Real estate has always been one of the most commission-heavy industries in the world. For decades, buying or selling a home meant handing over 5–6% of the transaction value to agents. On a $500,000 home, that’s $25,000–$30,000 in fees. Redfin…
Zillow makes money primarily by selling high intent buyer leads to real estate agents through its Premier Agent program. It also generates revenue from mortgage origination, rental listings, and closing services. Instead of acting like a traditional brokerage that owns…
Reddit makes money primarily through advertising, premium subscriptions (Reddit Premium), awards and virtual goods, and data licensing, while keeping its community-driven structure intact. Unlike traditional social media platforms, Reddit monetizes conversations, not creators. But that simple explanation hides a very…
The Moglix business model is a B2B eCommerce and supply chain digitisation model. It connects manufacturers and industrial suppliers with businesses through a technology-driven procurement platform. Moglix makes money through product margins, bulk supply contracts, private label brands, and enterprise…
The Oura Ring business model combines premium hardware sales with a recurring subscription model. Oura Health Oy sells its smart ring as a one-time purchase, but users must pay a monthly membership fee to unlock full health insights, analytics, and…
Audible operates on a subscription-based digital content model where users pay a monthly fee to receive audiobook credits. It also generates revenue from direct audiobook purchases and benefits enormously from being embedded inside Amazon’s ecosystem. In simple terms: Audible sells…
Talabat operates a multi-sided marketplace business model. It connects customers, restaurants, and delivery partners through a single digital platform and earns revenue through commissions from restaurants, delivery fees from customers, advertising and sponsored listings, and subscription services through Talabat Pro.…
Careem operates a multi-service super app business model combining ride-hailing, food delivery, payments, and everyday services. It earns revenue through commissions, service fees, subscriptions, and fintech products, while leveraging a marketplace plus ecosystem expansion strategy across one of the world’s…
MyFitnessPal makes money primarily through premium subscriptions and advertising. It runs on a freemium model where users can track calories at no cost, while advanced features like custom macros, deeper analytics, and meal planning tools require a paid upgrade. The…
Cal AI is an AI-powered calorie tracking app that makes money through a freemium subscription model. Users get basic tracking features for free, while premium users pay monthly or yearly for advanced AI analysis, deeper insights, macro tracking, and personalised…
Canva became successful by making design simple for non-designers. Through a freemium model, community-led growth, template-driven usability, and smart product expansion, it carved out a category that never really existed before. Rather than challenging Adobe on its own turf, Canva…
Tripadvisor makes money primarily through advertising, hotel metasearch commissions, sponsored placements, and experience bookings. It doesn’t own a single hotel room or flight seat. Instead, it monetizes the one thing most travel companies would kill for: trust and attention at…
OpenTable operates a two-sided marketplace platform that connects diners with restaurants. It earns revenue through monthly software subscriptions, per-diner booking fees, and premium marketing services sold to restaurants. It is not a restaurant. It is a technology layer that sits…
Most people think of Airbnb as a place to book a room. But that framing misses the whole point. Airbnb is not a hospitality company. It is not a hotel chain. It does not own property, employ housekeepers, or manage…
The aggregator business model is a platform model where a company brings together multiple service providers or sellers under one brand, standardizes the experience, and connects them to customers without owning the underlying assets. Think of it this way: a…
Stripe makes money by charging a transaction fee on every payment processed through its platform. The standard rate is 2.9% plus $0.30 per successful card charge. On top of that, Stripe earns revenue from SaaS tools like Stripe Billing and…
If you walk into a Sheng Siong store, you won’t find mood lighting, artisan coffee corners, or carefully curated lifestyle displays. What you will find is affordable groceries, packed shelves, fluorescent lighting, and a steady stream of heartland Singaporeans doing…
Ninja Van operates an asset-heavy, tech-enabled logistics business model focused on last-mile delivery across Southeast Asia. It earns revenue by charging eCommerce sellers, marketplaces, and enterprises for parcel delivery, warehousing, cross-border logistics, and fulfillment services. Its core strength comes from…
Dyson’s business model is built on premium product innovation driven by proprietary technology, direct-to-consumer sales, and high-margin hardware monetization. Unlike traditional appliance brands, Dyson focuses on engineering differentiation, owns its intellectual property, and sells at premium prices while maintaining iron-tight…
Flipkart works on a marketplace-based business model. It connects third-party sellers with customers, earns commission on sales, charges sellers for ads and logistics services, and generates additional revenue through private labels, fintech (EMI and BNPL), and subscription services like Flipkart…
