Ravi Tilekar
In 2007, two IIT Delhi graduates named Sachin Bansal and Binny Bansal quit their jobs at Amazon with a dream to revolutionise how Indians shop. Armed with nothing but ambition, a second-hand desk, and the belief that e-commerce could work in India, they started Flipkart from a small apartment in Bengaluru.
What followed was a journey that would change the Indian startup ecosystem forever.
The Early Struggles of Flipkart
The beginning wasn’t glamorous. Rejected by Google, the Bansals decided to chart their own path. They began by selling books online, personally packing orders, delivering them on scooters, and even answering customer service calls themselves. Flipkart didn’t have venture capital funding, a big office, or a team. What they had was relentless hustle and a mission.But India in 2007 wasn’t ready for online shopping. Trust issues, poor internet penetration, unreliable payment gateways, and courier partners who refused to work with them posed serious challenges. Yet, instead of giving up, the duo innovated.
The Game-Changer: Cash on Delivery
The turning point came with a simple yet powerful idea: cash on delivery. This single feature bridged the trust gap that digital payments couldn’t at the time. For millions of Indians wary of online transactions, the option to pay after receiving the product built trust instantly. Flipkart’s Cash on Delivery model became a game-changer for Indian e-commerce and set a precedent for other online businesses.When logistics partners failed them, Flipkart went one step ahead and created its own delivery network called Ekart. This vertical integration helped them ensure smoother last-mile delivery and a better customer experience.
A Historic Exit
Over the next decade, Flipkart grew into India’s biggest online retailer, competing head-to-head with global giant Amazon. Their vision, strategy, and bold decisions attracted massive investor interest. Then, in 2018, their startup journey culminated in a historic moment—Walmart acquired Flipkart for $16 billion, marking the biggest Indian startup exit to date.Lessons from Flipkart’s JourneyFlipkart’s story is not just about building a company; it’s about believing in a dream when no one else does. It’s about persistence, innovation, and solving real problems.
Their rise proves that great ideas don’t need big money—just execution, customer focus, and the courage to keep going despite obstacles.Sachin and Binny Bansal showed every middle-class Indian that entrepreneurship isn’t out of reach. As Sachin once said, “If we can do it, so can you.”
What Can We Learn from Flipkart?
Build trust first, technology second.Don’t wait for the perfect resources—start anyway.Innovate around real pain points.Persistence beats privilege.Flipkart is now a case study in startup inspiration across the globe.
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings