Why Swiggy Instamart opened an Offline Store? - Indian Startup News 293

Описание: 00:00 Intro
00:33 Instamart offline store
04:12 Sarla Aviation's air taxi
06:11 Quick News Updates
07:27 Funding News


This week’s Indian startup news highlights a significant shift in the quick commerce landscape, milestones in aerospace, and a cooling trend in weekly funding.

Swiggy Instamart’s Offline Pivot
The most discussed news is Swiggy Instamart’s pilot of a physical retail store in Gurugram. This move into "bricks-and-mortar" retail by a quick commerce giant signals a strategic evolution in the sector:

Growth Ceilings: Research suggests India can only support roughly 12,000 dark stores. With the market expected to hit a ceiling in 2-3 years, companies are seeking new growth avenues.

High-Margin Advertising: Physical stores offer "premium advertising space." Beyond digital banners, brands can pay for physical shelf placement and end-cap displays, providing Swiggy with high-margin revenue to offset delivery losses.

The Trust Gap: Dark stores are invisible to consumers, leading to concerns regarding hygiene and product quality. A physical presence humanizes the brand and builds consumer confidence.

Higher Basket Value: Online Average Order Values (AOV) hover around ₹500, whereas offline shoppers—prone to impulse buying—spend nearly triple that amount (e.g., D-Mart’s ₹1,500+ AOV). (Source - https://bsmedia.business-standard.com...)

Aerospace: Sarla Aviation’s "Air Taxi"
Bengaluru-based Sarla Aviation has transitioned from digital models to physical reality by beginning ground tests for its SYLLA SYL-X1 demonstrator.

The Tech: It is a half-scale electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft with a 7.5-meter wingspan, the largest private demonstrator in India.

The Goal: These tests validate propulsion, battery management, and flight-control software on the ground to ensure safety before taking to the skies.

Roadmap: The company aims for commercial air taxi operations in cities like Bengaluru by 2028.

Startup Ecosystem & IPO Updates
Several key developments occurred in the broader ecosystem:

New Launchpad: Nikhil Kamath (Zerodha) and Kishore Biyani (Future Group) launched The Foundery, a 90-day startup program offering up to ₹4 crore in seed funding.

M&A: AI telematics startup Cautio acquired BYTES to integrate advanced safety tech for two-wheelers, a segment that accounts for nearly half of India’s road fatalities.

IPO Watch: OYO (parent company PRISM) received approval to raise ₹6,650 crore for its third IPO attempt, while defense-tech firm Tonbo Imaging filed for an OFS-only IPO.

Funding Highlights
Weekly funding saw a sharp decline to $71 million, down from $186 million the previous week. Notable rounds include:

CoreEL Technologies ($30M): Specialized electronics for defense and aerospace.

PowerUp Money ($12M): A fintech "portfolio coach" for mutual fund management.

PlasmaGen Biosciences (₹150 Cr): A biotech firm focused on blood plasma-derived medicines.

Prosperr.io ($4M): A tax-optimization service for salaried individuals.

Naxatra Labs ($3M): Developers of high-efficiency EV motors.

Disclaimer: Zero1 by Zerodha supports creators and storytellers through its network. The views expressed in this video are solely those of the creator and are not endorsed by Zero1.

Connect with us:
Twitter:   / bwmillionaires  
Instagram:   / backstagewithmillionaires  
Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/5rGPalo...