<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/58128123.cms" style="width: 800px; height: 600px;" /> 
 <keyword id="6354742" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Flipkart">Flipkart</keyword> announced its largest fundraising round today and with $4.6 billion already in the kitty from investors like Tiger Global, Naspers Group, Accel Partners and <keyword id="794823" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="DST-Global">DST Global</keyword> among others. 
 
The e-tailer mentioned that this capital was raised at a post-transaction valuation of $11.6 billion, a drop from $15.2 billion valuations in May 2015 when it had last raised funds. 
 
<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/exclusive-ace-angel-investor-sanjay-mehtas-true-life-experiences-that-makes-his-investments-in-startups-fool-proof/articleshow/58061818.cms">ALSO READ: Exclusive: Ace Angel Investor Sanjay Mehta’s true-life experiences that make his investments in startups fool-proof</a> 
​ This funding round signals a victory for new Flipkart chief <keyword id="6379357" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Kalyan-Krishnamurthy">Kalyan Krishnamurthy</keyword>, who has tried to turn around its fortunes since rejoining in June 2016. Now there is an Increased pressure on the CEO to deliver the much-awaited Flipkart initial public offering (IPO) in the coming future. 
 <keyword id="6357395" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="eBay">eBay</keyword>, which is also a minority investor in <keyword id="541988" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="SnapDeal">Snapdeal</keyword>, is investing $500 million in Flipkart in this deal, with the acquisition of <keyword id="161767" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="eBay-India">eBay India</keyword> by the behemoth. The value of the Indian unit isn't known but the viability of buying a C2C platform for the biggest B2C business in India points to experimentation on its platform which might not be wise with <keyword id="18635" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Amazon">Amazon</keyword> racing ahead in India. 
 eBay India will continue to operate separately as a unit of Flipkart much like retailers Myntra and <keyword id="6388367" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Jabong">Jabong</keyword> and the mobile payments app PhonePe. 
 
Flipkart and Amazon now serious contenders in India’s $15 billion online retail market which might even see the sale of Delhi-based Snapdeal to its biggest competitors if reports are to be believed. 
 
<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/exclusive-an-angel-investor-whose-midas-touch-with-crypto-currency-is-redefining-the-future-of-start-up-investments/articleshow/58062121.cms">ALSO READ: Exclusive: An Angel investor whose Midas touch with Crypto-currency is redefining the future of start-up investments</a> 
 According to investors, this resurgence by Flipkart means that the battle of sales will be more closely fought but it doesn't necessarily mean that acquiring more companies will add to <keyword id="6442005" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bansal">Bansal</keyword>'s kitty as they are far from profit. 
 " This deal reaffirms our resolve to hasten the transformation of commerce in India through technology,” Flipkart founders <keyword id="225032" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sachin-Bansal">Sachin Bansal</keyword> and <keyword id="6364080" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Binny-Bansal">Binny Bansal</keyword> said in a statement. 
 
This hastening process still needs to be well-considered by the Bansals who are overlooking the entire ecosystem created by Flipkart. 
 <keyword id="212412" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Tencent">Tencent</keyword> which is a Chinese gaming company has previously invested in startups like Hike and <keyword id="1165142" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Practo">Practo</keyword> — is coming on board as a strategic investor. 
 
<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/read-what-rohit-bansal-and-kunal-bahl-mailed-snapdeal-employees-amidst-flipkart-acquisition-speculations/articleshow/58108189.cms">ALSO READ: Read what Rohit Bansal and Kunal Bahl mailed Snapdeal employees amidst Flipkart acquisition speculations</a> 
​ 
“This strategic partnership enables Tencent to participate in the exciting opportunities in e-commerce and payments in India. We look forward to helping Flipkart to deliver compelling experiences to users throughout India, and to contribute to the development of the internet ecosystem there,” said Martin Lau, Tencent President. 
 Tencent rival <keyword id="302749" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Alibaba">Alibaba</keyword> with affiliate <keyword id="2702533" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ant-Financial">Ant Financial</keyword> owns a huge stake in Paytm's e-commerce marketplace Paytm Mall and is debuting in India this year. 
 
eBay said in a statement that Flipkart will acquire eBay’s buyers in India and they will remove the number of active buyers in India when the acquisition is completed. eBay had disclosed a total 167 million global active buyers in the fourth quarter of 2016. 
 This fund raise will spell out the fate of Indian e-commerce market even though with this fund-raise Flipkart has become less of an Indian company. Registered in <keyword id="6356662" type="COUNTRY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Singapore">Singapore</keyword> and now boasting an array of foreign investors, the company is less 'Indian' than <keyword id="6354743" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Amazon-India">Amazon India</keyword> which is an Indian registered company.

Flipkart raises its biggest round at a lesser valuation and acquires eBay but is it enough to steer off Amazon?

<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/57287418.cms" /> 
 <keyword id="6354742" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Flipkart">Flipkart</keyword>, the poster child of the Indian startup ecosystem, was devalued for the seventh time in January 2017, by <keyword id="4205639" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="fidelity-partners">Fidelity Partners</keyword>. At a $5.56 billion valuation, Flipkart’s shares were valued at $52.13 in November 2016, down by 36.1 percent from $81.55 per share as of August 2016. The domino effect hit the cab aggregator <keyword id="6354720" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ola">Ola</keyword> next with the US-based investment firm <keyword id="4205636" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="vanguard-world-fund">Vanguard World Fund</keyword> marking down Ola by over 40 percent. 
 According to their regulatory filing with the <keyword id="108474" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="US-Securities-and-Exchange-Commission">US Securities and Exchange Commission</keyword>, the current valuation for Ola is now $3 billion, with its shares dropping from $311.27 per share in the previous quarter to $182.70 apiece. During their peak, Ola had raised $500 million at a valuation of $5 billion. 
 That’s not all. According to reports, e-commerce giant <keyword id="541988" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="SnapDeal">Snapdeal</keyword> is reportedly looking at raising funds at a lower valuation of $4 billion. At their last fundraising round, they raised $200 million at a valuation of $6.5 billion. 
 
Valuations are normally decided according to a company’s market share, its gross margins, and its rate of growth, among other factors, but is anyone talking about the elephant in the room? Does a number decide a company’s worth or does the mettle lie someplace else? 
 
