Skip to Main Content
HBS Home
  • About
  • Academic Programs
  • Alumni
  • Faculty & Research
  • Baker Library
  • Giving
  • Harvard Business Review
  • Initiatives
  • News
  • Recruit
  • Map / Directions
Faculty & Research
  • Faculty
  • Research
  • Featured Topics
  • Academic Units
  • …→
  • Harvard Business School→
  • Faculty & Research→
Publications
Publications
  • March 2022
  • Case
  • HBS Case Collection

DealShare: Social E-Commerce for the Indian Mass Market

By: Krishna G. Palepu and Malini Sen
  • Format:Print
  • | Language:English
ShareBar

Abstract

Launched in September 2018, e-retail startup DealShare has created a tech-enabled model for the Indian mass market that allows customers to buy together, save money on good quality goods, and at the same time have fun. It targets customers who are still getting used to the Internet for commerce and for whom big e-commerce players are not an ideal option. As DealShare transitions from a regional to a national company, the founders are at a crossroads. Until now, they have prioritized profitability at the unit economics level over growth. Now that they are confident that the DealShare concept can be profitable, should they relax their commitment to profitability and expand rapidly to preempt competition? Will the investments required and added complexity derail the company’s success?

Keywords

Business Model; Disruption; Trends; Talent and Talent Management; Customer Focus and Relationships; Value; Cost vs Benefits; Value Creation; Internet and the Web; India

Citation

Palepu, Krishna G., and Malini Sen. "DealShare: Social E-Commerce for the Indian Mass Market." Harvard Business School Case 322-099, March 2022.
  • Educators
  • Purchase

About The Author

Krishna G. Palepu

Accounting and Management
→More Publications

More from the Authors

    • July 2025
    • Faculty Research

    Silicon Valley Bank: Gone in 36 Hours

    By: Jung Koo Kang, Krishna G. Palepu and Charles C.Y. Wang
    • June 2025
    • Faculty Research

    Fair Value Accounting for Debt Securities and Loan Assets

    By: Jung Koo Kang, Krishna G. Palepu and Charles CY Wang
    • April 2025
    • Faculty Research

    Velong: Rethinking “Made in China” (B)

    By: Krishna G. Palepu, Billy Chan and Nancy Dai
More from the Authors
  • Silicon Valley Bank: Gone in 36 Hours By: Jung Koo Kang, Krishna G. Palepu and Charles C.Y. Wang
  • Fair Value Accounting for Debt Securities and Loan Assets By: Jung Koo Kang, Krishna G. Palepu and Charles CY Wang
  • Velong: Rethinking “Made in China” (B) By: Krishna G. Palepu, Billy Chan and Nancy Dai
ǁ
Campus Map
Harvard Business School
Soldiers Field
Boston, MA 02163
→Map & Directions
→More Contact Information
  • Make a Gift
  • Site Map
  • Jobs
  • Harvard University
  • Trademarks
  • Policies
  • Accessibility
  • Digital Accessibility
Copyright © President & Fellows of Harvard College.