Piyush Goyal meets Zepto CEO Aadit Palicha, discusses skilling, innovation and supply chains
New Delhi, March 20
Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Friday said he held a "productive interaction" with Aadit Palicha, Co-founder and CEO of Zepto, focusing on skilling, innovation, and strengthening supply chains.
Taking to the social media platform X, Goyal shared details of the meeting, highlighting discussions around youth and entrepreneurship. "A productive interaction with Aadit Palicha, Co-founder & CEO of ZeptoNow," he said.
"Our conversation focused on strengthening skilling initiatives for our youth and leveraging innovation-led entrepreneurship to build globally competitive enterprises," the minister added.
He further noted that the meeting also explored ways to integrate farmers into modern supply chains.
"Deliberated on the deeper integration of farmers into modern supply chains to enhance market access and value realisation," he said.
The interaction comes amid the rapid rise of India's startup ecosystem, which has become a key driver of economic growth and innovation.
Startups have emerged as a vital pillar of India's economic transformation, driving innovation, job creation, and inclusive development.
Over the past decade, India has rapidly evolved into one of the world's largest startup ecosystems, with more than 2 lakh startups as of December 2025.
Major hubs like Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Delhi-NCR have been at the forefront of this transformation. At the same time, smaller cities are also steadily contributing to the momentum with around 50 per cent of the startups emerging from Tier II/ III cities.
Startups are also playing a crucial role in bridging the rural-urban divide by offering solutions in sectors such as agri-tech, telemedicine, microfinance, tourism, and ed-tech, thereby supporting livelihoods and inclusive development.
In addition, women-led startups are contributing significantly to this growth, with over 45 per cent of recognised startups having at least one-woman Director or Partner, highlighting the role of innovation in promoting social equity and balanced regional development.
— ANI
Reader Comments
As someone who works in tech in Bengaluru, it's inspiring to see the startup scene getting this level of recognition. The focus on Tier II/III cities and women-led startups is crucial for balanced growth. More power to our innovators!
Integrating farmers into modern supply chains is a game-changer if done right. My uncle is a farmer in Punjab, and direct market access would mean better prices for him. Hope Zepto and others can make this a reality beyond the metros.
While I appreciate the intent, I hope these discussions translate into easier access to capital and simpler regulations for early-stage founders. We hear a lot about meetings, but on-ground challenges for bootstrapped startups remain high. A respectful critique.
The stat about 45% of startups having at least one woman director is impressive. That's real, tangible progress. Shows how innovation can drive social change. Kudos to all the women entrepreneurs out there!
Zepto's 10-minute delivery model is brilliant, but true innovation will be in solving for Bharat, not just India. Agri-tech, telemedicine in villages - that's where the real impact lies. Glad to see it's part of the conversation. 🚀
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.