e-commerce
Zomato ex-CMO Alok Jain’s foodtech Yumist raises USD 2 million
MUMBAI: India-based food delivery start up Yumist has raised $2 million in its pre-Series A round funding, with the Ronnie Screwvala owned venture capitalist Unilazer Venture as its leading investor. Existing Orios VP and Silicon Valley based investor Steven Lurie also participated in the investment round.
The foodtech start up launched by former Zomato CMO Alok Jain and Zing restaurant founder Abhimanyu Maheshwari in 2014 currently serves home-style meals prepared in their own kitchens at price points of Rs 65 onwards. Meals can be ordered through the Yumist app or website. The order is delivered in under 30 minutes, the service claims.
“The focus is on building a great customer experience and healthy unit economics, which has resulted in rapid organic growth for us. We’ll continue with this approach going forward,” Yumist co-founder and CEO Alok Jain informed a broadsheet on the new fundraiser.
With an aim to reduce its delivery cost from Rs 35 to Rs 20, the start-up plans to use the money raised to scale up in existing cities — Gurgaon, Delhi and Bengaluru till March, after which Yumist plans to expand to Mumbai and Pune.
“After this round, we will still keep our heads down until March in our current three cities, and show that we can be gross margin profitable at a company level,” said Jain revealed.
e-commerce
Flipkart rolls out 105 per cent bonus for 20,000 employees
Strong FY25 performance drives payouts even as layoffs and shifts unfold.
MUMBAI: In a year where belts were tightened and rewards loosened, Flipkart seems to be playing both offence and defence trimming roles on one hand while handing out a generous 105 per cent bonus on the other. The Walmart owned e commerce major has rolled out a 105 per cent bonus payout for 2025, covering nearly 20,000 employees, signalling a year of steady operational momentum even as the company navigates restructuring pressures. The payout, communicated internally by chief human resources officer Seema Nair, is tied to performance across key metrics including growth, operational efficiency, financial outcomes and people indicators, a combination that suggests the company is inching closer to its long stated goal of sustainable profitability.
Employees at SD level and below are set to receive their bonuses in March, while payouts for senior leadership, including vice presidents and senior vice presidents, will follow after the close of the performance cycle. The elevated 105 per cent multiplier stands out in a sector where cautious payouts have increasingly become the norm, pointing to what appears to be a relatively strong internal scorecard for FY25.
Yet, the announcement arrives with a noticeable contrast. Earlier this year, Flipkart reduced its workforce by around 300 roles as part of its annual performance review process. While officially framed as performance driven, the juxtaposition of layoffs alongside above target bonuses reflects a more nuanced balancing act, one that prioritises cost discipline while continuing to reward and retain high performing talent.
This dual approach is becoming increasingly common across the technology and e commerce landscape, where companies are navigating an uneven hiring environment while under pressure to deliver profitability. Rewarding top contributors, even amid selective workforce reductions, allows firms to maintain morale and retain critical talent without losing sight of financial prudence.
At the same time, Flipkart is also undergoing leadership shifts that hint at a broader strategic recalibration. Nishant Verman has been appointed senior vice president for corporate development and partnerships, while group chief financial officer Sriram Venkataraman is set to step down. Ravi Iyer will take on expanded responsibilities within the finance function, marking a reshuffle at the top as the company gears up for its next phase.
These changes come amid reports that Flipkart is planning to shift its holding structure back to India, a move widely interpreted as groundwork for a potential public listing. While timelines remain fluid, the combination of stronger financial discipline, leadership restructuring and employee incentivisation suggests a company preparing itself for greater scrutiny and scale.
For employees, the 105 per cent payout offers a welcome boost in what has otherwise been a period of adjustment. For Flipkart, it is a signal that even as it cuts where necessary, it is willing to spend where it counts. In the high stakes game of growth versus profitability, the company appears to be hedging its bets carefully, rewarding performance while reshaping itself for what could be its most defining chapter yet.
