Podcasts about zepto

India's quick-commerce poster child, Zepto, is racing to the public markets after a festive season high. The company clocked 20 lakh daily orders during Diwali — coming only second to Blinkit. But behind that surge lies a far more complicated story: leadership churn, regulatory heat, and a business model that's still chasing profitability.In this episode, we unpack Zepto's dual reality — a startup celebrating record growth while quietly firefighting internal challenges. From FDA raids on dark stores and government warnings on “dark patterns,” to its clean-up act and pre-IPO tightening, we explore how Zepto is trying to look investor-ready in a year that's tested its resilience.Tune in.Daybreak is produced from the newsroom of The Ken, India's first subscriber-only business news platform. Subscribe for more exclusive, deeply-reported, and analytical business stories.

In today's Tech3 from Moneycontrol, we unpack the biggest stories from India's startup and tech world. ChrysCapital closes a record $2.2 billion fund, while MoEngage secures $100 million to scale its AI marketing agents, Zepto's meat business head exits amid leadership churn, and NVIDIA and Qualcomm Ventures back India's Deep Tech Alliance. Plus, Mindgrove puts India's silicon dream on the map.

What makes a great venture capitalist — luck, timing, or the ability to see what others miss?Brij Bhushan (Prime Venture Partners) and Pratik Poddar (Nexus Venture Partners) talk about the long game of venture capital; the waiting, the lessons hidden in mistakes, and the emotional ride of backing founders through years of uncertainty.With Pratik, we dive into some of the biggest names in the Nexus portfolio: his first meeting with Rapido's founder before he even joined Nexus, the Meesho pitch that became a big miss, and his first call with Zepto's founders. Nexus was one of Zepto's earliest investors and has backed the company in every round since. Pratik speaks with great clarity about conviction, timing, and what truly defines great investing.Brij reflects on his decade of building Magicpin, what it means to “build the same company three times,” and how that journey reshaped the way he now works with founders. Having lived through the chaos of scaling, near-failure, and reinvention, he brings the founder's perspective back into venture capital.Together, Brij and Pratik capture the essence of the VC game — how the industry is evolving, why consensus rarely creates outliers, how real decisions are made inside funds, and why the best founders often seem “too early” rather than too late. We talk about everything that shapes a VC's everyday life, and above all why Brij and Pratik believe it's still the best job in the world.0:00 – Trailer01:59 – Biggest learnings from 10 years as a VC05:00 – Rapido as a counterintuitive bet06:49 – Meesho was a big miss10:20 – Why Venture capital is the best job?12:35 – Every meeting could be life-changing14:54 – Knowing you are NOT in an Operating role16:55 – How often are VCs wrong about market size?18:58 – Where to invest in Consumer companies?25:33 – How consumer VCs bet on behavior change27:12 – Is e-commerce truly built for young users?28:10 – How do Investors deal with Bias?30:04 – Are VCs only remembered for success stories?37:45 – Why good deals rarely come from Consensus?39:24 – The first call with Zepto's founders41:10 – How often do you meet truly exceptional founders?43:45 – Should VCs react to market shifts?46:42 – How long VC's take to make an investment decision?50:53 – How founders should approach fundraising54:27 – Can India produce 50 decacorns in the next few years?55:51 – Best way to play VC game is to have right fund size56:42 – Not Knowing is a pre-requisite for a VC1:00:41 – Exceptional founders have this superpower1:02:02 – Where Indian founders have a real edge1:05:14 – Building AI in India: local maxima or global maxima?1:09:00 – When will Indian Co's acquire Indian startups for $Billions?1:11:55 – Why Zomato & Swiggy aren't true Consumer Co's?-------------India's talent has built the world's tech—now it's time to lead it.This mission goes beyond startups. It's about shifting the center of gravity in global tech to include the brilliance rising from India.What is Neon Fund?We invest in seed and early-stage founders from India and the diaspora building world-class Enterprise AI companies. We bring capital, conviction, and a community that's done it before.Subscribe for real founder stories, investor perspectives, economist breakdowns, and a behind-the-scenes look at how we're doing it all at Neon.-------------Check us out on:Website: https://neon.fund/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theneonshoww/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/beneon/Twitter: https://x.com/TheNeonShowwConnect with Siddhartha on:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/siddharthaahluwalia/Twitter: https://x.com/siddharthaa7Send us a text

In today's Tech3 from Moneycontrol, we dive into a blockbuster week in Indian tech. Groww's IPO sees record investor interest, while Pine Labs trims its issue size. Zepto and Swiggy Instamart battle it out in a quick commerce fee war, and Zerodha's CTO Kailash Nadh opens up about how India's startup boom dimmed open-source culture. Plus, Oyo walks back its controversial 6,000:1 bonus share plan after investor backlash.

In today's Tech3 from Moneycontrol, we break down Lenskart's Rs 70,000 crore IPO and Peyush Bansal's bold “day zero” mindset. We also dive into Zerodha's plan to let investors buy U.S. stocks amid its first-ever revenue dip, and the fierce quick commerce battle heating up among Zepto, Blinkit, and Swiggy Instamart. Plus, Dunzo co-founder Kabeer Biswas exits Flipkart. Tune in for all the top startup headlines.

Send us a text00:00 - Intro00:08 - Anysphere $1B Raise Talks at $27B Valuation Amid AI Coding Boom01:07 - Deel $300M Series E at $17.3B Valuation Fuels $1.2B ARR Growth02:31 - Oura $900M Series E Doubles Valuation to $11B on 5.5M Ring Sales04:02 - Zepto $450M Raise Hits $7B Valuation in $42B Indian Quick-Commerce Surge05:22 - Kalshi $300M Raise at $5B Valuation as Trading Volume Nears $50B Annualized06:24 - Plata $250M Series C at $3.1B Valuation Targets 10M Users by 202607:34 - Ripple $1B GTreasury Acquisition Caps $2.45B 2025 Deal Spree08:21 - Black Forest $200M-$300M Raise at $3.25B Valuation Fuels FLUX.1 Expansion09:27 - Prompt AI Apple Acquihire Targets HomeKit Vision Boost10:13 - Thinking Machines Co-Founder Tulloch Departs for Meta Amid Talent Wars11:10 - OpenAI Broadcom 10GW Custom AI Chip Partnership at $350B-$500B Cost12:17 - OpenAI Walmart Instant Checkout Taps 270M Customers for Agentic Commerce13:06 - Revolut UK License Delay Amid $4B Revenue and 65M Customer Expansion14:03 - SpaceX Starship V2 Success Targets 2027 Moon Mission, $15.5B Revenue15:01 - Anduril EagleEye MR Helmet Secures $159M Army Award in $22B IVAS Pivot16:08 - Anthropic IBM Partnership Rolls Claude to 500K Deloitte Users

In today's Tech3 from Moneycontrol, we bring you the top startup and tech updates. Infosys posts strong Q2 numbers while Wipro's growth remains steady. Zomato-parent Eternal sees revenue surge but profit dips, with Blinkit driving rapid expansion. Ola Electric launches Ola Shakti, entering the battery energy storage market as part of its diversification strategy. And in the funding space, our scoops got confirmed: Zepto closed a massive $450 million round, while Kuku raised $85 million to double down on AI content.