What’s The Big Deal about Valuations? 
 
While Valuations and devaluations are part of the game, they are a mix of market environment, risk appetite, a fund manager’s biases, hot new trends, fear of missing out, the multiples comparable are commanding, and of course, expected cash flows and margins. 
In 2015, we lauded the entry of Flipkart, Ola and Snapdeal in the Unicorn club. The first quarter of 2015 saw over $1.7 billion funding in start-ups and all we hear now are downturns with reality hitting the magic creatures to the ground and forcing them to compete in a horse race for fund-raising. 
 
<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/heres-how-uber-is-letting-you-earn-from-its-platform-uberdost/articleshow/57083396.cms">ALSO READ: Here's how Uber is letting you earn from its platform 'UberDost'</a> 
 
While there were muffled concerns of profitability and unit economics, the dynamics took a harder turn when in the middle of 2016 the world economic dynamics shifted. 
 
Suddenly, the pouring funding started slowing down, news of firing rounds, internal tiffs, and investor involvement began to cloud the startup skyline. 
 
Now the lauded valuations started to seem bloated and overhyped, and the cost-cutting started and it doesn’t seem to end. 
 
<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/57287426.cms" /> 
 
 
The secret is in the Business Model 
 <keyword id="824043" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Business-Insider">Business Insider</keyword>, while digging deeper into factors ailing the startup ecosystem in India, realized that business models had to be one of the core ingredients to a startup’s success or failure. So, we got in touch with key players, notable investors and successful companies that had a say in the functions of the industry. 
 
What clearly emerged was that there were mainly three business models that most start-ups and unicorns, followed in India- 
 
1) Cut prices to gain industry share and chase profit later 
2) Set up person-to-person exchanges 
3) On-Demand Model 
 
Now we break down the models to see why Indian start-ups think they’d work and why they haven’t succeeded yet. 
 
Investors’ Point of View 
 <keyword id="262067" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Mahesh-Murthy">Mahesh Murthy</keyword>, Co-Partner, Seedfund, one of India’s most vocal investors told us what’s wrong with the Indian startup ecosystem,”The problem is that we are idolizing businesses that are not ‘New’. There is nothing elusive or different about the companies we look up to, they are just copycats.’’ 
 Seedfund, which is an early stage VC firm has invested in companies like Redbus.in, Chumbak, Carwale, and Voonik. “Real businesses need little or no marketing. The cost of acquiring a customer shouldn’t be higher than your investment in your product which is what is happening right now’’<keyword id="20148" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="murthy">Murthy</keyword> comments on the viability of the business models of India’s best-known <keyword id="6362513" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Startups">startups</keyword>. 
 “Innovation for the sake of innovation is useless. Most consumers prefer the companies that are competitors to Flipkart, Snapdeal, and Ola and that speaks volumes. We are just looking for great service coupled with great value for money and <keyword id="18635" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Amazon">Amazon</keyword> and Uber give us that while the other companies don’t hit the mark while getting celebrity endorsements with full-page ads.’’ 
 “Rule Number 1 of business: Never lose money. Rule Number 2: Don’t forget Rule Number 1,” said <keyword id="71133" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Warren-Buffet">Warren Buffet</keyword>, probably the most popular investor in the world. 
 <keyword id="542474" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Reid-Hoffman">Reid Hoffman</keyword> from <keyword id="28120" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Linkedin">LinkedIn</keyword> and now a VC says that as a VC, you should be able to put your money into a startup and walk away from your investment and at the most, you are best placed to understand a sector if you have built a business in it or at the very least, worked in it. For Indian start-ups, we see the opposite happening with Flipkart who recently appointed <keyword id="6379357" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Kalyan-Krishnamurthy">Kalyan Krishnamurthy</keyword> as CEO, who is an ex-employee at Flipkart’s key investor, Tiger Global. 
 
What is a business model? 
 
A business model explains which consumer pain a startup chooses to relieve, why your solution works better than competing ones and how big a wedge a company can drive between what customers are willing to pay and the costs. 
 
Breaking down the Business Models 
 
There are broadly the following business models at play when it comes to start-ups that hold the public eye in India: 
 
1. Cut prices to gain an industry share and chase profit later: Target a huge market and sell a product at the lowest price with fast delivery and great service. As the company grows, expand the product line, negotiate volume discounts with suppliers, invest in technology, customer response time and cut waste from the operations. Then deliver the lower costs to customers in the form of lower prices. 
 
This was Amazon’s model which is still one of the fastest growing companies in India and the world. Although it was founded back in 1994, Amazon didn’t actually make a profit until 2001. Amazon has some profitable projects, but the money made from them is typically used as investments to fund other Amazon businesses and ventures. The company invests its profits in new lines of businesses and uses them to expand. In short, Amazon seems to value growth over profits. 
 
 
<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/57287471.cms" /> 
​ <keyword id="8589" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="padmaja">Padmaja</keyword> <keyword id="980938" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ruparel">Ruparel</keyword>, President, Indian Angel Network doesn’t believe in this model simply because she thinks that Indian consumers are flighty, “There is a constant need to lure the consumer to stick with you which is tricky when you’re not the only player in the market. Your focus here is on how quickly you can grow the market and not on your business strategy.’’ Ruparel believes in investing in a much more stable business model, “We are old-fashioned for sure as our focus is on businesses building a top-line and a bottom-line. We ascertain a business by unit economics and even though the cycle might be slightly longer, B2B start-ups create a sustainable business.” 
 
“The consumer is surely attuned to buying online which was their aim, but only some players will remain in this market. Consolidation is inevitable as loss-making businesses can’t stay afloat for long, but only time will tell who will remain the top dogs here,’’says Padmaja when asked about the future for consumer-centric start-ups. 
 
India’s perspective: “E-commerce companies like Snapdeal and Flipkart are following a similar model to that of Amazon in India. The difference is that Amazon can afford to lose money in India as it is profitable in other markets. The former players are just playing in India where they’re losing money trying to compete with Amazon,” comments Mahesh Murthy. 
 
2. Set up person-to-person exchanges: A house owner in a town has a huge house that has idle rooms that aren’t occupied. The young professionals living in the city need accommodation in different towns to work flexibly but they don’t want to own a house or live in expensive hotels. It seems to be working for <keyword id="719382" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Airbnb">Airbnb</keyword> which doesn’t own any inventory and millions of people have taken advantage of these services, and Airbnb now has a market value estimated at $30 billion—roughly the same size as the <keyword id="183920" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Marriott-International">Marriott International</keyword> hotel chain. 
 
