Zepto’s Expansion Dilemma

Something seems amiss at Zepto. In a matter of days, the quick commerce giant went from raising a massive $450 Mn to laying off 200-300 employees. Besides, it plans to continue trimming its workforce till the end of the year.

At a cursory glance, the two developments seem at odds. However, underneath the equation lies an uncomfortable truth — the massive funding is less of a victory lap and more of a lifeline for the company. 

Amid a slowdown, Zepto has been restructuring operations and deferring its IPO (initially planned for this…