In today's Tech3 from Moneycontrol, we cover quick commerce player Zepto's $450 million funding round led by US pension fund Calpers. Global Capability Centres in India are driving a 131% surge in AI hiring. We also explore startup operators moving to VC roles, Bengaluru's Outer Ring Road challenges pushing firms north, Infra.Market's Rs 5,000 crore IPO filing, and Bybit's India expansion.

Swiggy, once the dominant force in India's quick-commerce market, is now struggling to keep pace. Since its IPO, Instamart's share has slipped to about 25%, well behind Blinkit's commanding over 50%. To engineer a turnaround, CEO Sriharsha Majety is driving sweeping changes at the company—fuelled by a wave of ex-Flipkart hires, including Amitesh Jha as Instamart's new chief. The shake-up marks a cultural pivot from Swiggy's meticulous “doc culture” to a harder-edged “move fast, fail fast” ethos. But with Blinkit and Zepto racing ahead, whether this reset can restore Swiggy's edge or leave it further behind in the quick-commerce race remains to be seen.Compete in India's first and only case competition.Daybreak is produced from the newsroom of The Ken, India's first subscriber-only business news platform. Subscribe for more exclusive, deeply-reported, and analytical business stories. If you are a student who wants to participate in The Ken's case build competition, or if you simply want to read the case, you can do that here: https://the-ken.com/case-competition-2025/ 

In this episode of Two by Two, co-hosts Praveen Gopal Krishnan and Rohin Dharmakumar are joined by Ayyappan Rajagopal, founder and CEO of the quick-commerce platform Firstclub. A veteran of India's e-commerce sector with leadership roles at Flipkart, Myntra, and Cleartrip, Ayyappan shares his vision for a differentiated experience in the crowded quick-commerce market. While existing platforms are highly transactional and compete on speed and discounts, Firstclub aims to be a curated, discovery-led platform offering high-quality products. For brands, Firstclub positions itself not just as a retailer, but as an extended distributor and brand-building partner. It works closely with brands, associating only with those whose stature and target consumers align with its curated vision. For consumers, Firstclub is drawing inspiration from the Costco model by planning a membership-based system to build a loyal customer base and offer superior products at better value. Delve into this conversation to understand how Firstclub is carving out its unique space in the quick-commerce landscape. *****Additional reading1,500 stories about India's complex relationships with Swiggy Instamart, Blinkit, Zepto, and BigbasketAre we seeing the unbundling of quick commerce?

In this episode of Corner Office Conversations, host Ratna Bhushan sits down with Vipul Parekh, co-founder of BigBasket, to discuss how India’s leading online grocer is gearing up for the festive season amid the quick commerce boom. From IPO buzz and profitability challenges to category expansion beyond groceries, Parekh shares insights on competition with Swiggy, Zepto, JioMart, and Amazon, and BigBasket’s strategy around dark stores, assortment, and growth. With the Tata Group backing and a rapidly evolving e-commerce market, this conversation explores what it takes to stay ahead in a fiercely contested space.You can follow Ratna Bhushan on her Linkedin, Twitter profiles and read her Newspaper Articles. Listen to Corner Office Conversation: Corner Office Conversation with Pawan Goenka, Chairman, IN-SPACe, Corner Office Conversation with The New Leaders of Indian Pharma and much more. Catch the latest episode of “Corner Office Conversation” on: Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts,and wherever you get your podcasts from.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In March this year, a software developer that goes by Pea Bee online published a blog rather ominously titled ‘Everyone knows all the apps on your phone'. He found that several Indian app-based startups are flouting rules of Google Play—Android's app store—to access people's data.  In particular, some apps use a workaround to scrutinise the names and usage patterns of other apps on people's phones. In real time.Now, the fact that apps have a lot of your data may not be a surprise to you. We've been pretty cavalier about our data for some time now. Remember Digi Yatra? But the scary thing is that Indian companies are equally nonchalant about the user data they collect. The result? Data-security breaches have been on the rise. So what is a data conscious Indian customer to do? Tune in. *This episode was originally published on May 13 2025.Daybreak is produced from the newsroom of The Ken, India's first subscriber-only business news platform. Subscribe for more exclusive, deeply-reported, and analytical business stories.One channel. Every show. No more switching feeds. Follow The Ken on Apple Podcasts or tune in on The Ken app.

In today's Tech3 from Moneycontrol, we unpack India's AI funding surge up 46% in 2025, and why investors are betting on niche, high-impact applications. We also break down the Trump administration's proposed H-1B changes that could sideline early-career Indian tech talent, and look at how Swiggy's Instamart has overtaken Zepto in the quick commerce race. Finally, we track IMPS transactions hitting a four-year low as UPI continues its meteoric rise.

In today's Tech3 from Moneycontrol, Fractal Analytics gears up for India's first pure-play AI IPO worth Rs 4,900 crore. Zepto cleans up its checkout, dropping “dark patterns” amid new regulations. Bhashini recruits annotators to train AI in 22 Indian languages, Allen Digital sees a leadership exit, and a father-son duo launches Covasant to push Agentic AI in IT services.

India's coffee scene looks like it is booming with new cafes, trendy menus, and big international names. But the truth behind is that almost no one is making money.And then came along Zepto Cafe, the 10-minute coffee delivery, that wanted to change everything. In early 2025, it was clocking 100,000 daily orders and a $100 million run rate. But just months later dozens of its locations shut down.Why did Zepto, with its speed, scale, and infrastructure, end up like every other coffee brand in India? It all boils down to brutal economics.But if Zepto couldn't make coffee profitable in India, can anyone?Tune inDaybreak is produced from the newsroom of The Ken, India's first subscriber-only business news platform. Subscribe for more exclusive, deeply-reported, and analytical business stories. One channel. Every show. No more switching feeds.Follow The Ken on Apple Podcasts or tune in on The Ken app.

