For all book lovers

Updated on: Monday, November 29, 2010

Chirag Rathod, a student of the Entrepreneurship Development Centre (EDC), Mudra Institute of Communication (MICA), Ahmedabad, has launched an entrepreneurial venture called Booksvilla.com. A startup based in Mumbai, the site claims to sell new books on a wide array of subjects — music to modern arts, Buddhism to Batman — at low prices right at the user’s doorstep.

What makes Booksvilla unique amongst a cluster of book sites is its online book exchange programme that allows users to exchange books with each other, claims the founder. “The venture also enables them to put up a list of books they own and a wish list of books they would like to read, thus facilitating a barter system online. It is only here, that two users from different parts of the country can actually get their books swapped just by sitting in their homes,” says Rathod.

Rathod and his senior Rohan Pimparkar, co-founder of the website, started working on Booksvilla.com around 16 months ago. Balancing work along with studies was tedious, even for Pimparkar, who worked dedicatedly leaving his hefty paying job. The entrepreneurial duo now plans to attract investors and add more books to the venture. “We believe the programme, besides catering to the growing tribe of book lovers, also aims to reduce piracy. Since our exchange programme focuses on exchanging only original copies of the books, it will be beneficial for all publishers and writers,” says Pimparkar.

For all book lovers

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