Vikram Gupta, CEO, IvyCap Ventures, “India is not a mature market where you can write off $100 million checks to companies that are spearheaded by college graduates or in some cases, dropouts. The entire ecosystem is disturbed as new companies were getting funding at overhyped valuations. The market has started to finally stabilize and we see investors going back to the revenue as a yardstick for company’s growth instead of the GMV. The businesses are coming back to realistic valuations and while they might have money left in the bank, they are looking to reduce their cash burn rate.” 
 
<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/57287472.cms" /> 
 
India’s perspective: Companies like <keyword id="2808667" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="OYO">OYO</keyword> are trying to work with small hotels and guesthouses and have even leased their own properties but the burn-rate is consistent. With simplifying its business model and focusing on one aspect; people sharing their homes with people and minimal revamping, Airbnb has revolutionized how the world sees hotel accommodation forever. 
 
3. On-Demand Model: Smartphones have driven transformational shifts in how we consume goods and services, and many consumers have become acclimated to purchasing at the press of a button. The on-demand model allows a startup to leverage new technology while utilizing existing infrastructures. Another benefit lies in the use of freelance labor with its obvious advantages in cost cutting. 
 
Uber is a great example of the sharing economy where they connect the supply to the demand of taxis without investing in their own fleet. 
 
India’s perspective: <keyword id="6362049" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ola-Cabs">Ola Cabs</keyword> is Uber’s biggest competitor in India and while both companies burn a lot of money trying to lure customers to get into a taxi, Uber is currently the world’s most valuable startup at $69 billion. 
 
<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/online-cab-players-in-2016-completed-nearly-half-a-billion-rides-with-250-y-o-y-growth-in-india/articleshow/57273938.cms">ALSO READ: Online cab players in 2016 completed nearly half a billion rides with 250% y-o-y growth in India</a> 
 
Winner Speak 
 V. Krishnan, Co-founder, and Director of <keyword id="1675768" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Justdial-Ltd">JustDial Ltd</keyword> who likes to call his company an ‘18-year old startup’ says that for a successful business you don’t need an extraordinary idea, “The problem with start-ups today is that they don’t focus on profitability. To create a profitable business, you need extraordinary execution, not an idea. Giving money to people to use your services doesn’t make sense. The Indian customers are not loyal to brands, but to offers. Our goal was to create a world-class business and a world-class company.’’ 
 
For the first ten years of JustDial’s existence, the company didn’t raise any funding. The company ran on a shoe-string budget and used its own money to survive. In 2006, when internet penetration and broadband gained traction in India, the company was ready with its fully functional website to complement its telecom services. From 2-3% internet users to now 85% internet users, the company has grown to 200 Cr web searches annually, without any cashback or incentives. The company is probably one of the rarely profitable internet companies in the country today. 
 
<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/65-of-start-ups-feel-indian-startup-eco-system-may-be-in-a-tech-bubble-report/articleshow/57205211.cms">ALSO READ: 65% of start-ups feel Indian startup eco-system may be in a tech bubble: Report</a> 
 
“The core business of start-ups isn’t ready but there is marketing happening. India is going to be giving you a lot of opportunities. Everyone wants to create a company, raise a great valuation and sell it off to do something bigger; the attitude is wrong," he signs off. 
​ 
Business Insider got in touch with Flipkart, Ola, Snapdeal, and Uber for this story but the companies chose to not comment on the same. 
 
​<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/57287468.cms" /> 
 
Business Insider’s Take 
 
While popular Indian start-ups struggle to survive without additional funding coming in, we see some internet companies like JustDial and BookMyShow staying afloat, without investor-intervention. 
 
When it comes to businesses and business models, investors and successful companies agree that the tried and tested works; build a business with a strong product that you can alter as technology develops. The business of losing money can only take you so far if you don’t put it to good use. 
 
There’s a difference between investment into a product and burning money, and the start-ups better realize that before they get acquired or relinquished by the players who created the game that they’re set to lose. 
 
The market is big enough for companies that create value for customers not just for start-ups that create customers; the difference is everything. 
 
(Graphics: All figures in INR crores for the financial year 2015- 2016. Source: <a href="http://www.livemint.com/Companies/vtqiTC9VgJgnUfOAH2QdiL/Flipkart-still-Indias-top-startup.html">Mint Research</a>) 
 
**For Oyo, the result is from Apr-Dec 2015. 
*BookMyShow is the only company mentioned that has profits.

BI Investigation: Business models akin to Amazon and
Uber’s aren’t working for Indian startups

<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/54894764.cms" /> As <keyword id="3755041" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Amazon-Export-Sales-LLC">Amazon Export Sales LLC</keyword> debuted as a seller on its Indian website, several categories like fashion, lifestyle and electronics among others were featured with its recently launched <keyword id="3745359" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Global-Store">Global Store</keyword>. 
 
The company denied any wrongdoing or violation with regard to the FDI norms claiming the unit was registered overseas and all the transactions would be concluded outside the country. 
 However, online sellers and brick and mortar retailers expressed apprehensions regarding the move. In itsdefense, <keyword id="18635" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Amazon">Amazon</keyword>.in said that it was in compliance with the laws. 
 “Amazon.in enables sellers (domestic and international) to list their products for Indian customers. <keyword id="3755341" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="amazon-exports-sales-llc">Amazon Exports Sales LLC</keyword> is also a listed seller on Amazon. in... Amazon Exports Sales LLC is an exporter of products and therefore the mention of custom duties in their listings. Amazon has a high bar for compliance with laws of the land and Amazon.in is in compliance with all applicable laws,” an <keyword id="6354743" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Amazon-India">Amazon India</keyword> spokesperson told ET. 
 
The rules say that any e-commerce company with overseas investment shall function as a technology marketplace that connect buyers and sellers. They can’t sell anything directly themselves. They also need to maintain a level playing field for all sellers and cannot influence pricing directly or indirectly. 
 
The All India Online Vendors’ Association, which is formed by a group of 1,000 sellers, said that whenever a seller is owned by the marketplace or is a group company, pricing is likely to be affected. 
 
