Who Are We:
The People Behind ApnaSell
More Than a Platform: A Collective of Passionate Change-Makers
When you interact with ApnaSell, you're not just using a website—you're connecting with a dedicated team of innovators, community builders, and digital architects who believe in revolutionizing how India buys and sells.
We are 37 individuals (and counting) united by one mission: to make local commerce safer, simpler, and more human.Our Identity: The ApnaSell DNA
We Are Digital Traditionalists
We're building the future by honoring the past. Our team deeply understands India's age-old tradition of local markets—the trust, the negotiation, the personal connections. We're translating that warmth and familiarity into the digital realm, not replacing it with cold algorithms.
We Are Community Architects
We don't just build features; we build ecosystems. Every decision we make asks: "Does this strengthen community bonds? Does this empower users? Does this preserve the human element?"
We Are Safety Pioneers
In a space often plagued by mistrust, we're setting new standards. Our safety-first approach isn't just a department—it's embedded in every team member's mindset, from engineering to customer support.
Meet Our Leadership: The Visionaries
Amit Sharma
Co-Founder & CEOTech Engineer Turned Community Builder
Background: IIT Bombay Computer Science, 8 years at leading Indian tech unicorns
Philosophy: "Technology should amplify human connections, not replace them. Every line of code we write should make real-world interactions safer and more meaningful."
Fun Fact: Still rides his first bicycle (bought at age 12) around Mumbai on weekends.
Priya Verma
Co-Founder & Chief Community OfficerUrban Sociologist Turned Digital Connector
Background: TISS Mumbai, worked with urban development NGOs across 5 states
Philosophy: "India shops in relationships, not just transactions. Our platform must preserve that cultural truth."
Fun Fact: Has personally facilitated over 200 successful connections on our platform to understand user pain points.
Rahul Mehta
Head of Safety & TrustFormer Cyber Crime Cell Investigator
Background: 12 years with Mumbai Police Cyber Cell, specialized in online fraud prevention
What He Brings: Real-world investigative experience translated into preventive safety measures
Signature Initiative: "Safe Transaction Zones" program with local police stations
Our Department Pillars: The Engine Room
The Localization Team
India's Cultural TranslatorsTeam Lead: Ananya Deshpande (Speaks 7 Indian languages)
Composition: 8 members representing different Indian states
Mission: Ensure ApnaSell feels local, not just translated
- Region-specific category names ("PG" vs "Hostel" vs "Mess")
- Festival-based selling seasons (Diwali, Eid, Christmas)
- Local measurement units (square feet vs gaj vs grounds)
- Area-specific expectations (what "well-maintained" means)
The Safety & Verification Brigade
Defending TrustTeam Lead: Vikram Singh (Background in banking security)
Composition: 6 specialists including cybersecurity experts and behavioral psychologists
- Analyzing scam patterns across Indian cities
- Developing verification protocols that respect privacy
- Training AI models on Indian scam tactics
- Collaborating with police cyber cells in 8 states
The Engineering Collective
Building for BharatTeam Lead: Sanjay Kumar (Built apps for 2G networks)
Philosophy: "If it doesn't work in Rajasthan's villages, it doesn't work."
