The term start-up became a global catchphrase in 2000 during the dot-com bubble. A start-up is a company, partnership or temporary organization designed to figure out a repeatable and profitable Business model. These companies, generally newly created, are in a phase of research and development for different markets.
E-commerce, simply put, is transaction of business electronically. Unheard of a few years ago, nowadays, one sees a stupendous rise in the number of e-commerce start-ups in India as well as abroad, signifying the boost in the number of risk-takers establishing their start-ups as well as the number willing to purchase online. E-commerce in India has suddenly transformed from being the new kid on the block to a cluttered industry. Dozens of nascent e-commerce companies spring up weekly to compete with the thousands that are already established.
Many of the reputable companies have physical shops spread worldwide along with their online presence, while others only exist on the web. Whether they are tangible or intangible, they have developed in a mammoth scale to drive consumers to purchase from them, making it difficult for start-ups to compete and survive in this fast-paced millennium.
However, some notable start-ups spring up from time to time, possessing the assets, talent or ideas- often all three, establish themselves and succeed.
Here is a list of the e-commerce start-ups to look out for in 2014:
Circle:
Circle is a consumer finance company, focused on transforming the world economy with secure, simple and cost-effective technology for storing and using money. Circle is growing by leaps and bounds by constantly building products that offer greater ease-of-use in online and in-person payments, enhanced security and privacy for consumers, and lower costs for businesses accepting digital payments. They plan to develop easy to use services for consumers and merchants to purchase and use digital currencies like Bitcoin. Circle is definitely worth watching out for in the near future, with its constant innovations.
Website: Circle.com
Clinkle:
Founded by Lucas Duplan in 2011, Clinkle today has transformed itself from being a small company run by a group of students to raising $25 million in Silicon Valley's largest seed-round. Clinkle's goal is to modernize the way people transact, by creating a next generation payment platform that will change the way people pay for things. The start-up hasn't divulged much of its future product information including services as an online wallet, thus increasing curiosity amongst the privileged users as well as the thousands on the waitlist. Clinkle will be big in the future making it one of the few to watch out for with bated breath.
Website: Clinkle.com
Fashion and You:
Already transforming the online business space with innovative consumer driven approach, Fashion and You provides great bargains on the most sought after global fashion and luxury brands. Their Flash Sales are worth waiting for. A part of Brand Alliance, an international organization formed by major private sales companies in Brazil, Turkey, Mexico, Australia, the Middle East, the USA, India, Russia and Switzerland, Fashion and you is constantly providing newer brands and items in the Indian and overseas market increasing its consumer base and its smart marketing ensures constant growth, thus making it something to look out for.
Website: Fashionandyou.com
Flipboard:
It's not every day that a magazine application creates such buzz, but Flipboard is altogether a different story. Available on the iPhone and Android mediums, Flipboard has been around for a few years. It started as a personal magazine, filled with things individual users care about. Catching up on the news, discovering amazing things globally or staying connected to near and dear ones-all was possible through Flipboard. In 2013, the start-up took three big steps towards achieving its full potential by giving its users the option of creating their own magazines, and embracing e-commerce with the introduction of shoppable magazines and added support for Windows 8.1, meaning it is now available on all major mobile operating platforms. Combining these evolutions with the additional $50 million it is reportedly close to raisin; Flipboard should continue to expand its user base and increase monetization to be one of the most sought after start-ups in 2014.
Website: Flipboard.com
Level Money:
This San Franciscan start-up, a personal finance company attracts a lot of attention due to its mobile money meter. Cofounded by Visa's former manager of global emerging products, it aims to make it easier for users to budget on the go from their phones. Mostly catering to the younger generation, this start-up raised a $5 million round Series A recently, making it a force to reckon with. It automatically updates spendable cash as users make purchases each day, providing a simple, real-time picture, with a goal of creating a fully-integrated, next-generation financial services company designed for the 21st century.
Website: Levelmoney.com
Lyft:
Launched in the summer of 2012, Lyft is a friendly, safe, and affordable transportation option. Passengers download the app to their iPhone or Android, sign in through Facebook Connect, and enter a valid phone number and credit card details. When they require a ride, they open the app and see a map displaying the locations of the nearest Lyft drivers. After requesting a ride, the app shows the driver's name, his or her rating by past passengers, and photos of the driver and their car, enabling the client to make safe travel choices. Lyft has received acclaim for creating a community that makes transportation an uplifting experience. This innovative prospect is constantly endeavouring to serve better and is worth looking out for.
Website: Lyft.me
Oyster Books:
Created to evolve the way people read and to increase the special moments that only books can offer, Oyster has definitely achieved what it set out for. From anywhere a mobile device can go Oyster's mission is to build the best reading experience, one that is both communal and personal. It is now available worldwide for Apple iOs 7+, Android 4+, Nook HD and Kindle Fire to enhance user experience. Oyster offers unlimited access to over 100,000 books for $9.95 a month, with new titles added all the time. In an ever expanding market of eBooks, Oyster has definitely carved its niche and is expected to continue growing in the coming years.
Website: Oysterbooks.com
Routehappy
If the objective of a good Internet start-up is addressing a basic pain point among consumers, then Routehappy is certainly a start-up worth watching. Their one-of-a-kind Happiness Scores reveal shorter flights with value for money- better planes, seats, amenities and flyer ratings. By building a system that correctly grades a myriad of Happiness Factors of importance to flyers, including 25 seat types, 20 entertainment options, 55 seat configurations, Wi-Fi, and more, Routehappy is definitely an exceptionally well executed concept that through its steady upgrading and added resources offering unparallel services to millions is on a journey of excellence.
Website: Routehappy.com
Uber:
Uber, a San Francisco-based technology start-up, is innovating at the junction of mobile technology, car transportation and logistics. What makes Uber really worth watching isn't just its success with its famed ride sharing model, but if hints from its CEO Travis Kalanick in recent months are paid attention to, the company may expand into other areas like same-day delivery- a sought-after service in today's age. In other words, Uber isn't just coming after taxi companies; it's coming after business like Amazon making it an unstoppable phenomenon.
Website: Uber.com
Delhivery.com
This unique Delhi based platform aims at creating a unified platform for impeccable online buying experiences. Local, regional, national and international retailers may employ the services of this ecommerce website that helps create seamless consumer experiences online. With a specialization in order fulfilment and shipping, and an established PAN India express delivery network, their high quality services are backed by technology, innovation and expertise that come in the form of geo-coding, customer analytics and route optimization. With guaranteed deliveries within 12 to 48 hours all over the country, this portal aims to redefine the role of logistics in ecommerce.
Website: Delhivery.com
Teabox.com:
A rather niche platform, this ecommerce website caters specifically to tea lovers all over the country. Through partnerships with some of the best tea plantations in the country, their selection of products is handpicked and packed with the highest level of quality consciousness. With everything from black to Oolong, and white to blended, this website is nothing less than a tea lover's haven.
Website: Teabox.com
Today, worldwide as well as in India, high e-commerce standards prevail with various websites promising offers and discounts to its customers. Recently, demand has drastically increased and so online retailers are trying their best to support the supply, with start-ups emerging left, right and centre. To succeed, they need to be able to cut through the clutter by engaging their target audience in a meaningful and relevant manner that is unmatched by competitors. The old mantra of competitive pricing, convenience and reliability is not enough.
The above listed start-ups are definitely big in 2014 and hopefully will continue to be so. Some may thrive for years, some may get acquired and some may go nowhere, but all are worth watching.
Photostream: gsi-r