By Bulletin Times 
Stop Chasing Valuations, Focus on Real Value: Lenskart Peyush Bansal
BENGALURU: In a world where startups often get caught up in the race for billion-dollar valuations, Peyush Bansal, co-founder of eyewear giant Lenskart, has a refreshing message for founders: pick the right partner over a sky-high valuation.
Speaking at the Bengaluru Tech Summit 2024, Bansal emphasized the importance of aligning with business partners who share your vision and stand by you through thick and thin. “Choose someone who sees what you see, trusts you in good times and bad, and is ready to think long-term,” he said.
Bansal also pointed out a growing issue in the Indian startup ecosystem—founders prioritizing quick valuations over sustainable growth. “Valuations might work for the short term, but in the long run, what truly matters is the value and transformation you bring to the table,” he said.
His words come at a time when Lenskart itself is rumored to be exploring a secondary sale, which could boost its valuation to $6 billion, up from its current $5.6 billion. But Bansal’s journey proves he’s never been one to take shortcuts. Back in 2010, he spent a year working unpaid in an optical store just to understand the industry. “The person whose store I worked at is now our third co-founder,” he shared during a candid chat with Prashanth Prakash of Accel India.
When Lenskart first secured funding, the company didn’t even have a solid business plan in place. “We were figuring it out as we went,” Bansal admitted. Today, with ₹5,610 crore in annual revenue and $1.08 billion raised over 19 funding rounds, Lenskart stands as a testament to long-term thinking.
The event also highlighted insights from BookMyShow CEO Ashish Hemrajani, who shared that more than half of the platform’s growth now comes from smaller cities, a sharp contrast to five years ago when 90% of its business came from metro areas.
Bansal’s advice is a reality check for the startup world: real success isn’t about chasing numbers. It’s about building something meaningful, backed by the right people.