ChattyBao, a Delhi-based hyperlocal startup, has raised over $5 million in a seed funding round co-led by Vertex Ventures South East Asia & India and Info Edge Ventures. 7Square Ventures and various prominent angel investors also participated in the funding round.
As per the startup, the raised funds will be used for product development and launch its app in two to three Tier-1 and 2 cities.
ChattyBao | WhatsApp Shopping
Founded by Kumar Aditya and Varun Gupta, ChattyBao is a Delhi-based ecommerce platform that connects consumers with local businesses or merchants (shops and services) and provides them with a complete shopping experience over WhatsApp.
It enables users to discover, chat, order, and get home delivery from their local merchants without the need to download multiple apps.
Speaking on the development, Kumar Aditya, Co-founder at ChattyBao, said,
“The entrepreneurial spirit of local businesses in India has always helped them survive and fight competition from larger players. ChattyBao will significantly enhance their ability to provide an ecommerce experience to their users, helping them compete effectively with online players.”
ChattyBao is presently in stealth mode and plans to offer a complete shopping experience to customers over WhatsApp. As per the startup, its app will be launched in the third week of August this year.
The Delhi-based startup has whitelisted its number on WhatsApp, which consumers can use to discover local businesses around them. Consumers can also chat with those business owners (including offline tailors, vegetable vendors, pharmacies etc.), order products from them, make online payments and get home delivery.
Commenting on the development, Kanika Mayar, partner at Vertex Ventures South East Asia and India, said,
“Small merchants and service providers are the backbone of the retail industry in India. ChattyBao can strengthen their value proposition further and become a catalyst in enabling more customers to come online and transact with the same comfort they already experience in WhatsApp conversations.”