Sulekha.com, a digital platform for local services has announced that GIC, the sovereign wealth fund of Singapore and Norwest Venture Partners have invested Rs 175 crores into the company.
Sulekha will use the capital to further expand its platform that connects one of the largest bases of users and local service providers, and invest in technology and branding.
Satya Prabhakar, founder and CEO, Sulekha said, “This investment by GIC and Norwest is a powerful endorsement of the vast potential of the local services opportunity in India and Sulekha’s ability to prosecute it successfully. Sulekha has cultivated deep expertise and built a sophisticated platform in 800+ local service categories including home/office services, coaching/training, health/lifestyle and property/rentals. Sulekha’s large base of user and businesses, unique IP, vast operational footprint, plus rapid migration to mobile are transforming the local services market.”
Param Parameswaran, chairman, Sulekha said, “Sulekha has architected a remarkably lucrative business model because of the immediacy, specificity and location oriented nature of the user local service needs. Sulekha has been enjoying significant organic growth while being quite capital efficient, making it one of only a few digital companies in India that have been profitable.”
Local businesses spend an estimated $2.5 billion in advertising across various media to capture $200 billion worth of local services bought in diverse categories such as computer training, serviced apartments, party catering, babysitting, elder care, yoga lessons, kitchen renovation, and wedding photography. Sulekha sends 16+ million user needs a year to over 2+ million active businesses on its platform.
Promod Haque, senior managing partner, Norwest Venture Partners said, “Sulekha’s innovative digital platform allows users to fulfil their needs while providing a highly targeted and affordable avenue for small businesses to secure customers. Sulekha is seizing an enormous opportunity in transforming how businesses find local customers and grow and we look forward to significant scale ahead.”
Mitsui & Co and Indigo Monsoon Group are also investors in Sulekha.
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