Startups specialising in inventory management and dark store setups, including Zippee and WareIQ, are close to emerging as the first profitable layer in the quick commerce ecosystem. While majors like Zepto, Blinkit, and Instamart struggle with mounting losses, these startups are performing better by building capital-efficient infrastructure and leveraging AI-driven inventory management.
Unlike q-comm players, Zippee and WareIQ avoid the hefty costs of marketing and inventory ownership. Instead, they focus on optimising dark store setups with minimal investment, catering to direct-to-consumer (D2C) brands and marketplaces prioritising faster deliveries.
Zippee, a three-year-old logistics startup, reported an annual recurring revenue (ARR) of Rs 24 crore and aims to break even next quarter. The company, which facilitates two-hour deliveries for brands such as Haldiram’s, Lenskart, and Cadbury, fetched Rs 10.1 crore in revenue but incurred a Rs 7.4-crore loss in FY24. Its partnership with Myntra to enable 30-minute deliveries in Bengaluru is expected to boost revenues as the service expands to metro cities. Whereas, WareIQ has been cash-flow positive for eight months, generating an ARR of Rs 54-60 crore.
WareIQ supports more than 400 brands, including Technosport and Lotus Herbals, with same-day and next-day delivery via shared warehouses. The startup plans to triple its revenues within a year and is developing exclusive dark stores for large consumer brands in urban markets.
These startups play a critical role in bridging the gap for marketplaces like Amazon, Flipkart, and Nykaa, which are now demanding regional inventory for faster deliveries. “Without regional inventory, products won’t be visible in that region,” said Harsh Vaidya, co-founder of WareIQ. By aggregating sellers and optimising delivery models, these firms reduce costs while ensuring high-density fulfilment.
The lean approach differentiates them from traditional q-commerce players. “We don’t own inventory or have marketing expenses. Our operational model, including multi-pickup and multi-drop systems, maximises cost efficiency,” added Vaidya.
Setting up a micro-dark store of 3,000-5,000 square feet costs Rs 8-15 lakh, allowing startups to achieve profitability faster. “Dark stores handling over 1,000 daily orders achieve 17% gross margins within three months,” said Madhav Kasturia, co-founder of Zippee. Minimum order agreements with brands ensure consistent utilisation of facilities.
The success of these startups has attracted investor attention. Zippee recently secured $5 million in Series A funding led by CNC Alpha and plans to raise $15 million in Series B within six months. WareIQ, backed by Y Combinator and logistics giant Flexport, is also drawing interest from investors as it scales up its operations.
