In 2025, India's vibrant startup ecosystem witnessed another disruptor shaking up a well-established industry. Rapido, known for revolutionizing ride-hailing services with bike taxis, has begun testing its food delivery platform, "Ownly," in Bengaluru, aiming to compete against the market giants Swiggy and Zomato. This bold move is more than just another addition to the food tech sector, it’s a strategic shift in pricing models, partnerships, and consumer experience in one of India’s fastest-growing industries.
Why Rapido’s Food Delivery Pivot Matters
Rapido isn’t merely entering the food delivery space, it’s bringing innovation. With its existing logistics fleet and unique pricing model, "Ownly" addresses consumer pain points while offering lower commission fees for restaurants. Current food delivery leaders Swiggy and Zomato take up to 30% commission from restaurants, while Ownly promises a flat fee per order and pricing transparency.
According to the Food Delivery Sector Insights Report by Bain & Co., India's food delivery market is set to exceed ₹2 trillion (~$23 billion) by 2030, with Zomato holding a 58% market share and Swiggy 42%. Rapido's entry raises questions about how disruptions influence industries dominated by duopolies.
Startup Lessons From Rapido’s Approach
1. Leverage Existing Resources
Rapido’s ability to repurpose its fleet of 10 million two-wheelers for food delivery is a strategic cost-saving move. Entrepreneurs can take cues from this model: Start with what you already have, whether it’s data, infrastructure, or market positioning.
2. Differentiate Through Pricing
Rapido is challenging legacy pricing models with flat fees. In the startup world, innovating on your pricing structure could help reduce barriers for entry into competitive markets. Learn more about pricing and validation with PlayPal, your AI co-founder.
3. Test Before Scaling
The beta launch in select Bengaluru areas (BTM Layout, Koramangala, HSR Layout) exemplifies prudent risk-taking and data-driven scaling. Entrepreneurs should replicate this disciplined approach of piloting ideas before diving into expansion.
The F/MS Advantage: Securing Grants to Kickstart Your Startup
For aspiring founders looking to create impact through innovative ideas like "Rapido Ownly," getting funding is crucial. The F/MS AI Grant Finder and Application Writer helps startups quickly identify the perfect EU grant and draft their application with AI support. Use tools like this to access non-dilutive funding without sacrificing equity.
Explore the F/MS EU grant tool here: EU Funding Finder for Startups. Whether you’re entering food tech or another buzzing industry, funding made simple opens doors to exponential growth!
A Game-Changer: What Rapido’s Strategy Means for Founders
Rapido’s venture into food delivery offers an important lesson to startups: disruption isn’t just about competing; it’s about reinventing consumer expectations. Rapido's promises of lower fees for restaurants, transparent menus, and localized delivery show the power of innovation informed by real-world pain points.
Startup founders can spot upcoming sectors, model customer preferences, or explore industry weak spots using tools like the Fe/male Switch Startup Simulator, a gamified experience designed to help you succeed in a competitive environment.
Example for Founders: Imagine building your platform with an AI co-founder like PlayPal who not only validates your idea but also assists with writing pitch decks or SOPs for every stage of your startup. Learn more about PlayPal’s tailored insights here.
Most Common Mistakes New Startups Should Avoid
- Ignoring Market Data: Rapido leveraged Swiggy’s customer behavior insights to optimize its platform, a reminder that market data can be a startup’s best ally.
- Undervaluing Early Feedback: Entrepreneurs often aim to scale too quickly without first refining their pilot stage. Rapido’s beta launch prevented unnecessary risks.
- Overcomplicating Features: Keep it simple for users. The Ownly platform only shows nearby restaurants, reducing delivery times, an optimization lesson for every business.
How to Compete With Major Players
- Focus on Real Pain Points: Rapido identified high restaurant commissions and hidden menu charges as consumer frustrations and addressed them directly.
- Create Localized Solutions: Instead of trying to match competitors nationwide, they are starting with key cities.
- Invest in Efficiency Tools: Use innovations like AI Startup Lawyer to navigate agreements and optimize business operations.
