The Blue Book

The Blue Book, operating under the legal name Blue Book Bangalore Private Limited, was established in India as a platform for lifestyle and dining discounts. The company was founded in 2012 by Alok Medikepura Anil, Varun Kumar Akula, and Reetika Reddy. Initially launched as a physical book of coupons, the business model was inspired by similar discount books abroad but was adapted for the Indian market.

The company later transitioned from its print origins to a mobile-first strategy, developing an application for both Android and iOS platforms. This pivot was followed by a significant milestone in December 2016, when The Blue Book secured $500,000 in a seed funding round led by the Indian Angel Network (IAN). The funding was intended to fuel expansion, enhance merchant and user acquisition in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Gurgaon, and invest in technology for customer analytics and merchant loyalty solutions.

The business operated on a subscription model, where users would pay a fee to gain access to exclusive, year-long discounts. The service focused on providing location-based deals, allowing customers to discover offers in their vicinity. Its clientele consisted of urban consumers looking for savings on discretionary spending. The platform partnered with a range of merchants, including microbreweries, cafes, restaurants, bars, spas, salons, and entertainment venues. By the end of 2016, the app had enlisted over 1,200 merchants and attracted more than 100,000 users, primarily through organic growth and word-of-mouth referrals. Despite its early traction and funding, the company is now considered to be inactive.

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