Connect with us

Latest News

SoftBank Invests In Grocery Startup Grofers

Published

on

SoftBank Invests In Grocery Startup Grofers,Startup Stories,Latest Business News 2018,Online Grocery Store Grofers,SoftBank Business Updates,SoftBank Funding News,Online Delivery Platforms Funding from SoftBank,Online Grocery Startup Grofers,Grocery Startup Grofers Funds

Online grocery store, Grofers, raised $ 62.5 million in a round of funding led by SoftBank. As a result of this investment, SoftBank now owns around 35 % to 40 % of the Gurgaon based startup. According to several industry reports, this investment round also saw participation from existing investors like Tiger Global and Russian tech billionaire, Yuri Milner.

This funding round came barely a month after Grofers released a statement saying they were expecting a funding round of around $ 65 million from its existing investors. Founded in the year 2013 by two tech developers, Grofers recently shut down the operations in several cities around the country. Reportedly, the online grocery company wants to focus only on the Delhi/NCR region.

Just before it shut down operations across the country, Grofers used to deliver in 26 countries, clocking in nearly 15,000 orders on a daily basis, with an average basket size of $ 18.7 to $ 20.8 (about Rs. 1,200 to Rs. 1,350.) This move comes in an effort to strengthen Grofers strong market position. In the last year, its biggest competitor, BigBasket secured around $ 300 million in a Series E funding round led by Alibaba with the participation of Abraaj Capital, Sands Capital and IFC.

Grofers currently offers products across categories like grocery, fruits and vegetables, beauty and wellness, household care, baby care, pet care, bakery and meats and seafood, among other things. The company claims to be profitable with day to day based online deliveries in Delhi. As of March 2017, BigBasket holds about 35% in the food delivery sector while Grofers follows behind as a close second.

Flipkart, on the other hand, is reportedly looking to set up a chain of delivery and retail stores all across the country. This is going to happen in partnership with global retail giant, Walmart. With so many competitors popping up in growing numbers, Grofers faces some serious competition. It is going to be interesting to see how the online delivery platform uses this round of funding from SoftBank.

Continue Reading
Advertisement
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Latest News

Zepto Delays IPO to Focus on Profitability and Indian Ownership

Published

on

Zepto - StartupStories

Overview

Zepto, a leading quick commerce startup, has postponed its planned IPO to early 2026, shifting its focus to achieving profitability and increasing Indian shareholding before going public.

Key Reasons for Delay

  • Profitability Focus: Zepto aims to reach EBITDA break-even before listing, unlike many tech firms that went public while still loss-making.
  • Market Uncertainty: Ongoing global and domestic market volatility influenced the decision to wait for more stable conditions.
  • Peer Comparison: The company wants to present a stronger profit profile, learning from the performance of rivals like Swiggy and Zomato (now Eternal).

Boosting Domestic Shareholding

  • Target: Zepto plans to raise Indian ownership to at least 51% to comply with FDI norms and reinforce its Indian identity.
  • Actions: The company is conducting secondary share sales to Indian investors and founders are increasing their stakes by buying from foreign investors.
  • Progress: Domestic ownership has reached about 40-44%, with expectations to surpass 51% before the IPO.

Financial and Operational Updates

  • Efficiency Drive: Zepto is optimizing operations, running over 900 dark stores and offering 48,000 SKUs, to reduce cash burn and move toward profitability.
  • Challenges: The company faces stiff competition from Swiggy Instamart and Blinkit, leading to higher costs, and has dealt with operational pauses and regulatory scrutiny in some regions.

Outlook

Zepto remains positive about its future, aiming to raise around $800 million in its IPO and attract both domestic and international investors. CEO Aadit Palicha emphasizes building a sustainable, majority Indian-owned business before entering the public market.

Summary: Zepto’s IPO delay reflects a strategic focus on financial stability and regulatory compliance, with profitability and Indian ownership at the forefront.

Continue Reading

Latest News

Polygon Enters New Era: Leadership Shift and Major Upgrades Under Sandeep Nailwal

Published

on

Polygon StartupStories

Sandeep Nailwal, co-founder of Polygon, has been appointed as the first CEO of the Polygon Foundation, marking a shift from decentralized governance to focused leadership. This change aims to provide clear direction and accelerate Polygon’s growth in the competitive blockchain space.

Under Nailwal’s leadership, Polygon will discontinue its zkEVM network in 2026 to concentrate on the Polygon PoS chain and AggLayer, a new cross-chain liquidity protocol. Significant upgrades to the Polygon PoS chain are planned, starting with the Bhilai upgrade in July 2025, to enhance transaction capacity and support large-scale financial applications.

Polygon enters this new phase with a strong financial position, enabling long-term development without fundraising pressures. While Nailwal leads the Foundation, Marc Boiron continues as CEO of Polygon Labs. This leadership restructuring aims to drive innovation and reinforce Polygon’s position in Ethereum scaling and the Web3 ecosystem.

 

Continue Reading

Latest News

Wow! Momo Raises ₹85 Crore from Stride Ventures to Accelerate Nationwide Expansion

Published

on

WoW Momo StartupStories

Wow! Momo, the Kolkata-based quick-service restaurant (QSR) chain, has secured ₹85 crore (approximately $9.9 million) in debt funding from Stride Ventures, aiming to accelerate its omnichannel expansion and strengthen its presence across India. The company, which operates over 700 outlets in more than 70 cities, plans to utilize the funds to open additional dine-in restaurants, expand its packaged food (FMCG) vertical, and enhance its delivery and supply chain operations. This strategic move will also help refinance existing loans and fuel Wow! Momo’s push into new markets and product categories.

Founded in 2008, Wow! Momo has rapidly diversified its offerings, launching brands such as Wow! China, Wow! Chicken, and Wow! Kulfi, and recently entering the frozen foods segment with quick commerce and retail distribution. The company is targeting a footprint of over 1,500 stores across more than 100 cities within the next three years and aims to grow its FMCG business to ₹100 crore while ramping up its HORECA (Hotel, Restaurant, and Catering) segment. The leadership team views this debt infusion as pivotal for scaling new formats, driving innovation, and building brands that resonate with Indian consumers.

Stride Ventures, known for backing high-growth startups, emphasized Wow! Momo’s strong brand recall, robust business model, and relentless innovation as key reasons for their investment. With this funding, Wow! Momo is well-positioned to further solidify its status as a category-defining player in India’s QSR and FMCG sectors, while preparing for larger equity rounds and a potential IPO in the coming years.

 

Continue Reading
Advertisement

Recent Posts

Advertisement