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
Amazon India slashes fees to boost seller growth
Zero referral fees now on over 12.5 crore products under Rs 1,000, Easy Ship fees cut by over 20 per cent from 16 March 2026.
MUMBAI: Amazon India just dropped fees like confetti because when sellers save up to 70 per cent, even the checkout cart starts celebrating. Amazon India today announced a major fee reduction to supercharge growth for lakhs of sellers, expanding zero referral fees coverage more than 10x from 1.2 crore products in 2025 to over 12.5 crore products priced under Rs 1,000 across 1,800 plus categories. Effective 16 March 2026, the changes also include a more than 20 per cent cut in Easy Ship fees for products below Rs 300, plus savings of up to 90 per cent plus on selling fees for the second unit when multiple units ship in one box.
Easy Ship where sellers store products at their premises while Amazon handles pickup and delivery remains a favourite for small businesses and those scaling up, thanks to lower upfront logistics costs. The revisions aim to make selling more profitable, especially for entrepreneurs in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities.
Amazon India director of selling partner services Amit Nanda said, “Building on last year’s fee reductions, we are now expanding that commitment to benefit a much larger cohort of sellers. By eliminating referral fees across 1,800 plus categories and reducing logistics costs, sellers can save up to 70 per cent in fees.”
Illustrative per-unit savings (effective 16 March 2026, products under 500g):
Fashion jewellery necklace set (Rs 999, Easy Ship), total fees drop from Rs 324 to Rs 100, a 69 per cent reduction (save Rs 224).
Earphones (Rs 798, Fulfilled by Amazon), total fees fall from Rs 248 to Rs 109, a 56 per cent reduction (save Rs 139).
T-shirt (Rs 299, Easy Ship), total fees reduce from Rs 71 to Rs 56, a 21 per cent reduction (save Rs 15).
Earthen Story (a Bengaluru-based seller) co-founder Ashish Agarwal reflected on last year’s changes, “When Amazon axed referral fees on products under Rs 300 last year, it was a game-changer… The result? 50 per cent explosive growth, with more momentum to conquer even bigger categories.”
Sellers can choose from three fulfilment options, self-ship, Easy Ship, or Fulfilled by Amazon (FBA). The fee cuts reinforce Amazon’s push to pass operational efficiencies back to sellers and customers in one of the world’s fastest-growing e-commerce markets.
In a platform where every rupee saved can fuel the next listing, Amazon isn’t just tweaking numbers, it’s handing sellers rocket fuel to scale faster, sell smarter, and keep the cart rolling.
