Aadit Palicha, CEO of Zepto, told ET Prime that while media can significantly impact companies, true success hinges on execution. Despite a challenging environment for Indian startups, Zepto secured $1.26 billion in three funding rounds, positioning itself as a strong competitor to Blinkit and Instamart.
Palicha highlighted Zepto’s impressive growth, focusing on profitability and efficiency even amidst skepticism. He projected that Zepto’s sales could potentially outpace offline retail giant DMart within the next 18-24 months and estimated that the company’s revenue could exceed ₹2.4 trillion in the next 5-10 years.
Speaking at the seventh JIIF Foundation Day event in New Delhi, Palicha outlined Zepto’s strategy to target the top 50-75 million households in India’s largest 40 cities, which contribute significantly to grocery and daily essentials purchases. He also estimated the Indian grocery market to reach $850 billion by FY29, with these households accounting for $400 billion.
Palicha, a 22-year-old entrepreneur of Indian origin, has garnered widespread attention on social media for his confident demeanor and rapid success. Starting his business journey at just 17, he transformed Zepto from a startup into a multi-million rupee powerhouse within months, becoming an inspiration for young aspiring entrepreneurs.
Social media users have reacted enthusiastically, with one commenting, “Zepto’s CEO is sooo bbg coded,” while another noted, “Reason why I switched from Blinkit to Zepto, not gonna lie.” A third user shared, “As someone from a DPS, I can confirm he’s an Aryan from DPS Azad Nagar.” A fourth user humorously added, “I’d have the same hairstyle if I got a decent barber.”