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Zomato hikes platform fee for users to Rs 5; pauses intercity deliveries

Economic TimesEconomic Times · 1y ago
Zomato hikes platform fee for users to Rs 5; pauses intercity deliveries
Medial

Food delivery platform Zomato has increased its platform fee for customers by 25% to Rs 5 per order, effective April 20. The fee increase, applicable in key markets including Delhi, Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Hyderabad, is expected to boost the company's earnings. Zomato's rival, Swiggy, already charges Rs 5 as a platform fee on food delivery orders. Zomato's platform fee is in addition to the delivery charge, but it is waived for Zomato Gold loyalty programme members. The fee was initially introduced in August 2023 at Rs 2 per order and was increased to Rs 4 earlier this year. The intercity delivery service, Legends, has been temporarily suspended by Zomato due to low consumer traction and legal issues.

JCB Salons India raises Rs 40 Cr from Blacksoil for strategic expansion

EntrackrEntrackr · 1y ago
JCB Salons India raises Rs 40 Cr from Blacksoil for strategic expansion
Medial

Salon chain JCB (Jean Claude Biguine) Salons India has raised Rs 40 crore ($4.8 million) from alternative credit platform Blacksoil. JCB Salons has utilised the funds to acquire Spalon, a homegrown salon chain, for expansion into South India, the company said in a press release. The capital will also be used for working capital and creating operational efficiencies for the group. Launched in 2006 in India, JCB Salons operates around 18 salons in Mumbai, Pune, and Bengaluru. The company claims to serve 1,500 customers per month. Globally, it runs operations in 20 countries with 400 salons and spas. Spalon is a spa and salon brand with over 27 branches across Southern India. Combining JCB’s expertise and Spalon’s understanding of the domestic market, the joint entity eyes a foothold in West and South India markets. In February last year, JCB Salon’s long time chief executive Samir Srivastav quit the company to join Looks Salon as CEO. JCB Salons raised Rs 157 crore (nearly $19 million) to date and counts RARE Enterprises, the investment arm of late Rakesh Jhunjhunwala as a key investor. JCB Salon India saw its operating revenue increase to Rs 50.66 crore in FY23 from Rs 34.63 crore in FY22. During the period, the firm turned profitable with Rs 1 crore profit from Rs 57 lakh loss in the previous fiscal year. As per the company, it achieved 5-6% year-on-year growth in FY24. However, the company is yet to file audited annual financial statements for the last financial year. As per industry reports, the Indian beauty market is projected to reach approximately $580 billion by 2027, with an estimated growth of 6% annually. Of late, a clutch of legacy and established businesses have raised strategic money from institutional investors. In May, 17-year-old performance wear brand TechnoSport raised $21 million from A91 Partners in its first external fundraise. In the same month, fast fashion omnichannel ethnic wear brand Libas also raised $18 million by ICICI Venture’s fund IAF Series 5 in its maiden external funding.

Quikr posts Rs 51 Cr revenue in FY23, losses shrink 62%

EntrackrEntrackr · 1y ago
Quikr posts Rs 51 Cr revenue in FY23, losses shrink 62%
Medial

Quikr, the online marketplace and classified platform, experienced a drop in scale from Rs 191 crore in FY19 to Rs 110 crore in FY20. This declining trend continued until FY22. The Bengaluru-based firm, however, has recently shown signs of stability and resilience with its revenue growing for the first time in the last three years in FY23. Additionally, the former unicorn also managed to bring down its losses by a significant margin during the period. Quikr’s revenue from operations marginally grew 4.7% to Rs 51.36 crore during the fiscal year ending March 2023 as compared to Rs 49.07 crore recorded in FY22, as per the company’s consolidated financial statements with the Registrar of Companies. Quikr made the majority of its revenue from lead referral fees followed by advertising, both verticals collectively contributed to around 90% of revenue in FY23. The remaining sum was collected via commissions, management consultancy services, business support, and other operating activities. The company also earned Rs 2 crore from interest and gains on other financial assets (non-operating income). Considering this, the total income of the company stood at Rs 53.38 crore in FY23. On the cost side, employee benefit was the largest cost expense for the company. Which however shrank 17% to Rs 41.5 crore in FY23 from Rs 50 crore in FY22. IT costs including web hosting and payment gateway also dwindled 43% to Rs 3.5 crore during the year from Rs 6.13 crore in FY22. The company also cut down its legal, promotional, and other expenses, akin to which, the overall expenditure dwarfed 27% to Rs 61.36 crore in FY23. The total expenditure was Rs 84 crore during the previous fiscal year. For a complete expense breakdown and year-on-year financial performance and more information about the company, visit TheKredible. The cost-cutting measures taken by the company during the year can also be seen in its bottom line which improved significantly. Quikr’s losses declined 62% to Rs 7.98 crore during FY23 in comparison to Rs 20.98 crore in FY22. Additionally, the company’s outstanding losses stand at Rs 3,077 crore at the end of FY23. Operating cashflows also turned green (positive) to Rs 2.57 crore in FY23 against Rs 29.23 crore (negative) in the previous year. The EBITDA margin and ROCE of the company strengthened to -3.52% and -3.87%, respectively during the period. On a unit level, Quikr spent Rs 1.19 to earn a rupee of operating revenue in FY23.

