Bengaluru, March 6 : At the launch of PhonePe's Indus Appstore, a compelling panel discussion delved into the critical issue of sustainable business models for app stores, the company said on Monday.

The panel deliberated on the sustainable business models for app stores, focusing on the unique challenges and opportunities within the Indian market.

The panel also shed light on the path forward for app stores in India, seeking to foster an ecosystem that supports innovation, inclusivity, and growth, according to the company.

Moderated by Sajith Sivanandan, head of Disney+ Hotstar, the panel brought together insights from prominent Indian startup leaders -- Virendra Gupta, Founder of VerSe Innovation; Neeraj Roy, Founder and CEO of Hungama; Harsh Jain, Co-founder and CEO of Dream11; and Murugavel Janakiraman, CEO of BharatMatrimony.

“We are committed to offering a level playing field for all developers. The Indus Appstore will not mandate the use of any specific payment gateway, allowing developers the freedom to choose any service they prefer,” said Sameer Nigam, Founder and CEO of PhonePe.

“With this approach, we aim to democratise the app ecosystem by offering an alternative that prioritises the needs of Indian developers and users,” Nigam added.

Among the key challenges highlighted by the panelists was “limited revenue streams” where the reliance on a small number of dominant app stores often forces startups into accepting unfavorable revenue-sharing models and constrained monetisation options.