According to various media reports, the smartphone giant Apple has rented approximately 2.7 lakh square feet of office space in Bengaluru for ten years, with a total outlay of approximately INR 1,010 crore for the duration, which includes rent, parking, and maintenance.
The iPhone manufacturer will pay a monthly rent of INR 6.31 crore, or INR 235 per square foot, to occupy the fifth through thirteenth floors of Embassy Zenith on Sankey Road, Vasanth Nagar, in Bengaluru.
A security deposit of INR 31.57 crore has been made by the corporation, with a 4.5% yearly rent increase. The lease was registered in July and started on April 3, 2025. According to the paperwork, Apple has paid stamp duty of INR 1.5 crore.
Apple Retail Expansion in India
The decision, according to industry executives, is a part of Apple’s larger development in India, where it is increasing its retail presence and growing its operations and technical teams.
After opening stores in Delhi and Mumbai, Apple is getting ready to open its third location in India at the Phoenix Mall of Asia in the city’s north of Bengaluru.
For a 10-year lease with an annual price of nearly INR 2.09 crore, the company has rented roughly 8,000 square feet of premises from Sparkle One Mall Developers. Rent payments started in August 2025 after the lease was recorded in November 2024.
Apple’s R&D and Hiring in Bengaluru
With Bengaluru evolving as a major R&D hub worldwide, Apple Operations India supports the larger Apple ecosystem while spearheading initiatives in engineering, hardware design, failure analysis, research, and testing.
For positions like RF System Integration Engineer, Software Development Engineer in Test, Machine Learning Engineer, and Engineering Program Manager, the organisation is still actively hiring. A cutting-edge building in Prestige Minsk Square serves as the focal point of Apple’s engineering centre in the city. It has specialised labs and collaborative workspaces and is built to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) sustainability standards.
In addition to infrastructure, Apple has made investments in fostering local talent through programmes like the App Accelerator, which offers iOS developers specialised mentoring. Teams from Bengaluru contribute to several Apple businesses, including operations, IS&T, software, hardware, services, and customer support.
Airtel–Apple Partnership: Free Apple Music
It looks like Bharti Airtel is adding more bundled digital services for its Indian consumers. According to reports, the telecom operator has extended its collaboration with Apple, which was previously restricted to postpaid and broadband consumers, by providing free access to Apple Music for its prepaid customers.
The action was taken only a few weeks after Airtel gained notoriety for giving its customers free access to the premium artificial intelligence application Perplexity AI Pro. Telecom Talk was the first to notice that some Airtel prepaid users have started to see the Apple Music offer within the Airtel Thanks app. Users can take advantage of the streaming service for free for a maximum of six months, according to the banner.
Quick
Shots
•Apple has leased 2.7 lakh sq. ft.
office space at Embassy Zenith, Bengaluru, for 10 years worth INR 1,010
crore.
•Monthly rent of INR 6.31 crore (INR
235/sq. ft.) with a 4.5% annual hike; security deposit of INR 31.57 crore.
•Third Apple Store coming up at
Phoenix Mall of Asia, North Bengaluru, after Delhi & Mumbai.
•Bengaluru acts as a global R&D
base for Apple, with teams working on hardware design, testing, ML, software,
and operations.
In order to provide smooth first- and last-mile connectivity for commuters, the Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) and Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (BMRCL) have now opened up their transport data, enabling two apps, Namma Yatri and Tummoc. For more than ten years, this requirement has been in place.
Users of both apps may now purchase a single ticket that covers the full trip and organise their entire travel thanks to new capabilities. For example, a commuter can use either application to plan their route and purchase a single ticket for the full trip if they are required to use all three forms of transportation (autorickshaw, bus, and metro).
The apps create a synchronised travel schedule by using real-time data from buses and metro trains that run along the commuter’s route. Although real timing may be impacted by variables like traffic, this ideally enables commuters to access each public transport option right after disembarking from the previous one.
Why it got Delayed?
The fact that BMTC and BMRCL had not made their data publicly available was a barrier to the development of this function. However, this has since been resolved via the General Transit Feed Specification (GTFS), a widely accepted open data standard for public transportation that contains stop, route, and schedule information.
