Rapido Exploring Q-Commerce, Astrotalk Looks For CMO, Zomato Bans AI and more

The quick commerce race heats up as Rapido, flush with fresh funds, plans to dive into the quick commerce wave while Zepto aims to boost its Average Order Value with a new bulk order service. Astrotalk is gearing up to market its new spiritual e-commerce venture, and Zomato takes a stand against AI-generated images in restaurant menus.

Delhivery’s partnership with Teamglobal enhances its ocean freight capabilities, and ideaForge allocates additional equity shares under its ESOP 2018 plan, drawing a positive ‘Buy’ rating from JM Financial.

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What Matters

“Ek Nayi Shuruat”: Flush With Fresh Funds, Rapido Seeks To Ride The Quick Commerce Wave

Flush with fresh funds, ride-hailing unicorn Rapido is eyeing a move into India’s competitive quick commerce space, currently dominated by Blinkit, Swiggy Instamart, and Flipkart’s ‘Minutes’.

Rapido has initiated discussions with Zepto and grocers like Pincode and KPN to explore potential partnerships in this booming sector. While still in the early stages, the synergies seem promising, especially with common investor Nexus Venture Partners and Rapido's strong supply chain network.

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“Jo Jeeta Wahi Sikandar”: As Quick Commerce Race Swells, Zepto Pushes For Order Value Boost With New Service On Bulk Orders

As the quick commerce race intensifies, Zepto is making a strategic push to increase its Average Order Value (AOV) with bulk-buy incentives.

By waiving delivery charges on orders above INR 1000, Zepto aims to lure budget-conscious customers while competing with Blinkit, which holds a strong lead in the segment. However, this comes at the cost of slightly longer delivery times for its SuperSaver option, extending to 20-30 minutes compared to its usual 10-15 minute service.

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“Bolo Radhe Radhe, Jai Kanhaiya Lal Ki”: Astrotalk Seeks Role To Spearhead Marketing Of Its New Spiritual Ecommerce Venture

Astrotalk is on the hunt for a Chief Marketing Officer to lead the charge in promoting its new spiritual e-commerce venture, with a target of INR 100 Cr revenue in just a few months.

This follows a successful INR 110 Cr funding round in June 2024, aimed at expanding products and regional language offerings. With a strong FY23 performance of INR 282 Cr revenue and a 27 Cr profit, the platform has already served over 4 Cr users, setting the stage for its next big move.

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“Creativity Hai Atyat Zaruri”: Zomato Bans Use Of AI Generated Images By Restaurant Partners

Zomato has taken a bold step by banning the use of AI-generated images in restaurant menus and promotional materials, aiming to maintain authenticity in its marketplace.

This move makes Zomato the first digital platform to tackle the challenge of distinguishing real from artificial imagery. By ensuring that visuals reflect genuine dishes, Zomato hopes to preserve customer trust in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.

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“Hum Saath Saath Hai”: Delhivery Partners with Teamglobal to Enhance Ocean Freight Offerings

Delhivery has teamed up with Teamglobal Logistics to enhance its ocean freight offerings, focusing on both inbound and outbound logistics for businesses.

This partnership expands Delhivery's Less than Container Load (LCL) services to over 120 countries, streamlining global trade for Indian businesses. By providing an integrated solution, Delhivery aims to solve the long-standing issue of coordinating with multiple service providers for international cargo transportation.

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“Kaddu Katega, Sab Mein Batega”: ideaForge Allots Additional Equity Shares Under ESOP 2018

ideaForge has approved the allotment of 3,936 equity shares as part of its ESOP 2018 plan, giving employees a chance to exercise their vested options.

Priced at INR 10 per share, these stocks are now valued at an impressive INR 27.41 Lakh, based on the startup’s closing price from the September 13 trading session. This move highlights ideaForge's commitment to rewarding its team as it continues to grow in the tech space.

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“Ab Aayega Maza”: JM Financial Initiates Coverage On ideaForge With ‘Buy’ Rating, Sees 21% Upside

JM Financial has initiated coverage on ideaForge, setting a price target of INR 845, suggesting a 21% upside despite recent dips in its share price.

While the brokerage anticipates short-term challenges due to delays in order booking, it expects order inflows to pick up by H2 FY25, driving revenue growth from FY26 onward. During Monday’s intraday session, ideaForge shares rose 2.1% to INR 711.25, signaling cautious optimism in the market.

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“Swagat Hai Aapka”: Bizongo Bolsters Its Raw Material & Supply Chain Finance Verticals With New CEOs

In a bid to drive growth, Bizongo has strengthened its leadership by appointing Kiran Dev as CEO of BizongoFin and Prahlad Krishnamurthi as CEO of BizongoBuy.

Along with new roles in technology and finance at the group level, these moves aim to sharpen its raw material and supply chain operations. Despite a challenging FY23 with net losses doubling to INR 291.6 Cr, Bizongo is positioning itself for a strategic rebound.

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1. With an IPO on the horizon, B2B e-commerce platform Infra.Market is eyeing fresh funding of $150-200 Mn from existing investors like Tiger Global, Foundamental, and Evolvence. The company’s valuation is expected to surpass its previous $2.5 Bn mark, driven by stronger financials.

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2. DailyObjects has secured $10 Mn in new funding from 360 One Ventures, marking its first major investment in 30 months. This boost comes as the Gurugram-based D2C brand looks to expand its tech accessories and lifestyle offerings.

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3. Whatfix has raised $100 Mn in a new funding round led by Sweet Nectar Investments and SoftBank, marking its first major investment in three years. The Bengaluru-based SaaS firm is set to leverage this capital to enhance its digital adoption solutions.

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