goZefo

GoZefo, operating as Zefo, was an online marketplace specializing in refurbished and pre-owned goods, which carved out a niche in India's e-commerce sector. The company was established in 2015 by a team of four founders: Rohit Ramasubramanian, a former analyst at Helion Venture Partners; Karan Gupta and Himesh Joshi, both with experience at the Boston Consulting Group; and Arjit Gupta, who previously worked with Amazon and Flipkart. Their combined expertise in investment, consulting, and e-commerce technology provided a strong foundation for the venture.

The business operated on a managed marketplace model, aiming to solve the trust deficit inherent in the second-hand goods market. Zefo would procure used furniture, appliances, and mobile phones from individual sellers, businesses with excess inventory, and e-commerce partners like Flipkart and Urban Ladder. Unlike a simple classifieds platform, Zefo managed the entire process. This included physically inspecting, quality-checking, repairing, and refurbishing the items before listing them for sale. By providing detailed product descriptions, verified photographs that highlighted any defects, and handling logistics, the company offered a more reliable and convenient experience for buyers. To further build consumer confidence, Zefo introduced a buy-back guarantee, promising to repurchase items at a significant percentage of the sale price within a year.

Zefo's primary market consisted of value-conscious consumers, particularly millennials and individuals relocating for work who needed to furnish their homes on a budget. The company's revenue was generated from the sale of these refurbished goods. The platform offered a wide selection, from unboxed, like-new items with minor defects to gently used products, all priced significantly lower than new equivalents. Over its operational years, Zefo expanded its presence from Bengaluru to other major Indian cities, including Mumbai, and the Delhi-NCR region. The company successfully raised approximately $21.2 million in funding from investors such as Sequoia Capital, Helion Venture Partners, and Beenext. In a significant milestone, Zefo was acquired by the online classifieds platform Quikr in April 2019 for an estimated ₹200 crore (around $28.6 million) in an all-stock deal, which allowed Quikr to bolster its 'Quikr Assured' vertical for pre-owned goods.

Keywords: refurbished goods, used furniture, pre-owned appliances, online marketplace, e-commerce India, circular economy, asset liquidation, second-hand marketplace, Quikr acquisition, Sequoia Capital, Helion Venture Partners, refurbished electronics, managed marketplace, quality-tested products, product refurbishment, furniture resale, appliance resale, e-commerce logistics, buy-back guarantee, factory seconds