In today's Tech3 from Moneycontrol, Lenskart CEO Peyush Bansal looks to raise his stake at a steep pre-IPO discount, bringing the eyewear giant's valuation down to $1 billion. Zepto is eyeing a $500 million fundraise at a $7 billion valuation, while Kreditbee posts a sharp 66% profit jump in FY25. Plus, Cisco CEO Chuck Robbins calls India one of the company's biggest global growth bets. Tune in for your daily wrap of the sharpest startup and tech news.

Tesla has reassured Indian parts suppliers that its procurement policy will not change despite Trump's tariffs threat. Zepto is eyeing a fresh fundraise, Lenskart co-foundder Peyush Bansal wants to up his stake in the company, and smartphone buyers can expect steep discounts soon. Also find out why municipalities are tapping the bond market to finance infrastructure and why Trump is irked by the economic influence of BRICS in today's edition of Moneycontrol Editor's Picks.

Category managers have shifted from routine e-commerce roles to powerful decision-makers in quick commerce. They now manage the limited shelf space in dark stores and decide which products get visibility on platforms like Instamart, Zepto, and Blinkit. Naturally, brands are aggressively courting them, with over 30,000 requests every month for just 150 slots. From hosting parties to taking them out for drinks, brands are pulling out all the stops. Meanwhile, category managers are urging brands to invest more in ads and marketing to stay competitive.Tune in.*This episode was first published on Dec 19, 2024Daybreak is produced from the newsroom of The Ken, India's first subscriber-only business news platform. Subscribe for more exclusive, deeply-reported, and analytical business stories.Listen to the latest episode of Two by Two here

Meesho, Rapido, and Zepto have managed to challenge what seemed like firmly established duopolies, such as Amazon and Flipkart, Uber and Ola, and Blinkit and Swiggy Instamart, respectively.The third-place player trying to break the duopoly with its ‘challenger DNA' came in and caught up with the incumbents by targeting the unserved or underserved markets they overlooked, innovation, be it through providing a zero commission platform for sellers, delivering groceries in minutes or connecting drivers to riders based on a subscription model.But what other factors cause this disruption in these duopolies?A critical factor enabling these new entrants is often incumbent complacency combined with venture capital pressures in India, which push established players towards short-term profits over broader market expansion.In episode 48 of Two by Two, we discuss how these disruptors came about, and based on their journey, can we observe other such disruptive third players in India?Joining hosts Rohin Dharmakumar and Praveen Gopal Krishnan was Professor Rajendra Srivastava, former dean at the Indian School of Business and presently the executive director at the ISB Centre for Business Innovation.–Additional reading:Does your company have an India strategy – https://hbr.org/2023/06/does-your-company-have-an-india-strategyWhy Indigo Airlines may be India's best export to the world after cricket and bollywood? – https://medium.com/@rks_72086/why-indigo-airlines-may-be-indias-best-export-to-the-world-after-cricket-and-bollywood-5beb92182343Market-based assets and shareholder value – https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/002224299806200102Peripheral Vision: Detecting the Weak Signals that Will Make or Break Your Company written by George S. Day and Paul J. H. Schoemaker (recommended by Professor Shrivastava)The Rule of Three: Surviving and Thriving in Competitive Markets written by Jagdish Sheth and Rajendra Sisodia (recommended by Professor Shrivastava)Additional listening:Is Zepto a gold medallist or a bronze medallist? – https://the-ken.com/podcasts/two-by-two/is-zepto-a-gold-medalist-or-a-bronze-medalist/Vidit Aatrey on building a problem-first mindset into Meesho's culture – https://the-ken.com/podcasts/first-principles/vidit-aatrey-on-building-a-problem-first-mindset-into-meeshos-culture/–This episode of Two by Two was produced by Hari Krishna. Rajiv CN, our resident sound engineer, mixed and mastered this episode.If you liked this episode of Two by Two, please share it with your friends and family who would be interested in listening to the episode. And if you have more thoughts on the discussion, we'd love to hear your arguments as well. You can write to us at twobytwo@the-ken.com.

Groceries delivered to your doorstep in just 10 minutes? India's online platforms are promising this instant delivery for millions of shoppers – items at your door in between 10 and 30 mins. But behind the convenience lies a deeper story - exhausted gig workers, struggling family-run stores, and questions about the long-term sustainability of the business model. We look at the real cost of India's quick commerce, or Q-commerce, industry.If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: businessdaily@bbc.co.ukPresented and produced by Devina Gupta(Picture: A Swiggy delivery rider and a rider for rival brand Zepto on their bikes with delivery boxes in Mumbai, India. Credit: Getty Images)

In this episode, we turn the spotlight on one of the most powerful yet elusive figures in Indian e-commerce: Kalyan Krishnamurthy, the everywhere-all-the-time CEO of Flipkart. Flipkart, backed by Walmart, was once India's great e-commerce hope. But lately, the tides have been turning.Walmart is flying high, outperforming Amazon globally, dominating grocery delivery, and raking in ad dollars with a valuation that's outshining even Apple. But six years after buying Flipkart, Walmart's patience is wearing thin. Profits still remain elusive. And Krishnamurthy who has been recognised as a wartime CEO is starting to look more like a general losing his command. Flipkart's getting squeezed from every side. Meesho, the social commerce platform, has captured the small cities. Amazon still owns the metros. And in the quick-commerce madness, it's all about Zepto, Blinkit, Instamart. Flipkart's barely in the game. Now some of this chaos is kind of self-inflicted. For example, Flipkart's foray into travel with the Cleartrip acquisition.Senior leaders are leaving, morale is shaken, and few inside the company believe the endgame is anywhere in sight. The Ken reporter Nuha Bubere went behind the scenes and the pressure was palpable.  Tune in.Daybreak is produced from the newsroom of The Ken, India's first subscriber-only business news platform. Subscribe for more exclusive, deeply-reported, and analytical business stories.Want to attend The Ken's next event on health, fitness and wellness? Buy tickets here. Here's your chance to help us shape the conversation: https://theken.typeform.com/to/bZhqWl2g

In today's Tech3 from Moneycontrol, Elon Musk's Starlink finally gets the go-ahead to launch satellite internet in India. Swiggy and Eternal gain big on D-Street while Zepto hits turbulence. Nandan Nilekani doubles down on AI4Bharat, backing India's AI language infrastructure. And IPL star Sai Sudharsan becomes the newest brand darling after a breakout season

