Zepto to raise pre-IPO funding amid delayed listing MUMBAI: Zepto on Saturday said that it will raise funds through a pre-IPO financing amid tepid response from investors to its public listing. The startup did not share the specifics of the transaction but said that the move will strengthen its balance sheet. The company is looking to raise about Rs 1,000 crore (about $105 million) through the round at a valuation of $4-4.5 billion, sharply lower than its last valuation of $7 billion, TOI had reported.On Friday, co-founder & CEO Aadit Palicha told employees that the company will defer its IPO by two to three quarters. The startup which was initially eyeing a listing around July has stalled the process after domestic investors valued it at $3-3.5 billion, with some of them even valuing it at $2.5 billion. “Zepto has agreed with major shareholders to close a pre-IPO private placement of equity ahead of its planned listing. This pre-IPO financing will add to the company’s strong balance sheet (5,681 crores of cash with no debt as of March 31, 2026). As part of the IPO process, the board and founders have received terms from public market investors to list the company and are appreciative of the expressed interest. However, at this time, and afforded by the company's strong balance sheet, Zepto will focus on continued execution,” the company said in a statement. The company was initially targeting to raise up to Rs 8,010 crore through a fresh issue of shares.The competitive landscape of the quick commerce space has changed after Amazon and Flipkart’s foray into the segment. Both the deep-pocketed companies are aggressively expanding their operations, stoking investor concerns. Zepto’s losses stood at Rs 5,905 crore as of FY26. In June, BofA Securities had said that at its current rate of cash burn (Q4FY26), the startup is roughly estimated to have about three quarters of runway left.