zepto

zepto's CEO, Aadit Palicha, addressed his controversial work-life balance comment, describing it as a 'stupid idea' on a recent podcast. He emphasized zepto's intense, results-oriented culture, acknowledging it's not for everyone but ideal for ambitious individuals. Palicha also reflected on the company's near-death experience during the funding crisis and urged Indian startups to pursue larger ambitions.

zepto's CEO, Aadit Palicha, has softened his stance on workplace intensity after facing criticism. He now calls his earlier remarks about work-life balance a "stupid idea." This comes after allegations of a toxic work culture at zepto, including long hours and late-night meetings.

zepto's CEO, Aadit Palicha, revealed the startup's near collapse during the 2022-2023 funding winter, exacerbated by hiring mistakes and the SVB collapse, which froze crucial funds. Y Combinator's support proved pivotal in zepto's recovery. The company has since rebounded, reporting substantial growth in gross order value and operating revenue, driven by a renewed focus on high-quality talent and execution.

The Delhi High Court has sought responses from the Centre, Swiggy, and zepto regarding the accessibility of their apps for visually impaired individuals. An NGO, Mission Accessibility, filed a petition alleging that the platforms are incompatible with screen-reader software, hindering users with visual disabilities from searching for products and placing orders.

Flipkart, owned by Walmart, has ended its work-from-home policy, requiring all employees to return to the office five days a week. This decision aligns Flipkart with competitors like Amazon, Meesho, Blinkit, and zepto, who have already implemented full in-office mandates. The company aims to foster community and shared goals through this transition.

Indian startups like Flipkart, PhonePe, and Groww are increasingly re-domiciling to India, driven by regulatory clarity and deeper capital markets. Amendments to company and FDI rules have streamlined the process, reducing timelines and complexities. While attractive due to potential IPO benefits and investor alignment, reverse flips still demand careful tax and compliance structuring, especially regarding offshore transfers and shareholder agreements.

Swiggy Instamart introduced 'Maxxsaver,' enabling users to save up to ₹500 on bulk orders, automatically enrolling all customers. This initiative aims to enhance affordability, mirroring similar discounts by rivals like zepto and BigBasket. CEO Amitesh Jha emphasizes providing better pricing through larger order benefits.

Swiggy Instamart has introduced Maxxsaver to rival zepto's Super-Saver, targeting larger, planned grocery orders with savings up to Rs 500. Unlike zepto, Maxxsaver is automatically applied at checkout, aiming to boost the average order values. This shift reflects a broader industry trend towards household-level grocery shopping, potentially reshaping quick commerce dynamics.

Eternal (formerly Zomato) is seeking shareholder approval to cap foreign ownership at 49.5% to maintain its status as an Indian-owned-and-controlled company (IOCC). This move aims to unlock new opportunities for its quick commerce business, Blinkit, potentially allowing it to transition to an inventory-led model and introduce underserved categories, improving margins and customer offerings.

A Reddit post alleged that Zomato is losing market share, forcing employees to order from its platform, and fostering a toxic work environment. The post also highlighted issues with underpaid delivery partners and service outages. Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal refuted these claims, dismissing them as "utter nonsense" and affirming the company's commitment to freedom of choice.

Flipkart is relocating its holding company from Singapore back to India, a move prompted by Walmart's plans for an IPO of the e-commerce giant on Indian stock exchanges. This repatriation aligns Flipkart's structure with its core operations and mirrors a growing trend among Indian startups seeking favorable domestic listing opportunities.

Aadit Palicha, co-founder of zepto, defended the contributions of consumer internet startups in response to Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal's remarks. Palicha highlighted zepto's creation of 1.5 lakh jobs, significant tax contributions, and investments in backend supply chains, while acknowledging the need for more foundational technological advancements in India.

Lakme is anticipating a surge in demand for mini beauty products in India, driven by affordability and the desire for experimentation, especially among Gen Z. Sunanda Khaitan highlights the potential of quick commerce platforms like Swiggy and zepto to boost makeup adoption, noting the resilience of beauty spending despite inflation.

zepto's CEO Aadit Palicha defended the quick commerce sector against Union Minister Piyush Goyal's critique, emphasizing its economic contribution. Goyal urged startups to focus on high-tech fields. Ashneer Grover and TV Mohandas Pai also criticized the government's approach, highlighting the need for capital and investor support for deep-tech growth.

Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal's comments at Startup Mahakumbh 2025 have sparked a debate about the focus of Indian startups. While Goyal criticized the emphasis on services like quick commerce, entrepreneurs like Anupam Mittal and Aadit Palicha highlighted challenges in capital and support for deep-tech sectors, defending the impact of consumer internet ventures.

zepto is conducting a secondary share sale of over $200 million to boost domestic ownership from 33% to at least 40% before its planned IPO, aiming for 50% eventually. Edelweiss Financial Services and Motilal Oswal Financial Services are buying shares from global investors. zepto, recently valued at $5 billion, seeks to double its valuation to $10 billion.

The Tata group aims to raise $1.3 billion for digital ventures BigBasket and Tata 1mg, with $1 billion allocated to BigBasket and $300 million to Tata 1mg. This move is intended to boost their competitiveness in quick commerce and online healthcare. Despite significant investments, the group seeks profitability and growth across its digital platforms.

Union Minister Piyush Goyal urged Indian startups to focus on high-tech sectors like semiconductors and AI instead of convenience-driven ventures. Harsh Goenka and other industry leaders supported this view, emphasizing the need for a mindset shift to enhance India's global competitiveness.

In the annual tradition of ‘corporate fun’, April 1st, 2025 delivered a fresh batch of elaborate hoaxes designed to delight, deceive, and occasionally disappoint consumers worldwide. From AI with attitude to impossible store layouts, companies spared no creativity in their pursuit of viral attention. Here's our comprehensive roundup of this year's most ingenious and eye-rolling pranks.