This episode of Two by Two was first published on 05 June 2025.Premium subscribers of The Ken have full access to ALL our premium audio. They are available exclusively via The Ken's subscriber apps. If you don't have them, just download one and log in to unlock everything. Get your premium subscription using this link.Not a Premium subscriber? You can subscribe to The Ken Premium on Apple Podcasts for an easy monthly price (Rs 299 in India). The channel includes ALL our premium podcasts.–Bigbasket, Blinkit, Instamart, and Zepto are all fighting to capture more and more share of the quick-commerce market. But as they scale, a new set of players fulfilling one use case in minutes is entering the market with hype and funding.Does this mean we will see an unbundling of quick commerce from being an everything store to having separate apps for everything? Or is it just another cycle of unbundling and bundling?Hosts Praveen Gopal Krishnan and Rohin Dharmakumar discuss in the latest episode of Two by Two with Madhav Kasturia, founder and CEO of Zippee, and Sanjay Ramakrishnan, founder and general partner, Multiply Ventures.–This episode of Two by Two was produced by Hari Krishna. Rajiv CN, our resident sound engineer, mixed and mastered this episode.If you liked this episode of Two by Two, please share it with your friends and family who would be interested in listening to the episode. And if you have more thoughts on the discussion, we'd love to hear your arguments as well. You can write to us at twobytwo@the-ken.com. Want to attend The Ken's next event—How AI is Breaking and Remaking the Way Products are Built?

In today's newsletter, learn about UPI payments' big milestone in surpassing global Visa transactions, find out why companies are stockpiling cash and where the auto industry is headed as China curbs exports of rare earth magnets. We also have details on Nestle's growth strategy and Zepto's decision to hit the brakes on IPO plans. Tune in.

In today's Tech3 from Moneycontrol, we dive into how RCB's historic IPL win is pushing up its brand value, and what that means for Virat Kohli. We also track UPI's meteoric rise as it threatens to overtake Visa in daily transactions. Plus, Zepto puts its IPO on hold till 2026 amid internal challenges, and OfBusiness gears up for its $1 billion IPO by expanding deeper into manufacturing and apparel. Tune in for more startup and tech updates.

In this episode of the Indian Business Podcast, Kishore Biyani dives deep into the untold truths of building for India. He breaks down the concept of India 1, 2, and 3, and explains why most startups fail to connect with Bharat. From the rise and fall of Big Bazaar to why Zepto succeeded, he shares hard-earned lessons on branding, customer behavior, communication, and debt. He also compares India's growth journey with China's ruthless model, offering insights on what India must learn to scale

In today's Tech3 from Moneycontrol, Razorpay completes its reverse flip to India, shelling out Rs 1,245 crore in taxes. Zerodha plans to pump Rs 125 crore into its NBFC to expand lending. Snabbit, a Zepto-style home services startup, bags $19 million in funding. Edtech firm Teachmint pivots to smart classroom hardware. And finally, India is becoming a retail GCC magnet, with 100 such centres expected in the next few years. Tune in for the sharpest updates from the world of tech and startups!

In today's Tech3 from Moneycontrol, we look at Groww's confidential IPO and its new pre-IPO fundraising plans. We check out a popular influencer-turned-founder, Food Pharmer, who's now launching his own clean-label protein brand. Plus, we dive into the quick commerce drama as Zepto's CEO accuses a rival CFO of a smear campaign. And finally, the Indian government gears up to crack down on dark patterns in online shopping, those sneaky design tricks that push you into buying more.

Venture capital is much fancied today.Is this job which looks like cutting cheques for products and founders you like, for everyone?As for any work, there are traits you should have and some which won't help you on the job.We have with us Kushal Bhagia (All In Capital), Karthik Prabhakar (Peer Capital), and Rajan (Upekkha).Three people who interestingly all began as engineers and took different career paths to today become Fund managers of leading VC firms.All In Capital's $24M pre-seed fund backing early-stage founders,Peer Capital's $75M early-stage fund investing in tech-first Indian startups from seed to Series A,Upekkha's $40M Capital's accelerator-style fund supporting B2B SaaS startups.Tune in!01:53 – Why builders shouldn't become VCs?03:12 – Why best VCs sell well & stay curious05:12 – How the VC job is like Flying a plane07:48 – How parental instincts enable VCs?10:42 – Is fundraising harder than ever?14:12 – What makes people write VC cheques?18:03 – Where do India's rich family offices invest?20:30 – Why India still doesn't have its own YC?22:55 – The OG YC when startups weren't cool28:00 – Can YC's numbers ever be replicated?33:03 – David v/s Goliath of Small vs large funds39:02 – Zepto's first $50k cheque40:22 – Sectors VCs won't touch41:35 – Story-driven v/s numbers-driven Fundraising44:36 – How we missed Swiggy, Postman & Zepto?46:18 – The best VCs48:24 – What needs to change in Indian VC?49:47 – Founders we'd invest In (But not work for)51:25 – Unlearnings as an Investor-------------​​India's talent has built the world's tech—now it's time to lead it.This mission goes beyond startups. It's about shifting the center of gravity in global tech to include the brilliance rising from India.What is Neon Fund?We invest in seed and early-stage founders from India and the diaspora building world-class Enterprise AI companies. We bring capital, conviction, and a community that's done it before.Subscribe for real founder stories, investor perspectives, economist breakdowns, and a behind-the-scenes look at how we're doing it all at Neon.-------------Check us out on:Website: https://neon.fund/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theneonshoww/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/beneon/Twitter: https://x.com/TheNeonShowwConnect with Siddhartha on:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/siddharthaahluwalia/Twitter: https://x.com/siddharthaa7-------------This video is for informational purposes only. The views expressed are those of the individuals quoted and do not constitute professional advice.Send us a text

In March this year, a software developer that goes by Pea Bee online published a blog rather ominously titled ‘Everyone knows all the apps on your phone'. He found that several Indian app-based startups are flouting rules of Google Play—Android's app store—to access people's data.  In particular, some apps use a workaround to scrutinise the names and usage patterns of other apps on people's phones. In real time.Now, the fact that apps have a lot of your data may not be a surprise to you. We've been pretty cavalier about our data for some time now. Remember Digi Yatra? But the scary thing is that Indian companies are equally nonchalant about the user data they collect. The result? Data-security breaches have been on the rise. So what is a data conscious Indian customer to do? Tune in. If you have any thoughts or questions about this episode, send them to us as texts or voice notes on Daybreak's WhatsApp at +918971108379. Daybreak is produced from the newsroom of The Ken, India's first subscriber-only business news platform. Subscribe for more exclusive, deeply-reported, and analytical business stories.

In today's Tech3 from Moneycontrol we break down Zepto's $100 million backing from Motilal Oswal's founders ahead of its IPO. We also dive into the growing drone threat and how Paras Defence is stepping up India's counter-drone capabilities. Plus, LTIMindtree signs its biggest-ever AI deal worth $450 million, and we bring you updates on Gensol's leadership shake-up, Antfin's Paytm exit, and Ather's improving financials. Tune in for sharp, speedy updates from India's tech and startup world.