Ergos gross revenue crosses Rs 200 Cr in FY23; losses stagnant

EntrackrEntrackr · 1y ago
Ergos gross revenue crosses Rs 200 Cr in FY23; losses stagnant
Medial

Agritech platform Ergos has managed to grow its scale by two-thirds in the fiscal year ending March 2023 with sound economics as the Bengaluru-based company kept losses in check during the period. Ergos’ gross revenue grew 66% to Rs 224 crore in FY23 from Rs 135 crore in FY22, its annual financial statements (FY23) filed with the Registrar of Companies show. Ergos enables farmers to convert their grains into tradable assets, access credit against stored produce, and make better yields. It also provides harvest supply chain solutions by leveraging technology. The sale of commodities to the customer was the primary source of revenue for Ergos contributing to 96% of overall operating income. Wheat turned out to be the largest revenue driver followed by maize, paddy, and others. Rest of the revenue came from warehousing management fees. Visit TheKredible for a detailed revenue breakup. On the expenses side, procurement costs formed 64.8% of the overall expenditure which spiked 65% to Rs 211 crore in FY23. Other costs such as employee benefits, rent, professional, vehicle and traveling costs took its overall expenditure to Rs 249 crore in FY23 from Rs 160 crore in FY22. Head to TheKredible for a complete expense breakup. The decent growth in scale and effective cost mechanism helped Ergos to control its losses which stood at Rs 24 crore in FY23 as compared to Rs 23 crore in FY22. Its ROCE and EBITDA margin stood at -69% and -8.9% respectively. On a unit level, Ergos spent Rs 1.11 to earn a rupee in FY23. FY22-FY23 FY22 FY23 EBITDA Margin -16% -8.9% Expense/₹ of Op Revenue ₹1.19 ₹1.11 ROCE -44% -69% As of now, Ergos has raised around $32 million across several rounds and was last valued at around $55 million. According to the startup data intelligence platform TheKredible, Aavishkaar Capital is the largest stakeholder with 48% followed by Chiratae Ventures and CDC Group. Currently, its founder and chief executive officer Kishor Kumar Jha commands 11.84% of the company. Operating to provide farmers avenues beyond MSP procurement one assumes, Ergos ses to be on a good pitch to leverage inefficiencies in the supply chain. However, one has to wonder just how far and high the model can take the firm. Perhaps a move into other crops will follow once enough of a network and learnings have been built in.

Deepinder Goyal enters billionaire club as his holding in Zomato crosses $1 Bn worth

EntrackrEntrackr · 1y ago
Deepinder Goyal enters billionaire club as his holding in Zomato crosses $1 Bn worth
Medial

