We caught up with John Verbic, the Founder and CEO of Trepup, to find out more about how the company is bringing Small and Medium Businesses closer to customers. Is there a real opportunity here, and can Trepup indeed level the playing field for "the ignored children" of the business world?

What is Trepup’s mission? Was it inspired by something you witnessed in the Indian market?
I started Trepup in 2012, five years after I moved to India. I was struck by the huge resource gap between big businesses and SMBs (Small and Medium Businesses). SMBs form the backbone of the global economy—they make up 90 percent of registered businesses—and we rely on them for so many of our daily needs, yet they barely get any face time. While India’s economic and technological growth spurt was spawning smart startups and accelerating scale for big businesses, SMBs were still working in the shadows. I had noticed this trend in the U.S. and Europe as well, but things always hit home in India, because they are magnified. That is when I formed a team and founded Trepup, with a mission to give SMBs a platform that brings them closer to customers: A business to business to consumer product. By organizing and indexing the world’s businesses, our aim is, for Trepup, to transform how people find the solutions and establishments they rely on, be it a neighbourhood outlet or an online service, thereby creating a direct to consumer channel for many SMBs.

Trepup offers a directory service. How is it different from other business directory listings and digital yellow pages?
The directory service was a natural outcome of building a comprehensive business index. We realized that finding a business or a solution provider, in your neighbourhood, to meet your specific and unique needs is still dependent on traditional sources of information. For example when you are in need of a house cleaning service in Defence Colony, Bangalore, India you have to rely on a recommendation or on Google to provide the answer. Google indexes information not businesses, which means that the information coming to you could be from a third party, and it may be unreliable. This is also because many SMBs and local businesses do not have websites. That’s why a well-indexed and organized directory that updates in real time became a useful feature to have. Our business pages are managed by business owners and their representatives and on first glance, the visually laid-out listings, give you handy information like the category of the business and its location. Our interface is designed for all devices, this makes viewing as easy as window-shopping: It allows you to find what you need, without the strain of rummaging.

Consumers usually care about big brands. Why would they search and browse through SMB listings on Trepup?
That’s true, big brands with big advertising budgets are way more conspicuous and active in consumer consciousness, creating a strong case for a platform where SMBs can promote themselves and tell their story in an aesthetic and authentic way. Consumers rely on SMBs, but they find them using traditional methods such as recommendations from friends and family, and wide, untargeted searches. The needs that SMBs fulfill are more unusual than buying yoga mats or electronics. For instance, they might involve a house buyer’s need to find a real estate agent in Lake Como (http://www.trepup.com/Property.at.Lake.Como) or a condiment manufacturer’s need to find a dried fish supplier (http://www.trepup.com/Thaniya.Dry.Fish.Trading). When the need is specific the market for that need too needs to be specific.

In what ways can SMBs network with each other on Trepup?
Trepup’s business index has brought businesses across the globe on one platform. This coordination has resulted in a network of all types of businesses that can now follow each other; receive updates on what another business is doing; see events from a business; or simply contact the business to seek opportunities. Trepup is not about networking, therefore, there are no connections on Trepup: It’s about getting down to business. As a potential customer, investor, or partner, wouldn’t you rather email or call a business and take it offline? There is enough information available on Trepup for you to take an informed decision on a business.

What according to Trepup is the future for SMBs and, in your opinion, how is Trepup going to impact it?
The global economic crisis of 2008 saw a shift in consumer behavior, especially in the West. Many more local and small suppliers became prevalent players. And “glocalization,” became a working phenomenon, especially among the unicorns, take for example Uber and Airbnb, or for that matter Amazon’s investment in the Indian market. Glocalization requires that global businesses work with local players. SMBs are now key players in the business model adopted by international companies. This trend is going to continue as consumers keep demanding solutions and products that are more local. Retailing too is changing with the internet: While you may still want brands, you are more open to quality products from indigenous labels, or you may be a value conscious buyer looking for a relatively stable product or service. Trepup plans on becoming a marketplace for SMBs and for independent ventures. The transaction component of our product will enable consumers to buy directly from wholesalers, small retailers and neighbourhood names. Right now we are empowering both consumers and SMBs with information that will soon include ratings on parameters that are essential to make a transaction decision. This coupled with booking and buying features will help create a thriving marketplace, where we won’t curate what’s on offer. Consumers will dictate what works with their ratings, and quality and satisfaction will be the onus of the businesses.

Trepup is made in India, but it’s a global product for a sector that has recently been the topic of discussion in policy and Government meetings, Do you see Trepup playing a role in bringing SMBs closer to the right interventions and opportunities?
What is it that creates the “missing middle” in business? It is the lack of resources. To scale SMBs need to overcome growth challenges: they need access to capital, skills, networks and new markets. Trepup is building features and ways to target each of these challenges, for example markets get taken care of by allowing for informed and transparent transactions from the Trepup business page, now this instantly means new opportunities. By cataloging products; sharing reviews; and juxtaposing ratings and prices with those of competitors, Trepup is creating a free marketplace that is global, trust-based, and self-empowered.

For access to capital, Trepup may soon have a dedicated location that aggregates updated information on grants and development loans. SMBs may also be able to publish their funding requirements, with proof of their financial viability. This will enable development and lending agencies to locate them quickly. And will make the most eligible companies have faster access to funds.

It has been long known that SMBs protect consumers from monopolistic or unfair practices by creating more buying options, and they help diversify a country’s economy by exploring opportunities in newer, less popular sectors. It is great that SMBs may finally have methods and processes that they can rely on for access and Trepup is glad to be playing the role of facilitator.

Trepup is a ‘Made in India’ product, built in Mumbai. The network has a presence in 116 countries, with 468,000 listed businesses and counting. More information on Trepup can be found on www.trepup.com.