Zepto Eyes $250M Secondary Sale to Boost Indian Ownership Ahead of IPO

Quick‑commerce start‑up Zepto is in negotiations with its existing investors to sell up to $250 million of their stake, aiming to boost the share of Indian investor ownership ahead of its planned IPO later this year, Bloomberg reported.

The Bangalore‑based start‑up is reportedly in discussions with the private equity arms of Motilal Oswal Financial Services Ltd. and Edelweiss Financial Services Ltd. to purchase shares in a secondary sale.

The move is part of Zepto’s strategy to boost Indian investors' ownership of the company before an IPO of shares is planned for later this year or early 2026. Founders Aadit Palicha and Kaivalya Vohra currently own roughly a fifth of Zepto, with approximately 33% of the company's capital coming from Indian investors. According to one individual, the objective is to increase that overall percentage to roughly 50%.

Also Read: iPhones, iPads, and More: Zepto Brings Apple Products to Your Doorstep

Historically, secondary stock sales have been a source of controversy because they allow managers and other employees to profit before an IPO or sale, which can potentially reduce their incentive to contribute to the company’s long‑term growth. However, in recent years, these sales have evolved into a way to reward employees, boost morale and to provide current investors with an opportunity to cash out.

Notably, the secondary sale won’t raise additional capital for the start‑up but will enable some current investors to cash in.

Also Read: Zomato vs Zepto: Aadit Palicha Hits Back at Deepinder Goyal Over Rs 5,000 Crore Cash Burn Claim

Zepto Competition

Zepto operates in India's fiercely competitive, low‑profit grocery delivery market, competing with major players such as Amazon India and domestic rivals like Swiggy Instamart, Zomato‑backed Blinkit and Tata Group‑owned BigBasket.

Recently, the quick‑commerce giant has expanded into the electronics sector by beginning to sell Apple products on its platform. The Aadit Palicha‑led company has started to deliver iPads, AirPods, MagSafe accessories and iPhone 16e models in a matter of minutes.

The start‑up, in an official statement, said that the platform has seen a 35% month‑on‑month increase in users searching for Apple products.

Its rivals, Swiggy Instamart and Zomato‑backed Blinkit, had already started offering quick deliveries of iPhones along with other Apple products.