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Whenever a new trend rolls into the public sphere, I have to weigh my FOMO against my reluctance to buy into something new.
Sometimes it’s terrible at first bite, like how matcha was suddenly added into everything. Sometimes, it takes showrunners seven seasons before they send a TV franchise right into the dumpster so close to the finale.
But unlike me, venture capitalists generally have less hesitation and way more FOMO.
In the case of ecommerce roll-ups in India, it went from a cool new idea into a vertical that attracted millions in investment in just a year. But with similar firms in the US facing issues amid a global economic slowdown, what does it mean for the industry now? In this week’s Big Story, my colleague Samreen digs into whether India’s players have hit a speed bump – or a wall.
For the Hot Take, I looked at the Avatars Store, Meta’s latest foray into ecommerce and the metaverse. It’s a huge opportunity, but can Meta go all in without sacrificing its advertising business?
– Qishin
THE BIG STORY
India’s young roll-ups may be in for a wake-up call
Image credit: Timmy Loen
Two roll-up ecommerce companies have stunned the Indian ecosystem, hitting unicorn status in less than a year. But are the valuations justified, and how will they weather the current market downturn?
THE HOT TAKE
Meta’s latest attempt to crack online shopping – but not in the real world
Husband-and-wife style: Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and philanthropist Priscilla Chan in outfits from the Avatar Store / Photo credit: Meta
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