BMTC has been supplying the platform with static data thus far, but it intends to start sharing real-time data shortly. At the moment, Namma Yatri provides trip planning that combines metro lines with auto-rickshaw services.
Tummoc has begun the services, but Namma Yatri has not yet gone live. Along with comparable capabilities, Tummoc lets users monitor how much carbon emissions they reduce by opting for public transit rather than driving a private vehicle.
After winning the Enroute: A Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) Challenge, which was organised by WRI, Mercedes-Benz Research and Development India (MBRDI), and Villgro, Tummoc and Namma Yatri collaborated to develop these functionalities and were awarded a INR 30 lakh grant in August 2024.
In Bengaluru, Every Minute is Important-Kharge
Minister of Electronics, IT, BT, Rural Development, and Panchayat Raj Priyank M. Kharge underlined the significance of these measures in tackling last-mile connection problems. In Bengaluru, travel is measured in hours rather than kilometres. “We recognise the issue and are dedicated to finding a solution,” he stated.
With a 12% growth rate last year, Bengaluru is among the cities with the fastest rates of urbanisation in the world. “The city loses an estimated INR 20,000 crore annually as a result of lost time in traffic, which has a direct impact on production. Projections show we will grow by 8.5% annually over the next decade,” he added.
He asserted that, in contrast, Delhi and Mumbai reportedly lose INR 60,000 crore and INR 40,000 crore yearly, respectively. Kharge added that the government wants to see 70% of the city’s population use public transit by 2030, compared to the current percentage of less than 50%.
In light of this, he stated that the introduction of these integrated elements is a big step in promoting the broader use of public transit.
E-commerce giant Amazon has begun implementing its 10-minute delivery service, Amazon Now, in a few Bengaluru pincodes, weeks after testing it internally with staff members. According to a media report, which cited people with knowledge of the situation, the corporation plans to extend its rapid commerce services into further regions in the upcoming weeks. According to the report, this rapid commerce platform, which was internally dubbed “Tez,” is interacting with companies in the kitchen, home, and beauty sectors as part of its strategy to expand its business.
Many merchants are negotiating to join Amazon, and once they stabilise everyday necessities and groceries, these players should be starting their trade by March or April. According to a senior executive from a company that sells its goods on well-known rapid commerce platforms, “Beauty and home are the next focus areas,” the report stated.
Giant Testing Waters of Quick Commerce Sector
According to an Amazon representative, the company has always prioritised providing customers with a large selection together with quick and easy shipping. This limited pilot in a few Bengaluru pin codes is an experiment to deliver even faster speeds on a selection of daily necessities from our vendors that customers frequently require immediately. The brand is constantly evolving to give customers even more value. It should be noted that the e-commerce behemoth first told a number of media outlets that it had started testing Tez in December, using its staff in a few Bengaluru pincodes.
In the meantime, Amazon has started selling daily necessities and foods through Amazon Fresh. The business stated in November of last year that it was refocusing its efforts to increase order deliveries in 20 to 30 minutes. Its food delivery division stated at the beginning of 2024 that it had expanded its footprint to 130 cities, including Ambala, Aurangabad, Hoshiarpur, Dharwad, and Una. After rival Flipkart launched “Minutes” in August of last year, Amazon appears to have entered the rapid commerce arena late, recognising the opportunity to increase its client base and hold onto market dominance.
India’s Quick Commerce Race has Just Begun
Notably, this trend occurs at a time when well-established rapid commerce operators have begun to grow their dark shop count and reach tier II and III cities due to increased rivalry from up-and-coming labels in the market. Zomato, a prominent player in the foodtech industry, announced earlier this year that it has made significant investments in its rapid commerce, with the goal of building 2,000 dark shopfronts by December 2025.
Since 2023, when it stopped operating in more than 200 places, Zomato has been slow to expand. Conversely, Swiggy became optimistic about tier II and tier III towns and even launched its 10-minute meal delivery service in 400 cities.
Supported by former Tesla Chief Information Officer Jay Vijayan, Tekion is an automotive software platform that has relocated to a larger, modern facility in Bengaluru. According to a January 6 press release, the cloud-native platform that supports the automotive retail ecosystem also intends to hire over 300 experts in product, design, and engineering jobs.
