Flipkart is an Indian electronic commerce company headquartered in Bengaluru, Karnataka. Founded in 2007, it is one of the largest online retail platforms in India, offering a wide range of product categories including electronics, fashion, home essentials, groceries, and lifestyle goods. Since 2018, Flipkart has operated as a subsidiary of the American multinational retailer Walmart.
Key Facts
| Type | Subsidiary (private) |
|---|---|
| Industry | E-commerce, retail |
| Founded | 2007 |
| Founders | Sachin Bansal, Binny Bansal |
| Headquarters | Bengaluru, Karnataka, India |
| Area served | India |
| Parent | Walmart Inc. |
| Subsidiaries | Myntra, Flipkart Wholesale, Cleartrip |
Background
Flipkart was started by Sachin Bansal and Binny Bansal, both alumni of the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi who had previously worked at Amazon. The company was initially registered in Bengaluru and began operations as an online bookstore, with shipping and customer service handled directly by the founders in its earliest days. Over time, it expanded its catalogue to include consumer electronics, mobile phones, apparel, and a broad assortment of general merchandise.
Flipkart played a significant role in shaping consumer behaviour around online shopping in India. It popularised practices such as cash on delivery, no-questions-asked returns, and large annual sale events, most notably the Big Billion Days sale, which has become a major fixture in the Indian e-commerce calendar.
History and Timeline
- 2007: Flipkart founded by Sachin Bansal and Binny Bansal; begins as an online bookseller.
- 2010: Acquires the social book discovery service WeRead.
- 2011: Acquires Mime360 and the digital content library of Bollywood portal Chakpak.
- 2012: Launches the Flipkart-branded electronics product line, Digiflip.
- 2014: Acquires the fashion retailer Myntra; raises significant venture funding and conducts the first Big Billion Day sale.
- 2016: Acquires Jabong through Myntra; launches the digital payments service PhonePe (later spun out).
- 2017: Acquires eBay India as part of a broader investment deal with eBay.
- 2018: Walmart acquires a majority stake in Flipkart in one of the largest e-commerce transactions globally; Sachin Bansal exits the company.
- 2020: Launches Flipkart Wholesale; acquires the travel platform Cleartrip in 2021.
Operations
Flipkart operates a marketplace model in which third-party sellers list products on its platform, with logistics largely handled through its in-house supply chain arm, Ekart. The company runs fulfilment centres and sortation hubs across multiple Indian states and serves customers through its website and mobile applications.
Beyond its core marketplace, Flipkart's group of services includes:
- Myntra — fashion and lifestyle e-commerce platform.
- Flipkart Wholesale — a digital business-to-business platform aimed at kiranas and small retailers.
- Cleartrip — online travel and hotel booking service.
- Ekart — logistics and last-mile delivery.
Significance
Flipkart is widely regarded as a foundational company in the Indian start-up ecosystem. Its growth helped catalyse investment into Indian technology start-ups, established Bengaluru's status as a hub for consumer internet companies, and produced a large alumni network of entrepreneurs and operators—often referred to in the Indian start-up community as the "Flipkart mafia." The 2018 Walmart deal was a landmark transaction that brought sustained international attention to Indian e-commerce and intensified competition with Amazon's India operations.
Related Topics
References
- Wikidata entry: Q1381966