“Is the seller owned by Amazon paying charges such as commission, advertising and promotional charges at the same rate as others?” asked an AIOVA spokesperson. 
 
“We have different types of sellers on our marketplace... Each group of sellers is treated with parity,” an Amazon spokesperson told ET, thereby dismissing all allegations levelled against it by AIOVA. 
(image:Indiatimes)

Amazon India lists US arm Amazon Export Sales as seller on its platform

<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/54852414.cms" style="width: 800px; height: 600px;" /> 
 With <keyword id="18635" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Amazon">Amazon</keyword>’s global store launched in India recently, Indian online buyers will now be spoilt for choices. 
 They will have direct access to international brands and a starting selection of over four million global products across 12 categories. The good news for those who had to travel all the way to the US to satiate their shopping cravings will have a host of <keyword id="2930296" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Amazon-US">Amazon US</keyword> products at their disposal. Soon, more categories and countries from where products would be available will be added to the portal. 
 <keyword id="6359672" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="customers">Customers</keyword> will see the price of a product in INR, basically the final price of the item after adding import duties and taxes. 
 
Amazon is also providing quick delivery options like ‘Priority Shipping’, which is transit in 2 to 4 days, ‘Expedited Shipping’ in 5 to 10 days and ‘Standard Shipping’ that takes 9 to 12 days. 
Customers can only order items via credit or debit cards and net banking, but not avail cash on delivery. 
 
With the launch, the company has assured that they will manage the customs process and refund value if the actual import fees is less than the import deposit charged. It also buyers to verify themselves with an ID proof on the delivery of items. If the delivery is not honored, they will provide a refund, but not replacements. 
 
Let’s look at what’s in stock for the customers in the store section:

Welcome Amazon Global in India - Here
are some products that you will only find here

<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/56522318.cms" /> 
 According to a survey conducted by <keyword id="48670" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Morgan-Stanley">Morgan Stanley</keyword>, 60% of consumers said that they would buy more clothing on <keyword id="18635" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Amazon">Amazon</keyword> if it sold a wider selection of well-known, fashionable clothing brands. In December last year, “Buttoned Down,” a private label premium shirt brand which is available exclusively to Amazon Prime members was introduced. Reports suggested that the company is also planning to develop its own workout apparel line and is maybe buying apparel company <keyword id="587775" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="American-Apparel">American Apparel</keyword>. 
 
Amazon is already the largest seller of clothes online in the U.S. and is likely to achieve a market share of nearly 20% in the U.S. apparel market by 2020. 
 
<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/freecharge-integrates-with-indus-os-to-increase-30-user-base-in-the-next-6-months/articleshow/56499858.cms">ALSO READ: Freecharge integrates with Indus OS to increase 30% user base in the next 6 months</a> 
 
If the world’s largest e-tailer is focusing on fashion to earn revenues, it must be the way forward for the e-commerce industry. 
 
Wider Selection, Fast Fashion, Private Labels Can Boost Profitability 
 For Flipkart, India’s biggest e-tailer Fashion includes <keyword id="319719" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Myntra">Myntra</keyword> and <keyword id="6388367" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Jabong">Jabong</keyword>, which accounted for nearly a third of gross sales for the e-commerce firm in the September quarter. 
Flipkart has also been increasing its focus on private labels, which offer higher margins because e-tailers make gross margins of 35% to 45% on regular brands and it can go up to 60% to 65% for private brands. 
Private labels accounted for 20% of the Myntra’s gross sales in 2015. 
 
<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/meet-n-chandrasekaran-tata-sons-new-chairman-and-ex-tcs-boss/articleshow/56500855.cms">ALSO SEE: Meet N. Chandrasekaran, Tata Sons new </a><a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/meet-n-chandrasekaran-tata-sons-new-chairman-and-ex-tcs-boss/articleshow/56500855.cms">chairman</a><a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/meet-n-chandrasekaran-tata-sons-new-chairman-and-ex-tcs-boss/articleshow/56500855.cms">, and Ex-TCS boss</a> 
 Myntra also bought out a major part of fitness and sportswear brand HRX, launched by actor <keyword id="6354563" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Hrithik-Roshan">Hrithik Roshan</keyword>, to boost its private labels. Myntra owns 11 private labels, including Roadster, All About You, HRX, <keyword id="4061927" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="worng">Worng</keyword>, <keyword id="2544885" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Anouk">Anouk</keyword> and Ether. All About You is a tie-up with actor <keyword id="598" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Deepika-Padukone">Deepika Padukone</keyword> and Worng with cricketer <keyword id="6354486" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Virat-Kohli">Virat Kohli</keyword>. 
 
An online platform has an advantage over physical retailers to bring newer designs more quickly to consumers through a supplier network, without inventories piling up. 
 
<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/the-most-popular-parts-of-delhi-mumbai-and-bengaluru-where-people-invested-in-real-estate-in-2016/articleshow/56503428.cms">ALSO READ: The most popular parts of Delhi, </a><a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/the-most-popular-parts-of-delhi-mumbai-and-bengaluru-where-people-invested-in-real-estate-in-2016/articleshow/56503428.cms">Mumbai</a><a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/the-most-popular-parts-of-delhi-mumbai-and-bengaluru-where-people-invested-in-real-estate-in-2016/articleshow/56503428.cms">, and Bengaluru where people invested in real estate in 2016</a> 
 
That means that maybe cost-cutting for e-commerce companies can start with some cloth-cutting.

Why e-commerce companies focus on fashion to become profitable

<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/58132502.cms" style="width: 800px; height: 600px;" /> 
 You can only imagine how a work day for <keyword id="45395" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Google-India">Google India</keyword> head looks like but we can tell you that, he’s now making the most of his commute thanks to better connectivity, more than ever. 
 <keyword id="824043" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Business-Insider">Business Insider</keyword> caught up with <keyword id="249393" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Rajan-Anandan">Rajan Anandan</keyword>, VP, <keyword id="4405979" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="google-se-asia-india">Google SE Asia &amp; India</keyword> to understand how the internet landscape has changed in the past few months. 
 “India is the biggest market for us and it has a very diverse user base. We are always going to have a clear distinction between India and the US for the next several years,” says <keyword id="198577" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Anandan">Anandan</keyword> on where India stands for <keyword id="6355629" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Google">Google</keyword>. 
 