What Entrepreneurs Can Learn From Rapido in 2025
Rapido’s shift into food delivery could pave the way for similar disruptions in other industries. Founders should take a bold but calculated approach when transitioning into new sectors, ensuring they differentiate themselves with pricing, operational efficiency, or consumer experience.
With the growing popularity of startups competing against giants, having tools like the F/MS AI Grant Finder and an AI co-founder by your side could be pivotal to solving complex problems, funding your venture, and outmaneuvering industry leaders.
Conclusion: Revolutionize Like Rapido
Whether you're building the next big delivery app or innovating in another high-demand sector, the key is identifying inefficiencies and leveraging your strengths. Rapido’s journey into food tech shows startups can shake up established industries. By combining unique insights, grant opportunities like those found here, and validating every step with tools like PlayPal, your startup's success story could start today!
Finally, don't miss the opportunity to game your way to startup success through the Fe/male Switch Startup Game, the platform changing how founders learn, strategize, and grow.
FAQ
1. What is Rapido’s new food delivery service called?
Rapido’s food delivery service is named "Ownly," and it is currently being beta-tested in Bengaluru. Read more about Rapido’s Ownly on TechCrunch
2. How is Rapido pricing its food delivery service?
Rapido is using a flat delivery fee and charges restaurants a fixed fee per order instead of the high percentage commissions taken by competitors like Swiggy and Zomato. Discover Rapido’s pricing model at Restaurant India
3. Where is the Ownly food delivery service currently available?
Ownly is being tested in three Bengaluru localities: BTM Layout, HSR Layout, and Koramangala. Learn about Rapido’s beta launch on NDTV
4. How many vehicles does Rapido operate for delivery purposes?
Rapido leverages its fleet of 10 million vehicles, including 5–6 million two-wheelers, for food delivery. Explore Rapido’s fleet strategy on Business Standard
5. What makes Ownly different from Swiggy and Zomato?
Ownly offers transparent pricing, avoids hidden charges, and focuses on reducing delivery times by showing customers nearby restaurants only. Check Rapido’s approach at Restaurant India
6. Why is Swiggy concerned about Rapido’s food delivery service?
Swiggy holds a minority stake (12%) in Rapido and sees a conflict of interest in Rapido’s entry into food delivery. Learn more about Swiggy’s concerns via Mint
7. What is the current market share of Swiggy and Zomato in India?
Zomato holds 58% of the market, while Swiggy has 42% of India’s food delivery market. See latest market insights on TechCrunch
8. How much funding has Rapido raised so far?
Rapido has raised $574 million over 13 funding rounds and achieved unicorn status in July 2024. Explore Rapido’s funding journey on TechCrunch
9. What advantages does Rapido have in entering the food delivery space?
Rapido can repurpose its existing ride-hailing fleet, utilize logistics insights, and leverage lower operational costs to disrupt established players. Learn more about Rapido’s strategy on Economic Times
10. How big is India’s food delivery market?
India’s food delivery market is projected to exceed ₹2 trillion ($23 billion) by 2030. Read the Bain & Co. report details on Economic Times
About the Author
Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur. Throughout her startup experience she has applied for multiple startup grants at the EU level, in the Netherlands and Malta, and her startups received quite a few of those. She’s been living, studying and working in many countries around the globe and her extensive multicultural experience has influenced her immensely.
Violetta is a true multiple specialist who has built expertise in Linguistics, Education, Business Management, Blockchain, Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property, Game Design, AI, SEO, Digital Marketing, cyber security and zero code automations. Her extensive educational journey includes a Master of Arts in Linguistics and Education, an Advanced Master in Linguistics from Belgium (2006-2007), an MBA from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden (2006-2008), and an Erasmus Mundus joint program European Master of Higher Education from universities in Norway, Finland, and Portugal (2009).
She is the founder of Fe/male Switch, a startup game that encourages women to enter STEM fields, and also leads CADChain, and multiple other projects like the Directory of 1,000 Startup Cities with a proprietary MeanCEO Index that ranks cities for female entrepreneurs. Violetta created the "gamepreneurship" methodology, which forms the scientific basis of her startup game. She also builds a lot of SEO tools for startups. Her achievements include being named one of the top 100 women in Europe by EU Startups in 2022 and being nominated for Impact Person of the year at the Dutch Blockchain Week. She is an author with Sifted and a speaker at different Universities. Recently she published a book on Startup Idea Validation the right way: from zero to first customers and beyond and launched a Directory of 1,500+ websites for startups to list themselves in order to gain traction and build backlinks.
