#Asia Indian startups should build ubiquitous solutions for India-specific problems, says Jaya Kumar K of Walmart Labs

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We try to understand what would work in a Indian context for startups and what would probably work there to attain sustainable success

In this edition of Venture Upbeat  I discuss with Mr. Jaya Kumar K, who is Vice President and Managing Director at Walmart Labs. Previoulsy, he was also Managing Director and Vice President Engineering Ariba Technologies India Ltd.

There are a host of startups in India and we see more focus on funding and the valuation game as what we call.

We try to understand what would work in a Indian context for startups and what would probably work there to attain sustainable success. How many Indian startups have successfully gone public is one of the more poignant points that also came up.

What are your thoughts on the startups in Indian context and how they are faring?

If you look at the kind of work, most of startups are just following the west, taking ideas form west and imitating the same.

Jaya Kumar K, VP and Managing Director, Walmart Labs (source: LinkedIn)

There are far too many “me too” startups.

Startups should focus on India-specific problems and solve the India problem. Startups should focus on creating a viable business and taking the business public. India Stack is a good example of such a case, wherein it is trying to solve an India-specific problem

It has become a valuation game where you are looking for funding rather than building a sustainable ecosystem.

Also read: Is “Make in India, funded by China” the new norm?

Where do you see Indian retail market going and your observations on the same?

The Indian retail market is going to grow. Indian retailers will have a tough fight with outsiders.

While most Indian retailers are only maturing now, the global behemoths come with decades of experience in execution and operating a much higher scale of operations.

But there is a Patanjali growth story, wherein it has taken the market by storm, and it clearly is an evidence that merely building an e-commerce platform is not sufficient.

The aggregator model will not work as it is. Moving toward smartphone based solutions is also important, or as what we call the “ubiquitous” solution.

What do you see people need to do if they want to work on marketplace model? 

In the marketplace model, success depends on profitability. Focus on a particular area. The platform has to help market the product. And keep the cost low, which is very important.

Finally Mr. Jaya Kumar says there is a tremendous opportunity for startups focussing on India-specific problems with the intent to provide world class solutions.

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