Mumbai has been witnessing heavy rainfalls for the past two days and weather forecasts predict that this could be Mumbai’s longest and heaviest rainfall. Mumbai is currently facing water logged roads, traffic snarls and fallen trees in many parts of the city bringing life to a standstill. Movement of local trains was also affected, while flights were delayed or diverted leaving people stuck in offices, homes and on the roads.
To help out any individual in need many Mumbaikars have opened up their homes and offices to fellow citizens stuck or struggling on the streets. People took to twitter to let others know who to contact or call for assistance or seek shelter in neighboring areas.
Dadar Sikh Gurudwara served food & provided shelter all night to Mumbaikars. Sikhs also sent food to Dadar Stn. & Tata Hospital #MumbaiRainspic.twitter.com/OWGR0UkWoM
Not wishing to be left behind the startup community also rallied and stepped up, offering free accommodation, food and shelter as Mumbaikars battle the worst rains in over a decade using their resources to help the city’s beleaguered citizens.
World’s largest online bus ticketing platform RedBus announced it was letting stranded Mumbaikars stay at its hotels for free and provided a number for coordination.
#Help for ppl stranded in #MumbaiRains Call redBus Hotels on 08030970888, we’ll arrange free stay in the nearest hotel. RT to spread word.
Search engine giant Google also ran alerts on its search page and provided useful information including a map of the areas affected, a red SOS warning and a link to the official Mumbai police Twitter handle.
Craft beer company Doolally also opened their doors for the people in Bandra, Khar, Andheri West, Colaba and Pedder Road with a promise of tea.
Need a place to hang in Bandra, Khar, Andheri West, Colaba or Pedder Road? Head to @godoolally – doors are open, chai’s on us. #MumbaiRains
Cab hailing startups and rivals Ola and Uber also promised free rides and shuttles for Mumbaikars. Uber users can use the code ‘MUMBAIRAINS’ for free UberPOOL rides and the company has also canceled dynamic pricing during the heavy rains.
Use code ‘MUMBAIRAINS’ for free uberPOOL rides home, with Mumbaikars heading in the same direction. Stay safe: https://t.co/Cdq02ntVWU (2/2)
Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport’s (BEST) official mobile ticketing and pass renewal app Ridlr Mumbai has also used the microblogging site Twitter to keep the citizens updated regarding the weather conditions and traffic congestion in the city.
Mumbai police have also used the platform to its fullest capabilities to help stranded citizens by tweeting useful information and contact details.
If your car is out of fuel/ stranded #Diall100 or 8454999999 or tweet us for free towing till the nearest fuel pump or garage #mumbairains
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.
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.
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.