// startup autopsy
Shopo
India's zero-commission marketplace that died with its acquirer's dreams
acquisition gone wrongAcqui-hire
Fatal mistake: Shopo's zero-commission model was unsustainable and dependent entirely on Snapdeal's financial health, which collapsed under Amazon and Flipkart pressure.
Key Events Timeline
FOUNDING
Shopo founded in India as a mobile-first C2C marketplace for small sellers.
FUNDING
Initial seed funding secured to build and grow the mobile marketplace platform.
ACQUISITION ATTEMPT
Snapdeal acquired Shopo for approximately $5M, relaunching it as a zero-commission mobile marketplace.
PRODUCT LAUNCH
Shopo relaunched under Snapdeal with a revamped zero-commission model targeting 10 million sellers.
SHUTDOWN
Snapdeal shut down Shopo amid its own financial crisis and mass layoffs, unable to sustain the zero-commission model.