesho's Gross Merchandise Value exceeds $6.2 billion, with a focus on fashion, beauty, and home categories. The platform boasts 120 million monthly active users, with 80% of its sellers identified as retail business owners and 95% of its offerings being unbranded.{{cite web | last=Bureau | first=BL Bengaluru | title=Meesho reaches GMV of $6.2 bn, eyes bigger slice of e-commerce pie with value-first playbook: Report | website=BusinessLine | date=25 April 2025 | url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/companies/meesho-reaches-gmv-of-62-bn-eyes-bigger-slice-of-ecommerce-pie-with-value-first-playbook-report/article69491464.ece | access-date=8 June 2025}}

In November 2024, Meesho introduced a generative AI-powered voice bot for customer support, managing approximately 60,000 calls daily in English and Hindi. According to media reports, the system resolves the majority of queries without human assistance, with only a small fraction of calls requiring manual intervention.{{cite web | last=Xavier | first=John | title=Meesho launches multilingual Gen AI-powered chatbot to handle shoppers’ queries | website=The Hindu | date=26 November 2024 | url=https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/technology/meesho-launches-multilingual-gen-ai-powered-chatbot-to-handle-shoppers-queries/article68913793.ece | access-date=1 May 2025 | archive-date=2 December 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241202120709/https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/technology/meesho-launches-multilingual-gen-ai-powered-chatbot-to-handle-shoppers-queries/article68913793.ece | url-status=live }}

According to media reports, in 2024, Meesho prevented over 22 million suspicious or potentially fraudulent transactions on its platform.{{cite web | title=Meesho acts against 2.2 crore suspicious transactions, lodges 12 cases in a year | website=Moneycontrol | date=18 November 2024 | url=https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/startup/meesho-acts-against-2-2-crore-suspicious-transactions-lodges-12-cases-in-a-year-12869562.html | access-date=8 June 2025}} The company initiated legal proceedings, resulting in the filing of twelve cases, including nine specifically targeting over forty individuals in the cities of Kolkata and Ranchi.{{cite web | title=Meesho acts against 2.2 crore suspicious transactions, lodges 12 cases in a year | website=CNBCTV18 | date=18 November 2024 | url=https://www.cnbctv18.com/technology/meesho-acts-against-suspicious-transactions-lodges-cases-in-a-year-19511086.htm | access-date=8 June 2025}} The company filed a suit in the Delhi High Court for a permanent injunction against parties operating deceptive websites misappropriating its brand identity.{{cite web | last=Standard | first=Business | title=Meesho acts against 22 mn suspicious transactions, files 12 cases in a yr | website=Business Standard | date=18 November 2024 | url=https://www.business-standard.com/companies/news/meesho-acts-against-22-mn-suspicious-transactions-files-12-cases-in-a-yr-124111800355_1.html | access-date=8 June 2025}}

Meesho is funded by multiple investment companies including Fidelity, Softbank,{{Cite news |date=2023-04-24 |title=Meesho’s growing scale, differentiated business model make profitability a reality in 2023: Jefferies |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/business/meeshos-growing-scale-differentiated-business-model-make-profitability-a-reality-in-2023-jefferies/article66774340.ece |access-date=2023-05-17 |issn=0971-751X}} Prosus, B Capital, Sequoia India{{cite web |last1=Shu |first1=Catherine |title="Social selling" startup Meesho lands $11.5M Series B led by Sequoia India |url=https://techcrunch.com/2018/06/06/social-selling-startup-meesho-lands-11-5m-series-b-led-by-sequoia-india/ |website=TechCrunch |access-date=26 August 2023 |date=7 June 2018 |archive-date=29 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190629083550/https://techcrunch.com/2018/06/06/social-selling-startup-meesho-lands-11-5m-series-b-led-by-sequoia-india/ |url-status=live }} and Meta. Meesho has held many funding rounds.

• Series A in October 2017: US$3.4 million{{cite web |last1=Shu |first1=Catherine |title=Social commerce startup Meesho gets $3.4M Series A to build a reseller network in India |url=https://techcrunch.com/2017/10/13/social-commerce-startup-meesho-gets-3-4m-series-a-to-build-a-reseller-network-in-india/ |website=TechCrunch |access-date=26 August 2023 |date=13 October 2017 |archive-date=15 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191215103827/https://techcrunch.com/2017/10/13/social-commerce-startup-meesho-gets-3-4m-series-a-to-build-a-reseller-network-in-india/ |url-status=live }}
• Series B in June 2018: US$11.5 million
• Series C in November 2018: US$50 million{{cite web |last1=Russell |first1=Jon |title=India's Meesho, which enables social commerce via WhatsApp, raises $50M |url=https://techcrunch.com/2018/11/05/meesho-raises-50-millon/ |website=TechCrunch |access-date=26 August 2023 |date=6 November 2018}}
• Series D in June 2019: US$25 million funded by Meta Platforms. Meesho became the first startup in India to receive investment funding from Facebook.{{Cite web |last=Singh |first=Manish |date=2019-06-13 |title=Facebook backs social commerce startup Meesho in first India investment |url=https://techcrunch.com/2019/06/13/facebook-meesho-first-indian-startup-investment/ |access-date=2023-05-17 |website=TechCrunch |language=en-US |archive-date=13 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200113072858/https://techcrunch.com/2019/06/13/facebook-meesho-first-indian-startup-investment/ |url-status=live }}
• Series F in September, 2021: Meesho, announced funding of US$570 million led by Fidelity Management & Research Company and B Capital Group.{{Citation needed|date=August 2023}}

In 2021, the company announced that it had raised approximately US$1.1 billion in funding thus far and currently has a cash buffer of US$400 million.{{Cite web |title=Meesho raises more than half a billion dollars in the fourth biggest funding round this year |url=https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/meesho-raises-more-than-half-a-billion-dollars-in-the-fourth-biggest-funding-round-this-year/amp_articleshow/86636161.cms |access-date=2023-05-17 |website=www.businessinsider.in |archive-date=17 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230517140441/https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/meesho-raises-more-than-half-a-billion-dollars-in-the-fourth-biggest-funding-round-this-year/amp_articleshow/86636161.cms |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2022-03-25 |title=Social e-com firm Meesho eyes $500-mn war chest; funds to be used for M&As |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/social-e-com-firm-meesho-eyes-500-mn-war-chest-funds-to-be-used-for-m-as-122032401554_1.html |access-date=2023-05-17 |website=www.business-standard.com |language=en-US |archive-date=17 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230517140436/https://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/social-e-com-firm-meesho-eyes-500-mn-war-chest-funds-to-be-used-for-m-as-122032401554_1.html |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Meesho eyes EBITDA breakeven this year |url=https://in.fashionnetwork.com/news/Meesho-eyes-ebitda-breakeven-this-year,1510136.html |access-date=2023-05-17 |website=FashionNetwork.com |language=en-IN |archive-date=17 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230517140526/https://in.fashionnetwork.com/news/Meesho-eyes-ebitda-breakeven-this-year,1510136.html |url-status=live }}

• List of Y combinator startups
• Zomato
• Nykaa

{{reflist}}

• {{URL|www.meesho.com|Official Website}}

Category:Application software

Category:E-commerce in India

Category:2015 establishments in India

Category:Companies based in Bengaluru