Meesho Raises $300 Million Funding Led by Japan's SoftBank, Enters Unicorp Group

Bengaluru-based Meesho raised $300 million in its new round of funding, led by SoftBank Vision Fund 2. Meesho said- "we raised $300 million in a new funding round by Japan's reckoned SoftBank. The round valued Meesho at $2.1 Billion that made it a new entry to India's unicorn club. This year, Meesho entered the unicorn club as the fourth domestic startup. Some of the existing investors that also participated in the round are Facebook, Knollwood Investment. Shunwei Capital, Prosus Ventures, and Venture Highway.

Meesho started in December 2015 as an e-commerce shopping platform that helps individuals and small businesses become sellers. Through social media platforms, anyone can become a seller of this platform using Instagram, WhatsApp, and Facebook. It's a Bengaluru-based startup founded by Sanjeev Barnwal and Vidit Aatrey to compete with many market leaders of the same domains.

The founder of Meesho, Vidit Aatrey, said-"we are excited to be on board with Japan's SoftBank with the new funding round. We are working effortlessly to expand our company's objective and vision. We are not just focused on helping the small woman entrepreneurs who aspire to create their name in the business and reselling. 

Since last year, Meesho has witnessed a huge growth in sales and the numbers of associated entrepreneurs looking for an online business. The company has aimed at a new vision of making 100 million small businesses start on the Meesho platform.

Munish Varma, the Managing Partner at SoftBank Investment Advisers, also stated that-"we are always looking for providing support and backing to those founders who are having great ideas for the local market. With machine learning and AI, Meesho is now providing a unique platform to many individuals, small business persons to connect directly with consumers and manufacturers. So, we are happy to work together to be a part of this journey.