Which quick delivery startups raised money?

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The quick delivery sector witnessed explosive funding activity in 2024, with startups raising $1.37 billion across major rounds.

Zepto dominated this landscape by securing $1.355 billion through three mega-rounds, while 2025 has brought more targeted investments in specialized verticals like home services and premium fashion delivery. General Catalyst, Lightspeed Venture Partners, and Elevation Capital emerged as the most active investors, backing everything from ultra-fast grocery delivery to 60-minute clothing drops.

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Which quick delivery startups raised funding in 2024 and 2025 so far?

Zepto led the pack with three massive rounds totaling $1.355 billion, making it the undisputed funding champion of the quick delivery space.

Beyond Zepto, 2024 saw limited major funding activity in the quick delivery sector, with most other startups focusing on smaller, strategic rounds or bootstrapping growth. The sector's funding concentration around Zepto reflects investor confidence in proven business models over experimental approaches.

In 2025, funding diversified into specialized verticals with Ninja raising $250 million for its Saudi operations, Snabbit securing $19 million for home services, and Slikk Club obtaining $3.2 million for fashion delivery. FirstClub raised $8 million for premium quick commerce, while Swish secured term sheets worth $15-20 million for 10-minute food delivery.

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These funding rounds represent a shift from pure grocery delivery to specialized services, indicating market maturation and niche exploration by entrepreneurs and investors alike.

How much total funding has been raised by quick delivery startups in 2024 and so far in 2025?

Quick delivery startups raised exactly $1.37 billion in equity funding during 2024, dominated entirely by Zepto's three mega-rounds.

This figure represents seven major disclosed funding rounds, with Zepto accounting for 99% of the total through its $665 million Series F in June, $340 million round in August, and $350 million round in November. The remaining funding came from smaller players and undisclosed rounds that didn't reach major media coverage.

For the first half of 2025, the sector has raised at least $274 million across five documented rounds. Ninja's $250 million pre-IPO round represents the largest single investment, followed by Snabbit's $19 million Series A and several smaller rounds including FirstClub's $8 million seed and Slikk Club's $3.2 million funding.

The 2025 funding pace suggests an annualized total of $500-600 million, significantly lower than 2024's peak but more distributed across different players and verticals. This shift indicates market normalization after Zepto's exceptional fundraising year.

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Which startups received the largest funding rounds and how much did they raise?

Zepto absolutely dominated large funding rounds, securing the top three positions with its $665 million, $350 million, and $340 million raises in 2024.

Which investors are most active in funding quick delivery startups?

General Catalyst emerged as the most prominent investor by leading Zepto's massive $665 million Series F round and participating in multiple other Zepto funding rounds.

Lightspeed Venture Partners demonstrated consistent activity by backing both Snabbit's $19 million round and Slikk Club's $3.2 million funding, showing their commitment to diverse quick delivery verticals. Elevation Capital matched this activity level by co-investing in Snabbit and securing term sheets with Swish for their food delivery expansion.

Accel positioned itself strategically in premium segments by leading FirstClub's $8 million seed round and participating in Swish's earlier funding. Nexus Venture Partners maintained their quick delivery focus through Snabbit's round while continuing their historical involvement with Zepto since their 2014 investment.

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Peak XV Partners (formerly Sequoia Capital India) showed renewed interest through Swish's $15-20 million term sheet, while regional players like Riyad Capital led significant rounds outside India, specifically Ninja's $250 million pre-IPO funding in Saudi Arabia.

Which startups did each of these investors back and what do those startups specialize in?

General Catalyst concentrated their quick delivery investments exclusively on Zepto, backing their ultra-fast grocery delivery model through multiple rounds including the $665 million Series F.

What were the terms or conditions attached to these recent funding rounds, if disclosed?

Most funding rounds in the quick delivery space maintained standard venture capital structures with limited public disclosure of specific terms and conditions.

Zepto's Series F reportedly included board seats for new lead investors, particularly General Catalyst, reflecting the significant stake and influence these investors gained through their $665 million commitment. The November 2024 extension round was structured as part of a larger $1+ billion fundraising effort completed within five months, suggesting favorable terms for existing investors.

Snabbit's $19 million round specifically allocated funds for expanding micro-markets across India, with investors requiring clear expansion milestones and city-wise growth targets. Ninja's $250 million pre-IPO round included specific governance rights positioning the company for a 2027 IPO timeline, with Riyad Capital securing board representation.

FirstClub's $8 million seed round included provisions for building omnichannel retail infrastructure and establishing dark store networks, with performance milestones tied to delivery time improvements and geographical expansion. Several rounds included standard anti-dilution protections and liquidation preferences typical of venture investments.

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Which countries or regions are seeing the most funding activity in the quick delivery space?

India absolutely dominates quick delivery funding activity, capturing approximately 85% of global investment in this sector through 2024 and early 2025.

Zepto's $1.355 billion fundraising alone represents the vast majority of Indian quick delivery investments, but the country also hosts emerging players like Swish ($15-20 million), Snabbit ($19 million), and FirstClub ($8 million). India's dominance stems from dense urban populations, smartphone penetration, and established digital payment infrastructure that supports quick delivery business models.

Saudi Arabia emerged as the second-most significant market through Ninja's $250 million pre-IPO round, positioning the kingdom as a major quick delivery hub in the Middle East. The Saudi government's Vision 2030 initiative supports technology startups, making it attractive for quick delivery expansion.

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Southeast Asia, Europe, and North America showed minimal major funding activity in 2024-2025, with most established players like Gopuff focusing on profitability over expansion and few new entrants securing significant investment rounds.

