QUICK COMMERCE HIRING
Quick commerce to hike festive workforce by up to 60%
Quick-commerce firms in India plan to increase temporary staff by up to 60% for the festive season. Redseer estimates quick commerce deliveries will double to 10% of total e-commerce. Flipkart, Amazon, Blinkit, Swiggy Instamart, and Zepto are preparing for Diwali. Around 80,000 to 100,000 workers will be hired. Tier 2 cities are also ramping up fast.
US stock market crashes — Dow, S&P 500, Nasdaq all lost after shocking August jobs report; possible Fed rate cut ahead
U.S. stocks swung sharply lower Friday after a surprisingly weak August jobs report reinforced the case for a Federal Reserve rate cut at its September 17 meeting. Stocks initially surged on the prospect of cheaper borrowing costs but quickly reversed as investors digested the economic slowdown behind the Fed’s likely pivot.
Former Flipkart exec’s quick comm startup FirstClub raises $23 million; valuation jumps to $120 million
The company plans to deploy the funds towards opening new dark stores in Bengaluru, rolling out formats like cafes and daily subscriptions, expanding into new categories, hiring talent, and investing in brand building.
US stock market today: Nasdaq, S&P 500 climb as Google antitrust ruling lifts tech stocks, while Dow slides on tariff and bond fears
US stocks split direction on Wednesday as Google’s courtroom victory sent the S&P 500 and Nasdaq higher, while the Dow struggled under tariff uncertainty, rising bond yields, and fresh labor data that sharpened bets on a September Fed rate cut.
Community ecommerce startup CityMall raises $47 million at flat valuation
Existing investors, including Waterbridge Ventures, Citius, General Catalyst, Elevation Capital, Norwest Venture Partners, and Jungle Ventures, participated in the round, which was a mix of equity and debt. The fresh funds will be used to deepen its presence in current markets, expand into adjacent regions, grow its portfolio of private labels and brand partnerships, and hire new talent.
Festive season: Quick commerce to ramp up temp workforce by 40–60%
Quick-commerce platforms are gearing up for a significant surge in demand this festive season, projecting a 40-60% increase in temporary workforce. This expansion aims to manage the expected doubling of quick commerce deliveries, potentially reaching 10% of the total e-commerce market.
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BigBasket top brass churn; RMG ban pain manifests
Happy Tuesday! BigBasket CEO Hari Menon is expected to take a step back as part of a leadership transition. This and more in today's ETtech Morning Dispatch.
Trump’s secret weapon: What is IEEPA, the Law he used to slap tariffs on America’s friends and foes?
Donald Trump’s sweeping use of emergency powers to impose global tariffs has ignited a fierce legal and economic battle. Courts are questioning whether presidents can stretch emergency laws to set trade policy, while businesses, consumers, and global markets brace for higher costs and deep uncertainty.
E-commerce platforms ramp up seasonal hiring ahead of festivities, create over 3.8 lakh jobs
Indian e-commerce companies prepare for increased sales. Flipkart, Amazon, and Myntra create over 3.8 lakh seasonal jobs. These jobs span supply chain, logistics, and customer service. Flipkart adds delivery hubs in tier-2 and 3 cities. Amazon launches and expands fulfillment centers. Myntra generates new job opportunities through its partners. Hiring increases in tier-2 cities like Jaipur and Coimbatore.
Festive lift for etailers; Elevation’s late-stage push
Happy Friday! Online sales this festive season are expected to reverse three years of slowdown. This and more in today’s ETtech Morning Dispatch.
Etailers intensify festive hiring; Indian GenAI’s talent crisis
Ecommerce companies are hiring more than they did in the past two years as the busy festive season shapes up. This and more in today’s ETtech Top 5.
Why AI startups cost more, not less to build: Investor insights from ET Soonicorns Summit 2025
At the ET Soonicorns Summit 2025, Harshjit Sethi and Ritesh Banglani dismantled one of the most persistent myths in today’s startup ecosystem: that AI will make company building cheaper and faster. Instead, they argued, AI-native startups are proving to be far more capital-intensive than traditional ventures, yet also offer unprecedented opportunities for disruption.
How technology is democratising entrepreneurship in India
Digital tools are democratising Indian entrepreneurship and empowering individuals. Open networks, affordable smartphones, and national digital infrastructure are lowering barriers related to cost, distance, and trust. This shift is fostering growth in Tier-2 and Tier-3 towns, with increasing participation from women, although deep-tech sectors still lag behind.
ET Soonicorns Summit 2025: From AI-led demand forecasting to meat sentiment—why Licious built its own supply chain
“Nobody gets traumatised by a bad rajma or tomato. But with meat, it happens.” At the ET Soonicorns Summit 2025 finale fireside chat, Abhay Hanjura and Vivek Gupta cut open the Licious playbook, revealing lessons critical to building enduring consumer startups.
