Takeaways from the Reliance-Dunzo deal

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Editor's note: Pranav here. The big news of the week was Reliance Retail investing about $200 million in hyperlocal delivery startup Dunzo for a 25.8% stake. The deal, announced yesterday, also saw Dunzo raise $40 million or so from some existing investors, such as Lightrock and Alteria Capital. The round, which saw the retail arm of oil-to-telecoms conglomerate Reliance Industries become Dunzo’s biggest shareholder, valued the Bengaluru-based startup at around $750-800 million. This is obviously a strategic investment, a prelude to Reliance Retail acquiring Dunzo and getting into a sector now termed quick commerce—rapid deliveries of groceries or consumer goods, usually under 30 minutes at the most. (It’s a revival of the hyperlocal delivery ambitions of the mid-2010s, which saw several startups fold or pivot.) Two things that led to the deal: the increasing competitiveness of fast groceries and Dunzo’s relative lack of financial muscle. The COVID-19 pandemic rapidly accelerated the growth and adoption of online grocery. The most recent trend has been the rise in excitement around express deliveries, or quick commerce, with some startups promising the delivery of essentials in …