Article Details
  • Published Online:
    June  2026
  • Product Name:
    The IUP Journal of Case Folio
  • Product Type:
    Article
  • Product Code:
    IJCF030626
  • DOI:
    10.71329/CaseFolio/2026.26.2.35-48
  • Author Name:
    Prashanth Konakanchi and Indu Perepu
  • Availability:
    YES
  • Subject/Domain:
    Management
  • Download Format:
    PDF
  • Pages:
    35-48
Vol. 26, Issue 2, April-June 2026
The Entrepreneurial Journey of Aadit Palicha and Kaivalya Vohra: Building Zepto and Shaping Quick Commerce in India
Abstract

The case tracks the entrepreneurial journey of Aadit Palicha and Kaivalya Vohra, the two young founders of Zepto, who introduced the concept of 10-min grocery delivery to Indian customers. This set the standard for other companies like Blinkit,Swiggy, BigBasket, etc. The case goes on to examine the journey of Aadit and Kaivalya. It looks at what shaped their thoughts when Aadit set up the GoPool carpooling app while still in high school in Dubai, and how he managed nevertheless to achieve excellent academic grades; what made the duo forego the opportunity to pursue higher education at the prestigious Stanford University, US, to set up their own company—KiranaKart Technologies Ltd; the hardships they faced and lessons they learnt, while trying to convince mom-and-pop stores in Mumbai to install an app which would receive orders from customers and deliver groceries home. This was challenging as it was new to everyone involved—the founders, the mom-and-pop stores and the customers. It also delves into the circumstances which led them to change the business model—from the Market Place model of KiranaKart to the Dark Stores driven business model of Zepto.

Introduction

In November 2024, KiranaKart Technologies Private Limited, popularly known as Zepto—one of India’s leading Quick Commerce companies—received funding of $350 mn from a group of investors led by Motilal Oswal Private Wealth4. It was yet another feather in their cap for the two young entrepreneurs, Aadit Palicha (Aadit) and Kaivalya Vohra (Kaivalya), who revolutionized Indian retail by delivering a wide range of products within 10 min of order placement.