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Zepto Raises $450M At $7B Valuation As Indian Quick-Commerce Market Heats Up

India’s quick-commerce race is reaching new heights. Zepto raises $450M at $7B valuation as Indian quick-commerce market heats up, signaling a fresh wave of investor confidence in the country’s 10-minute delivery boom. The round was led by U.S.-based pension fund CalPERS (California Public Employees’ Retirement System), marking one of the largest late-stage funding deals in India this year. Zepto’s leadership confirmed plans to go public in 2026, underscoring its rapid growth and dominance in the space.

Image Credits:Zepto

CalPERS Leads The Massive $450M Round

The latest round includes both primary and secondary share sales, with participation from existing backers such as Avenir, Avra, Lightspeed, Glade Brook, The Stepstone Group, and Nexus Venture Partners. According to insiders, Zepto’s funding push highlights strong investor belief in India’s expanding instant delivery economy.

This new capital will help Zepto strengthen logistics, expand dark store operations, and improve delivery times as it gears up for an IPO. The company has already raised over $1.3 billion in just the past year, cementing its place among India’s fastest-growing startups.

Zepto’s Rivals Are Also Stepping Up

Zepto competes directly with Blinkit (formerly part of Zomato), Swiggy Instamart, and Tata-owned BigBasket—all giants within India’s growing quick-commerce scene. Since Zepto’s last funding round in November 2024, Swiggy made its public market debut, and Blinkit surpassed Zomato in gross order value (GOV) for Q1 2025, underscoring just how fierce this market has become.

Legacy players like Amazon and Flipkart have also entered the quick-commerce race, testing ultra-fast delivery models to retain their e-commerce dominance.

The Broader Quick-Commerce Ecosystem Is Booming

The Indian quick-commerce space is diversifying fast. Startups are experimenting with verticalized commerce, targeting niche segments like food, beauty, and home services.

• Accel-backed Swish and Zing are reimagining hyperlocal food delivery.

• Nykaa, Myntra, Silkk, and Blip are racing to deliver fashion within an hour.

• Snabbit, backed by Lightspeed, offers home services in under 10 minutes.

• FirstClub is tapping into the growing demand for curated quick experiences.

This diversification shows how investors are betting not just on groceries but on a larger on-demand economy powered by real-time convenience.

Zepto’s Next Move: IPO And Nationwide Expansion

With its new $450M war chest, Zepto plans to scale across Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, invest in AI-driven logistics optimization, and expand its private-label products. The company is reportedly preparing to file for an IPO in 2026, aiming to be among India’s first listed quick-commerce startups.

Analysts say this funding milestone could set the stage for a reshaped quick-commerce market in India — one driven by sustainable growth, better margins, and faster delivery innovations.

The fact that Zepto raises $450M at $7B valuation as Indian quick-commerce market heats up proves that instant delivery is no longer just an urban luxury — it’s becoming a mainstream retail revolution. As competition intensifies, the next year will determine which brands can balance speed, scale, and profitability in India’s most exciting consumer market.