Aadit Palicha

Aadit Palicha (born October 15, 2001) is an Indian entrepreneur best known as the co-founder of Zepto, an online grocery and food delivery company. As the current CEO of Zepto, he has significantly contributed to its rapid emergence as India's fastest-growing e-grocery business.
Palicha's accomplishments have earned him noteworthy recognition, including his inclusion on Forbes magazine's "30 Under 30" list for Asia. He is also the youngest startup founder to secure a place on the IIFL Wealth Hurun India Rich List in 2022.
His entrepreneurial journey and achievements have received coverage across various media outlets, including Business Standard, Times Now, DNA India, and News 18, underscoring the impact of his work within the business and technology landscape.
==Early life and education==
Palicha was born in Mumbai, India, to Kavit and Urvashi Palicha. His family later relocated to Dubai, UAE. He obtained his International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma in mathematics and computer science from GEMS Academy, where he also held leadership roles as the deputy head boy and president of the Modern Debating Society. Palicha scored 45 points, the highest possible, in the IB diploma.
Following his academic achievements, Palicha pursued a bachelor's degree in computer science at Stanford University in the United States. However, he discontinued his studies midway through to establish his startup, marking the beginning of his journey into entrepreneurship and technological innovation.
==Career==
In 2018, Palicha, with his childhood friend Kaivalya Vohra, co-founded GoPool, a mobile application addressing school-related transportation needs in Dubai. The initiative was supported by a grant from Emirates NBD and aimed to promote carpooling among parents and reduce traffic congestion. Their inspiration arose from Palicha's experience in traffic while picking up his sibling, leading to a focus on sustainability and efficient commuting.
From July 2019 to March 2020, Palicha served as the project lead at PryvaSee, an artificial intelligence project focused on summarizing privacy policies.
Subsequently, Palicha and Vohra embarked on their academic journey at Stanford University to study computer engineering. The COVID-19 pandemic prompted their return to Mumbai in 2020. While quarantined and facing challenges in procuring groceries, they conceptualized KiranaKart, an app offering immediate grocery delivery in Mumbai. However, after encountering challenges in achieving a product-market fit, they transitioned to Zepto.
In April 2021, Palicha and Vohra established Zepto, an online grocery store based in Mumbai.
Zepto's unique proposition of delivering groceries within a 10-minute timeframe resonated significantly amid the pandemic, propelling its valuation to $200 million within a month of its launch. By 2021, the startup had managed 1 million orders, collaborated with 86 grocery businesses, and achieved a valuation of $570 million within five months of inception. The venture secured funding from prominent investors, including Y Combinator, Glade Brook Capital, Nexus Venture, Global Founders, and angel investors Lachy Groom and Neeraj Arora from Silicon Valley.
Notably, Zepto's valuation surged to over Rs 7,300 crore by 2022. The company has expanded its operations to major cities such as Delhi, Chennai, Gurgaon, Bangalore, and Mumbai.
==Awards and recognitions==
* Inclusion in Forbes magazine's prestigious "30 Under 30" list for Asia.
* Distinction as the youngest startup founder to be featured on the IIFL Wealth Hurun India Rich List in the year 2022.
==In the media==
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==References==
==External links==
* Company website
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Category:2001 births
Category:Indian businesspeople
Category:Indian Entrepreneur
Category:Indian company founders
Category:Stanford University alumni