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Trell Reviews

Bengaluru, Karnataka

4.5/ 5

2 reviews

Trell, legally known as Trell Experiences Private Limited, is a prominent Indian social commerce platform headquartered in Bengaluru, Karnataka. Founded in 2016 by IIT-Bombay alumni Pulkit Agrawal, Arun Kumar Lodhi, Prashant Sachan, and Bimal Kartheek Rebba, the company established itself as a pioneer in the "content-community-commerce" space, specifically targeting India's growing vernacular-speaking internet population. The platform originally launched as a visual blogging application, allowing users to share travel and local experiences through short-form video content. Over time, it evolved into a comprehensive lifestyle discovery platform where creators share recommendations and reviews across diverse categories, including beauty, fashion, personal care, wellness, cooking, and home decor. A defining feature of Trell is its commitment to regional accessibility; at its peak, the platform supported over 10 to 12 Indian languages, such as Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada, effectively bridging the digital divide for the "next half billion" users coming online in India. In mid-2021, Trell significantly expanded its business model by launching "Trell Shop," an in-app e-commerce marketplace. This move integrated social discovery with direct transactions, enabling users to purchase products from over 500 brands—including major names like L’Oréal and Garnier—based on recommendations from a community of over 18 million creators. The platform achieved remarkable scale, reporting over 100 million downloads and 50 million monthly active users (MAUs). Financially, Trell has raised approximately $65.9 million in funding across several rounds. Its investor base includes high-profile venture capital firms such as Sequoia Capital India (through its Surge program), KTB Network, Fosun RZ Capital, Mirae Asset, and BEENEXT. During its Series B round in July 2021, the company was valued at approximately $120 million. Despite its rapid growth, Trell has faced significant operational and financial challenges. Reports indicate a dramatic revenue decline and high cash burn rates, which led to a pivot from a commerce-heavy model back toward an advertising-led strategy. The company also underwent internal probes and management shifts, including the departure of co-founder Prashant Sachan in 2020. Today, Trell continues to operate as a technology-driven ecosystem, utilizing machine learning and artificial intelligence to personalize content for its vast user base. While navigating a competitive landscape dominated by larger social media and e-commerce players, it remains a notable example of the potential for vernacular-first platforms to scale within the Indian creator economy. The company's registered office is located in Bengaluru, with additional corporate records associated with Mumbai.