Flipkart currently clocking 20–25% growth in customers, orders; aims for 30% by June: CEO Kalyan Krishnamurthy
From quick commerce and fashion-led growth to AI bets and an India domicile shift, Flipkart laid out its next playbook at its May 26 townhall
Pet food brand Drools claims unicorn status after Nestlé picks up minority stake
Nestlé’s entry comes after private equity firm L Catterton picked up a minority stake in Drools in June 2023. Despite the stake sale, Drools said it will continue to operate independently
Centre to meet e-commerce industry stakeholders on May 28 to address rising dark patterns
Platforms like Swiggy, Zomato, Flipkart, Meesho, Apple, Amazon, Ola, Paytm to attend stakeholder meeting in Delhi, chaired by Union Minister Pralhad Joshi
Byju’s app taken off Play Store, services disrupted amid AWS payment issues
Byju’s cloud service suspension affects app functionality, blocks access to paid content, and limits full website availability across platforms
Zepto Cafe pauses operations in 44 stores across North India due to supply and staff crunch
While the offerings are unavailable in 44 cities across the Delhi NCR belt, Agra, Meerut, Haridwar, Gorakhpur, Mohali, Amritsar and Ghaziabad regions, Zepto let go of a total of 15 kitchen staff as they did not report in to work.
Zepto delivery workers on strike for a fifth day in Hyderabad over ‘unfair pay, arbitrary penalties’
The protests, which began last weekend, have gathered momentum with delivery partners staging demonstrations outside Zepto dark stores in key locations such as Ramanthapur, and Boduppal.
India does not have a culture of excellence, says Cred's Kunal Shah
Kunal Shah said the ability to adapt will be critical for startups as emerging technologies like AI reshape industries such as BPO and IT services.
India worships founders like gods, but does 'visarjan' if things go south, says Cred’s Kunal Shah
He was answering a question on negative coverage of BluSmart founder allegedly diverting loans meant for funding BluSmart's electric vehicle purchases for personal use.
360 ONE Asset launches Rs 500 cr early-stage VC fund to back category-defining startups
Sameer Nath, CIO and Head of Private Equity and Venture Capital at 360 ONE Asset, said the firm aims to identify and shape the companies that will define the next generation of unicorns.
Swiggy Instamart doing well, happy about how they’ve grown: Prosus chief Fabricio Bloisi
Bloisi said India’s quick commerce market is still expanding with multiple players and highlighted Prosus’ support for Swiggy’s long-term growth.
Zepto’s new ‘Swap and Save’ feature draws D2C founders’ ire
D2C brands say Zepto’s new feature undercuts discovery and fuels ad spend, at a time when quick commerce platforms are ramping up their advertising businesses to drive growth.
Hot weather, hotter carts: Summer staples fly off quick commerce, e-commerce shelves
From ice creams, energy drinks, portable fans and ACs, India’s soaring temperatures are fuelling a digital dash for seasonal essentials across metros and small towns alike
Breaking ranks: VC mid-management jumping ship for bigger bets, shinier titles
A top-heavy structure, better remuneration, different investing style, and a preference for investment in other stages of a business are among the key reasons why the middle layer leaves.
Pronto raises $2 million from Bain Capital as investors continue to bet on q-commerce
The company’s seed round comes shortly after Snabbit, a direct rival, secured $5.5 million in its Series A round from Elevation Capital, Nexus Venture Partners and others
Dailyhunt, Josh parent VerSe Innovation to lay off 350 employees amid AI pivot, cost cuts
The move comes amid a continued effort to streamline operations, cross-leverage talent across business units, and focus resources on growth segments, the company said in a statement on May 10.
Zepto launches paid analytics service Atom for consumer brands
The service will go live on May 16 and will be available to the thousands of brands currently listed on Zepto’s platform
Beyond Unicorns: The Heartbeat of India's Startup Surge
Gameskraft to pause operations of online poker platform Pocket52
Halting operations was part of a 'broader plan to reassess and reimagine its long-term approach', the company said.
ONDC appoints Vibhor Jain as acting CEO, winds down executive committee
Jain, who was part of the eight-member interim Executive Committee, will now take over full executive powers. The committee, formed last month to ensure business continuity after the exit of MD and CEO T Koshy, has now been dissolved.
Flipkart SVP Ankit Jain to replace outgoing Swiggy Instamart SVP and COO Sairam Krishnamurthy
Jain’s appointment comes amid rapid expansion at Swiggy Instamart and a string of senior-level exits at Flipkart.
Indian VC firms back in hiring mode as deal activity rebounds
With AI roles in high demand and junior to mid-level hiring on the rise, VC firms are building leaner, smarter teams to support a wave of fresh deal activity.
Quick commerce, e-commerce firms steady the ship as India-Pakistan tensions ease
As the ceasefire stabilizes, e-commerce platforms have been navigating logistical challenges and a brief dip in demand, with operations returning to normal in several key regions.
Smaller D2C brands take a hit as India-Pakistan conflict dents consumer sentiment
Since May 7, online orders have dropped and advertising spends are no longer yielding expected returns, as consumer attention shifts from shopping to the conflict with Pakistan
Swiggy unlikely to adopt IOCC model for Instamart despite Blinkit's inventory play
Speaking on an earnings call after announcing Swiggy’s Q4 FY25 results, Chief Financial Officer Rahul Bothra said the economics of switching to an inventory ownership model under Indian-owned and controlled company (IOCC) norms do not currently offer compelling upside.
Swiggy calls 10-minute delivery arm Bolt a key engine for growth and market share
The company’s bullish stance on ultra-fast food delivery contrasts sharply with rival Zomato, which recently shut down its 15-minute food delivery initiatives, Quick and Everyday, citing a lack of infrastructure and no visible path to profitability.