Deepinder Goyal, founder and CEO of Zomato, has entered the billionaire dollar club as the value of his holdings in the foodtech firm surpassed Rs 8,400 crore. With this, Goyal joins the ranks of Sachin and Binny Bansal, Nikhil and Nitin Kamath, Vijay Shekhar Sharma, Byju’s Reveendran, and Ritesh Agarwal who hit a similar high at some point with their startups’ growth and valuation. As of March 31, 2024, Goyal owned a 4.19% stake in Zomato and had 36,94,71,500 shares. Since the Info Edge-backed firm recently hit its all time high share price ~Rs 232, the value of his personal holding crossed $1 billion. Zomato currently has a market capitalization of Rs 2,01,343 crore or $24.25 billion (as of 11.27 AM IST on July 15). With 36,94,71,500 equity shares, Deepinder Goyal’s holdings are valued at Rs 8,423 crore ($1.01 billion), as per Entrackr’s estimate. Food tech major also received shareholder approval to implement a new ESOP plan 2024 valued at $458 million. With the implementation of its new ESOP plan, the company’s total ESOP value surpassed $800 million. After Flipkart, Zomato seems to have the largest ESOP pool at the moment in the startup arena. In 2021, Oyo’s ESOP pool was worth close to $1 billion followed by Paytm, Nykaa and Policybazaar. However, value of Oyo and Paytm’s ESOP pool has nosedived since then in the wake of colossal loss in their valuations. While the holdings of bootstrapped startup’s founders such as Kamath brothers and Sridhar Vembu fortune are estimated to exceed $1 billion, Goyal has turned out to be the new entrant in the billionaire club from the VC-backed ecosystem. The good times for Zomato have continued on the stock exchange despite the company increasing its platform fees to Rs 6 in Delhi and Bengaluru. The company introduced a platform fee of Rs 2 in August last year, which was increased to Rs 5 in April, and now stands at Rs 6 per order as the firm looks to improve margin. Swiggy also spiked its platform fee to Rs 6 in the two cities. Zomato showed a robust growth in the last fiscal year (FY24) as its revenue from operations surged 71% year-on-year to Rs 12,114 crore in FY24 from Rs 7,079 crore in FY22. Moreover, the profits of the company stood at Rs 351 crore in FY24 as compared to a loss of Rs 971 crore in FY23.

How profitable InCred stands out among bleeding fintech lenders: Interview with Bhupinder Singh

EntrackrEntrackr · 11m ago
How profitable InCred stands out among bleeding fintech lenders: Interview with Bhupinder Singh
Medial

Lending has turned out to be the most obvious money making channel for fintech startups in India. Right from large to small fintech companies are resorting to distributing loans through own and third party lenders such as banks and NBFCs. Most growth stage fintech startups have been lending aggressively, but they still bear huge losses on a consolidated basis. However, the eight-year-old InCred is an exception as the firm’s operating revenue spiked 48% to Rs 1,267 crore in FY24. At the same time, its profit grew 160% to Rs 316 crore in FY24. InCred claims to have offered credit to 3,50,000 borrowers since its inception in 2016. InCred group operates three companies – InCred Finance, InCred Capital, and InCred Money. To understand InCred’s growth across segments, startup investments including Oyo and collection (recovery) among others, Entrackr spoke to the company’s founder and chief executive Bhupinder Singh. Here are the edited excerpts. How has the size of asset under management (AUM) across personal, education and business loans grown? Our asset under management or AUM grew 49% in FY24 and we closed FY24 with over Rs 9,000 crore in AUM, spread across personal loans which accounts for 44% of our AUM while micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) contributed 35% of the total disbursal. Educational loans formed 21% of the entire loan book including third-parties capital. Can you talk about growth numbers across three segments: personal, business and educational in the last fiscal year? We have had strong growth across all three segments in FY24: Personal loans grew at 57% whereas educational loans spiked at 86%. Business (MSMEs) borrowing increased 32% during the last fiscal. Which factors led to the upsurge in educational loans? Strong preference to study abroad for superior exposure and growth prospects, along with growing awareness in terms of universities and courses through social media and internet are some of the key driving factors, which have accentuated further over the last few years. InCred has started equity investment across startups. Why has it entered into what’s widely dubbed as risky equity investment? We invest in startups through InCred Capital where we focus on identifying attractive investment opportunities in private companies. However, we only put money in startups which are available at reasonable valuations and have long-term structural growth potential. Besides InCred Capital, we also have a private equity fund providing growth capital to startups and other businesses. You said that InCred Capital looks for reasonable valuation while investing into startups. InCred capital recently invested in Oyo at a $2.38 Bn valuation. Do you think this is the right valuation of Oyo? Any investment opportunity we identify for our clients is based on our fundamental thesis of providing an attractive risk-return profile for our wealth clients. We believe that Oyo falls in that category and provides an opportunity for long term value creation. Collection is the hardest part of any form of lending be it traditional or digital. How did InCred solve this and what’s the size of NPA? Agreed. I think it starts right from our strong, proactive focus on risk and analytics, and then collections, which is more reactive. We have over 150 pan-India collections teams across products that track repayments and employ multiple modes, depending upon the product-specific requirement and level of customer delinquency. For early defaulters, we use techniques like tele-calling to educate them about default implications such as credit score deterioration. For late-stage defaulters, focus is more on limiting losses through field visits, vendor engagement among others. We also use mechanisms like setting up escrow accounts for superior collections. InCred efficiency has been consistently tracking at 98%. Our March 2024 NNPA stood at 0.8% and was among the best in the industry. InCred merged with KKR Financial services in 2022. How has the merger panned out in terms of business? Let me start by giving you some context. While technically it was a reverse merger of InCred with KKR India’s credit arm, substance over form, InCred acquired KKR’s corporate loan book. It was a win-win for both InCred and KKR. What KKR got was a profitable exit from its corporate book, which they were looking for, and the opportunity to be part of a successful and long-term lending growth story with InCred in the driver’s seat. For InCred, the deal was purely an equity raising exercise with KKR joining our cap table and our net worth swelling 3X to over Rs 3,200 crore as of December 2023. At the same time, we were able to quickly wind down the corporate loan book and focus on building a granular retail franchise, which is our broad vision for InCred Finance.