Ecommerce companies go big on gig hiring for festive play
E-commerce giants Amazon and Flipkart are driving a three-year high in seasonal hiring this festive season, creating half a million jobs. Flipkart has doubled its job openings compared to last year, while Amazon India is increasing its gig workforce by 35-40%. Both companies are prioritizing inclusivity by hiring more women and differently-abled workers to meet the anticipated surge in demand.
RBI’s AI reset; ETSA ‘Startup of the Year’ nominees
The central bank’s new AI framework will send banks back to the drawing board. This and more in today’s ETtech Top 5.
Not just groceries: Blinkit, Zepto & others turn festive bazaars on your phone
Quick commerce platforms in India, including BigBasket, Zepto, and Swiggy Instamart, experienced a surge in sales during Raksha Bandhan and other festivals. These platforms, initially focused on grocery delivery, are expanding into electronics, apparel, and home furnishings, driven by changing consumer shopping patterns.
Babycare quick commerce platform Peeko raises $3.2 million in round led by Stellaris Venture Partners
Angel investors, including Maninder Gulati, former chief strategy officer at Oyo; Kunal Bahl & Rohit Bansal, cofounders of Titan Capital; Abhishek Goyal, cofounder of Tracxn; Nitin Gupta, founder and chief executive of Uni; and Arjun Vaidya, cofounder of V3 Ventures, also participated. The Bengaluru-based curated babycare products firm will use the funds to enhance its product experience, expand supply, and hire talent.
Exclusive: Former Google, Jio executive Sajith Sivanandan set to take charge as CEO of Tata Digital
Sivanandan, a former Google executive who led the tech giant’s payments and Next Billion Users initiatives in India and Asia-Pacific, will be mandated to sharpen the group’s play across ecommerce, quick commerce, and digital services, where it competes with entrenched players such as Amazon, Walmart-owned Flipkart, and Reliance.
Nominees for The Economic Times Startup Awards 2025; and other top stories this week
Welcome to a new edition of ETtech Unwrapped – our weekend newsletter packed with the most important stories from this week. Let’s take a look at the recap.
Target's new CEO pick raises doubts about its much-needed brand reboot
Target is facing significant challenges, with its stock underperforming compared to Walmart and Costco. Analysts suggest the retailer has lost its identity and needs a strategic reset, potentially requiring an external CEO to revitalize the brand. The company struggles with e-commerce expansion, delivery infrastructure, and resonating with budget-conscious consumers, leading to doubts about its leadership and decision-making processes.
Online Gaming Bill: Companies turn to law; Panic grips gamers
Happy Thursday! Gaming companies are prepping legal challenges to the new Online Gaming Bill. This and more in today’s ETtech Morning Dispatch.
Dial reset, again: Tatas in talks to bring external CEO to lead Tata Digital
This will be the third chief to come on board at Tata Digital since the inception of the platform in 2019. The company, grappling with scale-up challenges, is set to appoint an external CEO to overhaul operations and streamline its consumer digital portfolio, including BigBasket and Tata Cliq. This decision follows the abrupt exit of former CEO Naveen Tahiliyani due to strategic disagreements.
Dial reset, again: External CEO to lead Tata Digital
Tata Digital, grappling with scale-up challenges and strategic disagreements, is set to appoint an external CEO to overhaul operations and improve alignment across its consumer digital portfolio. This decision follows the abrupt departure of former CEO Naveen Tahiliyani and reflects Chairman N Chandrasekaran's push for improved performance and profitability, emphasizing execution and synergy among verticals like BigBasket and Tata Cliq.
Real-money gaming ends, why startups turn to IPOs
The Lok Sabha passed a Bill proposing a sweeping ban on real-money gaming. This and more on today's ETtech Top 5.
Credit on UPI; Amazon rushes into quick commerce
Banks are finally looking to disburse loans via UPI, with initial trials in progress. This and more in today's ETtech Morning Dispatch.
Companies shift to human and AI approach for customer service
Ecommerce platforms are increasingly using AI chatbots for customer service, but many customers prefer human interaction, especially for complex issues. Companies are now experimenting with generative AI and AI-savvy customer care executives to improve customer experience. Hiring is picking up again, focusing on digitally skilled agents who can work alongside AI tools to manage complex queries.
Opendoor CEO Carrie Wheeler quits suddenly, stock jumps 9% as Shrisha Radhakrishna steps in as new president
Open stock today: Opendoor Technologies CEO Carrie Wheeler's unexpected departure led to a 9% stock surge, adding to recent gains. Shrisha Radhakrishna steps in as interim leader while a formal CEO search, aided by Spencer Stuart, commences. Despite a Q2 revenue beat, EPS missed slightly, prompting mixed analyst reactions and new hedge fund investments.
How may (A)I help you; Darwinbox bags OTPP funds
Wish you a very Happy Independence Day! Online platforms are trying to perfect the mix of human and AI in customer care. This and more in today’s ETtech Morning Dispatch.
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