ZEPTO
Flipkart expands Hemant Badri’s role to drive AI agenda
Flipkart is appointing Hemant Badri to lead its AI initiatives, focusing on identifying and operationalising AI uses across the company. This strategic move, in partnership with CPTO Balaji Thiagarajan, aims to integrate AI into customer experience, seller tools, and internal productivity as the e-commerce landscape rapidly evolves.
India venture debt deployment grows marginally in 2025 to $1.3 billion: Report
Venture debt in India reached $1.3 billion in 2025. Deal numbers decreased, indicating slower startup funding. Venture capital investments remained stable. Venture debt's share in startup funding grew significantly. This trend mirrors mature global markets. Fintech dominated venture debt, followed by consumer and cleantech sectors. Growth credit also saw substantial deployment.
Kirana stores see dip in business as consumers shift to quick commerce: Report
Consumers are increasingly turning to quick commerce for everyday needs, leading to a reduced reliance on traditional kirana stores, a Grant Thornton Bharat report reveals. While kiranas remain vital for planned purchases, rapid expansion of platforms like Blinkit and Zepto is reshaping shopping habits, especially for groceries and personal care items, driven by convenience and speed.
Amazon India likely to shut down Fresh in top cities amid quick commerce push: UBS report
Amazon’s move comes at a time when ecommerce majors are expanding their quick commerce services to meet the growing demand. Amazon Now is currently operational in six cities, including Delhi, Bengaluru, and Mumbai. This is expected to be expanded to 10-15 top cities.
Platforms brace for impact as gig workforce returns home
According to industry executives, the daily active gig workers on quick commerce platforms are currently running 10-12% below early-2026 levels. The timing is particularly damaging. Typically, quick commerce as well as food delivery platforms see an uptick in demand during this period due to Indian Premier League (IPL) matches.
BigBasket, 1mg founders plan transition; QED's Morris flags credit tightening
Happy Friday! BigBasket and 1mg founders are preparing to step back from day-to-day roles. This and more in today's ETtech Morning Dispatch.
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Founder exits loom over BigBasket, 1mg as Tata Digital reset continues
Bigbasket’s Hari Menon and Vipul Parekh are in the final stages of moving out amid the ongoing CEO search. Meanwhile, Prashant Tandon and Gaurav Agarwal of online pharmacy 1mg are assessing next steps due to a lack of clarity around IPO and exit path for other shareholders.
Oracle layoffs hit India hard; Qcomm apps print ad money
India bore the brunt of Oracle’s latest global layoffs amid rising automation. This and more in today’s ETtech Top 5.
Ecommerce, quick commerce chasing ad spends with profitability in focus
Online platforms like Amazon, Flipkart, Blinkit, Instamart, Zepto, Zomato, and Swiggy are set to earn substantial advertising revenue. This growth is fueled by integrated shopping experiences and advanced AI insights. Quick commerce is experiencing rapid expansion, with brands shifting ad spends for faster results.
Blinkit lands at Mumbai Airport, but not for all flyers
Blinkit has launched its services at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, with availability at Terminal 2 for domestic departures, CEO Albinder Dhindsa said.
Zetwerk IPO: Company files confidential papers for Rs 5,000 crore offering
Zetwerk IPO update: Zetwerk has filed a confidential prospectus with the Securities and Exchange Board of India for an IPO, and is planning a Rs 5,000 crore offering while exploring a pre-IPO round. The startup is facing weaker market conditions, with new-age IPOs under pricing pressure and investors seeking aggressive valuations. Its operating revenue fell 11% in fiscal 2025, though net loss narrowed.
Quick commerce, restaurant chains firing offers to cash in on IPL
Amazon Now, Flipkart Minutes and Instamart this weekend launched ‘match-ready’ deals on food and beverages brands with discounts of over 40%, while cafes and chains have kick-started promotions to leverage the high-decibel tournament that started on Saturday.
B2B firm Zetwerk eyes Rs 500 crore pre-IPO round at $3 billion valuation
Manufacturing marketplace Zetwerk is in discussions to raise approximately Rs 500 crore in pre-IPO funding from Bharat Value Fund and HNIs, valuing the company at Rs 25,000-26,000 crore. The company is also preparing to confidentially file draft IPO papers with Sebi for a public issue expected to be around Rs 5,000 crore.
War singes ecommerce, quick commerce supply chains as input costs rise
The first signs of stress, according to industry executives, are visible in packaging costs and inventory movement and fulfilment cycles, particularly for quick comm platforms that depend on high-frequency restocking. Demand-side pressures could emerge if fuel prices rise sharply, they said.
Zetwerk IPO: Size, valuation, timeline and other details we know so far
Zetwerk is preparing to confidentially file IPO papers to raise up to $550 million at a $4 billion valuation, including fresh equity and OFS. Led by Amrit Acharya, the move comes amid senior exits. Here’s a look at its IPO plans.