Quikr posts first-ever profit in FY24 but left with only Rs 20 Cr in current assets

EntrackrEntrackr · 2m ago
Quikr posts first-ever profit in FY24 but left with only Rs 20 Cr in current assets
Medial

Quikr’s revenue from operations dropped 12% to Rs 45 crore in FY24 from Rs 51 crore in FY23, according to its consolidated financial statement sourced from the Registrar of Companies (RoC). Once one of India’s early unicorns, horizontal classifieds platform Quikr has experienced a consistent year-on-year decline in revenue and is now barely clinging to survival, operating at a drastically reduced scale. While the Bengaluru-based company reported a 12% drop in operating revenue, the silver lining is that it turned profitable for the first time, achieving a profit-to-revenue ratio of 1:22 in the fiscal year ending March 2024. Quikr’s revenue from operations dropped 12% to Rs 45 crore in FY24 from Rs 51 crore in FY23, according to its consolidated financial statement sourced from the Registrar of Companies (RoC). The bulk of Quikr’s revenue, accounting for 86% of total income, came from lead referral fees and advertising. Lead referral fees generated Rs 22 crore, while advertising services brought in Rs 17 crore. Commission and other service income contributed Rs 3 crore each. The firm earned an additional Rs 11 crore from provision write-backs and gains on financial assets, taking its total income to Rs 56 crore in FY24. On the expense side, employee benefit expenses remained the largest cost center, accounting for 69% of the expense. To the tune of scale, this cost was trimmed by 10% to Rs 37 crore. Interestingly, spending on advertising, while still relatively small, tripled to Rs 3 crore from Rs 1 crore in FY23. Depreciation and amortization expenses fell drastically from Rs 5 crore in FY23 to just Rs 15 lakh in FY24, significantly reducing non-cash expenses. Overall, Quikr managed to cut total costs by 11.5% to Rs 54 crore in FY24 from Rs 61 crore in the previous year. The company’s ability to bring down operating costs along with other revenue helped Quikr to gain profitability in FY24. The Tiger Global-backed firm recorded a profit of Rs 2 crore in contrast to Rs 8 crore loss in FY23. Its ROCE and EBITDA margin improved to 1.69% and 5.36%, respectively. Quikr spent Rs 1.20 to earn a rupee of operating revenue in FY24. As of March 2024, the Bengaluru-based firm reported current assets of Rs 20 crore for FY24, including Rs 2 crore in cash and bank balances. This marks an 80% drop from Rs 11 crore in FY23, raising concerns about liquidity, cash flow utilization, or a potential shift in capital deployment strategy. According to startup data intelligence platform TheKredible, Quikr has raised a total of $380 million in funding to date, which is a staggering 52 times its FY24 revenue. Its prominent backers include Warburg Pincus, Kinnevik, Tiger Global, and Matrix Partners India (now Z47). With most investors having written off their investments in the firm, the only question remaining now is if it can survive as some sort of sustainable business. While perhaps enriching for many personally, such a spectacular burnout does leave its mark on the ability to pivot to new realities, something Quikr consistently failed to do. For a firm that doubled down harder with even more money spent every time it faced a setback, the new reality is to use the collective experience of a decade and more to monetise, at however small a scale. And do it profitably. Will the present reserves be enough to turn it around for good? We wouldn’t count on it, the profits notwithstanding.

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