Spotlight on Innovative Indian Startups Transforming the Books Industry

India has proven itself to be a vibrant hub for startups, particularly those that are focusing on revolutionizing the book industry. Despite the challenging global circumstances, Indian entrepreneurs continued to innovate in 2020 by establishing startups to cater to diverse literary preferences and learning tastes. In the following paragraphs, we highlight startups in the book industry that have started their journey in 2020 or later and are making strides in redefining reading and learning experiences.

The presence of startups in this list varies from publishers, aggregators of eBooks, audiobook providers to social collaborative learning platforms. These startups are not just catering to English readers but are also focusing on various regional language readers, thus making literature accessible and enjoyable to a diverse readership.

These startups are helping to foster a vibrant book culture in India by providing unique and innovative solutions. By harnessing cutting-edge technology, these companies are contributing to the growth of literary and learning experiences. Here are the startups that are pioneering these changes:

Tamil Novel Blog

Based in Chennai, Tamil Novel Blog curates a broad range of Tamil Novels in different genres. The blog offers various writings by notable Tamil authors and is an excellent space for Tamil literature enthusiasts. Its novel collection is widely sourced and thus provides a diverse and rich offering. Find Tamil Novel Blog on Facebook or follow them on Twitter @tamil_2018.

Theta Publishers OSU

This Strategic Business Unit of Theta Publishers and CSR Solutions Inc., founded by entrepreneur Ram Sharma, provides high-quality SelfHelp, Motivational, and Thought-Provoking books. The theta Publishers has a wide range of offerings for book lovers. Find Theta Publishers OSU on Facebook or visit their LinkedIn page.

Vaarta – Where India Talks

This Chennai-based startup transforms commutes into the best part of the day with its daily news, audio stories, podcasts, and personalized talk radio in regional languages. Vaarta makes it convenient for everyone to follow audio shows in languages they prefer. Find Vaarta on Facebook or follow them on Twitter @VaartaApp.

Mysticadii

This startup aims to empower modern mystics by sharing ancient wisdom through short stories and folklore on various spiritual and metaphysical topics. Mysticadii shares tales about Gods and Goddesses, and ancient scriptures, making spirituality accessible and engaging. Find Mysticadii on Facebook or visit their LinkedIn page.

Merrative

Merrative is a community that enables discussions based on digital literature like books, news, articles, and research papers. It provides flexible hiring solutions for brands, authors, and podcasters to become a publishing powerhouse. Find Merrative on Facebook, follow them on Twitter @merrative or visit their LinkedIn page.

Namya Press

With a base in Delhi, Namyapress promises high-quality printed books with their services. Find Namya Press on Facebook or visit their LinkedIn page.

Bookvala

Located in Ambala, Haryana, Bookvala aims at revolutionizing the book industry with blockchain technology. Find Bookvala on Facebook or visit their LinkedIn page.

Sonzal Publishers

Based in Ganderbal, Jammu, and Kashmir, Sonzal Publishers makes self-publishing easier across multiple Indian languages. The founder of Sonzal Publishers, Hashim Tariq Bhat, aims at providing a platform for millions to self-publish their work. Follow them on Twitter @sonzalpublisher or visit their LinkedIn page.

CoDot

CoDot, an Indian branching narrative story platform based in Bangalore, connects people based on interactions in the story. Their vision is to promote original thinking and enable intellectual conversations. Learn more about them on their LinkedIn page.

Sheroes: Breaking Stereotypes

Founded by Jahnavi Singh from Muzaffarpur, Bihar, Sheroes: Breaking Stereotypes is a book bringing global gender inequality issues to the fore. Find Sheroes: Breaking Stereotypes on Facebook.

Calibr

Calibr is a social collaborative learning platform for modern remote workforce helping organizations turn their in-house experts into course authors, thus fostering a culture of peer-to-peer learning. Calibr is based out of Bangalore and was founded by Anand Prakash and Umesh Joshi. Visit their LinkedIn page or follow them on Twitter @calibr_ai.

The myriad of startups highlighted above demonstrates the adaptability, resilience, and innovative spirit within the Indian book industry. These companies are recognizing the evolving needs of the modern reader and learner, leveraging technology to offer creative solutions. These startups continue to push the boundaries and bring unique, enriching experiences to readers and learners alike.