Zepto Secures $350M Funding, Fuels Rapid Expansion in India's Booming $6B Quick-Commerce Market
November 22, 2024On November 22, 2024, Zepto announced it has successfully raised $350 million, maintaining a flat valuation of $5 billion, with the funding led by Motilal Oswal’s Private Wealth division.
This latest round is part of a remarkable fundraising trajectory, with Zepto having raised nearly $1.6 billion over the past 15 months, including $340 million in August and $665 million in June.
Since June, Zepto's rapid growth has positioned it as a key player in India's quick-commerce sector, which is projected to surpass $6 billion in sales this year.
The company is aggressively expanding, planning to increase its dark store count to 700 and enhance its service offerings, including the introduction of Zepto Café in major cities.
Despite currently operating at lower margins than traditional retail, Zepto and its competitors, such as Blinkit and Instamart, expect to improve profitability by 2030.
The investment round attracted notable backers, including prominent Indian family offices and high-net-worth individuals, reflecting growing confidence in the digital business landscape.
Aadit Palicha, CEO and co-founder of Zepto, emphasized the increasing trust among domestic investors since the company's inception, underscoring the importance of this funding round.
Ashish Shanker, CEO of Motilal Oswal Private Wealth, expressed optimism about the future of digital businesses, particularly quick commerce, highlighting the involvement of marquee family office clients.
The quick-commerce market is anticipated to reach $42 billion by 2030, accounting for 18.4% of total e-commerce and 2.5% of retail sales, prompting established players to enhance delivery speeds.
However, the rapid growth of quick-commerce has raised concerns, with the All India Consumer Products Distributors Federation warning of further closures of traditional stores without regulatory intervention.
The rise of quick-commerce has led to significant closures of traditional mom-and-pop stores, with around 200,000 neighborhood stores shutting down in the past year.
Regulatory challenges persist, as current laws mandate that e-commerce firms must be majority-owned by Indian entities to operate on an inventory model, which quick-commerce firms currently do not comply with.
Summary based on 2 sources
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Sources
TechCrunch • Nov 21, 2024
Zepto raises another $350 million amid retail upheaval in India | TechCrunchBusiness Standard • Nov 22, 2024
Zepto raises $350 million at flat $5 billion valuation ahead of IPO