Failing to Succeed (The Story of India's First E-Commerce Company)

You can do everything right and still go wrong.

In 1999, when hardly anyone in India was transacting online, K. Vaitheeswaran co-founded India’s first e-commerce company. Yet years later, when e-commerce was booming in the country, Indiaplaza shut down despite having the advantage of being a pioneer. What went wrong? Was it a lack of funding, flawed strategies or something else entirely?

For the first time, Vaitheeswaran reveals the story behind the rise and fall of Indiaplaza. He explains how a series of unexpected and often inexplicable events derailed what could have been a successful and profitable business, a rare achievement in the world of technology start-ups.

With remarkable honesty, he recounts the trials and pressures of entrepreneurial life in India and the harsh realities of business failure. Set against the backdrop of start-ups raising billions in funding and rapidly becoming unicorns, Failing to Succeed explores the darker side of building a company and the many pitfalls along the way.

Packed with insightful anecdotes, sharp observations, customer insights and behind-the-scenes accounts of the industry, this book offers a revealing look at the challenges facing technology start-ups in India. It is essential reading for aspiring entrepreneurs, investors, business professionals and students, as well as anyone interested in India’s start-up ecosystem.

Ultimately, Failing to Succeed is a powerful story about resilience and learning how to move forward and succeed despite failure.