News Summary

Meesho, the Indian e-commerce platform competing with Amazon and Flipkart, is set to launch a $606 million initial public offering (IPO), marking India’s first major e-commerce listing. Despite global trends of tech shareholders cashing out, significant backers like SoftBank and Prosus are retaining their stakes, reflecting confidence in India’s burgeoning online retail market. Meesho plans to price its shares between ₹105–111, aiming to raise ₹42.50 billion ($475 million) in new capital, with the remainder from secondary sales. This IPO positions Meesho ahead of Flipkart, which plans an IPO next year, and Amazon, which may consider a spin-off of its Indian operations. Founded in 2015, Meesho initially focused on social commerce through WhatsApp and has since evolved into a low-cost marketplace catering to price-sensitive consumers and small merchants. The company reported a revenue increase to ₹55.78 billion ($624 million) for the six months ending September 30, 2025, although losses widened to ₹4.33 billion ($48.4 million). The IPO, opening for public subscription on December 3, reserves 75% for institutional buyers, 10% for retail investors, and 15% for non-institutional investors.