Startup Originals Team
Justdial, now a household name across India, started from humble beginnings in 1996 when founder V.S.S. Mani launched his local search service with just ₹50,000, a rented garage, and a small team. Over the years, it has grown into the leading local search platform, available via phone, web, and mobile, with millions of users and widespread reach. Today, it operates under the ownership of Reliance Retail, which acquired a majority stake in 2021.
Humble Beginnings: Turning Frustration into Innovation
Mani’s first venture into local listings began after working at United Database India, a Yellow Pages company. The experience sparked an idea: what if users could simply call for information instead of sifting through bulky directories?
Building on early failures like AskMe (1989) and even a wedding planner business, Mani founded Justdial in 1996. With seed capital of ₹50,000, five employees, borrowed furniture, and rented computers, he began operations in a small garage in Mumbai.
A Memorable Number with Instant Recall
Learning from past mistakes, like AskMe’s unmemorable phone number, Mani secured the catchy number 2888-8888 (also reflected later in the mobile number 88888-88888). This easy-to-recall contact proved instrumental in driving awareness and usage.
Scaling Through Persistence and Word of Mouth
Initially, the team built its database by visiting local businesses door-to-door. As awareness grew, word-of-mouth helped push organic adoption. Justdial introduced paid listings gradually, giving the model financial sustainability despite limited capital.
Going Online and Tapping the Digital Boom
In 2007, Justdial launched its website and mobile apps, extending beyond voice-based services to offer listings, food ordering, ticket booking, and more.
Business Model & Revenue Streams
Justdial’s model balances free and premium services: basic business listings are free, while revenue comes from businesses paying for prominence via subscriptions, classified ads, and analytics.
Backed by Investors and A Public Listing
Justdial raised nearly $85 million across multiple funding rounds with backing from Sequoia Capital and Sapphire Ventures from 2011 to 2016.
In 2013, the company went public, offering shares to investors while assuring retail participants of a buyback guarantee at the IPO price within six months if valuations dropped.
Reaching New Heights with Acquisition
In July 2021, Reliance Retail acquired a 66.95% stake in Justdial for ₹3,497 crore. As part of the deal, Mani continues to lead the company as MD & CEO.
Scale and Impact to Date
- Headquarters & Offices: Based in Mumbai, Justdial also operates across numerous Indian cities such as Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, and more.
- Workforce & Listings: As of 2020, it employed around 10,984 staff and managed over 29.4 million listings with more than 536,000 active paid campaigns.
Conclusion
Justdial’s journey, from a modest garage startup to the leading local search engine in India, highlights the power of vision, persistence, and innovation. By choosing a memorable branding strategy, building trust through consistent service, and smartly adapting to digital trends, founder V.S.S. Mani transformed a simple idea into a transformative platform. Even after its acquisition by Reliance, Justdial continues to thrive under its founder’s leadership, standing as a testament to India’s entrepreneurial grit.