India currently has around 400 million internet users, 300 million of them are coming online through their smartphone which makes it the second largest internet market in the world after China. 
 
<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/flipkart-raises-its-biggest-round-at-a-lesser-valuation-and-acquires-ebay-but-is-it-enough-to-steer-off-amazon/articleshow/58128005.cms">ALSO READ: Flipkart raises its biggest round at a lesser valuation and acquires eBay but is it enough to steer off Amazon?</a> 
 In the past few months, a lot of things have changed in the internet landscape with low-cost carrier <keyword id="2003276" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Jio">Jio</keyword> coming in. The Google chief thinks that this has changed things tremendously for the entire telecom sector, “There is now an enormous user base that’s spending its time online, with network providers also upgrading their services and not just giving more for less. Our mission in India is to make information accessible to everyone and that means reaching out to the massive 1.3 Billion population in the country. The Internet for everyone is the goal,” said Anandan. 
 
The first challenge for Google is Access and they’ve tackled that with providing high-speed public Wi-Fi at railway stations and after covering 110 stations, we now have 5 million Indians accessing it every day. With 500, 000 Indians accessing the internet with Google India for the first time, the company plans to extend it to 400 stations by the year 2018. 
 
<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/exclusive-ace-angel-investor-sanjay-mehtas-true-life-experiences-that-makes-his-investments-in-startups-fool-proof/articleshow/58061818.cms">ALSO READ: Exclusive: Ace Angel Investor Sanjay Mehta’s true-life experiences that make his investments in startups fool-proof</a> 
 With revolutionary projects like Smart Cities, Google is partnering with the government at <keyword id="3025354" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Pune-Smart-City">Pune Smart City</keyword> to provide high-speed Wi-Fi. 
The other concerns are connectivity and affordability and while currently, there at 125 million 4G subscribers and 150 million 3G subscribers, there are still issues like patchy connectivity. 
 Google is trying to get a lot of its services like <keyword id="10879" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="YouTube">YouTube</keyword>, Maps and even Chrome offline to make the internet more accessible to most Indians. There’s Search Lite which detects how slow is your network and works accordingly. 
 
<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/read-what-rohit-bansal-and-kunal-bahl-mailed-snapdeal-employees-amidst-flipkart-acquisition-speculations/articleshow/58108189.cms">ALSO READ: Read what Rohit Bansal and Kunal Bahl mailed Snapdeal employees amidst Flipkart acquisition speculations</a> 
​ “Google is building new products like recently released YouTube Go which are specifically designed for Indians. With only 15 million women villagers online, we are working to bridge the gap with Google Sathi where women teach other how to use the internet for the betterment of their lives,” <keyword id="6355561" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Rajan">Rajan</keyword> says proudly proclaiming that there are 80,000 Google Saathis across 60,000 villages that they’re working in. 
 The next milestone for this technology behemoth is reaching half of India's villages with <keyword id="4408602" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="google-saathi">Google Saathi</keyword> and making the internet accessible to the people who need it the most, not just for information but for opportunities to a better connected life.

Exclusive: Here’s what Google VP Rajan Anandan said about Jio’s Impact on the Telecom Sector

<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/57428918.cms" style="height: 600px; width: 800px;" /> 
 
The expansive Indian Railways network is the pride of the nation. With rapid urbanization and population growth comes great responsibilities and while the infrastructure is being ramped up, the demand and supply scale is clearly tilted on the demand side. 
 <keyword id="824043" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Business-Insider">Business Insider</keyword> caught up with <keyword id="265951" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Shervin-Pishevar">Shervin Pishevar</keyword>, Chairman of <keyword id="3356943" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="hyperloop-one">Hyperloop One</keyword> at an event in New Delhi where the company revealed its ‘Vision for India’. 
 <keyword id="4241869" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="pishevar">Pishevar</keyword> is a well-known investor from <keyword id="6357722" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="silicon-valley">Silicon Valley</keyword> who’s portfolio includes companies like <keyword id="719382" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Airbnb">Airbnb</keyword> and Uber. 
 
He believes that this technology can allow you to work and live anywhere in India, easily. 
 
<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/bi-investigation-business-models-akin-to-amazon-and-ubers-arent-working-for-indian-startups/articleshow/57287190.cms">ALSO READ: Hyperloop One launches 'Vision for India' where travel time from Bengaluru to Chennai could become 20 mins if executed</a> 
 
What is <keyword id="6396317" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Hyperloop">Hyperloop</keyword>? 
 
Hyperloop is a new mode of transportation that moves freight and people quickly, safely, on-demand and direct from origin to destination. Based on an idea by Tesla's Elon Musk, the technology was open-sourced in 2013. 
 
Hyperloop One is a company spearheading this idea and was founded in June 2014. It currently has 240 employees. 
 
Hyperloop has 4 key differences compared high-speed trains: 
o It’s faster, as in two to three times faster than the fastest high-speed rail. 
o It’s on-demand. Hyperloop leaves when you’re ready to go, with departures as frequent as every 20 seconds 
o It’s environmentally friendly, with a smaller civil engineering footprint, more efficient energy consumption and no direct emissions or noise which makes it less intrusive 
 
How does it work? 
 
• Passengers and cargo are loaded into the Hyperloop pod and accelerate gradually via electric propulsion through a low-pressure tube. The pod quickly lifts above the track using magnetic levitation and glides at airline speeds for long distances due to ultra-low aerodynamic drag. 
• Hyperloop One is fully autonomous and enclosed, eliminating pilot error and weather hazards. It’s safe and clean, with no direct carbon emissions. 
• Hyperloop One is additive to all existing forms of transportation and will integrate seamlessly into the existing transport ecosystem. 
How soon will it become reality? • Construction is well underway on a full-scale Development Loop (<keyword id="4241866" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="develoop">Develoop</keyword>) in the <keyword id="6369096" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nevada">Nevada</keyword> desert, combining all the sub-systems: pod, tube, vacuum, levitation, propulsion, and braking. 
• Hyperloop One plans to hold its public tests in 2017. The goal is to have three systems in service by 2021. 
• Capital cost per mile of Hyperloop system is 60% that of high-speed rail and it would be less expensive to operate. 
• Ticket prices will depend greatly on the route but the goal is to make it affordable for everyone. 
 Pishevar said that India is a superpower when it comes to brainpower, “Some of most brilliant minds are in India. While many of them went to <keyword id="20819" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="20" keywordseo="America">America</keyword> after the IT revolution, most of them are returning back to India because of the potential that the country holds. There’s an incredible amount of human talent here which we want to leverage.” 
 