Some of the top car dealers in the US, Canada, and the UK use the California-based company, which has onboarded more than 52 original equipment manufacturer (OEM) brands on its platform, according to the company. The platform connects OEMs (automotive assembly), merchants (car dealers), and customers through the utilisation of big data, machine learning, and artificial intelligence (AI).
Scaling its Operations and Product Portfolio
Tekion’s CTO, Binu Mathew, stated that the company would keep using the top talent to revolutionise the retail automobile industry. More than 300 AI, engineering, design, and product management specialists are joining the company worldwide, particularly in India. To enable rapid growth, accelerate AI-based disruption of old business processes, and solidify its position as the industry’s innovation leader, the company is increasing its product, technology, and AI infrastructure, according to Mathew.
In order to accommodate up to 2,300 people, Tekion has leased 240,000 square feet of office space in Bagmane Solarium City, Brookfield. Nearly 3,000 people work for Tekion in North America, Asia, and Europe. Founded in 2016, Chennai is the regional hub, and Bengaluru is the APAC headquarters. The business reported receiving $200 million in growth equity finance from Dragoneer Investment Group in 2024, increasing its valuation to more than $4 billion. The funding announcement came after Tekion’s 2023 performance, which saw a 97% year-over-year increase in run rate revenue. By the end of 2023, it had generated over $100 million in revenue.
Foreign-Incorporated Businesses are Returning to India
Many Indian firms have been exploring or are already moving their headquarters to India over the years, including Razorpay, Pine Labs, Zepto, Meesho, and Udaan. In 2022, PhonePe, which has its headquarters in Bengaluru and is supported by Walmart, moved from Singapore to India. For the startup’s investors, this action had a significant tax impact of around $1 billion, which Walmart mostly paid for.
India has launched a number of focused programs and initiatives in response to the country’s recognition of the need for greater ease of doing business and the critical role that startups play in promoting innovation. Seed capital and subsequent credit needs are supported by the Fund of Funds for Startups and Credit Guarantee Scheme.
The Indian startup environment is steadily improving in 2024 after plunging to a seven-year financing low during the extended funding winter of 2023. At $12 billion, the total amount of money raised by Indian entrepreneurs increased 20% year over year (YoY), reaching levels last observed in 2020.
The main highlight of the 2024 funding trend was Mumbai surpassing Bengaluru to become the nation’s most funded startup hub, according to the Indian Startup Funding Report 2024, even though the increase in overall funding has given the founders something to be grateful for and raised hopes for a better 2025. Mumbai’s startup funding skyrocketed to $3.7 billion in 2024, up from just $1.5 billion the year before, with an astounding 154% year-over-year (YoY) growth.
Speaking on this development, Tanay Sharma, COO & Co- Founder, CITTA, sated “It’s exciting to see Mumbai overtaking Bengaluru as India’s most-funded startup hub in 2024. For years, Bengaluru has been the go-to city for startups, often called the ‘Silicon Valley of India,’ but Mumbai’s rise underscores the city’s versatility and growing appeal as a startup destination. Mumbai brings its own unique advantages to the table. Being the financial capital, it naturally attracts a strong investor network. Add to that its access to diverse industries like media, entertainment, fintech, and real estate, and it’s no surprise that the city is drawing significant startup funding.”
Similar thoughts were echoed by Shreya Sharma, Founder, Rest The Case, she added, “Mumbai’s rise as India’s most-funded startup hub in 2024 isn’t just a reshuffling of numbers—it’s a powerful story of how the Indian startup ecosystem is evolving. From attracting $3.7 billion in funding—a staggering 154% jump from the $1.5 billion it raised in 2023—to dethroning Bengaluru, Mumbai is proving it’s more than just the financial capital; it’s the future of entrepreneurship. What’s driving this shift? It’s Mumbai’s unique blend of financial institutions, diverse talent, and the city’s relentless energy. Sectors like fintech, media, and consumer-focused startups have found their footing here, bringing a fresh perspective to India’s startup landscape.”
“For a music-tech startup like Hoopr, Mumbai’s vibrant creative scene and access to a diverse talent pool across sectors have always been significant strengths. Overall, I also feel that Mumbai has a much stronger culture of inclusivity. I believe the city is poised to become a leading hub for innovation and entrepreneurship in India. That said, there is still a long way to go before Mumbai can rival the kind of ecosystem that enables startups to thrive and flourish in Bengaluru,” stated Gaurav Dagaonkar, Co-founder & CEO of Hoopr.
