India’s startup ecosystem is booming, with many companies now valued at over $1 billion—known as “unicorns.” These startups are changing the way people shop, pay, learn, and even order food. Here is an easy-to-understand look at India’s top 10 unicorn startups and how their business models work.

1. Swiggy:

Swiggy is a food delivery app that connects restaurants with customers.

Business Model:

Swiggy earns money by charging restaurants a commission for every order and by charging customers a small delivery fee. They also make money from advertising and have recently started delivering groceries and essentials quickly.

2. Meesho:

Meesho is an online shopping platform that helps small businesses and individuals sell products using social media.

Business Models:

Meesho makes money by taking a small cut from each sale, charging for logistics services, and through advertising.

3. Razorpay:

Razorpay offers payment gateways and financial tools for businesses.

Business Model:

Razorpay earns by charging a small fee on every transaction, offering payroll and lending services, and through partnerships with banks.

4. BYJU’S:

BYJU’s offers online learning courses for students.

Business Model:

BYJU’s makes money from subscription fees for its courses, selling learning kits, and partnering with schools.

5. Paytm:

Paytm is a digital payments and financial services app.

Business Model:

Paytm earns from transaction fees, merchant services, and by selling loans and insurance.

6. Dream11:

Dream11 is a fantasy sports platform where users create teams and win prizes.

Business Model:

Dream11 makes money by charging entry fees for contests and through advertising.

7. Flipkart:

Flipkart is one of India’s biggest online shopping websites.

Business Model:

Flipkart earns by charging sellers a commission, selling its own products, running ads, and offering logistics and financial services.

8. OYO Rooms:

OYO partners with small hotels and standardizes their services.

Business Model:

It earns commissions from hotel bookings and fees from franchise partnerships.

9. Groww:

Groww is an investment app that makes it easy to invest in stocks, mutual funds, and more.

Business Model:

Groww earns from brokerage fees and by offering extra financial services.

10. Zomato:

Zomato is a food delivery and restaurant discovery platform.

Business Model:

Zomato earns by charging restaurants a commission, charging customers a delivery fee, and through advertising. They also own Blinkit, a quick grocery delivery service.

Conclusion

India’s top unicorn startups are leading the way in innovation, making life easier for millions of people. Their business models are smart, simple, and focused on solving real problems—whether it is delivering food, helping people shop online, or making investing easier. These companies show how technology can create value and open up new opportunities in India’s fast-growing economy.

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