These are the startups which may be considering an IPO in the next few years:
Flipkart
The Walmart-owned e-commerce firm has been eyeing a US IPO for a while now, according to reports, although it has no immediate funding shortage given its cash-rich parent and other investors.
Wuhan Coronavirus pandemic has accelerated digitisation and online buying, from which Flipkart has gained.
Freshworks
Software provider Freshworks raised $150 million in November last year, tripling its valuation to $3.5 billion, and according to reports and sources, this was supposed to be its last private round before a US NASDAQ IPO in 2021.
However, the COVID-19 pandemic pushed these plans. But Freshworks is still one of the few profitable unicorns and with the US being its largest market, an IPO there could do well.
Policybazaar
Insurance aggregator Policybazaar is another startup closer to an IPO than many, given it is profitable, and still growing. Group CEO Yashish Dahiya wants to list in Mumbai next year, he told Bloomberg in June, but after the change in law, it may also go for a dual listing.
Zomato
Food delivery firm Zomato is a surprise candidate here, given that food delivery and eating out has been one of the worst-hit sectors from the pandemic.
Even six months on, most players in the space have seen order volumes recover to only 50-60% of pre-pandemic levels. Despite this, on the back of a fundraising spree, Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal told employees in an email that it is planning for an IPO in the first half of 2021.
Nykaa
Online beauty and cosmetics retailer Nykaa has been a candidate for a domestic IPO for a few years now, given that it is profitable, and still growing.
The COVID-19 pandemic hit Nykaa for a few months, but CEO Falguni Nayar told the Economic Times in June that it would be at 75 percent of pre-pandemic levels by July and it plans for an IPO in the next 2 years.
Delhivery
E-commerce logistics firm Delhivery was said to be preparing for an IPO in 2018, and had started reaching out to bankers, when it ended up raising money from the SoftBank Vision Fund instead and decided to stay private longer.
Since then it has also raised funds from Canadian pension fund CPPIB, and is valued at $1.5 billion. Delhivery is now planning for an IPO in the next 12-18 months, Chief Business Officer Sandeep Barasia told Mint on September 16.
Others
Other startups including Lenskart, Pepperfry, Oyo, Paytm and Mobikwik has also spoken about listing ambitions in the past. It is unclear whether their plans have changed post the pandemic, or whether it is a priority above other things.
(Disclaimer : This blog is for information purposes only and not to solicit any business or offer any kind of advise)
