As Zepto gears up for its much-anticipated Initial Public Offering (IPO), the quick commerce startup has appointed industry veteran Akhil Gupta, Vice Chairman of Bharti Enterprises, as an independent director to its board. This strategic move aims to solidify Zepto’s leadership team as the company eyes a strong debut on the Indian stock market.
Currently, Zepto’s board already includes notable figures such as co-founders Aadit Palicha and Kaivalya Vohra, Avra founder Anu Hariharan, and Suvir Sujan, Co-founder and Managing Director of Nexus Venture Partners. With Gupta’s addition, Zepto gains valuable IPO experience and corporate governance insight.
🔍 Who is Akhil Gupta?
Akhil Gupta is no stranger to successful public listings. His leadership has been instrumental in taking Bharti Airtel public in 2002, Bharti Infratel in 2012, and Airtel Africa in 2019. He brings a wealth of knowledge in fundraising, strategic partnerships, and market expansion, making him a strong asset for Zepto as it enters the next phase of growth.
Gupta has also been at the helm of Bharti’s global partnerships, having formed alliances with giants like British Telecom, Singapore Telecom, and Vodafone, while also attracting major investors like Warburg Pincus, KKR, Temasek, and Sequoia Capital.
📈 Internal Growth at Zepto
Beyond boardroom expansions, Zepto has been actively promoting in-house talent. In July 2024, Devendra Meel, who led the company’s loyalty program “Pass”, was elevated to Chief Business Officer. Similarly, Nikhil Mittal and Divesh Sawhney took on key roles as CTO and Chief Growth Officer, respectively.
💰 Zepto’s Fundraising Spree
Zepto recently shifted its base from Singapore to India, aligning itself more closely with the Indian market. In the past five months alone, the company has raised a whopping $1.35 billion across three major funding rounds:
- June 2024: $665 million from Glade Brook Capital, StepStone Group, Nexus Venture Partners, and more.
- August 2024: $340 million led by General Catalyst.
- Later in 2024: $350 million from Indian investors like Motilal Oswal and Ranjan Pai’s Claypond Capital.
These massive infusions of capital further underline Zepto’s readiness for IPO and its intent to dominate the quick commerce space in India.
🧠 Expert Insight
Akhil Gupta’s appointment isn’t just a symbolic move—it’s a strategic masterstroke. His background in large-scale IPOs and international partnerships will help Zepto not only in navigating regulatory complexities but also in gaining investor confidence as it prepares to go public.
📌 Additional Info:
With Indian startups increasingly choosing to list domestically, Zepto’s shift back to India and the strengthening of its leadership bench shows a clear focus on long-term market capture and investor trust.
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