Why Mumbai Notched Ahead of Bengaluru?
Zepto‘s numerous large finance arrangements during the year are partly responsible for this surge. In June 2024, the fast commerce juggernaut raised $665 million in its Series F fundraising round, nearly doubling its valuation from $1.5 billion to $3.6 billion. In August and November, the quick-commerce giant raised a further $340 million and $350 million, respectively. As a result, Zepto contributed 37% of Mumbai’s overall 2024 fundraising boost. Notably, Zepto relocated its headquarters from Mumbai to Bengaluru this year. To keep the data consistent, Mumbai has been given credit for its funding rounds.
“Zepto, this rising star contributed a whopping $1.3 billion to Mumbai’s total funding in 2024, showcasing how game-changing ideas are finding solid ground in the city. While Bengaluru still leads in the sheer number of deals (285 in 2024 compared to Mumbai’s 175), Mumbai’s growth signals that India is no longer a one-hub nation,” opined Sharma.
In terms of median ticket sizes, Mumbai also surpassed Bengaluru, rising 15% year over year to $3.4 million. But when it came to the number of deals, the city trailed Bengaluru. In 2024, Mumbai had a meagre 4.5% increase in investment deals, with 175 projects coming to fruition. Bengaluru, in contrast, continued to hold the top spot with 285 transactions, which is 14% more than the 249 deals that were signed in 2023.
Why Bengaluru is Still a Major Player?
Mumbai is unquestionably a significant hub, but the city has suffered from a few issues. The departure of major corporations like Zepto from Mumbai would have a big effect. In the past, Ola has relocated its headquarters from Mumbai to Bengaluru. If key actors leave an ecosystem after it has grown, it will not thrive. According to Rajesh Sawhney, the creator of GSF Accelerator, these businesses require people as they grow, but Mumbai’s prospects are continually harmed by the city’s inability to get talent at a reasonable price.
Since the majority of new founders come from larger startups or huge tech businesses, Bengaluru is gaining talent and startups from Mumbai. Future business owners are leaving Mumbai at the same time that big corporations are. He continued by saying that even though the city has the biggest pool of cash, there aren’t enough new businesses there, which results in little seed-stage activity.
While Base-Level Activity is Still Low, Late-Stage Funding is Flourishing
In 2024, Mumbai saw a significant increase in the number of growth-stage investment deals. In 2024, the city’s growth-stage startups raised $472 million or more, a 28% year-over-year increase. Additionally, the number of deals increased 67% year over year to 50 deals. In addition to the growth stage, Mumbai’s late-stage funding saw a 206% YoY increase to $3 billion or more. Furthermore, in 2024, there were 29 late-stage deals, a 16% increase.
Mumbai accounted for four of the top ten investment deals in the Indian startup ecosystem in 2024. In addition to Zepto, notable investments were obtained by Mumbai-based startups PharmEasy, Eruditus, and Rebel Foods. In April 2024, the Manipal Group chairman Ranjan Pai’s family office led a $216.2 million fundraising round for the healthtech unicorn PharmEasy. Following in October, Edtech unicorn Eruditus raised $150 million in a Series F investment spearheaded by TPG’s global impact investing platform. Temasek led the $210 million Series G investment round for cloud kitchen unicorn Rebel Foods in December.
What’s Up Next For Startups In Mumbai?
Mumbai’s consumption is still high, and the city is still a financial centre with the media, entertainment, and Bollywood sectors at its heart. Consequently, the region is expected to produce advances in areas such as media technology and direct-to-consumer businesses. Additionally, the Maharashtra government is launching numerous startup initiatives. According to Uday Samant, the minister of industries for Maharashtra, the state hopes to increase the number of startups it has from the current 8,300 to 50,000 in the near future.