- Tech stack designed for Low-end smartphones (1GB RAM)
- Optimized for 2G/3G connectivity
- Regional language input methods
- Platform uses 70% less data than competitors
The Community Success Team
Not Customer Support, But Community NurturingTeam Lead: Meena Patel (Background in community organizing)
Metric They Track: "User happiness score" not "ticket resolution time"
- Mediates misunderstandings (not transactions)
- Builds local user communities
- Gathers grassroots feedback
- Organizes local "ApnaSell Meetups"
Our Workplace Culture: How We Operate
The Mumbai Nerve Center
Our headquarters in Mumbai isn't a typical tech office. It's designed like a traditional Indian marketplace:
- Chai Point: Where ideas are brewed along with tea
- Local Market Wall: Photos from markets across India we serve
- User Story Room: Walls covered with success stories and learning experiences
- Safety War Room: Real-time monitoring and quick response center
Our Guiding Rituals
- Monday Market Visits: Every team member visits a local market weekly
- User Shadowing: Monthly sessions where we watch real users navigate our platform
- Failure Forums: Open discussions about what didn't work and why
- Village Immersion: Quarterly visits to smaller towns we serve
Decision-Making: The 3-Circle Framework
Every feature, policy, or change must satisfy:
Our Diversity: India in Microcosm
Geographic Representation
We come from:
- Metros: Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai
- Tier 2: Indore, Lucknow, Coimbatore, Kochi
- Tier 3: Nashik, Vijayawada, Siliguri, Jalandhar
Linguistic Diversity
Between us, we speak 14 languages:
Educational Backgrounds
- Engineers from IITs and regional colleges
- Sociologists and anthropologists
- Designers from NID and local art schools
- Former government officials
- Small business owners who joined us
Our Credentials & Partnerships
Industry Recognition
- 🏆 Digital India Award 2023: Most Inclusive Platform
- 📜 NASSCOM Member: Contributing to tech ethics frameworks
- ⚖️ Consumer Rights Council: Advisory member on e-commerce safety
Strategic Partnerships
- With Police Departments: Safe transaction zone initiatives in 12 cities
- With Banking Partners: Financial literacy programs
- With Local Business Associations & Educational Institutes
The 100-Hour Rule
Every new team member must complete the following before they can contribute to product development:
- ⏱️ 50 hours of user support (direct interaction)
- ⏱️ 30 hours of market immersion
- ⏱️ 20 hours of safety training
Living Our Values
We don't just build ApnaSell—we live it: All team members buy and sell on our platform, personally test every safety feature, and attend user meetings (with permission) to understand realities.
Behind the Scenes: A Day in Our Life
Our early team checks platform usage from village clusters with morning internet access, agricultural communities selling produce, and small towns starting their day.
Monitoring office-goers checking listings during commute, property seekers scheduling viewings, and student activity in college areas.
Pattern analysis of suspicious activities, coordination with local authorities, and user education push based on morning trends.
Peak time for family decisions on major purchases, post-work browsing and listing, and weekend planning for meetings.
Our distributed team ensures someone is always monitoring. Emergency reports get immediate attention and night transactions get extra vigilance.
Our Hiring Philosophy: Heart Over Resume
We Look For:
- Empathy Index: Can they understand diverse Indian users?
- Local Intelligence: Do they understand ground realities?
- Integrity Quotient: Will they prioritize safety over growth?
- Learning Agility: Can they adapt to India's complexity?
Our Unusual Interviews:
- Market Assignment: Spend ₹500 in a local market and report insights
- User Simulation: Navigate our platform as a first-time user
- Safety Scenario: Respond to simulated emergency situations
- Local Knowledge Test: Understand regional variations in commerce
Transparency: How We're Structured
Financial Transparency
Funding: Bootstrapped + Angel investment from Indian entrepreneurs
Revenue: Optional premium verifications (never compromising free access)
Profit Reinvestment: 100% into safety features and rural outreach
Governance
- Advisory Board: Includes consumer rights activists, cyber law experts
- User Council: Monthly feedback sessions with diverse users
- Transparency Reports: Quarterly publication of safety metrics and challenges
Team Stories: Why We're Here
Rohit (Engineer)
"My mother was scammed selling old jewelry online. I joined to prevent that for others."
Lakshmi (Content)
"Helped my village women sell handicrafts. Saw how platforms ignored their needs."
Arjun (Safety)
"Investigated classifieds scams for years. Now I prevent them."
Sneha (Design)
"My grandfather can't read English but wants to sell his books. I design for him."
Our Promise to You
As Individuals and as a Collective: We respect your intelligence, we provide tools, not rules, and we believe India's diversity is our strength, not a challenge.
Join Our Extended Family
You're our eyes and ears, our safety partners, and our inspiration. Connect with us personally.
Visit Us
Mumbai Office (Wednesdays Open House)
Virtual Chai: Weekly video chats
City Meetups
In Closing: We Are You
We are parents selling our children's old bicycles.
We are students looking for affordable furniture.
We are families searching for our first home.
We are retirees wanting to sell with dignity.
We are small businesses reaching local customers.
We are India, building for India.
ApnaSell isn't what we built—it's who we are.
ApnaSell Team Headquarters
Mumbai, Maharashtra | Established: 2023 | Team Size: 37 passionate individuals
Languages We Speak: 14 and counting | Cities We Call Home: 22+ across India
Our Common Language: Empathy for every Indian buyer and seller