Ever wondered if Shaadi.com, the popular matchmaking website, is making money? After all, it has been operating in the modern arranged marriage industry for the last 27 years. This factor boils down to one question- Is Shaadi.com profitable? That’s why we’re here to dig into their year-over-year business results to find it out.
Keep reading!
(A) Synopsis: Is Shaadi.com Profitable?
Ever since the Shark Tank season 3 aired in 2024, folks have been curious about the net worth and profit made by Shark Tank judges. Now, a twist of the tale occurred when a prominent industrialist Harsh Goenka tweeted about the losses made by the judges of Shark Tank.
That includes Anupam Mittal, the founder of Shaadi.com as well. Look at the tweet he shared-
See, it says that Shaadi.com was drowning in losses of Rs.27 as of FY20. Within no time, Anupam Mittal replied-
“I know you meant it in jest, so with all due respect, sir, I think you reacted to what appears to be superficial, biassed, and incomplete data. Happy to learn from stalwarts, but just to clarify, like you, the sharks don’t bleed red, we bleed blue, and that’s why we do what we do.”
After seeing this catfight, folks asked Mr.Mittal to present authentic financial information about Shaadi.com to prove Mr.Harsh Goenka’s tweet false.
It has been over three months since this argument. Sadly, Anupam Mittal failed to present financial data regarding Shaadi.com till today.
That’s why we are presenting financial data of Shaadi.com collected from authentic sources to reveal the most anticipated query of folks- Is Shaadi.com profitable?
Go through the following sections and you will find out!
(B) The Matrimonial Market Landscape
Before delving into the financial performance of Shaadi.com, it’s important to understand the broader context of the matrimonial industry. India’s diverse and culturally rich society places immense importance on arranged marriages.
Let’s look at the following data-
| Year | Arranged Marriage (%) | Love Marriage (%) |
| 2020 | 68% | 32% |
| 2023 | 44% | 56% |
This makes matrimonial services a crucial part of the matchmaking process. This has created a substantial market for online matrimonial platforms, with Shaadi.com being one of the leading players.
| Year | Use of Online Resources | Percentage |
| 2020 | Preference for wedding planning websites | 47% |
| 2023 | Adoption of wedding technology platforms | 58% |
Shaadi.com, founded in 1996 by Anupam Mittal, operates under the umbrella entity known as the People Group. Within this group, there are several other brands, including the real estate platform Makaan.com, mobile gaming company Mauj Mobile, and Mobango. This diverse portfolio signifies the group’s broader interests beyond matrimony services.
(C) Financial Landscape of Shaadi.com
While Anupam Mittal confirmed that People Group turned profitable a couple of years ago, he did not disclose specific details about the company’s revenue or profits. This level of financial discretion is not uncommon among private companies preparing for IPOs.
(C.1) Key Financial Metrics
In today’s world, where people search for marriages online. It’s important to understand how a big website like Shaadi.com is doing financially. So, let’s take a closer look at their numbers to see how well they’re doing. And what it means for the business of bringing people together. Join us as we explore whether Shaadi.com is making a profit or not.
Here are the key financial metrics of Shaadi.com-
| Particulars | Data |
| Revenue | Rs.2,395 crore |
| CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) | 0.91% |
| Market Volume | Rs.2,483 crore |
| User Base (Verified Users) | 35 million |
| Market Share | 25-30% |
(C.2) YOY Revenue Growth
Shaadi.com derives its revenue primarily from premium memberships, advertising, and related services. Its YOY revenue growth has been largely positive, reflecting the increasing demand for online matchmaking services. The CAGR of Shaadi.com is 0.91%.
(C.3) User Base
The Company’s user base has consistently grown over the years, with millions of registered users. A growing user base is a positive indicator for any online platform, as it attracts more premium subscribers and advertisers.
(C.4) Age Demographics
Let’s look at the age distribution of Shaadi.com userbase-
| Age Distribution | Percentage of Users |
| 18-24 Years | 11.07% |
| 25-34 Years | 49.71% |
| 35-44 Years | 16.57% |
| 45-54 Years | 10.7% |
| 55-64 Years | 6.98% |
| Above 65 Years | 4.97% |
The major percentage of the user base belongs to the age group 25-34 years. While the company has reported revenue growth, its profitability can be affected by factors such as marketing expenses, technology investments, and customer acquisition costs.
(C.5) Market Share & Challenges
Shaadi.com faces an uphill battle in the matrimony space, with Matrimony.com currently leading the market with a substantial 50-55% share. In contrast, the Anupam Mittal-led company commands a market share of approximately 25-30%, as reported by various media outlets. Furthermore, both established and new dating platforms are emerging as formidable competitors, intensifying the competition for companies like Shaadi.com and Matrimony.com.
(D) Is Shaadi.com Profitable?
Yes, Shaadi.com is reported to be profitable. According to the founder, Anupam Mittal, Shaadi.com is profitable and is expected to be IPO-ready within the next 12 months. This indicates that the business has been generating positive financial results. However, without specific year-on-year (YoY) business results, it is not possible to provide detailed information about the company’s financial performance over time.
(E) Competition in the Matrimony Space
Shaadi.com operates in a highly competitive space. Notably, two of its competitors, Jeevansathi.com and Bharat Matrimony, have already gone public. Jeevansathi.com is a part of Info Edge (India) Ltd, which conducted its IPO in 2006, while Bharat Matrimony went public in 2017 as part of Matrimony.com Ltd.
These companies, along with Shaadi.com, represent the first generation of consumer internet companies in India, operating in a market with tremendous growth potential. According to an Inc42 report, the Indian market is set to reach a staggering $1.6 trillion by 2025, further highlighting the significance of this sector.
(F) Innovative Offerings on the Horizon
To stay competitive and enhance user engage
ment, Shaadi.com is preparing to launch new products, one of which is “Shaadi Live.” This feature will enable matches to meet virtually face-to-face, taking online matchmaking to a more personal level. Mittal expressed that they have been experimenting for a year and are poised to roll out these new features in the coming weeks. This move aims to make the platform more interactive and ‘sticky’ for users, offering a wider range of use cases.
(G) IPO Plans of Shaadi.com
The company Shaadi.com is looking for an IPO for the second time in the current fiscal year. According to the founder, Anupam Mittal, Shaadi.com is profitable and soon they will be ready for IPO. They tried for an IPO back in 2009 by diluting around 15-20% of the total equity. Since they didn’t require much capital, they dropped the plan. But after 14 years, it is planning to go for an IPO again. Are you aware of the fact that Indian startup IPOs are going through a tough roadblock? That’s the reason why numerous startups are not looking for an IPO this year. Thus, the Initial Public Offering of Shaadi.com will entirely depend on the market conditions.
(H) Future Outlook
The future outlook for Shaadi.com largely depends on its ability to adapt to changing consumer preferences, retain its user base, and explore new revenue streams. As long as the demand for arranged marriages and matrimonial services exists, Shaadi.com has the potential to remain profitable and relevant.
Note: We have thoroughly covered the valuation, funding, and shareholders breakdown of Shaadi.com. You can check it out for detailed information.
(I) Wrap-Up: Is Shaadi.com Profitable?
The officials of the company estimate that the company will generate revenue worth Rs.2,395 crores. Being one of the world’s oldest and most popular matchmaking services, it gets a supreme advantage of word-of-mouth marketing. As a result, its CAGR is 0.91% and they hope that their market volume will reach Rs.2,483 crore. So with these values, it seems that Shaadi.com is going through a purple patch.
Although accurate data is not available, with these estimates you can analyze that Shaadi.com is profitable!
