Startup Pedia

Since 2023, the Bengaluru-based company Dunzo has faced challenges securing fresh funding to compete in the quick commerce market. Talks of cofounder Kabeer Biswas exiting the company have raised concerns about its future in a market dominated by well-funded rivals. Founded in 2015 by Kabeer Biswas, Dalvir Suri, Mukund Jha, and Ankur Aggarwal, Reliance Retail-backed hyperlocal delivery startup, Dunzo has revolutionized the way consumers connect with nearby stores for quick deliveries of groceries, medicines, and other daily essentials. However, the company's journey has not been without its share of challenges, especially in the fiercely competitive quick commerce landscape. According to sources familiar with the matter, Kabeer Biswas, the present CEO at Dunzo, has been in discussions with investors about his plans to step down from his role. While some investors have reportedly supported his decision, the final call rests with Reliance Retail. According to a Moneycontrol report, “Biswas has resigned from the company and his resignation has been accepted, a formal announcement can be expected over the coming days.” On the other hand, Reliance is distancing itself from Dunzo as evident from its decision against intervening in this crucial crisis period or even considering a buyout. If Biswas indeed decides to leave the company, he would join his former cofounders who have already departed from Dunzo, leaving behind a leadership vacuum. Earlier this year, the company had to downsize its workforce by laying off 150 employees to reduce costs. Additionally, reports suggest that Dunzo's creditors have initiated insolvency proceedings due to unpaid dues, adding to the company's woes. The quick commerce space in India is witnessing rapid growth, with well-established players like Zomato's Blinkit, Swiggy's Instamart, and Zepto expanding their operations to capture a larger market share. Incidentally, Dunzo's former cofounder Ankur Aggarwal is about to launch Kuik, which would help brands set up quick delivery services. #startuppedia #startup #dunzo #reliance #hyperlocal

Avocados have become a staple in modern diets, known for their creamy texture and numerous health benefits. From avocado toast to guacamole, these fruits are cherished by many. However, would you be willing to shell out ₹13,000 for a single avocado toast? Recently, a street vendor in Surat, Gujarat gained social media fame for selling an avocado toast at an astonishing price of ₹13,000. A food blogger, @foodie_addicted recently shared a video on his Instagram featuring this expensive avocado toast. The dish quickly went viral, with food enthusiasts and curious onlookers wondering what could possibly justify such a high cost for a simple toast. The extravagant avocado toast featured in the viral video included a unique blend of ingredients that set it apart from the traditional avocado dishes. The vendor seasoned the chopped avocados with olive oil, sesame seeds, a special masala, and a hint of lemon juice. However, the star ingredient that elevated the dish to luxury status was the elusive pule cheese. The pule cheese as claimed by the vendor was imported directly from the Zasavica Special Nature Reserve in Serbia and is a rare delicacy made from a combination of 60% Balkan donkey milk and 40% goat's milk. This exclusive cheese comes with a hefty price tag of around ₹51,000 per half kilogram, making it one of the most expensive cheeses in the world. It takes a considerable amount of milk and a meticulous process to produce this limited quantity of cheese, adding to its allure and value. As news of this high-priced avocado toast spread across social media platforms, users expressed a mix of curiosity and disbelief. Some questioned the necessity of turning a healthy ingredient like avocado into an exorbitant indulgence, while others simply shrugged off the idea, claiming avocado was never their preferred choice. A social media user remarked, “India- this is how we make a healthy meal into an unhealthy meal.” Another commented, “Thank god I don’t like avocado.” #startuppedia #startup #smallbusiness #streetvendor

Zomato’s recent annual report on customer insights revealed some shocking details. On New Year's Eve, 4,940 people searched for a "girlfriend" on the quick commerce platform. Interestingly, 40 individuals went so far as to search for a ‘“dulhan” (bride) on Zomato. However, responding to CNBC TV18 journalist Shirin Bhan’s post on X (formerly Twitter), one individual offered a probable explanation for this behavior. An X user, Mustafa Khundmiri explained, “People are not as stupid as they are being shown to be." Sharing a screenshot in his post he showed the names of two restaurants. One of these restaurants is Girlfriend Food Court, located in Ameerpet, Hyderabad. The second restaurant called Girlfriend Arabian Mandi Restaurant is also in Hyderabad. Many X users responded with humorous comments on this post. One individual wrote, “This can only happen in India." Another user remarked, “Zomato has a chance to step into the field of matrimony as well. Quick Match Wedding." Another person said, “I am excited to know how many people ordered these." This New Year’s Eve had a record demand for quick commerce firms, food delivery platforms, and other consumer internet companies. The CEOs of Blinkit, Swiggy Instamart, and Zepto took to X to share notable consumer trends and unprecedented order volumes. #startuppedia #startup #zomato #blinkit

