Zepto Unifies All Operations in Bengaluru for AI and Tech Talent

Quick-commerce unicorn Zepto has completed the strategic relocation of its headquarters from Mumbai to Bengaluru, a move the company’s leadership attributes almost entirely to the need to access and consolidate around the city’s superior technology talent pool.

Co-founder and CTO Kaivalya Vohra officially cemented the decision to centralize the entire team in Bengaluru by late 2024 during the recent Bengaluru Tech Summit (BTS 2025).

Speaking at the summit, Kaivalya, 23, unequivocally described Bengaluru’s talent ecosystem as “unmatched” and central to the company’s ambitious scale-up plans.

Kaivalya, who has been based in the city since 2021, successfully convinced co-founder Aadit Palicha and the rest of the Mumbai-based team to make the complete operational shift, highlighting that the city provides the necessary technical and execution expertise needed to sustain the rapid 10-minute delivery model.

Zepto Solving Unprecedented Challenges

The move consolidates all major functions—including business verticals, technology, and product development—under one roof, bringing the company’s workforce of approximately 1,700-1,800 employees together.

Zepto’s leadership identified that the core challenges of pioneering the ultra-fast delivery model—particularly building out dark stores and micro-warehouse navigation systems—had no global playbook.

Kaivalya recounted the early days of setting up laptops on storage racks inside makeshift dark stores, relying on rapid iteration and technical innovation.

He explained that running these specialized operations required deep expertise in logistics and warehousing.

To fill this knowledge gap, the founders dedicated several months early on to hiring specialists, many of whom still form Zepto’s operating leadership today.

The accessibility of such specialized, high-calibre tech and operational talent was the ultimate differentiator favoring Bengaluru.

A Confluence of Talent and Economics

While the stated reason for the move is talent, the relocation also offers significant financial benefits.

Zepto, which recently secured a major funding round valuing it at approximately $7 billion, is eyeing a potential public listing and prioritizing capital efficiency.

Reports suggest that while the company incurred a one-time relocation cost for employees, the move is expected to be offset by significant monthly savings on office rent, as Bengaluru generally offers lower commercial rental costs compared to prime locations in Mumbai.

Furthermore, being headquartered in India’s ‘Silicon Valley’ places Zepto closer to key competitors like Swiggy and Flipkart, fostering a more competitive environment for talent acquisition and industry collaboration.

The move reinforces Bengaluru’s status as the undeniable hub for high-growth Indian startups, attracting talent and investment crucial for scale and global ambition.

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