There is just one mistake that kills startups: not making something users want, says Paul Graham, a programmer and founder of Y Combinator. He says if you make something that users want, you will probably be fine. As per data collected by startup and investor database Nucleus42 more than 500 Indian startups have closed down operations in the last 20 months. Interestingly, this comes at a time when investment in startups has reached $3.5 billion. The prime reasons are believed to be saturation in the market and the lack of sustainable revenue models. It is at such a juncture that Amazon has introduced its global programme ‘Launchpad’ in India to provide startups in the country a platform to market, sell and deliver their products to Amazon customers through a dedicated store.
Amazon introduced Launchpad in India a year and a half after launching it in the US, where it went live in July 2015. Indian-born Sateesh Kumar Srinivasan heads the Amazon Launchpad. Its success surprised even Amazon. India is the seventh country where it has been made available. "We never promise sales. We don't control that. We will make sure Amazon customers see their (startups) products," said Sateesh.
In Launchpad, sellers are required to pay a participation fee of Rs 5,000 per month in addition to the standard commission structure applicable as per product categories. With Launchpad startups in the US reduced their cost of getting products to customers by using Amazon’s retail channels and infrastructure. In India, it has tied up with various partners including Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, Startup India Initiative, Nasscom 10,000 Startups and Indian Angel Network. Over 25 Indian startups, including Witworks, Leaf Wearables, Ducere Technologies and Seventh Sense Technologies, have already joined the programme, Amazon said.