CRED founder and angel investor Kunal Shah recently shared an interesting insight about doing business. Criticizing the young generation for continuously “consuming” content without trying to acquire any “real” knowledge he said, “Entrepreneurship is like swimming. You can’t learn swimming online.” With a growing trend of podcasts and knowledge-based content, the Indian entrepreneur sharply remarked that these days young aspiring entrepreneurs waste time watching reality TV or listening to podcasts when they should focus on “building or selling”. According to him, until you are in the field you can’t learn anything about it. In a recent LinkedIn post, Shah wrote, “I see aspiring entrepreneurs often wasting time consuming content, podcasts, reality TV instead of building or selling, where real learning happens.” Several entrepreneurs supported the fintech company boss. One wrote, “Entrepreneurship really is like swimming—you can’t just read about it, you have to dive in.” Another individual commented, ‘Insightful perspective! Practical experience truly is the best teacher in entrepreneurship. Let's focus on action and growth.” Someone else remarked, “We're actually busy doing kitty parties” followed by a laughing emoji. Still another person said, “True that. Get out there and be a part of this game.” #startuppedia #startup #entrepreneurs #startupfounder

India’s aviation sector is set to welcome a new player, Air Kerala, as the airline prepares for its inaugural flight in June 2025. With Kannur International Airport as its base, Air Kerala has laid out ambitious plans to improve regional connectivity and transform Kannur into a key hub for domestic and international travel. Air Kerala is dedicated to strengthening regional connectivity in India by initially focusing on domestic destinations within a 90-minute flying range from Kannur International Airport and catering to the growing demand for convenient air travel options. Air Kerala has already made significant strides in its journey towards the June 2025 launch. The airline has finalized crucial appointments, including its CEO and CFO, to steer its operations effectively. Air Kerala Chairman Afi Ahmed expressed gratitude for the Kannur International Airport’s support. “Infrastructure at Kannur Airport is ready, and the management has extended full support to establish our base,” he said. “Kannur International Airport will play a major role in our operational strategy. Additionally, a strategic pact with Kannur International Airport Ltd (KIAL) would streamline the launch of Air Kerala's services to ensure a seamless operational transition. To kickstart its operations, Air Kerala plans to operate regional twin-engine turboprop ATR aircraft before scaling up to narrow-body jets as it expands its services. With a long-term vision that includes international operations, Air Kerala aims to connect Kannur with global destinations, thereby positioning the airport as a major international air travel hub in the region. Having secured a no-objection certificate from the Civil Aviation Ministry, Air Kerala is now in the process of obtaining a flying permit from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). This crucial approval will allow the airline to launch its commercial operations as scheduled, offering passengers affordable, reliable, and efficient travel options. #startuppedia #startup #airline #kerala

Blinkit CEO Albinder Dhindsa announced today, 2nd January 2025 that his company is taking the first step towards solving the problem of providing quick and reliable ambulance service in Indian cities. He announced on X (formerly Twitter), “Ambulance in 10 minutes”. “The first five ambulances will be on the road in Gurugram starting today,” the quick commerce company CEO said. “As we expand the service to more areas, you will start seeing an option to book a Basic Life Support (BLS) ambulance through the @letsblinkit app,” he added. The Blinkit boss further elaborated on their new initiative. • The ambulances are equipped with essential life-saving equipment, including oxygen cylinders, an AED (Automated External Defibrillator), a stretcher, a monitor, a suction machine, and essential emergency medicines and injections. • Each ambulance has a paramedic, an assistant, and a trained driver to make sure Blinkit can deliver the highest quality of service in time of need. • “Profit is not a goal here,” as claimed by Dhindsa. “We will operate this service at an affordable cost for customers and invest in really solving this critical problem for the long term,” he said. • As claimed by the boss, the quickcom company is scaling this service up. Their target is to expand to all major cities over the next two years. “Let's do our bit and make way for an ambulance always,” the Blinkit CEO concluded. “You never know when you may save a life.” #startuppedia #startup #blinkit #ambulance

In a recent social media post, Zepto CEO Aadit Palicha asserted that the quick commerce industry will reach a stage in 2025 where it will be comparable to e-commerce giants like Amazon and Flipkart. He went on to make three predictions for 2025. First, he said, Quick Commerce will start hitting a scale where it will become comparable to e-commerce. Next, he predicted it would be clearer that Quick Commerce requires exceptional execution to succeed and it will be challenging for every single player to deliver that level of execution. The Zepto boss made his final prediction that the fundamentals of Quick Commerce will evolve dramatically. The customer value proposition will level up quickly. The unit economics and initiatives to build operating leverage will change. The capital markets environment for this industry, from private to public, will also look different compared to 2024 and 2023. Sharing some sale metrics on New Year's Eve, Palicha said, ”Zepto is up 200 percent compared to last year”, and handling lakhs of orders per hour.” He further disclosed India’s New Year celebrations are in full swing with “3,345 ice cube orders per hour and counting.” Incidentally, Zepto’s rival Blinkit shared that it hit the highest-ever orders in a day on December 31. Blinkit CEO Albinder Dhindsa took to X (formerly Twitter) to share that the company has hit the highest OPM (orders per minute), highest OPH (orders per hour), and highest total tips given to delivery partners in a day. Dhindsa’s Blinkit also recorded the most grapes sold on New Year’s Eve as Indians embraced the Spanish tradition of eating 12 grapes at midnight. The tradition, which has become a trending topic on social media, symbolizes one grape for each month of the year to bring good luck and prosperity. “Bottom line, if our execution is strong, 2025 is going to be another incredible year,” Palicha concluded. “I’m excited for the year to come and the many, many, many years still left in this journey,” he added while wishing everyone a happy new year. #startuppedia #startup #quickcommerce #zepto #blinkit #newyear #year2025

