state-of-the-unicorns
10 ARTICLES
How ShopClues faded without a fight
The fall of this e-commerce giant within a decade of its launch was marked by blind optimism, a total disregard for customers and a massive failure to read the tea leaves.
17 Jul 2025
Drools has come a long way. Just not long enough to beat Pedigree
From starting life as a mere offshoot of a poultry company to achieving unicorn status, Drools has quietly rewritten the rules of India’s pet food market. But competition remains a challenge.
19 Jun 2025
Porter just became a unicorn. Now comes the hard part
The on-demand company has entered the billion-dollar valuation club, thanks to its smart intra-city play. The segment is now hotting up, with both startups and legacy players joining the race.
05 Jun 2025
India’s pre-owned vehicle startups fail the internet business test
We look at Spinny, a unicorn, to demonstrate how the used-car business is a graveyard of ideas pretending to be internet-first or internet businesses only to realize years later that the soul of the business lies in brick and mortar.
08 May 2025
The forgotten lessons of Hike-Part III
We look at Hike’s failed super app bet, its messaging flop show and where the company stands today.
09 Aug 2024
The forgotten lessons of Hike—Part II
We take a look at the company’s trajectory from a messaging platform to a super app and its rise to prominence.
03 Aug 2024
The forgotten lessons of Hike—Part I
A three-part series that documents the rise and decline of the original Indian social media company.
26 Jul 2024
The case of Quikr - Part III
A three-part series that documents the rise and fall of Quikr so you don’t make the same mistakes this startup did.
22 Mar 2024
The case of Quikr - Part II
A three-part series that documents the rise and fall of Quikr so you don’t make the same mistakes this startup did.
16 Feb 2024
The case of Quikr - Part I
A three-part series that documents the rise and fall of Quikr so you don’t make the same mistakes this startup did.
09 Feb 2024