Flipkart, the Indian e-commerce marketplace, announced the launch of its fourth edition of the cohort, focusing for the first time on the Israeli tech ecosystem through the Flipkart Leap Innovation Network (FLIN). FLIN, part of Flipkart Leap, is built for startups in their growth trajectory, offering them the opportunity to run real-world pilots through technology partnerships and enabling access to Flipkart’s market footprint. Launched in January 2022, Flipkart Group’s startup accelerator program aims to create a community of entrepreneurs and foster the exchange of innovations with technology startups.
“There is a strong curiosity about Israeli technology in India, as well as a strong desire to adopt innovative solutions and unique business models,” said Adi Lev, CEO of Flipkart Israel. “Joining the Flipkart Leap Innovation Network gives startups at various stages, from early ventures to growth-stage companies, a huge leap forward. The program will foster opportunities for real collaboration between Flipkart and Israeli startups, providing them access to a fast-growing market with hundreds of millions of customers.”
The Flipkart Group is one of India’s leading digital commerce companies with companies that include Flipkart, Myntra, Flipkart Wholesale, Flipkart Health+ and Cleartrip. Founded in 2007, Flipkart has over 500 million registered users.
The Flipkart Group began operations in Israel in 2018 with the acquisition of Upstream Commerce, which specializes in real-time competitive pricing and market trend analysis. The acquisition led to the creation of the Israel Development and Innovation Center, which now spearheads Flipkart’s AI and algorithms efforts. The development center employs 100 people, half of whom are based in Israel and the rest in India and Ukraine.
“We are excited to announce an exclusive cohort of FLIN focused on the Israeli startup ecosystem, furthering our commitment to partnering with young startups in Israel,” said Jeyandran Venugopal, Chief Product and Technology Officer, Flipkart. “Through our India-Israel partnership, we aim to accelerate new business models, foster a culture of innovation, nurture the next generation of tech talent and address real-world problems. Key areas of focus for our tech partnership with the Israeli startup ecosystem include innovative e-commerce/eTail experiences, emerging tech solutions and early-stage businesses.”
