Startup Originals Team
What started as a simple idea between two college friends has today transformed how millions of Indians sell and shop online. Meesho, founded by two IIT Delhi graduates, has grown into India’s largest social commerce ecosystem, empowering small businesses, homemakers, and first-time entrepreneurs across the country. With a valuation of ₹84,700 crore, Meesho’s journey is a standout startup success story rooted in insight, adaptability, and scale.
The Beginning: From IIT Delhi to Bengaluru
Meesho was founded in 2015 by Vidit Aatrey and Sanjeev Barnwal, both alumni of IIT Delhi. Headquartered in Bengaluru, the company, short for Meri Shop, was built with a clear purpose: to help small businesses and individuals sell online without any upfront investment. The founders believed that access to digital commerce should not be limited by capital or technical know-how.
The Smart Pivot That Changed Everything
Meesho’s journey did not begin with instant success. The founders initially launched Fashnear, a platform aimed at local fashion retailers. However, the model faced scalability challenges. While observing small shopkeepers, the founders noticed something crucial, many were already selling products informally through WhatsApp.
This insight led to a bold pivot. Instead of fighting behaviour, Meesho embraced it, building a social commerce model powered by WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram. That single decision reshaped the company’s future.
How Meesho Works
Meesho connects manufacturers and suppliers directly with independent resellers. These resellers pick products from the app and share them within their social networks. Once an order is placed, Meesho takes care of logistics, payments, delivery, and even cash-on-delivery.
The result is a zero-risk online business model where anyone can start selling without inventory, capital, or technical skills.
Mission, Vision, and Business Model
Meesho’s mission is to democratise internet commerce, while its long-term vision is to enable 100 million small businesses to go online. The platform initially operated with zero commissions to drive adoption. Over time, it built sustainable revenue streams through seller commissions, logistics services, and advertising solutions—while keeping selling affordable and simple.
Scale, Funding, and IPO Milestone
Over the years, Meesho scaled rapidly, onboarding millions of sellers and resellers and serving customers across thousands of pincodes. The platform offers millions of products across fashion, home, and daily essentials.
Meesho raised over $1.4 billion from global investors, achieving unicorn status. In December 2025, it went public, raising $604 million through its IPO and reaching a market valuation of ₹84,700 crore.
Impact and Where Meesho Stands Today
As of 2025, Meesho has around 190 million users and has empowered millions of women, homemakers, and first-time entrepreneurs to become business owners. More than just an app, Meesho has built India’s largest social commerce ecosystem, proving that big ideas, when paired with simple execution, can create massive impact.
Conclusion
From an IIT Delhi friendship to a Bengaluru-based tech giant, Meesho’s story is one of insight-driven pivots, inclusive growth, and relentless scale. It didn’t just build a company, it reshaped how India does commerce.