He says that strategically it makes sense for them to come to India as this transformative technology can really change lives of the population. The company hopes to get one of the routes live by 2020 which due to the sheer investment and permissions needed for the project, will be outside of the US. 
 Pishevar who is a popular angel investor and co-founder of <keyword id="4103432" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sherpa-Capital">Sherpa Capital</keyword> did not rule out future investments in Indian start-ups. 
 ALSO READ: BI Investigation: Business models akin to <keyword id="18635" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Amazon">Amazon</keyword> and Uber’s aren’t working for Indian <keyword id="6362513" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Startups">startups</keyword> 
 
Hyperloop One Global Challenge 
 
Hyperloop One conducted one global challenge to invite people to send in ideas about which routes would be suitable for their region, globally. 
They got thousands of submissions and they got the maximum from India at 125 submissions. There were five team finalists from India and they’re representing different routes such as: 
 • <keyword id="297582" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Aecom">AECOM</keyword> - <keyword id="4241870" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="bengaluru-to-chennai">Bengaluru-to-Chennai</keyword>: 334 km in 20 minutes. Meeting the demand of a passenger and freight super-corridor growing at 15% a year. 
 • <keyword id="4241867" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="lux-hyperloop-network">LUX Hyperloop Network</keyword> - Bengaluru-to-Thiruvananthapuram: 736 km in 41 minutes. Connects two major ports in southern India with population centers of Coimbatore and Kochi. 
 • <keyword id="4241865" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="dinclix-groundworks-delhi-to-mumbai">Dinclix GroundWorks - Delhi-to-Mumbai</keyword> via Jaipur and Indore: 1,317 km in 55 minutes. Freight and passengers. Connects two megacities and creates seaport access for landlocked intermediary cities in the interior. 
 • <keyword id="4232683" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="hyperloop-india">Hyperloop India</keyword> - Mumbai-to-Chennai via <keyword id="6354321" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bengaluru">Bengaluru</keyword>: 1,102 km. 50 minutes. Phased development for freight and passengers. Boosts capacity at ports of Mumbai and Chennai creates a Suez Canal-like link between India’s coasts. 
​ 
• Infi-Alpha - Bengaluru to Chennai: 334 km in 20 minutes. Meeting the demand of a passenger and freight super-corridor growing at 15% a year. Connects with major airports.

Shervin Pishevar talks about Indian startups and Hyperloop One, which can propel India to become the next superpower

<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/57312503.cms" /> 
 
Ever wondered if you could have figured out which subjects you were good at without taking exams? 
 
As teachers and schools realize that the focus of learning has become more holistic than before, students and their parents want to know more about the pupil’s academic strengths to make an informed decision in the future in regards to career prospects or even further education. 
 
<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/bi-investigation-business-models-akin-to-amazon-and-ubers-arent-working-for-indian-startups/articleshow/57287190.cms">ALSO READ: BI Investigation: Business models akin to Amazon and Uber’s aren’t working for Indian startups</a> 
 <keyword id="4072741" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="vidyartha">Vidyartha</keyword> is a learning guidance platform that provides data led deep profiling &amp; personalized learning recommendations to high school students in Grade 8 to Grade 12. Through continuous engagement, Vidyartha collects varied student data that influences and impacts their learning and arrives at tactical recommendations to not just improve scores but also strengthen each student's unique capabilities and improve life-skills - example problem solving, critical thinking etc. Vidyartha’s platform has reached over 250000 students across 3000+ schools in India and the Middle East. 
 
<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/online-cab-players-in-2016-completed-nearly-half-a-billion-rides-with-250-y-o-y-growth-in-india/articleshow/57273938.cms">ALSO READ: Online cab players in 2016 completed nearly half a billion rides with 250% y-o-y growth in India</a> 
 
Every student has a learning style as unique as their fingerprint. Combining their academic scores, their interests and their aptitude scores that are obtained through psychometric assessments, general aptitude &amp; subject specific application assessments along with class performance inputs from the school, each student’s unique learning story and a personalised learning plan (PLP) is created with long term goals broken down to short term targets. 
 
Each student’s learning plan includes: 
● Interest profiling 
● Personality profiling 
● General &amp; subject specific aptitude strengths &amp; weaknesses 
● Interest in capability match 
● Subject wise focus areas based on long term goals &amp; targets 
● Learning gaps between school performance &amp; conceptual application 
● Competitive benchmarking - Where they stand among their peers within the school, across the region and countrywide 
● Subject combinations recommended post Class 10 for students in Grades 8,9 &amp; 10 
● Personalised course recommendation for students in Grades 11 &amp; 12 
 
<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/here-are-the-major-takeaways-from-aon-hewitts-21st-india-annual-salary-increase-survey/articleshow/57290354.cms">ALSO READ: Here are the major takeaways from Aon Hewitt’s 21st India Annual Salary Increase Survey</a> 
 
Vidyartha’s focus is on increasing student’s academic performance and keeps them engaged while understanding their unique needs and continuously working with their specific learning challenges. Each student hence gets his unique Personalised Learning Plan (PLP). 
 
With these distinct profiles, students can evaluate where they stand against their peers on school, regional and national levels, for each interest area. This helps in fixing learning gaps for each subject and create unique learning paths for students to excel. 
 
These PLPs help teachers understand students beyond the report cards, identify their learning styles, tailor learning content and bridge the gap between academic scores and conceptual learning.

This startup can tell students exactly where their academic strengths lie

<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/57311188.cms" style="width: 800px; height: 600px;" /> 
 
With the wedding season around the corner, there is a lot of excitement and anticipation in the air. From pre-wedding shoots to beautiful destination weddings, social media timelines get into a mad frenzy of innovative hashtagging and wedding memorabilia every year during this time. 
 
