Swiggy co-founder reveals the company had 0 orders on day 1, now it has over 3 lakh partners

Swiggy is a popular choice for Indians when it comes to getting food delivered. The company's founder recently revealed that the decade-old startup partners with over 3 lakh restaurants today. But were things always this bright with the food delivery platform? Not really. On its first day, the company had 0 orders.

Swiggy's journey through its founder's lens

Founded in 2014, Swiggy started with modest aspirations. The company's co-founder and CEO Sriharsha Majety revealed the startup's journey in a LinkedIn post recently as Swiggy marked its 10th anniversary. Majety reminisced about the humble beginnings when the concept of food delivery was still new in India. “When we launched Swiggy on August 6, 2014, we ended the day with zero orders. The next day, we received our first-ever order, marking the true beginning of our journey,” he wrote, recalling how the company's journey started with just one order.

One of the first restaurants to partner with Swiggy was Truffles, a well-known eatery in Bangalore, which began with just two daily orders on the platform. Today, Swiggy’s network has grown exponentially, boasting partnerships with over 300,000 restaurants across the country.

Majety also expressed deep gratitude to the early partners who believed in Swiggy’s vision when the concept of on-demand food delivery was still in its infancy. He acknowledged that these early collaborators were more than just business partners; they were integral to Swiggy’s foundation and its evolution into the industry leader it is today. “Their trust and partnership have been invaluable, and they are like core founding team members who helped create food delivery in India as we know it today,” he wrote in the LinkedIn post, highlighting the importance of collaboration in the company’s success.

Swiggy's stock market debut

As Swiggy celebrates this significant milestone, it does so on the cusp of another major event: its anticipated stock market debut. With Zomato, its primary competitor, already listed, Swiggy’s entry into the stock market is eagerly awaited. Speaking at the Moneycontrol Startup Conclave, Majety had reflected on the implications of having a listed competitor. He noted the advantages, such as not needing to explain the fundamentals of the on-demand economy, as well as the challenges, particularly the inevitable comparisons that will arise with each quarterly performance report.

As of April 2024, Swiggy has achieved a valuation of USD 12.7 billion, a figure that underscores the company’s impressive growth trajectory over the past decade. Thus, from its beginnings with a single order to becoming a leading player in India’s food delivery market, Swiggy’s journey is an inspiration for all startup founders out there.