The good news is that, thanks to the state’s proactive government measures, startups are seeing Maharashtra as a prime location to establish their manufacturing operations. The IPO-bound electric two-wheeler manufacturer Ather Energy said last year that it would open its third factory in the state to construct battery packs and e-scooters. India’s goal to become a global centre for chip production was further strengthened when the Maharashtra cabinet approved Adani Group’s plan to establish a $10 billion semiconductor manufacturing facility in partnership with Israel’s Tower Semiconductor. IIT Bombay’s Society for Innovation & Entrepreneurship (SINE) is also bolstering Maharashtra’s startup scene by establishing its first venture capital fund, worth INR 100 Cr, to assist tech-focused firms.
Four individuals from Gujarat were recently apprehended by the Bengaluru city police for the theft of INR 12.5 crore from CRED, a credit card payments company. Among those detained was Vaibhav Pitadiya (33), a relationship manager at Gujarat’s Axis Bank and the suspected mastermind.
During the inquiry, the police found two cell phones, counterfeit CIB forms, and INR 1.28 crore in cash. “The remaining sum that was defrauded is being recovered. On Corporate Internet Banking (CIB) forms, they falsified seals and signatures. The accused moved INR 12.50 crore to 17 mule accounts in Gujarat and Rajasthan using these falsified documents, the source claimed, gaining unauthorised access to the company’s online banking credentials.
Modus Operandi
Pitadiya found that CRED‘s nodal account handled more than INR 2 crore in transactions per day. He found ways to take advantage of the two linked company accounts that were dormant. A media report claims that Pitadiya came up with a plan and persuaded Neha Ben, an Instagram friend, to pose as the managing director (MD) of the business. In order to present Neha as the MD, he falsified board resolutions and letterhead documents.
Neha asked for a new user ID connected to CRED’s account with updated email and phone information by submitting a fictitious CIB form and falsified papers to the Axis Bank branch in Ankleshwar, Bharuch, Gujarat. The group started the fraudulent transactions with these credentials. According to the authorities, two accomplices, Shubham and Shailesh, opened mule accounts and produced fake paperwork in order to transfer the stolen money.
How the Issue got Highlighted?
On November 13, when CRED was performing a bank account reconciliation, the fraud was discovered. It was found that 17 unauthorised transactions totalling INR 12.5 crore had been made to questionable accounts between October 29 and November 11. On November 15, CRED complained to the East CEN Crime Police Station in Bengaluru and brought the matter to the attention of Axis Bank.
Neha had filed the documents in the Ankleshwar branch, which is where the police were able to trace the fraud. After Neha was taken into custody on December 21, the police found Pitadiya and the others through her interrogation. According to investigations, the suspects tried to activate a second CRED-related account by submitting a new CIB form to a separate Axis Bank office. An official declared, “The fraud was stopped after this attempt was intercepted.”
They made fake CIB documents and board resolutions and gained access to private information. The fraudulent transactions were made possible by the submission of these documents to the Ankleshwar branch of Axis Bank. The officer further stated that the accused had been remanded to police custody for additional investigation after confessing to the crime during questioning.
On December 17, the government told the Parliament that more than 1.63 lakh direct jobs had been created in Bengaluru by more than 13,000 startups approved by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT). In response to a question in the Lok Sabha, Jitin Prasada, the Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, revealed the information. The minister stated, “As of October 31, 2024, the DPIIT has identified 13,649 entities as startups in the Bengaluru district (Rural and Urban), which have reportedly created over 163,345 direct jobs.”
He went on to say that the following significant government programmes have provided financial support to these startups: SISFS, or Startup India Seed Fund Scheme: 281 businesses have received approval of INR 63.99 Cr under SISFS to boost their early-stage development. Through SEBI-registered alternative investment funds, the Fund of Funds for firms (FFS), which is overseen by SIDBI, has enabled investments of INR 6,470.8 Cr into 346 firms. Launched as a pilot program in April 2023, the Credit Guarantee Scheme for businesses (CGSS) has given 24 businesses in the Bengaluru urban district INR 49.24 Cr in loans without collateral.
Tax Exemptions to Further Strengthen Startups Growth
The Income Tax Act’s tax concessions have also helped Bengaluru entrepreneurs. 1,601 businesses obtained exemptions under Section 56(2)(viib), and 348 companies obtained certificates of eligibility under Section 80-IAC. In order to encourage innovation and entrepreneurship in India, the government started the “Startup India” initiative in 2016 and offers financial assistance, tax breaks, and streamlined procedures to new companies.
