In a significant move aimed at strengthening India’s small business ecosystem, Meesho has partnered with BSE to launch Project Shikhar, an initiative designed to help high-performing micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) prepare for public listing on the BSE SME platform.
The collaboration seeks to support digital-first businesses in their journey from successful online enterprises to investor-ready public companies. Through structured guidance and support, the initiative aims to address one of the biggest challenges faced by growing MSMEs: access to growth capital.
The partnership was formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in the presence of Lopamudra Rao, Head of Corporate Affairs at Meesho, and Sundararaman Ramamurthy, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of BSE.
Project Shikhar is expected to provide participating businesses with support across key IPO readiness milestones. These include improving governance standards, strengthening compliance frameworks and preparing companies for the requirements of public market participation. By helping businesses become investor-ready, the initiative aims to create a stronger pipeline of companies capable of raising funds through the capital markets.
Speaking about the collaboration, Sundararaman Ramamurthy said that BSE has played a pioneering role in creating opportunities for India’s small and medium-sized enterprises to access public capital. He noted that the BSE SME platform has helped hundreds of businesses raise funds, expand operations and strengthen corporate governance over the years.
According to him, the partnership with Meesho extends these opportunities to a new generation of digital entrepreneurs. As more businesses build successful brands through e-commerce platforms, there is growing potential for them to scale further through public market participation.
Lopamudra Rao highlighted the rapid growth achieved by many entrepreneurs operating within Meesho’s seller ecosystem. She noted that while building a successful online business has become more accessible, transitioning into a publicly listed company remains a complex process.
Project Shikhar, she said, is designed to reduce that complexity by providing structured support and guidance. Beyond helping businesses raise capital, the initiative also aims to encourage transparency, compliance and long-term sustainable growth among emerging enterprises.
The announcement reflects the growing importance of digital entrepreneurship in India’s economy. Over the past decade, e-commerce platforms have enabled thousands of small businesses to reach customers across the country. Many of these enterprises have grown beyond traditional local markets and are now exploring new avenues for expansion.
For MSMEs, access to capital remains a crucial factor in scaling operations, investing in technology and creating employment opportunities. By connecting digital entrepreneurs with public market opportunities, Meesho and BSE hope to bridge an important gap in the growth journey of these businesses.
BSE, Asia’s oldest stock exchange, has long been a key institution in India’s capital markets. Its SME platform was established to help smaller businesses access funding while promoting stronger governance and transparency standards.
With Project Shikhar, both organisations aim to create a pathway that allows promising e-commerce businesses to move from online success stories to publicly listed enterprises. As India’s digital economy continues to expand, initiatives such as this could play an important role in supporting the next generation of entrepreneurial growth.
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