Indian e-commerce platform Meesho has submitted a draft red herring prospectus to the Securities and Exchange Board of India under the regulator’s confidential filing route, according to people familiar with the matter. The company seeks to raise roughly Rs 4,250 crore (about $500 million) in fresh capital through the share sale, marking a significant step toward its planned public-market debut. Meesho’s overall offering could reach about Rs 8,500 crore ($1 billion) once secondary share sales are included, and it is targeting a listing on domestic exchanges as early as September–October. In preparation, the Bengaluru-based firm shifted its domicile back to India from the United States, converted into a public company and overhauled its board. The confidential route lets issuers keep sensitive information from competitors and gives them flexibility to adjust timing if markets turn. Meesho joins a growing roster of venture-backed Indian startups—including Pine Labs, Wakefit, Curefoods and Shadowfax—that have recently filed prospectuses as they test investor appetite for new-age consumer internet listings.