1. Ashish Mohapatra, originally from Orissa, achieved the remarkable feat of making it to IIT Kharagpur without the aid of any coaching, bringing pride to everyone around him. However, he took a bold step by departing from his high-paying consulting role at McKinsey and later as a prominent Venture Capitalist (VC) in August 2015. What he envisioned next was even more audacious. 2. At a time when consumer giants like Amazon and Flipkart were flourishing in India, Ashish aimed to address the unorganized sector of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). Despite skepticism from many, Ashish pressed ahead and founded OfBusiness in 2015. 🚀 3. OfBusiness initially focused on supplying metals and cement to the manufacturing and infrastructure industry, experiencing a robust start with over 20 CR monthly orders and a profit of 30 Lakhs. However, Ashish identified a crucial missing element. 🤔 4. Recognizing that 95% of transactions operated on credit, OfBusiness lacked credit capabilities internally. Ashish understood that without credit, SMEs would be hesitant to engage. To sustain his startup, he needed to secure funding for credit, a process that turned into a daunting challenge for Ashish. 5. Facing rejection from 73 VCs within six months, Ashish encountered difficulty in building conviction on the credit model’s profitability. His lack of credit background became a major hurdle. Despite the setbacks, Ashish persevered. 6. Committing himself to extensive research, he scrutinized the balance sheets of three companies daily for a year. He spent nine months visiting numerous SME offices to understand how to underwrite loans for them. In December 2016, OfBusiness successfully raised 70 CR, led by Zodius Capital. 💸 7. The model gained momentum as OfBusiness reached revenues of 100 CR. The low-interest and collateral-free approach resonated, drastically reducing the SME credit window from 90 days to 72 hours. By 2018, OfBusiness disbursed 100 CR in loans and achieved a revenue of 500 CR. 📉 8. Identifying a gap in the market where credit was available but lacked technological management, Ashish expanded into digital services in 2019. Introducing BidAssist (Government Tender mapping) and ProcureAssist (Vendor management), OfBusiness transformed from a rejected startup to a favored one, raising 500 CR in two years from Norwest, AlphaWave, and Innoven Capital. 9. In August 2021, OfBusiness secured a massive funding of 1300 CR from Tiger Global, propelling it to unicorn status with a valuation of 10,000 CR, becoming the 18th unicorn of 2021. 🦄 ➡️ Today, OfBusiness boasts a revenue of 7,139 CR and a staggering valuation of 40,000 CR. The story of Ashish Mohapatra reflects a journey of resilience, transforming rejection into a billion-dollar success on the 74th attempt. 💪
Growth of Content Marketing Market to $2 Trillion by 2032 at 16.9% CAGR
Allied Market Research recently released a report titled “Content Marketing Market,” analyzing the period from 2023 to 2032. According to the report, the global content marketing market achieved a revenue of $413.2 billion in 2022 and is projected to reach $2 trillion by 2032. Key Growth Factors: The growth of the content marketing market is driven by the increasing demand for diverse content formats, particularly the rising popularity of video platforms and short-form videos. The widespread adoption of digital platforms and the surge in online activities, especially on social media, contribute significantly to the market’s robust expansion. However, challenges in creating content that aligns with rapidly changing consumer preferences are expected to hinder market growth. Conversely, the increasing trend of partnerships and collaborations among major market players is anticipated to present growth opportunities. Impact of COVID-19: The COVID-19 pandemic has acted as a catalyst for digital transformation and online engagement, significantly influencing the content marketing market. The usage of digital platforms has witnessed a steady increase during and after the pandemic, with businesses recognizing the potential of content marketing to connect with their target audiences effectively. The pandemic accelerated the digitalization trend and online activities, emphasizing the importance of digital marketing strategies. Businesses turned to online platforms and social media to maintain connections with customers and promote products and services when physical interactions were limited. The surge in digital marketing has underscored the crucial role of content marketing in sustaining businesses’ presence and relevance. Market Segmentation: **Channel Type: Video Platforms Sub-Segment Significantly Growing** The video platforms sub-segment dominated the global content marketing market share in 2022, holding a substantial 58.2% share. This sub-segment is expected to experience notable growth due to the increasing prevalence of video platforms, rising mobile device usage, and growing demand for real-time engagement through live streaming. **End Use: Lead Generation Sub-Segment with Massive Growth Potential by 2032** The lead generation sub-segment held a significant market share of 44.5% in 2022 and is poised for substantial growth during the forecast period. This growth is attributed to the effectiveness of lead generation in measuring costs, tracking conversions, and gaining a clearer understanding of the financial impact. Marketers leverage diverse channels, including social media, blogs, webinars, emails, and more, to engage a broad audience and drive successful prospect interactions. **Regional Analysis: Asia-Pacific Dominated in 2022** The Asia-Pacific region emerged as the dominant force in the global content marketing market in 2022, capturing a substantial share of 41.6%. This dominance is driven by the increasing popularity of content marketing in countries like India, China, Japan, and South Korea. The widespread use of social media platforms, such as Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn, in these countries creates abundant opportunities, providing access to a massive and diverse audience