Following Info Edge India (the Naukri group) earlier this year, it seems more web companies are eying the heady Indian bourses which have constantly been hitting new highs over the past five years or so. MakeMyTrip CEO Deep Kalra has told The Financial Express that the company plans to go in for an IPO next year, contrary to their previously stated position that they’re looking to list after 2008. He doesn’t say whether the company is planning to list in an Indian stock exchange or an international one. Shaadi has declined to comment, though there is certainly a case for them to list - they’re competing with Naukri in the classifieds listing space, which is core to their business. Shaadi.com has received funding from WestBridge Capital Partners and Sequoia Capital, while WestBridge, Sequoia and Intel Capital have funded Mauj. Both Shaadi and Mauj are a part of Anupam Mittal’s People Group. VC firms Helion Ventures, Sierra Ventures and SAIF Partners have funded MakeMyTrip.

Naukri CEO Sanjeev Bikhchandani has an interesting take on life after IPO:

“Well actually the benefits of doing a successful IPO far outweigh the occupational hazards. Going public has put us in a different strategic space altogether. We’ve got cash in the bank, our stock has currency, employees have seen the value of the ESOP, we are finding it easier to attract quality talent, the VC investors got liquidity, we can take larger bets, we are insulated against a downturn, it’s great for branding, we have unlocked shareholder value and so on. On the flip side – our numbers are public. Competition knows more about us than we about them.”
Read the whole post here.

The other thing which most Internet and mobile companies need to be cognizant of: one has to be careful about stating numbers post IPO - there’s a regulator keeping watch.

• MakeMyTrip Crosses $100 Million In Sales Ahead Of Target; Full Year Estimate: $120 Million