Startup News 2025: Lessons From Rapido’s Food Delivery Experiment Against Swiggy & Zomato
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?
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?
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?
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).
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.
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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.
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