Synopsis: Zepto CEO Aadit Palicha has accused a rival company’s CFO of orchestrating a smear campaign, including spreading misinformation to investors and media. Despite the attacks, Zepto reports a sharp rise in growth and improved EBITDA, signaling confidence in its future.
 "Zepto CEO Slams Rival CFO Over Alleged Smear Campaign Amid Explosive Growth")
In a bold LinkedIn post that’s now setting the startup world abuzz, Zepto Co-founder and CEO Aadit Palicha has alleged that the CFO of a rival quick-commerce firm is behind a coordinated smear campaign against Zepto.
Though Palicha didn’t name the rival company, the quick commerce space is dominated by players like Blinkit (Eternal/Zomato), Swiggy Instamart, Flipkart Minutes, and Tata BigBasket—any of whom could be the unnamed competitor.
According to Palicha, the smear campaign involves a series of underhanded tactics:
- Calling Zepto’s investors with baseless allegations
- Distributing false data sheets about Zepto to journalists via known contacts
- Paying social media bots to amplify negative narratives
“This episode is below the stature expected of a CFO at a high-quality company,” said Palicha, adding, “It makes it obvious that they are getting nervous about how fast Zepto's EBITDA is improving.”
Zepto’s Meteoric Rise
Palicha backed up his claims of Zepto’s competitive strength with concrete numbers. From May 2024 to May 2025, Zepto’s Gross Order Value (GOV) has surged from ?750 crore to ?2,400 crore per month.
He also clarified that their GOV includes ad revenue and the selling price of fresh produce. More importantly, Zepto’s EBITDA has improved by 20 percentage points (2,000 basis points) in the last five months, bringing it close to single-digit losses.
Other financial highlights shared by Palicha:
- Cash burn reduced by 65% from January to May 2025
- Majority of dark stores expected to be EBITDA positive by next quarter
- Zepto has ?7,445 crore of net cash in the bank, with several years of runway at current burn rates
“These attacks are only confirming to investors how strong a competitor we are,” Palicha said. “Healthy competition is fine, but lies and dirty tactics are unacceptable.”
Rising Heat in Quick Commerce
Zepto’s direct attack, without naming names, reflects the intensifying rivalry in India’s booming quick commerce sector, where players are fiercely battling for market share and profitability.
As Zepto strengthens its numbers and reduces burn, rivals may be feeling the pressure—particularly with investor scrutiny tightening across the startup landscape.
For now, Palicha is staying focused on execution:
“Let’s all do what we’re supposed to—build great businesses. That’s where the real competition lies.”
Disclaimer: This article is based on a public LinkedIn post and financial disclosures by Zepto CEO Aadit Palicha. The identity of the rival CFO has not been officially confirmed. Readers are advised to await further clarification from involved parties.