Four months ago, food delivery giant Zomato decided to run an experiment. If you are a regular patron of the app, you may have noticed a tab called ‘Quick' appear, that promised 15-minute deliveries in a bunch of metropolitan cities like Bangalore, Mumbai and Delhi NCR. Now, the company's founder and CEO made an interesting statement last year that explains why it would choose to try out this experiment. He was asked a question about how quick commerce has changed customer expectations around food delivery. And he said, quite simply – “Blinkit is fast, but that has made Zomato seem slow.” He has a point. You may recall that Zomato subsidiary Blinkit launched its in-house 10-minute snack delivery service called Bistro last year, just one day after the very popular Zepto cafe was launched. Swiggy Instamart meanwhile, launched a similar service called Snacc. In many ways, 2024 was the year 10-minute food delivery became the next frontier of quick commerce.Naturally, the biggest food delivery giants in the country did not want to be left behind. So while Zomato launched Quick, Swiggy rolled out its own ultra-fast delivery service, Bolt. But here's where things get interesting. While announcing its Q4 results last week, Zomato announced that its four-month experiment was very quickly coming to an end. In a letter to shareholders, Deepinder Goyal explained that they just could not see a path to profitability without compromising on customer experience.The Ken's COO and the host of Two by Two Praveen Gopal Krishnan explains what changed. Daybreak is produced from the newsroom of The Ken, India's first subscriber-only business news platform. Subscribe for more exclusive, deeply-reported, and analytical business stories.

In today's Tech3 from Moneycontrol, we break down how Blinkit, Zepto, and Swiggy Instamart are dominating India's quick commerce race with over 4 million daily orders. Swiggy shuts down its Genie service, while TCS slashes variable pay and delays hikes for senior staff. In the EV world, TVS edges past Ola in April sales. Plus, YouTube tests a two-person Premium plan in India.

Right now, it feels like Blinkit and Zepto are everywhere. In Delhi, where I live, it's as if people's days are incomplete without ordering one thing or the other through these apps. Delivering groceries and shampoos in ten minutes is one thing, but now, quick commerce is expanding. In March, Zepto announced that it's going to join Blinkit and Swiggy and also begin delivering...iPhones. But, who's buying? In this episode, we'll learn about the rapid expansion of India's quick commerce industry. From selling groceries in the pandemic, now, quick commerce apps even sell iPhones. How the hell did we get here?

In this Telugu Podcast episode, we sit down with Rahul Attuluri to decode the real problems and opportunities faced by India's youth today–AI, UPSC, Education Reform, Gig Economy & Career Building. From AI revolution downgrading IT jobs to the gig economy impact on graduates (Zepto, Swiggy, Rapido), and the hidden traps in UPSC preparation, Rahul shares brutally honest insights.We dive deep into how India's brightest talents are getting stuck chasing marks over real skills, how parenting mindsets and outdated education systems are misguiding students, and why the future belongs to thinkers, not just toppers. Rahul talks about his journey of building NxtWave into a ₹2000+ Cr valued company, disrupting education with NIAT, and solving the true problem — transforming thousands of lives with skill-first learning.This conversation also covers important topics like the fake certificate mafia, IIT vs non-IIT mindset, AI's role in future wealth creation, and why continuous upskilling (not just degrees) is the real key to success. We discuss the stark contrast between China investing in AI and tech vs India's obsession with food-tech startups, and what needs to change to build a powerful, future-ready India.If you're a student, working professional, parent, entrepreneur, or someone passionate about career growth, tech disruption, and education reform in India, this episode might be for you. 

In today's Tech3 from Moneycontrol, Bhavya brings you the top stories in tech and startups: BluSmart suspends bookings amid a major shift to Uber, Wipro posts weak Q4 results with a cautious outlook, NPCI reveals what caused UPI's longest outage in three years, and Zepto drops “Kiranakart” from its name ahead of a possible IPO. Tune in for a more updates on tech and startup world.

In today's Tech3 from Moneycontrol, Zepto ropes in Bharti's Akhil Gupta to power its IPO ambitions—amid key exits. Delhivery CEO Sahil Barua resigns from Swiggy's board citing work commitments. And MoEngage considers shifting HQ to India, joining a growing list of SaaS players eyeing local IPOs. We also look into SBI's lagging UPI performance. Tune in for your sharp daily fix of startup and tech news.

In today's Tech3 from Moneycontrol, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal's critique of Indian startups sparks fiery rebuttals from Zepto's Aadit Palicha, Ashneer Grover, and others. Meanwhile, Microsoft's AI takes over interviews—grilling Gates, Ballmer, and Nadella in a hilarious tech nostalgia moment. Flipkart's Sachin Bansal opens up about post-exit regrets and his new fintech dream. Plus, Trump's tariff hike shakes up India's IT sector. Tune in for all the updates from startup and tech world.

India's biggest quick-commerce apps, Blinkit, Zepto, and Swiggy, have become prime real estate not just for regular FMCG brands but also for financial services, stock-trading apps, and even real-money gaming platforms. The top three players are already making Rs 3 to 3,500 crore rupees  in annual ad revenue. And that, dear listeners, is about half of what Amazon India made from ads in FY24, despite having way more users.In today's episode, host Snigdha Sharma speaks to The Ken reporter Gaurav Bagur about how quick commerce apps have become the new battleground for India's ad money and our attention span.Tune in.Question for listeners: Think of the times when you're on your phone everyday and tell us three instances where no one is trying to sell you anything. You can send in your answers to our Whatsapp number 8971108379. Also, if you have any questions for Gaurav, you can send them on the same number as a voice note or a text message.Daybreak is produced from the newsroom of The Ken, India's first subscriber-only business news platform. Subscribe for more exclusive, deeply-reported, and analytical business stories.

Today, we have with us Kiran Shah, the mastermind behind Go-Zero, India's fastest-growing guilt-free ice cream brand. Coming from a family with over 50 years of experience in the ice cream business, Kiran took a bold step to revolutionize the industry with zero sugar, low-calorie, and high-protein ice creams.Despite strong competition from legacy brands like Naturals and Amul, Kiran's strategic approach, smart marketing, and innovation have helped Go-Zero carve out a ₹66 crore empire in a short span. From securing investment on Shark Tank India to scaling his brand through modern retail channels like Blinkit, Zepto, and Swiggy, his journey is a true inspiration for entrepreneurs.