Bharat Startup Knowledge Access Registry
In order to support the expansion of the Indian startup ecosystem, the government most recently introduced the Bharat Startup Knowledge Access Registry (BHASKAR), a digital platform for startups. The platform, which was created internally by the DPIIT as part of the “Startup India” initiative, is intended to help companies, investors, mentors, tech enablers, government agencies, and other important players in the Indian startup scene work together. The Centre just launched its second startup registry, BHASKAR. The Bharat Startup Ecosystem Registry was piloted by the Ministry of Commerce in February. The register was established to exhibit innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship by uniting all the players in the startup ecosystem.
About DPIIT
Established in 1995, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade amalgamated with the Department of Industrial Development in 2000. It operates under the auspices of the Indian government’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry. This department is in charge of creating and carrying out developmental and promotional strategies to support the expansion of the industrial sector while taking into account the socioeconomic goals and national priorities.
Despite the frantic efforts of rapid commerce enterprises to introduce and expand their fashion portfolios, fashion companies appear to be retaliating.
With its new quick-commerce programme, Myntra promises to deliver goods to customers in as little as 30 minutes. The service, called M-Now, is being tested in a few pin codes in Bengaluru. Myntra is now the first significant e-commerce platform to introduce a quick-commerce solution.
Myntra Express
Previously, Myntra has tried experimenting with quicker delivery times. Myntra Express, which offered 24-48 hour product delivery, was introduced in 2022. M-Now, on the other hand, strives to be even quicker and will deliver goods to clients in between 30 minutes to 2 hours.
Myntra’s entry into the quick-commerce space follows many quick-commerce businesses that have been quickly adding fashion items to their portfolios in recent months. Zepto has partnered with Puma, Swiggy Instamart has partnered with FabIndia, and Blinkit has partnered with Decathlon. All of these companies are rapidly expanding their fashion categories. Blinkit has even introduced a 10-minute return policy for fashion items, which may be important for the vertical. Fashion items are returned far more often than other types due to fit and size problems, so enabling returns for these items could encourage quick commerce platforms to gain traction.
It has Become Need of the Hour for Myntra
Due to all these recent developments in the quick commerce domain, it is now essential for established e-commerce companies to start their own businesses. It wouldn’t make sense for customers to wait days for deliveries through conventional e-commerce channels if fast commerce startups could deliver goods at the same costs in ten minutes. Additionally, more impulsive purchases would result from faster deliveries, which would open up demand that traditional e-commerce wasn’t fully meeting.
It appears that traditional e-commerce companies have recognised this and are taking steps to expedite the delivery of their products to consumers. Nykaa has introduced a three-hour cosmetic delivery service called Nykaa Now. Additionally, Flipkart has introduced Flipkart Minutes, a quick-commerce platform that offers a variety of things for delivery in ten minutes. Additionally, it looks like rapid commerce may be the next battleground for India’s several e-commerce businesses, as Myntra has joined the game with M-Now.
Currently, M-Now offers consumers the ability to access a variety of brands, including Mochi, Wrangler, Metro, Being Human, and Lavie, at an unprecedented pace. Myntra is stepping up its Gen Z-focused initiatives in tandem with M-Now. In 2024, Myntra’s Gen Z user base has already doubled to 16 million, thanks to the FWD fashion segment, which caters to trend-savvy young consumers. Myntra has positioned itself as a major player in youth-centric fashion with aims to gain an additional 20–25 million users from this group.
In an effort to save money, Amazon India is relocating its headquarters from the World Trade Centre in Bengaluru’s northwest to a site near the airport, according to various media reports. In a 30-story building owned by Brigade Enterprises, the e-commerce and cloud computing giant currently utilises half a million square feet of office space on 18 floors. The Bengaluru airport is 15 minutes away by car from Amazon’s new headquarters. A third of the INR 250 per square foot rent that the corporation paid for the WTC office is probably going to be lost. According to the reports, the relocation would start in April and be finished by 2026.
Current Office’s Dynamics
Amazon‘s present location is a part of Brigade Gateway, the first integrated complex in the city, which also includes a hospital, a five-star hotel, 1,200 residential apartments, and a shopping centre. The report suggests that the 5,000 personnel of the World Trade Centre are encouraged to reside in the vicinity. Amazon employs 300 people, and they occupy one-fourth of the apartments.
