GlobalLinker members have made a clean sweep at the Retail Startup Awards by bagging the top three awards.

The Retail Startup Awards, instituted by the Retailers Association of India (RAI), celebrate & encourage the spirit of entrepreneurship. Mr Kumar Rajagopalan, CEO of Retailers Association of India, opines, “Retail is not just about selling products or services anymore. It is about adding value to the life of consumers with unparalleled service, effective solutions and unforgettable experience. Startups, with their fresh approach, out-of-the box solutions are helping add new dimension to retail and help it evolve. The Retail Startup Awards have been instituted to celebrate the contribution of these new crop of entrepreneurs to retail.”

In this inaugural edition of the Retail Startup Awards, three innovative startups from diverse fields won the top three awards.

Mr Sameer Vakil, Co-founder & CEO GlobalLinker shares how this platform enables business growth for startups & businesses, “GlobalLinker recognises the opportunities startups have with their great ideas and execution capabilities. It also understands startups have a number of challenges around limited resources. To ensure these young organisations and their promoters can continue to work on their big business dreams; GlobalLinker brings an array of resources to save them time, effort and money. Most importantly, they can now feel part of a larger business community and make desired business connections in a few simple clicks.”

Elaborating on the selection criteria for the Retail Startup Awards, Mr Rajagopalan said, “The first criteria was that the startups are companies that retail to customers. There are several platforms for recognising talent in technology but few that really encourage startups in the consumption space.” He added, “The other criteria included the effectiveness of the solution / service, business model, relevance, use of technology and viability. The most important criteria was how it really elevated the life of consumers.”

The top honours went to GrabOn a Hyderabad based startup that has been launched with the aim of making online shopping easy and affordable. Overcoming tough competition, they have gained a 18% market share in the couponing and deals sector, a remarkable feat in a short span of time.

Skinyoga, a beauty & skin care brand founded by three sisters has won the second spot. Skinyoga is a 100% natural skincare brand wholesaling and retailing in more than 29 countries.

At third position is Wassup Laundry, a Chennai based startup that provides laundry & dry cleaning services at your doorstep. This is an ideal service for busy professionals and entrepreneurs who do not have time to run their errands. Wassup services are available in Delhi, Bangalore & Chennai and they will soon expand their services to other cities.

With their innovative solutions, startups are transforming our lifestyles and the world of business. The RAI Startup Awards are a befitting recognition of this spirit that drives entrepreneurs to turn their dreams & ideas into reality.