Antler India's ONDC-focused platform gains steam as 140 founders sign up

On August 9, at a packed event at a five-star hotel in Bengaluru, Antler India announced the launch of an Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC)-focused venture platform, Antler ONDC. 

The platform, said early-stage focused Antler India, would create a community of startups all focused on building atop the nascent government-led e-commerce protocol. It aims to provide startups with access to mentors, experts, and, for a select few, up to $500,000 in pre-seed funding as well.

Backed by Infosys Chairman and Cofounder Nandan Nilekani and the Foundation for Interoperability in Digital Economy’s (FIDE) Beckn Protocol, Antler ONDC is Bengaluru-based Antler India’s attempt to supercharge ONDC adoption. 

ONDC—which was established by the government’s Department of Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT)—is an open, interoperable network aimed at enabling commerce among buyers, sellers, and middlemen through digital public infrastructure. Just like the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), which facilitates digital payments through compatible applications like Paytm and PhonePe, ONDC can be used by businesses to carry out online transactions like travel bookings and online shopping.