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Zomato Forgoes Commission Fees From Partner Restaurants in #MissionGiveBack
Zomato, the restaurant discovery and online food ordering platform, have announced they will forgo the commission fee charged to partner restaurants on food orders under their new scheme called #MissionGiveBack. The move comes after co founder and CEO Deepinder Goyal announced the company was profitable in all of the 24 countries they operate in and across all businesses.
In a blog post, the food tech company reported their core advertising business in India, Southeast Asia and the Middle East have been generating enough money to cover their investments. The zero commission model is a token of appreciation for all the restaurant owners to mark this occasion. According to the blog post, restaurants can qualify for the zero commission scheme if they meet a set of predefined criteria which include a number of orders processed on a weekly basis. According to current data, almost 70% of Zomato’s restaurant partners are eligible for this zero commission scheme.
Zomato reported an 80% surge in revenue at around $ 60 million for the financial year 2017. Since the beginning of the year, the company has been on a rationalizing spree focusing on diversification and redesigning its ad serving product. They have also managed to cap their annual operating cash burn by over 80% to Rs. 77 crores and cut losses by 34% in 2016-2017. The food tech unicorn was also valued at $ 1.4 billion by Japan based financial holding company, Nomura. According to various media reports, the company is also expected to raise up to $ 200 million from Alibaba’s financial arm Ant Financial Pvt., Ltd. They also acquired the logistics and food delivery startup Runnr last week, adding over 1,500 people to offer delivery services to restaurants, complete with live order tracking.
Currently, the unicorn company charges a 7% commission fee, excluding delivery and payment gateway charges, from partner restaurants. Whereas, according to a news daily, the rival food delivery startup Swiggy’s commission fee is pegged at 1530% including delivery and payment gateway charges.
OpenAI’s introduction of trusted contact safeguards for potential self-harm cases reflects a major evolution in AI responsibility.
Beyond Moderation
AI safety is shifting from simply blocking harmful content to actively supporting user wellbeing through:
- early risk detection
- human-centered intervention
- stronger emotional safety frameworks
This positions AI as more than an information tool—it becomes part of broader digital support systems.
Key Industry Impact
Trusted contact models could influence future safety standards across:
- AI assistants
- mental health platforms
- social media
- digital health services
The Bigger Challenge
While promising, success depends on balancing:
- privacy
- consent
- ethical intervention
- user trust
Final Take
This move signals that the future of AI safety may rely not just on preventing harmful responses, but on building more responsible, human-connected support systems.
Rozana, India’s leading rural retail platform, has secured ₹290 crore ($35 million) in a Series B funding round led by Bertelsmann India Investments (BII), with participation from Omidyar Network India, Vivid Capital, and Tana Investment Holding. This Rozana funding brings its total capital to over ₹500 crore, fueling hyperlocal expansion in underserved rural markets. Founded in 2021 by brothers Prashant and Prateek Chauhan, the startup’s phygital model blends micro-stores, app-based ordering, and last-mile delivery to connect 5 million+ users in 12 states with brands like ITC and HUL.
The ₹290 crore investment will supercharge Rozana’s rural omnichannel retail strategy, targeting 5x growth in 18 months. Plans include adding 5,000 micro-stores in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Rajasthan; AI-powered inventory tech; and new categories like groceries and electronics. By empowering 20,000+ rural micro-entrepreneurs, Rozana taps into India’s $700 billion rural retail boom, where smartphone penetration and UPI drive 12% annual growth.
This Rozana Series B milestone positions it as a frontrunner against rivals like Ninjacart, eyeing unicorn status by 2028 amid ONDC tailwinds. CEO Prashant Chauhan emphasized, “We’re building rural prosperity through accessible premium brands.” For more on Rozana funding news and rural retail trends, stay updated on India’s startup ecosystem.
Peak XV Partners has launched three new funds totaling $1.3 billion, targeting India’s booming startup ecosystem. The lineup features the $600M Surge fund (8th edition) for early-stage ventures, a $300M Growth Fund for Series B+ scaling, and a $400M Acceleration Fund for rapid portfolio expansion. This commitment arrives as India’s VC inflows rebound, with AI and fintech leading 2026 trends.
These funds build on Peak XV’s legacy of backing unicorns like Zomato and Pine Labs, offering founders capital plus strategic guidance amid post-winter recovery. Early-stage deals surged 20% last year per Tracxn, positioning Peak XV to fuel the next wave of innovation in SaaS, climate tech, and consumer plays.
For startups eyeing Peak XV new funds or Surge fund 2026 applications, this signals prime opportunities. Investors and marketers should watch for deployment updates India remains a global VC hotspot.
