Zepto Prepares for IPO by Strengthening Leadership and Expanding Operations

In a bid to bolster its leadership ahead of its highly anticipated initial public offering (IPO), Zepto, the 21-year-old quick-commerce unicorn, is on the hunt for several senior-level employees across various categories. According to Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Aadit Palicha, the biggest challenge for the company has been assembling an exceptional team.

Palicha, who spends most of his day conducting back-to-back candidate interviews, is looking to hire vice-presidents in business verticals such as home and personal care, meat and seafood, and more. The company’s recent $665 million Series F funding round, which valued it at $3.6 billion, has provided the necessary funds to make this hiring push a reality.

In January, Nikhil Mittal, a former senior vice-president at Zepto, was promoted to chief technology officer, marking a significant milestone for the company. With its sights set on an IPO in the next 12-15 months, Zepto plans to ramp up hiring, aiming to add between 400 and 500 employees in engineering, product, category, growth, and marketing roles. Currently, the company boasts a team of 1,600 people.

As Zepto prepares for its public listing, it is also expanding its operations. The company currently operates roughly 350 dark stores across India’s top 10 cities and plans to increase its store count to 700 by adding an additional 10 cities to its network. This expansion is expected to be completed by March 2025.

However, Zepto has recently faced a string of top-level exits, including the departure of chief marketing officer Amritansu Nanda, chief business officer and chief growth officer Viral Jhaveri, and vice-president of growth and retention Manik Oberoi in June. Additionally, Ashish Shah, the company’s former senior vice-president of finance, resigned in December 2023 and joined DealShare as its chief financial officer.

Despite these exits, Zepto remains committed to its growth plans, which include hiring 400-500 employees by March 2025, expanding its store count, and increasing its presence in the Indian market. With its recent funding and plans for an IPO, the company is poised for significant growth in the coming months.

Historical Context:

Zepto, a 21-year-old quick-commerce unicorn, has been making waves in the Indian market with its rapid expansion and innovative approach to e-commerce. Founded in 2001, Zepto has been a pioneer in the Indian e-commerce space, offering a unique model of dark stores, which are warehouses that store products for same-day delivery. The company has received significant funding rounds, including its recent $665 million Series F funding round, which valued it at $3.6 billion. This funding has enabled Zepto to accelerate its growth plans, including hiring senior-level employees and expanding its operations.

Summary in Bullet Points:

• Zepto is strengthening its leadership ahead of its highly anticipated initial public offering (IPO) by hiring senior-level employees across various categories. • The company is looking to hire vice-presidents in business verticals such as home and personal care, meat and seafood, and more. • Zepto’s recent $665 million Series F funding round has provided the necessary funds to make this hiring push a reality. • The company plans to add between 400 and 500 employees in engineering, product, category, growth, and marketing roles. • Zepto currently operates roughly 350 dark stores across India’s top 10 cities and plans to increase its store count to 700 by adding an additional 10 cities to its network. • The company aims to complete this expansion by March 2025. • Despite recent top-level exits, Zepto remains committed to its growth plans, which include hiring, expanding its store count, and increasing its presence in the Indian market. • Zepto is poised for significant growth in the coming months with its recent funding and plans for an IPO.