V.S.S Mani: The Architect Of India’s Digital Directory Who Revolutionized Local Search
👨💻StartupTalkers
In the early 1990s, when the internet was just an infant and mobile phones were not smart, V.S.S Mani envisioned creating digital yellow pages to connect people and local businesses with just one phone call.
In 1996, Mani sowed the seeds of his idea in the bustling streets of urban chaos in Mumbai and launched ‘Justdial.’ He aimed to simplify the cumbersome task of finding local businesses in a printed directory. Mani invented an efficient phone-based online directory service where anyone could dial in to find local businesses, products, and services.
Who knew what started as a small garage idea with an investment of only INR 50,000 would turn into a multi-million company, altering the way Indians searched for information?
In this ‘Startup Talker’ story, we will explore the fascinating journey of V.S.S Mani, the early days of Justdial, and the challenges he faced along the way.
V.S.S Mani - Early Life and Education
V.S.S Mani - Career
V.S.S Mani - Personal Life
V.S.S Mani - Challenges
V.S.S Mani - Controversies
V.S.S Mani - Awards And Recognition
V.S.S Mani - Famous Quotes!
V.S.S Mani - Biography
| Name | Venkatachalam Sthanu Subramani Mani |
|---|---|
| Born | In 1966 at Tata Main Hospital, Jamshedpur |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Hometown | Jamshedpur |
| Education | High School from Tamil Nadu |
| Profession | Founder, Managing Director, and CEO Justdial |
| Net Worth | INR 1332 Crore ($13.32 Billion) |
| Spouse | Anita Mani |
V.S.S Mani - Early Life and Education
V.S.S Mani was born in 1966 in Jamshedpur and belongs to a humble and traditional Tamil Brahmin family. Growing up in a middle-class family, he was no stranger to the challenges of making ends meet. Mani’s early life was shaped by strong family values and a zeal to work hard, which later played a crucial role in his entrepreneurial journey.
After completing his schooling, Mani enrolled for a bachelor’s degree at Delhi University along with preparing for Chartered Accountancy. However, he had to quit his college dreams due to financial crunches.
Even as a college dropout, Mani aspired to create something of his own and faced several challenges along the journey before landing on the idea that would later become ‘Justdial’.
Purbalee Dutta
V.S.S Mani - Career
Mani started his professional journey in 1987 as a salesperson for a yellow page company, United Database India. Being a man with a strong entrepreneurial spirit, in 1989 he co-founded AskMe, his first start-up venture and India’s first phone-based directory based in Delhi. Even with an initial investment of 25 lakhs and the brains of three other partners, AskMe did not succeed due to the lack of phone accessibility among people and exorbitant call rates.
In 1992, Mani ventured into a wedding planner magazine, yet to confront another setback. For four years, Mani kept trying his hands in multiple initiatives and enterprises with not much success. Finally, with many consecutive misses, Mani shifted his base to Mumbai, a city that made his dream come true.
In 1996, with a small capital of INR 50,000, borrowed furniture, rented computers, and a small office in Malad with only five employees, Mani started ‘Justdial.’ With the liberalisation of telephone policies and a successful meeting with MTNL officials on a unique customer number, Mani’s vision turned into reality. Through sheer determination and innovative thinking, he transformed ‘Justdial’ into a household name, revamping the way people connected with businesses across the country.
In 2000, Mani launched the dot-com version of ‘Justdial,’ expanding the services from mere contact details to online food ordering and ticket booking. Within a decade, with the simple concept of providing a comprehensive online directory of local businesses, Mani had tapped the unmet need of the Indian market. Seeing the massive success with the company's valuation soaring to INR 4,000 crore by 2007 under his proficient supervision and innovative ideas, the company introduced its web-based version.
In 2013, Mani listed ‘Justdial’ and made the company public by issuing an IPO that further amplified the valuation of the company to INR 6,000 crores. The trailblazing success of ‘Justdial’ grabbed the attention of many investors, and in 2021, Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Retail acquired a total of 66.95% shares in Justdial, which included a 15.63% stake owned by V.S.S. Mani, valued at approximately INR 1,332 crore.
Interview with V.S.S Mani about his Career
V.S.S Mani - Personal Life
Mani is married to Anita Mani and is known to be a family man. Despite his professional success and a strong bond with his wife and kids, Mani believes in keeping his personal life private. Apart from ‘Justdial,’ all his personal affairs are out of the public spotlight.
V.S.S Mani - Challenges
Success did not come to Mani on a platter, both personally and professionally. From not being able to complete his education due to financial crunches to failed startup initiatives, he has faced catastrophe at every step of his life. During the inception of ‘Justdial’, Mani struggled with funding, where he had to sell his wife’s jewellery and withdraw funds from the FDs.
PV Vyshnavi
V.S.S Mani - Controversies
Mani has largely maintained a clean public image; however, in 2013, after the release of the ‘Justdial’ IPO, the company’s stocks faced volatility, leading to questioning the credibility of the company. With the rising concerns over the company’s ability to sustain long-term growth, investors started doubting Mani’s leadership and business model.
‘Justdial’ has also been questioned by industry analysts for their take on innovation, and the company struggled to maintain its market share with rising competition from international giants like Google & Zomato, which put Mani under scrutiny.
Moreover, when ‘Justdial’ was acquired by Reliance Industries, there was a lot of skepticism in the business world about the future of the company. Many believed that Mani would lose all his powers in the once-pioneering startup that was more of a dream come true for him.
V.S.S Mani - Awards And Recognition
Mani was honoured with the coveted Ernst & Young 'Entrepreneur of the Year' Award 2013 in the area of services.
V.S.S Mani - Famous Quotes!
“Believing in oneself is the most important ingredient to becoming successful." V.S.S. Mani, Founder, MD, and CEO, Justdial Ltd.
PV Vyshnavi
FAQ
Who is the CEO and founder of Justdial?
V.S.S. Mani is the founder and current CEO of JustDial.
What is the work of Justdial Company?
Justdial provides local search services, helping users find contact details, reviews, and addresses for businesses and services across various categories in India.
Is Justdial owned by Reliance?
Yes, Reliance Industries acquired a majority stake in Justdial in 2021.
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