Bikayi: Revolutionizing E-Commerce for Small Businesses
When you think of e-commerce platforms, Shopify often comes to mind due to its global dominance. However, in India, where many small and medium-sized businesses operate on a smaller scale, Shopify’s solution was often impractical. This challenge was evident to Sonakshi Nathani, co-founder of Bikayi, when she experienced the difficulties of managing her family’s grocery store through WhatsApp, struggling to keep track of orders and fulfillments. This experience inspired the creation of Bikayi. Partnering with her IIIT-H classmate, Ashutosh Singla, they conducted extensive market research and launched Bikayi.
About Bikayi
In many Indian states, commerce primarily happens via WhatsApp, and Bikayi is designed to streamline these cumbersome manual processes for a wide range of businesses—whether it’s a grocery store, wholesaler, manufacturer, retailer, restaurant, or bakery. Launched in April 2019, Bikayi offers a free subscription for up to 500 products and a premium option priced between ₹2,999 and ₹7,999 annually, which includes features like discount promo generation and analytics access.
Pandemic Success and Growth
Despite the disruptions caused by COVID-19, Bikayi has seen remarkable growth, with a 125% month-on-month increase. In 2020, the Hyderabad-based startup secured $2 million in seed funding from international investors including Mantis Ventures, Y Combinator, Pioneer Fund, and other angel investors. Y Combinator, a prominent American seed accelerator, helps startups with funding and mentorship. Notable Indian startups supported by Y Combinator include Khatabook, ClearTax, Meesho, and Razorpay, alongside globally recognized names like Stripe, Airbnb, Reddit, Twitch, Dropbox, and Coinbase.
Looking Ahead
As Y Combinator opens applications for the Summer 2021 funding cycle, Bikayi is poised to expand its reach. The startup plans to venture into international markets, bringing its solution to a global audience. As small businesses increasingly adopt digital tools in the new normal, Bikayi aims to accelerate their transition to e-commerce seamlessly.
Explore Bikayi and download the app from the Google Play Store today!