<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/here-are-the-major-takeaways-from-aon-hewitts-21st-india-annual-salary-increase-survey/articleshow/57290354.cms">ALSO READ: Here are the major takeaways from Aon Hewitt’s 21st India Annual Salary Increase Survey</a> 
 The image of a perfect Indian wedding today is governed by a lot of stereotypes like the perfect wedding dress, the quintessential <keyword id="819905" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Instagram">Instagram</keyword> and Snapchat filters, stunning destinations, outstanding decor and dreamy photoshoots. 
 However, this wedding season, <keyword id="2778113" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Rentomojo">RentoMojo</keyword> had invited all its consumers to an extremely unconventional and quirky wedding-#PriyaWedsSofa. This campaign features Priya, a character who is a modern enthusiastic young working professional who has powerful dreams, is extremely confident, dynamic and talented in an own way. Her job requires her to travel across various cities quite often. 
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
	
		The truth is out...<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PriyaWedsSofa?src=hash">#PriyaWedsSofa</a> because she *bought* one. 
		Just rent furniture instead... save commitment for things that matter! <a href="https://t.co/W2kuFwHtHR">pic.twitter.com/W2kuFwHtHR</a>
	— RentoMojo (@rentomojo) <a href="https://twitter.com/rentomojo/status/833930097010700288">February 21, 2017</a></blockquote>
 
However, each time she chooses a piece of furniture for her new home, she goes through the emotional topsy-turvy of not wanting to part with it and therefore feels totally married to it. This new campaign of RentoMojo #PriyaWedsSofa is a satire targeting the mindset of getting married to a piece of furniture for years without wanting to part with it, even though it means high relocation costs and the same boring interiors year on year. The campaign creatively builds awareness about accessing a particular lifestyle without actually owning it. 
 
<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/online-cab-players-in-2016-completed-nearly-half-a-billion-rides-with-250-y-o-y-growth-in-india/articleshow/57273938.cms">ALSO READ: Online cab players in 2016 completed nearly half a billion rides with 250% y-o-y growth in India</a> 
 
We operate in a world where the meaning of ownership and commitments have drastically changed. Through this campaign they wanted to bust the mindset that marriage is only about vows between two individuals; unknowingly we get married to a lot of inanimate objects in our everyday lives which tie us down and demand long-term commitments just like any other relationship. 
 
With Rentomojo – you skip the negativity of purchase. You choose the furniture, appliance or even bike you want for now, and own it till as long as you want to. 
 
<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/bi-investigation-business-models-akin-to-amazon-and-ubers-arent-working-for-indian-startups/articleshow/57287190.cms">ALSO READ: BI Investigation: Business models akin to Amazon and Uber’s aren’t working for Indian startups</a> 
 
When you’re looking for an upgrade, or a move, or a change of mind, do it without hiccoughs – by simply returning it to the company, no strings attached.

Attend this quirky wedding to rent some cool furniture for your house

<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/56661016.cms" style="height: 600px; width: 800px;" /> 
 <keyword id="6354742" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Flipkart">Flipkart</keyword> has ranked number one as India’s most trusted e-commerce brand, in a nationwide consumer study titled the ‘The Indian E-tailing Leadership Index’, conducted by research firm Red Seer Consulting. 
 
Flipkart, for the fourth time in a row, is ranked overall number one in the study, scoring the highest among all e-commerce platforms in India in areas like product selection, customer support, ease of return, refund and reverse pick up speed. 
 
<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/this-is-how-flipkart-is-ensuring-safety-of-their-delivery-boys/articleshow/56650124.cms">ALSO READ: This is how Flipkart is ensuring safety of their delivery boys</a> 
 
Riding on the strength of its supply chain unit – Ekart, Flipkart clocked the shortest average delivery time, not just in the metros, but also across Tier 1 &amp; 2 cities. 
 
The E-tailing Leadership Index (ELI) conducts a comprehensive assessment into how consumers in India view and interact with e-tailing brands. The study findings were based on 7500 consumer interviews across 30 Indian cities on several parameters including brand recall and trust, value, product variety and availability, ease of return, web and app experience, price competitiveness, delivery, overall NPS etc. 
 
<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/budget-2017-china-is-still-far-ahead-of-india-when-it-comes-to-startups/articleshow/56628904.cms">ALSO READ: China is still far ahead of India when it comes to Startups</a> 
 
How has Flipkart fared in 2016 
 • About 50% of sales were transacted through no cost <keyword id="6357050" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="EMI">EMI</keyword> and Product Exchange • Since the <keyword id="4081892" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="bbd-sale">BBD Sale</keyword>, about 65% first-time customers have been purchasing ‘Flipkart Assured’ products 
• Flipkart Lite, an innovative product which enables customers to shop online even on low-storage phones and in areas with poor mobile data connectivity 
• Expanded share of fashion with Jabong acquisition, which is at 75% of the online fashion market. 
 
<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/exclusive-swiggy-helping-small-restaurants-to-get-upto-50-of-their-orders/articleshow/56645399.cms">ALSO READ: Exclusive: Swiggy helping small restaurants, to get </a><a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/exclusive-swiggy-helping-small-restaurants-to-get-upto-50-of-their-orders/articleshow/56645399.cms">upto</a><a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/exclusive-swiggy-helping-small-restaurants-to-get-upto-50-of-their-orders/articleshow/56645399.cms"> 50% of their orders</a> 
 All of this still, when <keyword id="18635" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Amazon">Amazon</keyword> is quickly catching up to the e-commerce giant with heavy funding and larger revenues.

Flipkart is Number 1 amongst India’s
Most Trusted E-Tailing Brands

<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/56257097.cms" style="width: 800px; height: 600px;" /> 
 Books are something that has always been one of the things you buy online. From <keyword id="18635" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Amazon">Amazon</keyword> to <keyword id="6354742" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Flipkart">Flipkart</keyword>, the e-commerce giants all started their journey by selling books and got us hooked with crazy discounts and deals on the bestsellers we wanted to have. 
 <keyword id="824043" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Business-Insider">Business Insider</keyword> got in touch with Flipkart to figure out with books made the year memorable in their sales books. 
 