A spokesperson told the media that the company is thrilled to be relocating to a new campus, a cutting-edge building intended to promote improved cooperation and provide an unmatched employee experience.
Nevertheless, the staff has been dissatisfied with the company’s new office, which is situated 20 kilometres away, as a result of the prolonged commute time, which is approximately 80 minutes during peak traffic.
Recent Developments in Amazon India
There is currently a top leadership turnover in Amazon India. Manish Tiwary resigned as India’s country manager in August, and Samir Kumar, a seasoned member of the company, took over in September. Kumar will oversee Amazon’s consumer businesses in the Middle East, South Africa, and Turkey in addition to the Indian market.
The Indian marketplace division of the e-commerce giant, Amazon Seller Services, announced on November 11 that its operational revenue for FY24 increased by 14% to INR 25,406 crore, while its net loss decreased by 28% to INR 3,469 crore. Revenue growth was slower than the growth rates observed during the pandemic period, although it still exceeded the 3% increase in FY23.
While Amazon India’s wholesale division, which sells goods and services in bulk to retailers and distributors, saw a slight dip, the company’s logistics and payments divisions reported a 7-9% increase in operational income and somewhat reduced losses for the fiscal year that ended in March 2024. As part of its global employment reduction announced in 2023, the retailer let go of 500–1,000 workers in India. Amazon announced that it would lay off more than 18,000 workers in January 2023. In 2024, the firm laid off hundreds of workers across several sectors, including Twitch, Prime Video, and Audible.
A report from a media house stated that Zepto, an Indian startup known for its 10-minute grocery delivery service, has reportedly acquired a deal to transform Total Mall in Sarjapur into its Bengaluru office space.
Zepto’s sector peers, Swiggy and Flipkart, as well as giant corporations like Walmart, Adobe, and Rubrik, are located on Sarjapur Road.
Transfer of Staff to Bengaluru
The fast-commerce behemoth reportedly gave its employees until February 2025 to pack up and relocate to Bengaluru, extending the deadline by a few months. The startup had previously given its staff members until November to move from Powai, Mumbai, to Sarjapur, Bengaluru. However, because it took longer than expected to find a suitable office location, the deadline was later extended.
Zepto has started relocating certain positions to a temporary office in the city, with plans to start operations on 11 November 2024. Zepto’s development and product teams already operate out of Bengaluru, while the company’s business operations are headquartered in Mumbai. According to the source, all important departments would be consolidated in the new Bengaluru headquarters by February.
Budget Projections for the Bengaluru Relocation
As mentioned in the repot, the one-time cost of moving Zepto’s headquarters from Mumbai to Bengaluru is anticipated to be approximately INR 3–4 crore. However, by moving from Mumbai to Bengaluru, the Aadit Palicha-led company anticipates saving about INR 40–50 lakh in rent each month, offsetting this expense.
Approximately 1,000 of Zepto’s 1,700–1,800 workers are presently situated in Mumbai, 400 in Bengaluru, while the rest 300 are dispersed among different areas for city operations. Interestingly, the study also stated that almost 90% of the employees based in Mumbai are already willing to go to Bengaluru, Karnataka.
Further Expansion
In addition to the move, Zepto intends to increase its workforce. According to Aadit Palicha, co-founder and CEO of Zepto, the company plans to add 500 more workers for its corporate operations, bringing its overall workforce to between 2,200 and 2,300.
Founded in 2021 by Aadit Palicha and Kaivalya Vohra, Zepto has raised more than $1.5 billion from investors, including StepStone Group and Nexus Venture Partners. The business, which is currently valued over $5 billion, is regarded as one of the quick commerce industry’s fastest-growing businesses.
Zepto was previously welcomed by the Karnataka government to the capital city, and the government encouraged other start-ups to consider Bengaluru for their primary operations. Begaluru city, which ranks 18th in Asia Pacific, is also the most millennial-friendly in India in terms of jobs and education. It is a hub for innovation, home to over 3,600 funded tech firms and the greatest proportion of employable female talent. Welcome, @ZeptoNow! Karnataka IT Minister Priyank Kharge said. “I invite more startups to join us and flourish in the best startup ecosystem in India,” he added further.