In consumer goods, access to capital no longer the primary differentiator; profitability key for survival
India's consumer businesses are changing their strategy. They are now focusing on profitability rather than just rapid growth. Digital platforms like e-commerce and quick commerce are helping brands reach customers efficiently. This allows for building demand first and then expanding distribution. Investors are backing businesses with strong economic fundamentals.
Eternal, Swiggy shares rally 3% but HSBC just reduced target prices. Should you buy?
Eternal and Swiggy shares rose after platform fee hikes, despite HSBC cutting target prices due to rising competition in quick commerce. The brokerage maintained a Buy on Zomato but a Hold on Swiggy, warning that higher pricing—especially at Blinkit—could hurt market share.
Zepto rolls out Pay Later facility
Quick commerce platform Zepto launched new features. These include a 'Pay Later' option for interest-free credit and real-time images of fresh produce. The company is moving beyond just fast delivery. It aims to reduce shopping friction and serve customers better. These changes focus on customer behaviour. The platform also added an 'Add After Checkout' function.
Food delivery startup Swish raises $38 million; valuation more than doubles
Swish has raised $38 million led by UK-based Hara Global and Bain Capital Ventures, with participation from Accel and others. Hara Global and Accel are existing investors in Swish, which has also raised venture debt as a part of this round from Alteria Capital and Stride Ventures, cofounder and CEO Aniket Shah told ET.
Apple Pay’s India challenge; TCS hiring push
Happy Tuesday! Apple Pay faces pricing challenges as it works to launch in India. This and more in today’s ETtech Morning Dispatch.
A summer of worry for food delivery, quick commerce companies
Food delivery and quick commerce platforms expect a surge in demand during summer and the IPL season, but rider availability remains uncertain. Demand for gig workers could rise 25%, while many return home for harvest and elections. Rising fuel prices, incentives, and competition are adding pressure on payouts and hiring plans.
Market rout drags down newly listed startup stocks; Lenskart, Ather, Bluestone among big losers
New-age companies listed recently stayed under pressure as markets fell sharply on Monday. Sensex and Nifty dropped heavily amid geopolitical tensions, weak global cues, and a falling rupee. Most stocks declined, while few gained. Rising oil prices and foreign investor selling added stress, delaying IPO plans for several firms.
Zomato’s fee hike to boost margins, demand still intact : Jignanshu Gor
Zomato has increased its platform fee, aiming for better profits. This move puts it ahead of rival Swiggy in charges. Analysts believe this will boost Zomato's earnings without hurting customer demand significantly. Competition in quick commerce is also intense, but players are focusing on expansion rather than just price wars. Demand for food delivery remains strong.
360 ONE to finance AIMS founder's stake buyback
The asset management firm is expected to lend about ₹600 crore to facilitate the repurchase of shares from British International Investment (BII) and OrbiMed, which hold the stakes in AIMS' parent entity, Blue Sapphire Healthcare. The deal with 360 ONE is likely to be signed within the next few weeks, the people said.
Piyush Goyal meets Zepto CEO Aadit Palicha, discusses skilling, innovation and supply chains
Taking to the social media platform X, Goyal shared details of the meeting, highlighting discussions around youth and entrepreneurship. "A productive interaction with Aadit Palicha, Co-founder & CEO of ZeptoNow," he said. "Our conversation focused on strengthening skilling initiatives for our youth and leveraging innovation-led entrepreneurship to build globally competitive enterprises," the minister added. He further noted that the meeting also explored ways to integrate farmers into modern supply chains.
IPO shake-up ahead; 5G phones drive data boom
Due to valuation gaps and market volatility, several new-age startups will rethink their public listing plans. This and more in today's ETtech Top 5.
Startup Mafia 3.0: Razorpay, Cred, Meesho help spawn 200+ founders
India’s new-generation startups are creating a fresh wave of founders, with executives from 111 firms launching over 200 new companies. Razorpay, Cred, Meesho and PhonePe lead in producing entrepreneurs. Wider investor support and Esops among others, are fuelling this ‘startup mafia 3.0’ ecosystem.
India Glycols announces Rs 7.5/share dividend. Check smallcap's record date, dividend yield
India Glycols declared an interim dividend of Rs 7.5 per share for FY2025-26, with March 23 set as the record date. According to Trendlyne, the company has issued 23 dividends so far. Over the past year, it paid Rs 5 per share, translating to a dividend yield of 0.59% at the current stock price.
Rs 70,000 crore at stake! Can Iran war spell trouble for mega IPO plans of Jio, Flipkart, Zepto, others?
West Asian geopolitical tensions are casting a shadow over India's IPO pipeline. Mega listings worth nearly Rs 70,000 crore from companies like Jio Platforms and Flipkart are planned. However, recent market volatility and investor caution are forcing companies to reassess their listing timelines. PhonePe has already deferred its IPO plans due to geopolitical uncertainty.
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