Zepto heads for IPO amid quick-commerce boom

BENGALURU: Zepto has joined India’s IPO queue, filing confidential papers for a stock market listing as the country’s quick-commerce arms race shifts up a gear.

The four-year-old startup has submitted draft documents under the confidential route, allowing it to keep details under wraps until closer to launch, according to regulatory filings. The move positions Zepto among the most closely watched public market candidates of 2025, a year expected to see record fundraising in Indian equities.

Founded in 2021, Zepto has ridden India’s appetite for instant gratification, promising deliveries in 10 minutes and expanding aggressively across major cities. The company now offers more than 45,000 products, spanning groceries to everyday essentials, and is locked in a costly fight for urban consumers with rivals such as Blinkit, owned by Eternal, and Swiggy’s Instamart.

The sector has become one of India’s most capital-intensive consumer battles, with players pouring billions into dark stores, logistics and last-mile delivery as speed becomes the ultimate differentiator.

Zepto’s IPO plans follow a $450 million funding round in October that valued the company at $7 billion, underlining investor appetite even as competition squeezes margins.

As India’s markets brace for a bumper year of listings, Zepto’s filing sends a clear signal. The quick-commerce land grab is far from over, and the next phase of the fight is heading straight for the stock exchange.