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Flipkart Group Completes $ 100 Million Employee Stock Repurchase Plan

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Flipkart, India’s biggest ecommerce company, successfully completed the repurchase of employee stock options (ESOPs,) worth $100 million. More than 3,000 current and former employees of Flipkart, Myntra, Jabong and PhonePe took part in the stock repurchase program for the fourth time.

The ecommerce firm provided all the eligible, current and former employees of Flipkart and group companies an opportunity t0 sell a part of their vested ESOP units to the company. This is the fourth time in five years the company gave all the ESOP holders this opportunity to encash their vested stock options.

In an emailed statement, Flipkart said this repurchase program will heavily benefit the employees who have been with the company since 2010. The official statement further added, “Flipkart employees get a threshold period of one year, the stock options start vesting on monthly basis over a four year period after the first year of employment. The decision is welcomed by Flipkart employees across company’s locations in India.

Speaking about the buyback program, Sachin Bansal, the Chairman of Flipkart and Binny Bansal, Group CEO said, “Employees are our biggest source of strength, without whom Flipkart couldn’t have built the ecommerce industry in India. As an organization, we believe they should be equal partners in Flipkart’s success. This ESOP repurchase programme is an extension of that culture and a token of thanks for the dedication and hard work they have put in over the years. We’re delighted to be setting the benchmark on this important parameter, not only in the startup industry but the wider Indian private sector as well.”

Recently, in a deal valuing Flipkart at $ 10 billion, Japan based venture capital firm SoftBank offered to buy Flipkart stock from investors and former and existing employees of Flipkart. In December this year, the company reported a 43% rise in Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) for six months quarter that ended on 30 September 2017. The mutual fund investor Morgan Stanley also marked up the valuation of the ecommerce behemoth to $ 9.36 billion from $ 7 billion for the September quarter.

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Blissclub Raises INR 33 Crore in Fresh Funding Months After Layoffs

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Blissclub, the women-centric D2C apparel brand, has raised INR 33 crore in a Pre-Series B funding round led by Elevation Capital, with Eight Roads Ventures also participating. This funding comes just three months after the company laid off 18% of its workforce-about 21 employees from creative, sales, marketing, growth, and product teams-due to high cash burn and challenges in securing new capital.

The latest investment was made through the allotment of 16,076 compulsory convertible preference shares (CCPS) at a premium of INR 20,428 each. Elevation Capital invested INR 19 crore, securing a 24.5% stake, while Eight Roads Ventures contributed INR 14 crore, raising its stake to 15.79%. The capital will be used for working capital, capital expenditure, and general corporate purposes.

Founded in 2020 by Minu Margeret, Blissclub started as an online activewear brand for women and has since diversified its product range and established offline stores. Despite recent restructuring, the company’s revenue grew 27% to INR 86.9 crore in FY24 from INR 68.3 crore in FY23, though net losses also increased to INR 43.9 crore.

Blissclub’s successful fundraising, despite recent layoffs, underscores both the ongoing challenges and the resilience of India’s D2C startup sector in a difficult funding environment.

 

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Apple to Shift Entire US iPhone Assembly to India by 2026

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Apple is set to relocate all assembly of iPhones destined for the US market from China to India by the end of 2026, marking its biggest manufacturing shift in decades. The move is driven by escalating US-China trade tensions and steep tariffs—up to 145% on Chinese imports—making Chinese assembly increasingly costly for Apple. Although some smartphone imports are temporarily exempt, a 20% duty still applies to Chinese-made iPhones entering the US.

 

India, in contrast, offers a more favorable trade environment, with a paused 26% reciprocal tariff and ongoing negotiations for a bilateral trade deal with the US that could shield Indian exports from future levies. Apple plans to more than double its current iPhone output in India, aiming to assemble over 60 million units annually for the US market. The company already produces about 25% of its global iPhones in India, working with partners like Foxconn, Tata Electronics, and Pegatron.

 

This shift is part of Apple’s broader strategy to diversify its supply chain and reduce reliance on China amid geopolitical risks. However, the transition’s success will depend on how quickly India can scale up its manufacturing capabilities and the outcome of ongoing trade negotiations.


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PhonePe’s PINCODE Launches 10-Minute Medicine Delivery in Cities

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PhonePe’s PINCODE app has launched a 24×7 online medicine delivery service in Bangalore, Mumbai, and Pune, promising delivery of both prescription and over-the-counter medicines within 10 minutes from nearby local medical shops. Unlike conventional e-pharmacies that use dark stores, PINCODE partners exclusively with neighborhood pharmacies, enabling faster deliveries and supporting local businesses in the digital economy.

Customers without prescriptions can select a “no prescription” option when ordering; a qualified doctor then provides a free teleconsultation and issues a digital prescription compliant with telemedicine guidelines, ensuring seamless access to medicines. The app offers competitive pricing by passing discounts from local pharmacies directly to customers and charges no delivery fees.

PINCODE’s hyperlocal model enhances healthcare accessibility and convenience while empowering local pharmacies, helping them remain integral to their communities and stimulating local economic growth. Launched in 2023, the app focuses on quick commerce with an emphasis on speed, reliability, and supporting local sellers.

In summary, PhonePe’s PINCODE app is transforming medicine delivery in major Indian cities by combining ultra-fast 10-minute delivery, free doctor consultations, and a hyperlocal sourcing model that benefits both consumers and neighborhood pharmacies.

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