<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/fashion-startups-that-started-five-top-trends-of-2016/articleshow/56255595.cms">ALSO READ: Fashion Startups that started five Top Trends of 2016</a> 
 In 2016, <keyword id="6390428" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Chetan-Bhagat">Chetan Bhagat</keyword> remains India’s Number One author in popular fiction, with two bestsellers “One Indian Girlfriend” and “Half Girlfriend” in the top 5 bestsellers on Flipkart. Other most read fiction titles included JK Rowling’s “Harry <keyword id="370887" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Potter">Potter</keyword> and the Cursed Child”, “The Alchemist” by <keyword id="6642598" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Paulo-Coelho">Paulo Coelho</keyword> and <keyword id="3495710" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="savi-sharma">Savi Sharma</keyword>’s “Everyone Has a Story”. Amongst international bestsellers in fiction, JK Rowling’s “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” topped the list, while timeless favorite “To Kill a Mockingbird” by <keyword id="161545" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Harper-Lee">Harper Lee</keyword> came second, as per #FlipTrends2016. 
 
<a href="http://India’s largest youth festival, The Under 25 summit is going to have a Food train!">ALSO READ: India’s largest youth festival, The Under 25 summit is going to have a Food train!</a> 
 More Indians are buying books on personality development, self-help, business &amp; entrepreneurship, and investments. “Think and Grow Rich” by <keyword id="77993" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Napoleon-Hill">Napoleon Hill</keyword>, “How to Win <keyword id="343" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="20" keywordseo="Friends">Friends</keyword> and Influence People” by <keyword id="273139" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Dale-Carnegie">Dale Carnegie</keyword>, and “Rich Dad Poor Dad” by <keyword id="236885" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Robert-T-Kiyosaki">Robert T Kiyosaki</keyword>, and “The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari” by <keyword id="4013404" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="robin-s-sharma">Robin S Sharma</keyword> were the most read non-fiction titles in India in 2016. 
 ‘<keyword id="709656" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Pottermania">Pottermania</keyword>’ was at peak fever in 2016, with three <keyword id="6357995" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="20" keywordseo="Harry-Potter">Harry Potter</keyword> titles – ‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’, ‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone’, and “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets” amongst the most-bought children’s books. 
 
<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/here-are-the-top-five-top-selling-smartphones-on-flipkart/articleshow/56238383.cms">ALSO READ: Here are the top five top selling smartphones on Flipkart</a> 
 
Top 5 book reading cities 
- Bangalore 
- Mumbai - <keyword id="6354925" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Kolkata">Kolkata</keyword> - Delhi <keyword id="53426" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="NCR">NCR</keyword> 
- Chennai 
 
Top 5 Fiction Books - One Indian Girl by Chetan <keyword id="212" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bhagat">Bhagat</keyword> 
- Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by JK Rowling 
- Half-Girlfriend by Chetan Bhagat 
- The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho 
- Everyone has a Story by Savi Sharma 
 
Top 5 Non - Fiction Books 
- Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill - Wings of Fire: An Autobiography by Dr. <keyword id="5141" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Abdul-Kalam">Abdul Kalam</keyword> and <keyword id="269065" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Arun-Tiwari">Arun Tiwari</keyword> - The Monk Who Sold His <keyword id="16120" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ferrari">Ferrari</keyword> by <keyword id="4013400" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="robin-s-singh">Robin S Singh</keyword> 
- How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie 
- Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert T Kiyosaki 
 
Top 5 Most-read Authors 
- Chetan Bhagat 
- JK Rowling 
- RS Agarwal 
- Paulo Coelho 
- Napoleon Hill 
 
Top International Books 
- Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by JK Rowling 
- To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee 
- How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie 
- Rich dad Poor Dad by Robert T Kiyosaki

Exclusive: What India Read Through Flipkart in
2016

<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/54735675.cms" /> 
 At a time when startups are mushrooming in India, a few desi companies have already gone far ahead in the race. <keyword id="6354742" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Flipkart">Flipkart</keyword> and <keyword id="6354720" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ola">Ola</keyword> are making news in the US owing to the competition they pose to their US counterparts <keyword id="18635" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Amazon">Amazon</keyword> and Uber. 
 While speaking to <keyword id="824043" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Business-Insider">Business Insider</keyword> at the <keyword id="69007" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="World-Economic-Forum">World Economic Forum</keyword> recently, <keyword id="154034" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Gita-Gopinath">Gita Gopinath</keyword> who is permanent faculty at <keyword id="97117" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Harvard-University">Harvard University</keyword>'s Economics department, said – “I see an upward trend in the <keyword id="6356076" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="indian-economy">Indian Economy</keyword> with higher FDI coming in, especially in new businesses. Companies like Flipkart and Ola are talked about in the U.S. and for all the right reasons.” 
 <keyword id="60820" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Gopinath">Gopinath</keyword> is the third woman to have become a permanent professor at the prestigious <keyword id="53675" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="harvard">Harvard</keyword> University’s Economic Department. The post also makes her the first Indian after Nobel laureate <keyword id="9663" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Amartya-Sen">Amartya Sen</keyword> to receive such an honour. 
 While reacting to the <keyword id="1948072" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-startup">Indian Startup</keyword> ecosystem, she further added – “Companies like Flipkart and Ola might be termed as ‘copycat companies’ born out of ideas that have worked abroad but they are being commended for giving a stiff competition to their U.S. counterparts namely Amazon and Uber.” 
 <keyword id="7858" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Gita">Gita</keyword> stressed on the need for domestic investment to further push the Indian <keyword id="34412" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="economy">economy</keyword> on a progressive path. "We need to realise that entrepreneurship is not necessarily increasing employment. The concrete economic reforms such as GST tax, biometrics for payments, fiscal federalism, <keyword id="6706196" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Unique-Identification-Number">Unique Identification Number</keyword> ie. Aadhaar are transforming the country’s economy. While it is encouraging to see FDI increasing, the real change will come with domestic private investment increasing in the country." 
 
<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/The-2016-festive-sales-Flipkart-Amazon-Snapdeal-and-Shopclues/articleshow/54657097.cms">ALSO READ: The 2016 festive sales- The winner so far</a> 
 This woman of strength also called for increased <keyword id="624" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Women">women</keyword> participation in the workforce while identifying the challenges they have to face. 
 
She concluded by saying - "The awareness has increased about the need to increase women participation in the workplace, but there are no amenities to assure that. Women need to feel safe when they go to work and this disparity is growing in urban and rural areas. Women need to be given the same opportunities in every sector, and there’s a long way to go." 
 
Picture credits: World Economic <keyword id="23897" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="forum">Forum</keyword>

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