Startups are integral to the Indian growth story. From grocery delivery app Zepto to HR software Darwinbox, we frequently come across news of Indian startups raising millions of dollars from venture capital (VC) funds. But why are startups, including deep tech ones, funded by a specific class of investors called 'VC'? Why are the stock market and the traditional banks not playing this role? How does a typical VC fund operate in India? What challenges do they face?In this episode of All Things Policy, Lokendra Sharma sits down with Shobhankita Reddy, a research analyst at Takshashila Institution with prior experience in the venture capital industry, to explore and explain the VC ecosystem in India. The PGP is a comprehensive 48-week hybrid programme tailored for those aiming to delve deep into the theoretical and practical aspects of public policy. This multidisciplinary course offers a broad and in-depth range of modules, ensuring students get a well-rounded learning experience. The curriculum is delivered online, punctuated with in-person workshops across India.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://school.takshashila.org.in/pgp⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠All Things Policy is a daily podcast on public policy brought to you by the Takshashila Institution, Bengaluru.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Find out more on our research and other work here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://takshashila.org.in/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out our public policy courses here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://school.takshashila.org.in⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Both Zomato and Swiggy have been aggressively focusing on the 10-minute grocery delivery space for a while now. Quick commerce. But what sent both of them into a spiral was when Zepto, the joker in the quick commerce pack, started delivering snacks in 10-minutes through Zepto Cafe, a separate app. Suddenly, quick commerce wasn't enough. Quick food was up for play too.Swiggy launched Snacc soon after, and Blinkit followed suit with Bistro. Both were also separate apps.But this move to disrupt themselves to avoid getting disrupted has drawn a lot of flak from the restaurant partners listed on their platforms. Because a marketplace can only be neutral when it does not participate in it.And it is not like Zomato and Swiggy haven't tried a hand at this before. Both platforms previously ran their cloud kitchen verticals, Zomato Infrastructure Services and Swiggy Access, respectively, which they had to close down or sell.They then turned their attention to delivering food and building up efficiencies to deliver it faster. But when Zepto Cafe came in the picture in December with their pitch as a separate app, both Zomato and Swiggy jumped back and opened that chapter again. Only this time, they added that they would deliver it in 10 minutes and said they were not trying to build a private label to compete with the restaurants listed on their platforms. They made it clear both Bistro and SNACC are separate apps which don't use any of the data collected by Zomato and Swiggy to date.But what do the restaurants listed on the platform have to say about this?Hosts Rohin Dharmakumar and Praveen Gopal Krishnan got into what all of this means for restaurants in one of the most uninhibited, probing and also the longest episodes of Two by Two we've recorded to date.To capture the restaurateurs' perspective, we have three guests who have experience working with both of the companies.Joining the hosts for the discussion are Gaurav Saria, founder of Infinitea, India's first exclusive chain of tearooms and stores; Thomas Fenn, co-founder of Mahabelly and joint secretary at NRAI; and Ramchander Raman, former President of Cafe Coffee Day and co-founder and COO of Nucleus Kitchens.Welcome to episode 26 of Two by Two. Tune in to listen to an exciting discussion.–Additional reading:The Zomato-Swiggy cartel: Bistro and Snacc further threaten the restaurant businessZomato, Swiggy gave up on selling their own food. Then came along Zepto Cafe“There's an app for that”–Swiggy, Zepto, and Blinkit–What you just listened to is the first 30 minutes of a 2-hour-long conversation. If you want to listen and get early access to the full episode, consider becoming a Premium subscriber to The Ken, which, in addition to Two by Two, will also give you access to our long-form stories, Premiums newsletters and visual stories. Or if you just want to listen to Two by Two for now, for iOS users, we have enabled Premium subscription on Apple Podcasts.This episode of Two by Two was researched and produced by Hari Krishna. Rajiv CN, our resident sound engineer, mixed and mastered this episode.If you liked this episode of Two by Two, please share it with your friends and family who would be interested in listening to the episode. And if you have more thoughts on the discussion, we'd love to hear your arguments as well. You can write to us at twobytwo@the-ken.com

Over the next three to five years, Zepto wants to be known as the startup that created the most multimillionaires. Which is why these days, the standard pitch that people applying for VP-level roles at the startup get is as follows: "Would you like to create generational wealth? Think 50-100 crores in just four years." That's what Zepto HR has been promising these applicants. They've been making it seem like bagging a job at Zepto is like winning a lottery ticket. And it's not just bravado. By “generational wealth”, the company means offering Employee Stock Ownership Plans or ESOPs to senior executives, based on their performance. But it comes at a price. Tune in. Listen to 'One Billion in 10 Minutes', our new mini series based on The Ken's inaugural case competition. The Ken app Apple Podcasts Spotify

