Connect with us

Latest News

Mutual Fund Investor Valic Marks Down Flipkart’s Valuation

Published

on

Mutual Fund Investor Valic Marks Down Flipkart Valuation ,Mutual Fund Investor Valic,Startup Stories,Inspirational Stories 2017,Valic Flipkart Valuation,India top online retailer,Flipkart Valuation 2017,India Large Consumer Internet Startups,Latest Business News 2017

Valic Co., the mutual fund investor based in America, has marked down the valuation of the ecommerce firm Flipkart to $ 7.9 billion from $ 11 billion. The markdown comes as a surprise because the ecommerce firm recently raised $ 3 billion from SoftBank, Tencent Holdings, Microsoft and eBay.

The trimming, according to sources, is an indication that some of the smaller investors of Flipkart are still divided over its previous valuation. Flipkart’s valuation was decreased to around $ 8.5 billion in the previous quarter by Valic and each share was priced at $ 88.11 for the quarter ending on 31 August 2017.

In the past 12 months, Flipkart has consolidated its position as India’s top online retailer. However, various fund investors such as Morgan Stanley, Fidelity Investments, Valic and Vanguard Group Inc., were still divided over its valuation. The latest fundraising round also saw a decrease in the valuation from its peak valuation of $ 15 billion. So far, Fidelity and Morgan Stanley have slashed Flipkart’s valuation five consecutive times. In January this year, US based mutual fund investor T. Rowe Price also reduced Flipkart’s valuation by 4% to about $ 9.9 billion.

However, Flipkart founders Sachin Bansal and Binny Bansal repeatedly dismissed these markdowns, calling them “theoretical exercises.” Speaking about the markdowns in an interview in December 2016, Sachin Bansal said, “We are not a public company, so we don’t release our numbers publicly. Any investor who has an opinion on our valuation outside, including who are already invested in us, they are doing it (markdowns) based on some public information. It’s a very uninformed opinion of somebody. So, I think it’s a theoretical exercise.”

While the markdown might not significantly damage Flipkart’s image much, the decrease in valuation suggests that some investors still feel that most of India’s large consumer internet startups are overvalued. Amazon and Flipkart have been engaged in a  head to head battle for the prime market position in India’s ecommerce space, which is expected touch $ 200 billion mark by 2027.

Continue Reading
Advertisement
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Latest News

PhonePe’s PINCODE Launches 10-Minute Medicine Delivery in Cities

Published

on

PhonePe

PhonePe’s PINCODE app has launched a 24×7 online medicine delivery service in Bangalore, Mumbai, and Pune, promising delivery of both prescription and over-the-counter medicines within 10 minutes from nearby local medical shops. Unlike conventional e-pharmacies that use dark stores, PINCODE partners exclusively with neighborhood pharmacies, enabling faster deliveries and supporting local businesses in the digital economy.

Customers without prescriptions can select a “no prescription” option when ordering; a qualified doctor then provides a free teleconsultation and issues a digital prescription compliant with telemedicine guidelines, ensuring seamless access to medicines. The app offers competitive pricing by passing discounts from local pharmacies directly to customers and charges no delivery fees.

PINCODE’s hyperlocal model enhances healthcare accessibility and convenience while empowering local pharmacies, helping them remain integral to their communities and stimulating local economic growth. Launched in 2023, the app focuses on quick commerce with an emphasis on speed, reliability, and supporting local sellers.

In summary, PhonePe’s PINCODE app is transforming medicine delivery in major Indian cities by combining ultra-fast 10-minute delivery, free doctor consultations, and a hyperlocal sourcing model that benefits both consumers and neighborhood pharmacies.

Continue Reading

Latest News

Piyush Anchliya Joins Cashfree as CFO Amid Fintech Boom

Published

on

Cashfree Payment - StartupStories

Cashfree Payments has appointed Piyush Anchliya as its new Chief Financial Officer (CFO), effective April 15, 2025. Anchliya brings over 15 years of experience in investment banking, corporate finance, strategy, and mergers and acquisitions, with senior roles at Barclays, Bandhan Group, and most recently as CFO of Bandhan AMC. He holds an MBA from IIM Ahmedabad and a B.Tech. from IIT Kharagpur.

In his new role, Anchliya will lead Cashfree’s financial strategy, optimize operations, and support the company’s next growth phase. He will report to CEO and Co-founder Akash Sinha, who highlighted Anchliya’s expertise as vital for sustainable scaling and strengthening the company’s financial foundation. Anchliya succeeds outgoing CFO Vikas Guru, who will assist during the transition.

Founded in 2015, Cashfree Payments processes over $80 billion annually for more than 800,000 businesses. The company recently raised $53 million in funding led by KRAFTON and Apis Growth Fund II and secured key RBI licenses, positioning it for accelerated growth in India’s fintech sector. Anchliya’s appointment comes at a pivotal time as Cashfree aims to expand its leadership in digital payments.

Continue Reading

Latest News

Flipkart’s Jeyandran Venugopal Likely to Join Reliance Retail as CEO

Published

on

Flipkart - StartupStories

Jeyandran Venugopal, the outgoing Chief Product and Technology Officer of Flipkart, is set to become the CEO of Reliance Retail Ventures (RRV), the retail arm of Reliance Industries. His appointment, expected to be finalized in May after his exit from Flipkart, signals Reliance’s push to strengthen its retail business with a technology-first approach.

Venugopal brings extensive experience from leading roles at Flipkart, Myntra, Yahoo, Snapdeal, and Amazon, where he focused on scaling technology platforms and driving innovation. At Flipkart, he managed product, engineering, data science, and more, helping build robust systems and improve user experience.

His move comes as Reliance Retail undergoes transformation, including cost-cutting and a renewed focus on digital growth. Venugopal’s leadership is expected to accelerate Reliance’s ambitions in omnichannel and tech-driven retail, positioning the company for continued dominance in India’s evolving market.

Continue Reading
Advertisement

Recent Posts

Advertisement