Quick Info
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | E-commerce |
| Founded | 2007; 18 years ago |
| Founders | |
| Headquarters | |
Area served | India |
Key people | Kalyan Krishnamurthi (CEO)[1] |
| Services | Online shopping |
| Revenue |  ₹70,541 crore (US$8.3 billion) (2025) |
 ₹−4,248 crore (US$−500 million) (2025) | |
| Owner | Walmart Inc. (77.8% as of 2025) Flipkart Private Ltd (20.2%) |
Number of employees | 22,000 (excluding Myntra)[2] (January 2024) |
| Parent | Walmart (~85%)[3] |
| Subsidiaries | |
| Website | flipkart.in |
Details:
Flipkart, once a small online bookstore, has grown into one of the most influential e-commerce companies globally. Though it originated in India, Flipkart’s strategic acquisition by Walmart and its increasing global collaborations have placed it firmly on the world map of e-commerce innovation and growth.
1. Origin and Founders:
Flipkart was founded in October 2007 by Sachin Bansal and Binny Bansal, two Indian entrepreneurs and ex-Amazon employees. Initially, the company focused on selling books online but quickly expanded into electronics, fashion, groceries, and more.
Despite starting in Bengaluru (India), Flipkart’s approach to customer experience, logistics, and technology mirrored global best practices, setting it up for international interest early on.
2. Walmart’s Historic Acquisition:
In May 2018, Walmart Inc., the world’s largest retail company, acquired 77% of Flipkart for $16 billion, valuing Flipkart at over $20 billion. This was Walmart’s largest international deal and a move to challenge Amazon’s global dominance.
Flipkart is now a key international asset in Walmart's portfolio, operating semi-independently while being guided by Walmart’s global strategies.
3. Flipkart’s Global Business Significance:
While Flipkart’s physical operations are mainly in India, its strategic value is global, due to:
- Walmart's digital strategy: Flipkart leads Walmart’s international e-commerce footprint, which complements Walmart’s traditional brick-and-mortar dominance.
- Technology and innovation exports: Flipkart Labs works on AI, blockchain, and supply chain automation—insights that feed into Walmart’s global operations.
- Cross-border trade: Flipkart has enabled Indian sellers to export products globally and partners with brands for global product distribution.
4. Flipkart’s Leadership:
As of 2025, Kalyan Krishnamurthy is the CEO of Flipkart Group. He has been instrumental in aligning Flipkart with Walmart’s global vision, expanding its portfolio beyond retail into fintech (PhonePe), travel (Cleartrip), logistics (Ekart), and social commerce (Shopsy).
5. Revenue and Valuation:
- Estimated Group Revenue (FY 2023–24): $6.7 billion USD+
- Estimated Valuation (2025): ~$37–40 billion USD
- Funding: Backed by Walmart, with prior investments from SoftBank, Tiger Global, Tencent, and Accel.
6. Flipkart's Ecosystem and Subsidiaries:
Flipkart has expanded into a multi-business global ecosystem, including:
| Subsidiary/Unit | Domain | Global Relevance |
|---|---|---|
| Myntra | Fashion e-commerce | Competes with Shein, Zalando |
| Cleartrip | Travel booking | Competes with Expedia, Booking.com |
| Ekart | Logistics arm | Advanced supply chain systems |
| PhonePe (now separate) | Fintech/payments | Competing globally in UPI/digital wallets |
| Shopsy | Social commerce | Mirrors TikTok Shop, Temu in strategy |
7. Global Competition:
Though Flipkart operates primarily in South Asia, it is part of the global e-commerce battlefield, indirectly competing with:
- Amazon (Global)
- Alibaba / AliExpress (China)
- Temu / Pinduoduo (Global expansion)
- MercadoLibre (Latin America)
- Rakuten (Japan)
With Walmart’s backing, Flipkart plays a strategic role in tackling Amazon's influence in emerging and developed markets.
8. Flipkart's Technology & Innovation (Global R&D Impact):
Flipkart isn’t just a retail company—it is a tech innovator:
- Flipkart Labs: Researches blockchain, NFTs, virtual shopping, and AR/VR.
- AI-powered supply chain: Efficient warehouse automation, smart delivery route planning.
- Data science: Hyper-personalization and global user behavior modeling.
- Digital commerce for the next billion users: Innovations tailored for low-bandwidth and rural markets—valuable insights for Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia.
9. Global Social Impact & Sustainability:
Flipkart is now adopting ESG goals and collaborating on:
- Carbon-neutral delivery vehicles.
- Reducing single-use plastics.
- Walmart Foundation partnerships for global social impact.
- Empowering small and rural entrepreneurs to reach global markets via e-commerce.
10. Conclusion:
Flipkart is no longer just an Indian marketplace—it is a global e-commerce innovator, shaping the future of retail with technology, scale, and strategic insight. Under Walmart’s leadership, Flipkart is helping build a globally integrated retail system, reaching customers, sellers, and partners far beyond its home country.
As e-commerce continues to transform retail globally, Flipkart stands as a case study in how localized innovation can lead to global influence and value.