India’s Whatsapp for B2C communication Goodbox bags $200K funding

Bangalore-based Goodbox, an app that connects businesses to consumers, has raised US$200,000 in seed funding from the Manipal Group.

Goodbox is a Whatsapp-like service allowing customers to chat directly to businesses. They can book groceries, bus tickets, or spa treatment near them by searching for the relevant category or item. The app lets businesses put up photos, send group messages, set up store opening times, and list their items on a menu.

The funding will be used for product development and for launching the company’s iOS app. “We will add features like in-app payment and home delivery. We are in advanced talks with a white label delivery company to integrate with their API to facilitate last mile,” says Abey Zachariah, co-founder of Goodbox.

The startup claims to have 550 registered businesses across the country. These businesses are bringing their existing customers on a customized version of the app. So when businesses send their customers the link to download the app, their own “store” remains top ranked among categories they serve.

Goodbox reports 2,000 conversations between customers and businesses per week.

While the startup is still in pre-revenue stage, it plans to charge INR 500 (US$8) per year as listing fee and take home a small margin on every transaction.

A similar startup is Lookup, which raised funds from Twitter co-founder Biz Stone. Customer support app Haptik has also started giving users access to shopping services. For instance, it has tied up with Fxkart to order foreign currency and DineOut to book restaurant tables.