Startups have become the most prominent avenues for job seekers in recent times. India has become one of the fastest growing startup hubs in the world, standing tall at the third position, according to a recent announcement by NASSCOM. It is also one of the five largest startup communities in the world, showing an upsurge in the growth of the desi startup ecosystem with each passing year.
Indeed, 2015 was a stellar year, with about $3.5 billion invested across 380 deals closed in the first half of the year. While Bengaluru was the epicentre of Series-A funding last year, Delhi-NCR seems to have taken the spot this year, having attracted billions of dollars from global VC firms. The future of startups is bright, and the “bubble” analogy predicted by market ‘pundits’ doesn’t seem likely for another two decades.
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So how do you plan to kickstart your career with a startup? Whether you are at the peak of your career or just starting out, working in a startup can boost your career, weaving opportunities for both financial growth as well as career growth. If you are also planning to join the startup race in India this year, here’s a list of five booming startups that will direct you to the right path and offer you tremendous scope for growth.
One97
Founder: Vijay Shekhar Sharma
Headquarters: Noida
Website: www.one97.com
Type of business: Mobile wallet and e-commerce
Total equity funding: $585M
Founded in: 2000
One97 Communications, a flagship brand by India’s largest m-commerce platform, Paytm, was primarily started as a mobile internet startup. Backed by Alibaba’s Ant Finance, the company has now taken over 80 per cent of the country’s e-wallet market. In another five years, One97 plans to become India’s largest homegrown consumer technology company.
Ixigo
Founder(s): Aloke Bajpai and Rajnish Kumar
Headquarters: Gurgaon, India
Website: www.ixigo.com
Type of business: Online travel, ticket booking
Total equity funding: $18.5M
Founded in: 2006
A trip-planning and travel search engine, this Gurgaon-based startup aims to simplify travel experience by providing relevant tools and services, like its recently launched subsidiary ‘Ixigo Cabs’. Ixigo has reportedly crossed a benchmark of 10 million users a month.
Bankbazaar
Founder(s): Adhil Shetty
Headquarters: Chennai
Website: www.bankbazaar.com
Type of business: Online marketplace for loans and insurance
Funding in 2015: $60 M
Founded in: 2008
BankBazaar is a one-stop shop for all financial products—ranging from insurance to home loans and credit cards. There is expected to be a significant increase in the percentage of consumers shifting their focus to websites like BankBazaar from the beginning of the second quarter of 2016.
UrbanClap
Founder(s): Abhiraj Bhal, Varun Khaitan and Raghav Chandra
Headquarters: Gurgaon
Website: www.urbanclap.com
Type of business: Online marketplace for household services
Funding in 2015: $25 M
Founded in: 2014
Gone are the days when finding a good handyman in your locality was a painstaking process. Now we have UrbanClap. A one-of-its-kind venture, this startup offers detailed listings of home services and pricing information regarding the same. It also offers an appointment booking platform for easy access to daily requirements. UrbanClap is soon going to become a household name for getting things done within the comfort of one’s home.
1MG
Founder(s): Prashant Tandon, Gaurav Agarwal and Vikas Chauhan
Headquarters: Gurgaon
Website: www.1mg.com
Type of business: E-pharmacy
Funding in 2015: $16M
Founded in: 2011
Started as ‘Healthkart Plus’ in 2012 and rebranded as 1MG in 2015, the company aims to help users make informed purchases by offering personalised assistance on health-related issues. From basic health tips to cheaper alternative to medicines, this app has the answers to all your health woes.
Working in a startup is challenging and risky. However, before you take this plunge, be sure to do a market research and decide the domain that you are passionate about. These startups offer ample growth opportunities if you know how to dig at the right spot.
(Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of YourStory.)