Violetta Bonenkamp's expertise in CAD sector, IP protection and blockchain
Violetta Bonenkamp is recognized as a multidisciplinary expert with significant achievements in the CAD sector, intellectual property (IP) protection, and blockchain technology.
CAD Sector:
- Violetta is the CEO and co-founder of CADChain, a deep tech startup focused on developing IP management software specifically for CAD (Computer-Aided Design) data. CADChain addresses the lack of industry standards for CAD data protection and sharing, using innovative technology to secure and manage design data.
- She has led the company since its inception in 2018, overseeing R&D, PR, and business development, and driving the creation of products for platforms such as Autodesk Inventor, Blender, and SolidWorks.
- Her leadership has been instrumental in scaling CADChain from a small team to a significant player in the deeptech space, with a diverse, international team.
IP Protection:
- Violetta has built deep expertise in intellectual property, combining academic training with practical startup experience. She has taken specialized courses in IP from institutions like WIPO and the EU IPO.
- She is known for sharing actionable strategies for startup IP protection, leveraging both legal and technological approaches, and has published guides and content on this topic for the entrepreneurial community.
- Her work at CADChain directly addresses the need for robust IP protection in the engineering and design industries, integrating cybersecurity and compliance measures to safeguard digital assets.
Blockchain:
- Violetta’s entry into the blockchain sector began with the founding of CADChain, which uses blockchain as a core technology for securing and managing CAD data.
- She holds several certifications in blockchain and has participated in major hackathons and policy forums, such as the OECD Global Blockchain Policy Forum.
- Her expertise extends to applying blockchain for IP management, ensuring data integrity, traceability, and secure sharing in the CAD industry.
For the past several years Violetta has been living between the Netherlands and Malta, while also regularly traveling to different destinations around the globe, usually due to her entrepreneurial activities. This has led her to start writing about different locations and amenities from the POV of an entrepreneur. Here’s her recent article about best hotels in Italy to work from.
About the Publication
Fe/male Switch is an innovative startup platform designed to empower women entrepreneurs through an immersive, game-like experience. Founded in 2020 during the pandemic "without any funding and without any code," this non-profit initiative has evolved into a comprehensive educational tool for aspiring female entrepreneurs.The platform was co-founded by Violetta Shishkina-Bonenkamp, who serves as CEO and one of the lead authors of the Startup News branch. The Fe/male Switch team is located in several countries, including the Netherlands and Malta.
Mission and Purpose
Fe/male Switch Foundation was created to address the gender gap in the tech and entrepreneurship space. The platform aims to skill-up future female tech leaders and empower them to create resilient and innovative tech startups through what they call "gamepreneurship". By putting players in a virtual startup village where they must survive and thrive, the startup game allows women to test their entrepreneurial abilities without financial risk.
Key Features
The platform offers a unique blend of news, resources,learning, networking, and practical application within a supportive, female-focused environment:
- Skill Lab: Micro-modules covering essential startup skills
- Virtual Startup Building: Create or join startups and tackle real-world challenges
- AI Co-founder (PlayPal): Guides users through the startup process
- SANDBOX: A testing environment for idea validation before launch
- Wellness Integration: Virtual activities to balance work and self-care
- Marketplace: Buy or sell expert sessions and tutorials
Impact and Growth
Since its inception, Fe/male Switch has shown impressive growth:
- 3,000+ female entrepreneurs in the community
- 100+ startup tools built
- 5,000+ pieces of articles and news written
Partnerships
Fe/male Switch has formed strategic partnerships to enhance its offerings. In January 2022, it teamed up with global website builder Tilda to provide free access to website building tools and mentorship services for Fe/male Switch participants.
Recognition
Fe/male Switch has received media attention for its innovative approach to closing the gender gap in tech entrepreneurship. The platform has been featured in various publications highlighting its unique "play to learn and earn" model.
