AnyCommerce Chennai Pvt Ltd, the company behind goGrab.in, an online food ordering platform, has acquired iLoveRead.in, a portal that allows users to borrow books online, from Chennai-based M/s Life Online. The transaction details are not disclosed.
“iLoveRead.in’s acquisition is part of our long-term plans to expand to multiple verticals and cities,†said Senthil Nayagam, founder or AnyCommerce.
“We are consolidating B2B and B2C e-commerce startups and would want to start operations in 10 cities in 18 months. Our Bangalore operations should be up by next month,†he added.
Founded in 2012 by Nayagam, AnyCommerce is engaged in providing online restaurant search services. It also offers online grocery, ticket booking and home services. Nayagam was earlier director of Sedin Technologies, which operated under the brand RailsFactory. Previously, he was director of 4S Technologies.
iLoveRead.in was launched by Amrutash Misra and Sahil Gore in 2009. The company claims to have a good customer base in Chennai, especially in the suburbs like Sholinganallur, Tambaram and Mogappair.
The firm also runs a special programme for schools — called Book Lover’s Program for Schools (BLPS) — which is designed to enhance reading habit among children. This is done via storytelling, book-reading, discussions, debates, writing workshops and a host of other activities.
The programme is delivered to the school via a mix of teacher-training, customised modules and some demonstration classes. The programme operates from class I to class VIII. Its clients include PS Senior (Mylapore), Chettinad Harishree Vidyashram (RA Puram) and Riverside Public School (Kotagiri).
iLoveRead.in was incubated at IIT Madras in 2009-2011.
(Edited by Joby Puthuparampil Johnson)