After spending much of 2024 in a verbal war with Ola CEO Bhavish Aggarwal over his company’s failure to address customer complaints, comedian Kunal Kamra started 2025 by attacking the quick commerce sector. It all started when Blinkit CEO Albinder Dhindsa was live-tweeting about the enormous number of orders they received on New Year’s Eve. Dhindsa shared on X (formerly Twitter) that 1.2 lakh packs of condoms and 45,000 bottles of mineral water were out for delivery through Blinkit, among several other orders. Kamra immediately questioned the quick-com company CEO about the average wages he paid the Delivery Partners last year. “Can you also enlighten us with data on the average wages you paid your “Delivery Partners” in 2024…,” the comedian wrote. While most customers laud the convenience of quick deliveries, Kamra pointed out the “dark side” of quick commerce, pointing out that platform owners exploit gig workers. “While we enjoy the convenience of quick commerce I’d like my first tweet of 2025 to be about the dark side,” Kamra wrote in a follow-up post. “Platform owners exploit gig workers & they aren’t job creators. They are landlords without owning any land,” he added. Kamra went on to compare CEOs of quick commerce companies to “thugs”, saying how they are allowed to exploit delivery paretners as no regulations or laws exist to stop them. “They are thugs that are using data as oil without paying for the oil fields. Someday there will be regulation that humbles them…” said Kamra. His post collected over 1.9 lakh views in a matter of hours and received considerable support from other X users. “Studies show that over 50% of gig workers report earning below minimum wage after accounting for expenses, while platforms continue to rake in billions in valuation,” an individual commented. Another user wrote, now there are 2 scenarios 1. @albinder humbly responds to @kunalkamra88 . 2. @albinder responds in @bhash way If the latter, @albinder will have a horrible 2025 #startuppedia #startup #quickcommerce #blinkit #zepto #kunalkamra

From being a graphic designer and even holding the position of assistant Creative Manager in a Mumbai startup for over 5 years, Kamlesh Kamtekar has turned into an auto-rickshaw driver to earn a living. With over 14 years of rich experience in graphic designing Kamlesh tried to secure a related position in Mumbai after getting laid off from his workplace. However, he got rejected everywhere. Kamlesh has over 28,000 followers and 500+ connections on LinkedIn where he informed being laid off months ago to find a new job as a graphic designer. Now that he could not fetch a graphic designer's job, he thought of taking up a driver’s role to keep earning. "It’s almost 5 months completed that I have lost my job due to company cost cutting. I still haven't found a new job. I had try also with lots of references, with my friends. But till yet I don't get new job. I had lots of applied on linkedin also, but every time my application was getting rejected...So I decided to sacrifice my all designing skills and drive an auto rickshaw", he wrote on LinkedIn. The graphic designer-turned-auto driver Kamlesh shared a photo of him standing next to his vehicle in a recent LinkedIn post. It was learned that the photo was clicked on his iPhone. "This is so inspirational", a LinkedIn user commented. "Design field has become horrible. There are lott of experienced design professionals like this...Very unfortunately", remarked another. His LinkedIn followers congratulated him in finding a new profession and extended their best wishes towards him. "Wishing you success you have taken the right decision why to use our skills and our important time for any company or brand. We should use our skills and time to build our own business", a follower wrote. "Creativity is not only with designing. It evolves in every job. Best of luck Kamalesh", another individual said. #startuppedia #graphicdesigner #designing

In a recent interview video shared by IANS news agency, Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani is seen sharing his perspective on the work-life balance debate. Adani said every individual has a separate idea of work-life balance and that one should not impose their idea on another person. While advising that one should pursue one’s passion and spend time on it, he also jokingly said if a man works for more than eight hours, his wife will run away. "Aap ka biwi chor ke bhag jayegi," Gautam Adani said while addressing the work-life balance debate. The billionaire businessman's statement on work-life balance came a few days after Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy reiterated the call to work 70 hours a week. Murthy continuously urges young Indians to work hard for the country’s growth. He suggested the idea of a 70-hour work week in 2023 to boost the country’s economy and then mentioned it again this year. In the interview video, Gautam Adani talked about a harmonious balance between work and personal life. He said, "If you enjoy what you do, then you have a work-life balance. Your work-life balance should not be imposed on me, and my work-life balance shouldn't be imposed on you." However, the Indian billionaire stressed the importance of having a family life and prioritizing personal happiness over professional gains. #startuppedia #startup #worklife #worklifebalance