Get all your news in one place.

100's of premium titles.
One app.

Start reading

Get all your news in one place.

100's of premium titles. One news app.

Start reading

THE TRUTH ABOUT: Zepto - The Untold Story

ED's Parimatch heat reaches Zepto; SPC's India deeptech push

Zepto has come under the ED's scanner as part of its probe into Parimatch. This and more in today's ETtech Top 5.

The Economic Times

Bigbasket elevates Seshu Tirumala as COO as it sharpens quick commerce push

Tirumala joined BigBasket in 2014 and was most recently its chief buying and merchandising officer. He has also overseen sourcing, category management and private labels. BigBasket said its private-label business now contributes nearly 40% of total sales.

The Economic Times

Oyo readies market debut; IT's comeback rally

Oyo's IPO plans are back on track after securing the regulator's nod. This and more in today's ETtech Top 5.

The Economic Times

From analysis to the latest developments in health,
read the most diverse news in one place.

Zepto shares crash 30% in unlisted market despite Sebi nod for IPO. What's cooking?

Zepto’s unlisted shares have dropped sharply despite Sebi approval for its IPO, signalling investor caution in a volatile market. The decline reflects broader weakness in pre-IPO valuations, macro uncertainty and funding pressures, even as the quick commerce firm prepares for a high-profile public issue amid intense competition.

The Economic Times

For a match made in retail heaven, friction on earth can be real

Quick commerce is transforming Indian retail. Platforms like Blinkit and Zepto now drive a significant portion of online sales for major FMCG companies. This shift captures impulse buys and premium product sales. However, operational costs and competition pose challenges. Brands must diversify their digital strategies beyond just ten-minute deliveries for…

The Economic Times

ETtech Interview | Quick commerce industry unlikely to sustain as many players as today: Swiggy's Sriharsha Majety

Swiggy CEO Sriharsha Majety believes the quick commerce market is overpopulated and prioritises long-term economics over market share battles. He addressed recent shareholder concerns regarding board appointment rights, emphasising its link to the company's Indian Owned and Controlled Company (IOCC) status.

The Economic Times

QSR chains face margin pressure, not demand shock: Karan Taurani on fuel and LPG impact

Rising fuel and LPG prices are impacting India's consumption landscape unevenly. While some sectors like QSR face margin compression due to high LPG dependence, others like alco-bev and retail show divergence based on cost structures and input reliance. Platform businesses are relatively insulated but face risks from restaurant partner struggles…

The Economic Times

Read news from The Economist, FT, and more,
with one subscription

Zepto planning to file papers for $1 billion IPO in June: Report

Zepto is preparing for a potential $1 billion IPO, with a public filing expected in June and launch targeted for July. The quick-commerce firm plans to use proceeds for expansion as India’s IPO market seeks renewed momentum amid slowing deal activity and global economic concerns.

The Economic Times

IT sector a contrarian opportunity at current valuations: Aditya Shah

Aditya Shah of Hercules Advisors identifies power, banking, chemicals, and real estate as promising sectors for long-term growth amidst global uncertainty. While cautious on EMS due to valuations, he sees potential in quick commerce players demonstrating disciplined execution and profitability, favoring Blinkit currently.

The Economic Times

Early-stage vertical commerce startups continue to draw VC interest across beauty, fashion, services

Investors are pouring money into quick commerce startups across fashion, beauty, and services. Companies like Firi, Dazzl, and Klydo are seeking substantial funding. This rush signals a focus on convenience driving profitability. VCs are backing these ventures, aiming to capture the next big player in various niche markets. The trend…

The Economic Times

Flipkart pauses IPO discussions amid rising volatility in markets

Walmart-owned Flipkart has indefinitely paused its IPO plans due to rising market volatility and a crowded pipeline of upcoming public issues. This decision follows similar postponements by other major tech firms, as Flipkart focuses on aggressive investment in its quick commerce arm, Flipkart Minutes, to drive growth amidst stagnating e-commerce…

The Economic Times

Petrol, diesel price hike impact: From milk, onions, Blinkit deliveries to Uber fares & others, here's all that may get costlier

Petrol, diesel price hike impact: Centre’s Rs 3 per litre hike in petrol and diesel prices may not feel massive immediately, but its ripple effect could slowly hit everyday expenses — from vegetables and milk to Blinkit deliveries, cab rides, and even flight tickets. Since fuel powers transport across India,…

The Economic Times

Groww investors reap bumper returns; Lightspeed’s India rethink

Happy Wednesday! Groww delivered strong gains to early investors after the IPO lock-in expired. This and more in today’s ETtech Morning Dispatch.

The Economic Times

Lightspeed eyes new India fund, plans smaller corpus of $300–350 million amid AI focus

The venture capital firm, which was initially looking to raise as much as $500 million for its fifth India fund, has now cut the target size to around $300-350 million, the people said, requesting anonymity as the discussions are private.

The Economic Times

Get all your
news in one place.

100's of premium titles.
One news app.

The Independent UK

Why India is asking its super-fast delivery services to slow down

Quick-commerce companies start removing ‘10-minute delivery’ promises after labour ministry raises worker safety concerns

Newslaundry

Get your Milton Friedman and Ayn Rand right: Zomato and Blinkit aren’t capitalism

Late last week, I wrote a piece responding to Deepinder Goyal’s tweets on how he views India’s gig economy. It went viral – and as is inevitable with anything that does, it brought with it an equal measure of bouquets and brickbats.

Newslaundry

Sweat, surveillance, and silence: Lives at the margins of India’s quick e-commerce boom

At 6 am, with the sun just rising over Delhi, Akash Singh* is already on the move. A Zepto delivery worker, he zigzags between Laxmi Nagar and Mayur Vihar, chasing the shifting incentive targets set by the app.

AAP

Aussie 'FinFra': Magic wand for technology trailblazers

Australia faces a deadline for decommissioning the decades-old payments system for handling wages, bills and welfare as the velocity of the economy increases.

Get all your
news in one place.

100's of premium titles.
One news app.

The Hindu

Only three e-commerce platforms have minimum wage policy: study

Grim working conditions for India's gig workers revealed by Fairwork India's fifth annual study across 12 e-commerce platforms. Only three platforms had minimum wage policy, two had external audits to check for biases, and none provided living wage. Five Fairwork principles examined, with two platforms not receiving any points. No…

The Guardian - UK

Innovation and exploitation: India’s e-commerce boom threatens to upend local businesses and workers’ rights

While online shopping explodes in the world’s biggest country, traditional companies are struggling to adapt

ABC News

Business NSW takes aim at major parties' lack of vision for startups, calls for venture capital fund

Business NSW criticises the Coalition and Labor for a lack of bold ideas for business in the lead up to the election, saying that startups are slipping through the cracks.

The Hindu

Delivery boy donates blood in time to save unknown pregnant woman’s life in Hyderabad

MBA graduate turns saviour has donated blood 15 times

The Times of India

Delhi: Man arrested for delivery executive’s death in accident

NEW DELHI: Police on Monday said they have arrested a man who had rammed the bike of 19-year-old Zepto delivery executive killing him in Dwarka last week. The car that the man was driving has also been seized, senior police officers said. The accused worked at a well-known tech firm.

Al Jazeera

As Indians expect groceries in 10 mins, delivery agents struggle

Delivery agents speed on their bikes, take wrong turns, risk their lives – all to deliver groceries in 10 minutes.

People

Alexander Graham Bell

From analysis to the latest developments in health,
read the most diverse news in one place.

Organisations

Read news from The Economist, FT, and more,
with one subscription

Topics

Places

Fourteen days free

Download the app

One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.