Chris From Brooklyn is back at it again talking about Harrington's upcoming gigs and Chris losing the will to live with nothing to look forward to, the doomsday clock continuing to countdown but to a degree where it just feels like it's for clicks at this point, the theory that an end to the war in Gaza is just preparation for war with Iran, creating a boycott for the boycotters, a literal years worth of Ask The Goons Chris finally saw this week and so much more!Record Date: 1/30/25WATCH CHRIS NEW "NOT SPECIAL" HEREhttps://www.youtube.com/@HighSocietyRadioPodcastCOME TO COMEDY AT 5TH COMPANY BREWINGhttps://www.eventbrite.com/e/nyc-headliners-comedy-show-at-5th-company-brewing-tickets-1112223914669?aff=oddtdtcreatorCOME TO ARMORED FIGHTING IN NEW YORK CITY!https://www.thearmoredleague.com/events/the-armored-league-gladiatorz-series-episode-2SUPPORT OUR SPONSORhttps://xbar.com/ - Get JACKED with an X Bar!Email Your Ask The Goon Questions to: askthegoon@gmail.comFollow the hosts on socialChris From Brooklyn Twitter https://twitter.com/ChrisFromBklynHigh Society Radio Instagram https://www.instagram.com/highsocietyradioHigh Society Radio YouTube http://bit.ly/HSRYoutubeHigh Society Radio Twitter https://twitter.com/HSRadioshowWebsite https://gasdigital.comChris Stanley: https://x.com/stanman42069Mike Harrington Twitter https://twitter.com/TheMHarringtonMike Harrington Instagram https://www.instagram.com/themharrington/Notes Of A Goon is a weekly podcast where Goon of note, Chris from BK sits down and yells about childhood trauma, how he'd fix the whole damn country, and all sorts of other bullshit. All while splitting a six pack with you the listener. Chris is joined by his stalwart producer and homeless weirdo Mike Harrington on this journey of self reflection and yelling. There's lots of yelling.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Both Zomato and Swiggy have been aggressively focusing on the 10-minute grocery delivery space for a while now. Quick commerce. But what sent both of them into a spiral was when Zepto, the joker in the quick commerce pack, started delivering snacks in 10-minutes through Zepto Cafe, a separate app. Suddenly, quick commerce wasn't enough. Quick food was up for play too.Swiggy launched Snacc soon after, and Blinkit followed suit with Bistro. Both were also separate apps.But this move to disrupt themselves to avoid getting disrupted has drawn a lot of flak from the restaurant partners listed on their platforms. Because a marketplace can only be neutral when it does not participate in it.And it is not like Zomato and Swiggy haven't tried a hand at this before. Both platforms previously ran their cloud kitchen verticals, Zomato Infrastructure Services and Swiggy Access, respectively, which they had to close down or sell.They then turned their attention to delivering food and building up efficiencies to deliver it faster. But when Zepto Cafe came in the picture in December with their pitch as a separate app, both Zomato and Swiggy jumped back and opened that chapter again. Only this time, they added that they would deliver it in 10 minutes and said they were not trying to build a private label to compete with the restaurants listed on their platforms. They made it clear both Bistro and SNACC are separate apps which don't use any of the data collected by Zomato and Swiggy to date.But what do the restaurants listed on the platform have to say about this?Hosts Rohin Dharmakumar and Praveen Gopal Krishnan got into what all of this means for restaurants in one of the most uninhibited, probing and also the longest episodes of Two by Two we've recorded to date.To capture the restaurateurs' perspective, we have three guests who have experience working with both of the companies.Joining the hosts for the discussion are Gaurav Saria, founder of Infinitea, India's first exclusive chain of tearooms and stores; Thomas Fenn, co-founder of Mahabelly and joint secretary at NRAI; and Ramchander Raman, former President of Cafe Coffee Day and co-founder and COO of Nucleus Kitchens.Welcome to episode 26 of Two by Two. Tune in to listen to an exciting discussion.–Additional reading:The Zomato-Swiggy cartel: Bistro and Snacc further threaten the restaurant businessZomato, Swiggy gave up on selling their own food. Then came along Zepto Cafe“There's an app for that”–Swiggy, Zepto, and Blinkit–What you just listened to is a short part of a 2-hour long conversation. If you want to listen and get early access to the full episode, consider becoming a Premium subscriber to The Ken, which in addition to Two by Two, will also give you access to our long-form stories, Premiums newsletters and visual stories. Or if you just want to listen to Two by Two for now, for iOS users, we have enabled Premium subscription on Apple Podcasts.This episode of Two by Two was researched and produced by Hari Krishna. Rajiv CN, our resident sound engineer, mixed and mastered this episode.If you liked this episode of Two by Two, please share it with your friends and family who would be interested in listening to the episode. And if you have more thoughts on the discussion, we'd love to hear your arguments as well. You can write to us at twobytwo@the-ken.com

FROM THE ARCHIVES (This episode was first published July 1, 2024)The Economic Times reported yesterday that Zepto, the quick-commerce startup, is in talks to increase the size of its initial public offering to $800 million-$1 billion. Zepto earlier planned to raise $450 million through the issue.  Even when it entered the quick commerce scene for the first time in 2021, Zepto was a disruptor. Now, it is the third largest company in the market after Blinkit and Swiggy Instamart. Last year, it secured its biggest funding ever at a US$3.6 billion valuation, mainly from its existing investors.Venture Intelligence, a data provider told The Ken that the US$660 million funding was the largest bet made by VCs in Indian startups in 2024. What did Zepto do to get all this attention from investors?Tune in.Also listen to:Daybreak: Why we date, marry, or breakup with Swiggy Instamart, Blinkit, Zepto & BigBasket

A couple years ago, quick commerce platforms were the place to be for up and coming brands across the country. Just a little sliver of real estate on a rapid delivery app was enough to put them on the map. But now, many of these brands are very quickly realising that success on a Blinkit or a Zepto is a double edged sword. With it comes high commissions, marketing fees, and the constant pressure to never run out of inventory. Some brands have now had enough. How did it get here? The Ken reporter Nuha Bubere explains.Tune in.  Daybreak is now on WhatsApp at +918971108379. Text us and tell us what you thought of the episode!Daybreak is produced from the newsroom of The Ken, India's first subscriber-only business news platform. Subscribe for more exclusive, deeply-reported, and analytical business stories.

2024 was the year of the 10-minute delivery. We think we didn't need it but the likes of Zepto, Swiggy Instamart, and Blinkit proved us wrong. While other companies were struggling to find funding, these quick-commerce companies were raising billions of dollars and reporting double-digit, sometimes even triple-digit annual growth rates.In December, Zomato's quick-commerce subsidiary, Blinkit made a strategic move in the rapidly growing quick food delivery market space. It launched ‘Bistro', a platform that will deliver food and beverages within 10 minutes. Interestingly, this was just a day after its competitor Zepto introduced the Zepto Cafe. Swiggy too already has a 10-minute food delivery service called Bolt, and unlike the others, it is inside their original app. Is this just another indulgence or has quick commerce reached a point where players are so paranoid that they're trying to hold on to customers who think that a food delivery that takes 40 minutes is too slow? Tune in.Also, listen to: Why we date, marry, or breakup with Swiggy Instamart, Blinkit, Zepto & BigBasketTell us what you thought of this episode. You can text us your feedback on WhatsApp at +918971108379Daybreak is produced from the newsroom of The Ken, India's first subscriber-only business news platform. Subscribe for more exclusive, deeply-reported, and analytical business stories.