Are any large corporations or industry giants investing in or acquiring quick delivery startups?

Major corporations are primarily building internal quick delivery capabilities rather than acquiring independent startups, choosing vertical integration over external partnerships.

Amazon, Flipkart, and Zomato developed their own quick commerce arms (Tez, Minutes, and Bistro respectively) instead of acquiring external players, reflecting their preference for controlling the entire value chain. This approach allows them to leverage existing logistics infrastructure and customer bases rather than paying premium acquisition prices.

Riyad Capital, Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund, represents the most significant corporate investor through their $250 million lead investment in Ninja's pre-IPO round. This investment aligns with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 economic diversification strategy and positions the kingdom as a regional quick delivery hub.

Delivery Hero, which previously made strategic acquisitions through its Glovo Express platform, showed reduced acquisition activity in 2024-2025, focusing instead on optimizing existing operations. Most traditional retailers are experimenting with internal quick delivery pilots rather than acquiring specialized startups.

What new technologies, innovations, or R&D efforts are being financed through these investments?

Dark store technology and micro-warehouse optimization represent the primary focus of current R&D investments, with Zepto allocating significant funds to double their dark store network throughout 2024.

AI-driven inventory management and routing algorithms received substantial investment focus, with established players developing proprietary systems for faster product picking and optimized delivery routes. These technologies aim to reduce delivery times below 10 minutes while maintaining cost efficiency and inventory accuracy.

Hyperlocal fashion delivery emerged as a novel innovation area, with Slikk Club pioneering 60-minute clothing delivery using specialized inventory prediction and size availability algorithms. FirstClub is developing omnichannel retail technology that integrates physical stores with micro-warehouse functionality for premium quick commerce.

Service enablement platforms like Kuik received targeted funding for dark store infrastructure technology, helping other quick delivery startups establish micro-warehouse networks without building proprietary systems. Advanced analytics platforms for demand prediction and customer behavior analysis represent another significant R&D investment area.

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Which quick delivery startups are considered most promising or are scaling the fastest?

Zepto stands as the undisputed leader with its $5 billion valuation and proven ability to raise $1.355 billion across three rounds in 2024, demonstrating exceptional scaling capabilities.

Ninja achieved unicorn status with its $1.5 billion valuation following the $250 million pre-IPO round, positioning itself as the dominant quick delivery player in the Middle East market. Their planned 2027 IPO timeline indicates strong revenue growth and path to profitability.

Among emerging players, Snabbit shows significant promise by expanding beyond traditional grocery delivery into home services, raising $19 million to scale across Indian micro-markets. Swish demonstrates rapid growth potential with multiple investor term sheets worth $15-20 million for their 10-minute food delivery model.

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FirstClub targets the premium segment with $8 million in seed funding and plans for omnichannel retail integration, while Slikk Club pioneers the fashion delivery niche with their 60-minute clothing delivery service backed by $3.2 million in funding.

How is the competitive landscape evolving and who are the emerging players in each region?

India's competitive landscape centers around three dominant players - Zepto, Blinkit (Zomato), and Instamart (Swiggy) - who collectively command 96% market share, leaving limited room for new entrants.

Despite this concentration, numerous niche players are emerging in specialized verticals including Swish for 10-minute food delivery, Snabbit for home services, Slikk Club for fashion, and FirstClub for premium quick commerce. These companies avoid direct competition with grocery giants by focusing on underserved categories.

The Middle East sees Ninja leading the market with early-stage local competitors emerging in UAE and Saudi Arabia, though none have reached significant funding milestones. Regional players benefit from government support and growing smartphone adoption in urban centers.

North America and Europe show minimal new player emergence, with existing companies like Gopuff cutting back operations and focusing on profitability over expansion. The regulatory environment and labor costs in these regions make ultra-fast delivery models economically challenging for new entrants.

What are expert predictions or expectations for funding and growth in this sector in 2026?

Industry analysts predict global quick delivery funding will moderate to $1-2 billion annually in 2026, significantly lower than 2024's Zepto-driven peak but more sustainable long-term.

Expert consensus emphasizes consolidation among well-funded incumbents, with investors prioritizing proven unit economics over rapid expansion. General Catalyst, Lightspeed, and regional sovereign funds are expected to drive late-stage funding rounds, focusing on companies demonstrating clear paths to profitability.

Strategic partnerships between large retailers and specialized last-mile delivery companies will likely replace pure-play startup investments, as traditional retailers seek to compete with quick delivery capabilities without building infrastructure from scratch. Emerging verticals including pharmacy delivery, fashion, and home services will attract targeted investments as entrepreneurs avoid overcrowded grocery delivery markets.

Performance-based investments with stricter milestones around delivery times, customer acquisition costs, and gross margins will become standard, reflecting investor demand for sustainable business models rather than growth-at-any-cost approaches that characterized 2022-2024 funding cycles.

Conclusion

Sources

1. New Indian Express - Quick Commerce Growth 2024
2. Bloomberg - Ninja Unicorn Funding
3. MoneyControl - Snabbit Funding
4. BW Disrupt - Slikk Club Funding
5. Economic Times - Quick Commerce Investment Trends
6. LinkedIn - Quick Commerce Analysis
7. Cornell Business - India Quick Commerce Boom
8. Mobile App Daily - India E-commerce Startups
9. Inc42 - Zepto 2024 Review
10. Inc42 - India Quick Commerce Players
11. Ainad - Weekly Funding Rounds
12. AFAQS - Quick Commerce 2024-2025 Outlook