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Here’s why Flipkart actually needs Amazon to survive and vice versa Duopolies are not just a coincidence; they’re a kind of market law. Think about it: Coke and Pepsi. Swiggy and Zomato. Amazon and Flipkart. Why are there always two players dominating a market with relatively equal shares? Let’s break it down. Every industry goes through two phases: 1. The Wild West Phase In the early days, the market is open — low entry barriers, plenty of VC money, and no dominant player. In food delivery, we saw Swiggy Zomato Foodpanda Uber Eats And a few more you probably don’t remember. But then came scale. And with scale came dominance. Players who managed to get Bigger had Lower cost per delivery Better logistics networks Higher brand recall Suddenly, it wasn’t a fair fight anymore. Uber Eats? Acquired by Zomato. Foodpanda? Shut down. Only 2 survived — Swiggy and Zomato. 2. The Duopoly Phase Now that there are two giants, the game changes. New startups can’t afford to play. Entry barriers are too high, CAC is insane, and margins are razor-thin. But what’s fascinating is how these two players now need each other. If Amazon raises delivery fees, Flipkart gets an advantage. If Amazon launches next-day delivery, Flipkart must match it. They keep each other sharp. They balance each other out. They drive better value for customers through competition. And ironically, the presence of both ensures a healthier market. Because a monopoly is a death sentence for innovation. So what can you learn from this? 👉 Whether you're in a duopoly or competing in a crowded space, find your unique edge and double down on operational excellence. 👉 If you're starting up in a mature market, look for untapped niches, don’t take giants head-on unless you’ve got serious differentiation or capital. 👉 And most importantly, remember that healthy competition fuels growth, not just for businesses, but for the entire ecosystem. To get more business breakdowns like this, subscribe to our newsletter through the link in the comment 👇