e-commerce
FbStart, Amazon Launchpad nurture e-com startups
MUMBAI: In a worthwhile push towards the government’s ‘Startup India’ initiative, Amazon Launchpad saw around 250 plus applications within three days of its launch. The programme helps make it easier for Indian startups to launch, market and distribute their products to millions of Amazon customers across India and around the world.
Facebook meantime has picked up three more Indian startups — skill-based networking app Skillmate, rental platform SimplyMoveIn and social platform for investors and traders Talkoot – for FbStart startup mentorship programme.
The startups will receive credits up to US$40,000 and free tools and services from Facebook and its more than 30 partners including Amazon, Dropbox, UserTesting, and MailChimp. Besides partners, startups get free access to more than 25 services including open source tools like React Native, FB Login and Account Kit and App Analytics.
Amazon.in received over 400 applications within two weeks of the launch. Most of the applicants are young startups that are about one and half years old. Around 60 per cent applicants have never sold on Amazon.in before.
Electronics, grocery and health & personal care are among the major categories of applicants. While applications have mainly been received from metros, startups from tier 2 & 3 towns such as Hubli, Mehsana and Thissur have also applied.
Amazon Launchpad has partnered with various constituents in the ecosystem, such as DIPP’s Startup India initiative and offers startups a streamlined on-boarding experience.
Consumers benefit from a safe and secure ordering experience, convenient electronic payments, Cash on Delivery, Amazon’s 24×7 customer service support, and a globally recognized and comprehensive 100% purchase protection provided by Amazon’s A-to-Z Guarantee.
Over a dozen Indian startups have been inducted into the FB programme over the past year. These startups will get an opportunity to connect directly with the Facebook team and will be enrolled into the social media giant’s exclusive community of global startups that include Adobe, Coursera, Dropbox, and Salesforce.
Any developer who has launched a working mobile app in Google Play app stores or Apple is eligible to apply for FbStart.
e-commerce
Flipkart rolls out 105 per cent bonus for 20,000 employees
Strong FY25 performance drives payouts even as layoffs and shifts unfold.
MUMBAI: In a year where belts were tightened and rewards loosened, Flipkart seems to be playing both offence and defence trimming roles on one hand while handing out a generous 105 per cent bonus on the other. The Walmart owned e commerce major has rolled out a 105 per cent bonus payout for 2025, covering nearly 20,000 employees, signalling a year of steady operational momentum even as the company navigates restructuring pressures. The payout, communicated internally by chief human resources officer Seema Nair, is tied to performance across key metrics including growth, operational efficiency, financial outcomes and people indicators, a combination that suggests the company is inching closer to its long stated goal of sustainable profitability.
Employees at SD level and below are set to receive their bonuses in March, while payouts for senior leadership, including vice presidents and senior vice presidents, will follow after the close of the performance cycle. The elevated 105 per cent multiplier stands out in a sector where cautious payouts have increasingly become the norm, pointing to what appears to be a relatively strong internal scorecard for FY25.
Yet, the announcement arrives with a noticeable contrast. Earlier this year, Flipkart reduced its workforce by around 300 roles as part of its annual performance review process. While officially framed as performance driven, the juxtaposition of layoffs alongside above target bonuses reflects a more nuanced balancing act, one that prioritises cost discipline while continuing to reward and retain high performing talent.
This dual approach is becoming increasingly common across the technology and e commerce landscape, where companies are navigating an uneven hiring environment while under pressure to deliver profitability. Rewarding top contributors, even amid selective workforce reductions, allows firms to maintain morale and retain critical talent without losing sight of financial prudence.
At the same time, Flipkart is also undergoing leadership shifts that hint at a broader strategic recalibration. Nishant Verman has been appointed senior vice president for corporate development and partnerships, while group chief financial officer Sriram Venkataraman is set to step down. Ravi Iyer will take on expanded responsibilities within the finance function, marking a reshuffle at the top as the company gears up for its next phase.
These changes come amid reports that Flipkart is planning to shift its holding structure back to India, a move widely interpreted as groundwork for a potential public listing. While timelines remain fluid, the combination of stronger financial discipline, leadership restructuring and employee incentivisation suggests a company preparing itself for greater scrutiny and scale.
For employees, the 105 per cent payout offers a welcome boost in what has otherwise been a period of adjustment. For Flipkart, it is a signal that even as it cuts where necessary, it is willing to spend where it counts. In the high stakes game of growth versus profitability, the company appears to be hedging its bets carefully, rewarding performance while reshaping itself for what could be its most defining chapter yet.
