A look at the modest two-storeyed building that was the building block of Flipkart's future
Sachin and Binny Bansal were looking for a place to work on their business idea, which would grow to become the largest e-commerce platform in India. In January, the duo met SM Fathaulla, who gave Flipkart its first office in a Koramangala apartment.
Now that the founders have left Flipkart — Binny resigned on account of a probe into misconduct allegations against him, and Sachin quit after Walmart takeover — let us look at the modest two-storeyed building that was the building block of the company's future.
#447-C 1 A Cross 12 Main, Koramangala
Sachin and Binny met as students in IIT-Delhi and worked together in Bengaluru for a short while. They wanted to make a company that would fulfill specific customer demands. They were intent on finding an affordable place when a broker introduced them to Fathaulla, who retired as the director of a public sector department of the Government of Karnataka.
His wife was skeptical of giving the first floor of their house to a couple of youngsters. "They came on a Hero Honda in search of a place to start their company. We knew nothing about their background or any other information except that they were from Chandigarh. My wife suspiciously asked if they would pay rent on time and Sachin promised they would."
In 10 years, the rent payment has been like clockwork, he said. Sachin would hand over the cheque personally in the first few years but later became busy as the company grew.
Fathaulla started the construction of this house in 1989 when Koramangala was a "mosquito-infested village, which was considered unlivable". The roads were clean and broad and there was minimal traffic.
"The word 'pollution' was non-existent in the 1990s. Job opportunities were lifted and scarce, but the city soon saw a wave of change," Fathaulla said.
Despite the traffic, Fathaulla believes that many things have changed for the better in the area, commercially and culturally. "I support youngsters with a vision. I rented out the flat in 2005 to someone named Anand, who prospered in the recruitment business. Sachin and Binny have done very well," he added.
The Lady Luck of the launchpad
This house, more than an office, is a launchpad for the company. Flipkart has many offices in Bengaluru but #447-C has not been relinquished. The door still has a Flipkart logo sticker on it. Sachin had offered to buy the house. Fathaulla has promised he would give Sachin the charge whenever he decided to sell.
"My family has done well and so has Flipkart. Perhaps, it is the work of the Ladu Luck residing in #447!" he said.
Even today, Fathaulla encourages brokers and house owners to rent out properties to youngsters with entrepreneurial ambitions.
Now, Koramangala is a busy residential area in Bengaluru and a major commercial hub. India’s technology giant Infosys opened its first office in 1980s. During the dotcom revolution in the late 1990s, many companies were based here including Microland and Indya.com. Many startups including Ola, Swiggy, HackerEarth, FreshMenu and Big Basket have taken flight from here.
