Meesho has partnered with Bombay Stock Exchange to launch Project Shikhar, an initiative aimed at enabling MSMEs and digital sellers to transition into publicly listed companies via the BSE SME platform.
The programme is designed to provide a structured pathway for informal and small businesses to access capital markets, addressing a major gap in financing for India’s unorganised retail sector.
Project Shikhar
Launch & Framework
- Formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Meesho and BSE
- Focuses on preparing high-performing digital sellers for public listing
- Targets onboarding and grooming sellers over the next one year
Objective
- To create a clear transition pathway from: Privately operated businesses to Investor-ready enterprises
- Enable MSMEs to access equity capital markets
Need for the Initiative
- Large portion of India’s retail sector operates in the informal/unorganised segment
- These businesses face:
- Limited access to growth capital
- Lack of formal financial structures
Programme Support Mechanism
- Screening & Onboarding: Identification of eligible high-performing sellers
- Entity Conversion: Assisting businesses in formalising corporate structures
- Compliance Tracking: Ensuring adherence to regulatory requirements
- Regulatory Positioning: Preparing firms for listing norms on the SME platform
About Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE)
- Asia’s oldest stock exchange
- Among the world’s largest exchanges by number of listed companies
- Established: 1875 (as Native Share and Stock Brokers’ Association)
- Recognition: 1957 under the Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act
- Headquarters: Dalal Street, Mumbai
Significance
- Bridges the gap between digital commerce and capital markets
- Promotes formalisation of MSMEs
- Enhances financial inclusion and access to equity funding
- Strengthens India’s startup and SME ecosystem