Vidit Aatrey and Sanjeev Barnwal: Redefining Success in India’s Startup Landscape

In a conservative society like India, it’s not uncommon for tradition to clash with innovation. Vidit Aatrey and Sanjeev Barnwal, the co-founders of Meesho, experienced this first-hand when they embarked on their journey to create a social commerce platform that empowers women across the country. The Meesho story began towards the end of 2015, and like many start-ups, it witnessed course corrections and pivots. However, by the time the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Meesho had millions of women using its platform. In 2021, the number of women micro-entrepreneurs surged to over nine million, reflecting a 2.5x increase. Meesho is now making a significant impact even in conservative small-town and village communities in India.

The evolution of Meesho has been remarkable. The founders have set their sights on a grand vision, far removed from the app’s early days of WhatsApp group-based purchases. Vidit Aatrey explains, “We are building the single shopping destination for the next billion consumers in India.” This vision encompasses creating a “horizontal platform” that aims to bring 100 million small businesses and merchants online, even from the smallest towns and eventually villages. Today, approximately five percent of all households in India visit the Meesho app daily, indicating its growing influence. Meesho has also attracted an increasing number of consumers.

Investors initially took their time to understand the business model, but now they are eager to support Meesho. The recent Series F funding round secured $570 million, valuing the company at nearly $5 billion, making it one of India’s most valuable start-ups. Meesho’s investor roster includes Fidelity Management & Research Company, B Capital Group, Prosus Ventures, SoftBank Vision Fund 2, and Facebook.

Amit Somani, Managing Partner at Prime Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm in Bengaluru, praises Meesho’s journey, stating, “Meesho is a phenomenal story. It is a category-creating start up, not just a category-defining one. It will probably be ranked alongside companies like Airbnb.” The founders’ journey has not only transformed their lives but also positively impacted their employees and the next generation of founders. Aatrey and Barnwal have invested in over 30 start-ups in India and Southeast Asia, offering mentorship and guidance to budding entrepreneurs.

Sanjeev Barnwal highlights the significance of angel investors in the early stages of a start-up and their commitment to giving back to the ecosystem. “It allows us to stay connected to newer founders and newer business ideas, which keeps us informed, and that is also an exciting part of whatever we do,” he says. Aatrey and Barnwal’s friendship, which dates back to their IIT-Delhi days, has been a source of strength throughout their entrepreneurial journey. They also credit their wives as their pillars of support, enabling them to focus on building Meesho.

The co-founders are continually dreaming bigger and bolder with each milestone, and they acknowledge their transformation as leaders. Their journey serves as an inspiration for youth from India’s middle class, showcasing what can be achieved when innovation meets determination. As they emphasize, they are just getting started.

In a conservative society like India, it’s not uncommon for tradition to clash with innovation. Vidit Aatrey and Sanjeev Barnwal, the co-founders of Meesho, experienced this first-hand when they embarked on their journey to create a social commerce platform that empowers women across the country. The Meesho story began towards the end of 2015, and like many start-ups, it witnessed course corrections and pivots. However, by the time the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Meesho had millions of women using its platform. In 2021, the number of women micro-entrepreneurs surged to over nine million, reflecting a 2.5x increase. Meesho is now making a significant impact even in conservative small-town and village communities in India.

The evolution of Meesho has been remarkable. The founders have set their sights on a grand vision, far removed from the app’s early days of WhatsApp group-based purchases. Vidit Aatrey explains, “We are building the single shopping destination for the next billion consumers in India.” This vision encompasses creating a “horizontal platform” that aims to bring 100 million small businesses and merchants online, even from the smallest towns and eventually villages. Today, approximately five percent of all households in India visit the Meesho app daily, indicating its growing influence. Meesho has also attracted an increasing number of consumers.

Investors initially took their time to understand the business model, but now they are eager to support Meesho. The recent Series F funding round secured $570 million, valuing the company at nearly $5 billion, making it one of India’s most valuable start-ups. Meesho’s investor roster includes Fidelity Management & Research Company, B Capital Group, Prosus Ventures, SoftBank Vision Fund 2, and Facebook.

Amit Somani, Managing Partner at Prime Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm in Bengaluru, praises Meesho’s journey, stating, “Meesho is a phenomenal story. It is a category-creating start up, not just a category-defining one. It will probably be ranked alongside companies like Airbnb.” The founders’ journey has not only transformed their lives but also positively impacted their employees and the next generation of founders. Aatrey and Barnwal have invested in over 30 start-ups in India and Southeast Asia, offering mentorship and guidance to budding entrepreneurs.

Sanjeev Barnwal highlights the significance of angel investors in the early stages of a start-up and their commitment to giving back to the ecosystem. “It allows us to stay connected to newer founders and newer business ideas, which keeps us informed, and that is also an exciting part of whatever we do,” he says. Aatrey and Barnwal’s friendship, which dates back to their IIT-Delhi days, has been a source of strength throughout their entrepreneurial journey. They also credit their wives as their pillars of support, enabling them to focus on building Meesho.

The co-founders are continually dreaming bigger and bolder with each milestone, and they acknowledge their transformation as leaders. Their journey serves as an inspiration for youth from India’s middle class, showcasing what can be achieved when innovation meets determination. As they emphasize, they are just getting started.