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Context is everything.
Detailed stories on technology startups, business and economic current affairs.
Detailed stories on technology startups, business and economic current affairs.
The scooter rental startup seems to be at its wit’s end, and it seems founders and investors have given up on the company
Editor's note: From a high in 2019, with huge funding rounds and big funds jostling to invest, mobility startups have had a terrible time the past couple of years. The COVID-19 pandemic meant revenue largely dried up, investors turned sceptical of the economics of the market and companies pivoted sharply. Ola, the cab-hailing startup, sharply cut back on costs to stem the bleeding of capital, and while the company says business has returned to pre-pandemic levels, it’s looking to diversify more into verticals such as food and grocery delivery. Founder and CEO Bhavish Aggarwal also seems to be focused far more on Ola Electric, his electric vehicle manufacturing venture that is entirely independent of Ola the taxi app. Likewise, Bengaluru-based Bounce has announced that it will also manufacture and sell electric scooters, while its core scooter rental business seems to be sidelined to some extent. Gurugram-based Shuttl, which ran a bus service for white-collar employees commuting to the office, threw in the towel and was acquired a few weeks ago in a slump sale by Mumbai-based Chalo, which runs a tracking app …
The scooter rental startup seems to be at its wit’s end, and it seems founders and investors have given up on the company
Editor's note: From a high in 2019, with huge funding rounds and big funds jostling to invest, mobility startups have had a terrible time the past couple of years. The COVID-19 pandemic meant revenue largely dried up, investors turned sceptical of the economics of the market and companies pivoted sharply. Ola, the cab-hailing startup, sharply cut back on costs to stem the bleeding of capital, and while the company says business has returned to pre-pandemic levels, it’s looking to diversify more into verticals such as food and grocery delivery. Founder and CEO Bhavish Aggarwal also seems to be focused far more on Ola Electric, his electric vehicle manufacturing venture that is entirely independent of Ola the taxi app. Likewise, Bengaluru-based Bounce has announced that it will also manufacture and sell electric scooters, while its core scooter rental business seems to be sidelined to some extent. Gurugram-based Shuttl, which ran a bus service for white-collar employees commuting to the office, threw in the towel and was acquired a few weeks ago in a slump sale by Mumbai-based Chalo, which runs a tracking app …
Pricing constraints and uncertain daily-use demand cast doubt on instant help’s ability to replicate quick commerce.
The quick-commerce startup weighs a valuation cut or finding alternative funding to stay afloat as investor appetite for loss-making businesses weakens.
Bistro may look like a response to Swiggy and Rapido’s 'budget' food delivery apps, but the similarities end at affordability—the playbooks are fundamentally different.
Pricing constraints and uncertain daily-use demand cast doubt on instant help’s ability to replicate quick commerce.
The quick-commerce startup weighs a valuation cut or finding alternative funding to stay afloat as investor appetite for loss-making businesses weakens.
Bistro may look like a response to Swiggy and Rapido’s 'budget' food delivery apps, but the similarities end at affordability—the playbooks are fundamentally different.