Welcome to the year-end special edition of Two by Two.We've released 22 episodes of Two by Two since our inaugural edition in July. We've covered an incredible breadth of counterintuitive topics framed as, well, two by twos. Would Flipkart become Phonepe before Phonepe became Flipkart? Did Delhi prick Bengaluru's bubble? Is the golden era of the software engineer over? Why is health insurance broken? How will Ola and Uber avoid ‘death by a thousand cuts'? Why is Zepto behaving like a gold medallist? Can venture capitalists do no wrong? Dmart versus the challengers at the gates. AI and the impending disruption of Indian SaaS. We've had incredible fun exploring these ideas with a bunch of really sharp, experienced and opinionated guests. Finding guests who don't hesitate to speak their minds and state unpopular truths has been one of the hardest things. Far, far tougher than finding interesting topics. We owe all our guests a huge thanks for trusting us. Far too many professionals and leaders prefer to stick to rehearsed and predictable talking points in public these days.We'd started Two by Two with the ambition to operate at the intersection of curiosity and synthesis. Each week, we said we'd spot the hidden connections and unasked questions. We'd identify the cast of players and their motivations. We'd bring in incredible people to discuss these with. We'd try to answer simple yet fundamental questions like, what is going on, why is it happening, who gains and who loses, and where is all of this leading to?By always asking questions. Always connecting the dots. Always being unfiltered and uninhibited.We wanted Two by Two to be ‘your personal investigative brain'. In 2025 we hope to make Two by Two even more interesting and unpredictable. Yes, at its core it will still be a weekly podcast. But I'm excited at the possibility of doing so much more by involving our subscribers, listeners and readers in these endeavours. We want to make Two by Two ‘our collective investigative brain'. And hosts Rohin Dharmakumar and Praveen Gopal Krishnan will continue to do so with a new episode every Thursday.To listen to all episodes of Two by Two, consider subscribing to The Ken's Premium plan, which in addition to the podcast, will also get you access to our long-form stories, Premium newsletters and visual stories.If you just want access to Two by Two, you can do that as well on Apple Podcasts with a paid subscription.Two by Two is also a free weekly newsletter published every Friday. You can sign up for it here. Listen to all Two by Two episodes here:1. Will Flipkart become Phonepe before Phonepe becomes Flipkart? - https://the-ken.com/podcasts/two-by-two/will-flipkart-become-phonepe-before-phonepe-becomes-flipkart/2. Why has all the excitement and disruption gone out of startups? - https://the-ken.com/podcasts/two-by-two/why-has-all-the-excitement-and-disruption-gone-out-of-startups/3. Is Zepto a gold medallist or a bronze medallist? - https://the-ken.com/podcasts/two-by-two/is-zepto-a-gold-medalist-or-a-bronze-medalist/4. Delhi pricked the Bengaluru bubble - https://the-ken.com/podcasts/two-by-two/delhi-pricked-the-bangalore-bubble/5. Swiggy needs to reclaim its past glory - https://the-ken.com/podcasts/two-by-two/swiggy-needs-to-reclaim-its-past-glory/6. Is the golden era of the (software) engineer over? - https://the-ken.com/podcasts/two-by-two/is-the-golden-era-of-the-software-engineer-over/7. Google Pay: Big. Successful. Vulnerable - https://the-ken.com/podcasts/two-by-two/google-pay-big-successful-vulnerable/8. Private coaching is eating away at schooling - https://the-ken.com/podcasts/two-by-two/private-coaching-is-eating-away-at-schooling/9. Why Stripe could not become the Stripe of India? - https://the-ken.com/podcasts/two-by-two/why-couldnt-stripe-become-the-stripe-of-india/10. Health insurance in India is ripe for disruption - https://the-ken.com/podcasts/two-by-two/health-insurance-is-ripe-for-disruption/11. Netflix and its last growth market - https://the-ken.com/podcasts/two-by-two/netflixs-last-growth-market/12. Ather Energy was a pioneer. Can it also be a leader? - https://the-ken.com/podcasts/two-by-two/ather-energy-was-a-pioneer-can-it-also-be-a-leader/13. Do we even need Product Managers? - https://the-ken.com/podcasts/two-by-two/do-we-even-need-product-managers/14. How will Ola and Uber avoid ‘death by a thousand cuts'? - https://the-ken.com/podcasts/two-by-two/how-will-ola-and-uber-avoid-death-by-a-thousand-cuts/15. The relentless rise of the government as a competitor - https://the-ken.com/podcasts/two-by-two/the-relentless-rise-of-the-government-as-a-competitor/16. What does the future hold for Ola Electric? - https://the-ken.com/podcasts/two-by-two/what-does-ola-electrics-future-hold/17. Can venture capitalists do no wrong? - https://the-ken.com/podcasts/two-by-two/can-venture-capitalists-do-no-wrong/18. Dmart versus the challengers at the gate - https://the-ken.com/podcasts/two-by-two/dmart-versus-the-challengers-at-the-gate/19. Marketing is eating itself from the inside - https://the-ken.com/podcasts/two-by-two/marketing-is-eating-i...

This episode was first released on November 21, 2024, for The Ken's Premium subscribers. We've unlocked it for our Basic and Free subscribers for a limited time. Listen to it on your favourite podcast streaming platforms now.Dmart, the retail group in India, is absolutely number one on vision, execution, and consistency. Dmart opened its first supermarket in Mumbai's Powai suburb in 2002. Like Walmart in the US, it adopted a deep discounting strategy, offering its customers low prices every day. Today, it has 381 stores. In spite of offering its customers the deepest discounts, Dmart's net profit numbers beat the best among its global peers.Yet analysts and investors have been becoming increasingly bearish of Dmart's future strategy. They argue that what got it from 2002 to 2024 might not necessarily take it to, say, 2034.One big reason is quick commerce. Armies of underpaid contract delivery workers rushing from dark stores managed by notionally independent owners on behalf of younger companies like Zomato, Swiggy, Zepto, Big Basket, and even Flipkart are challenging the conventional wisdom on retail.Forcing Dmart to pause and blink.What should it do? Stick to what it knows and does best? Or learn new digital and delivery tricks in its middle age? With only an estimated 5% of the $500 billion urban market for food and groceries currently penetrated by organised and modern retail, the way Dmart goes has profound implications for India.To discuss this, hosts Rohin Dharmakumar and Praveen Gopal Krishnan invited Govind Shrikhande, former managing director of Shoppers Stop overseeing all its formats, including Shoppers Stop, Hypercity, Crossword, Homestop, Beauty Formats – MAC, Estee Lauder, Air Port & Duty Free Retail etc. Govind has spent over 40 years in the retail sector, having been part of the launches of Denim and Arrow, the relaunch of Vivaldi and the turnaround of Shoppers Stop. He is currently an Independent Director on the Board of a few Companies and a mentor to a few start-ups.Our other guest is Seetharaman G. Seetha is deputy editor at The Ken and also leads The Ken's coverage of retail. He's written quite a few stories on Dmart over the years as well.Welcome to episode number 18 of Two by Two!------Two by Two episodes referenced in this episode:Is Zepto a gold medallist or a bronze medallist?Swiggy needs to reclaim its past gloryStories and newsletters referenced in this episode:Dmart and the supersizing imperativeZudio wanted Dmart's apparel shoppers. Now Dmart is hurtingDmart changes its mind on store size. AgainDmart is not used to being in a funk for so longWhat if the quick-commerce warehouse was a supermarket?Dmart and investors rekindle their loveDmart's e-commerce bet has gone from counterintuitive to obsolete------This episode of Two by Two was produced by Hari Krishna. Rajiv CN, our resident sound engineer, mixed and mastered this episode.New episodes are released every Thursday. So follow the show wherever you get your podcasts, and tell us what you think of the show.You can write to us at twobytwo@the-ken.com with your thoughts and suggestions.