From WhatsApp chats to the NCLT courtroom — Dunzo’s rise and fall is a lesson for every startup.

Dunzo began in 2014 as a small WhatsApp-based service in Bengaluru, helping people with daily tasks. Very quickly, it became one of India’s most loved apps for groceries, medicines, and essentials. Backed by big names like Google and Reliance Retail, the company hit a peak valuation of nearly $765 million (~₹6,350 crore) in 2022. But growing too fast came at a price. Setting up dark stores, chasing 20-minute deliveries, and competing with Swiggy, Blinkit, and Zepto led to massive cash burn. By FY23, Dunzo reported ₹1,800+ crore in losses. Fresh capital dried up, valuations slipped significantly and Reliance even wrote off its $200 million (~₹1,650 crore) investment. To make matters worse, several key leaders and co-founders moved on during this critical phase. The final blow? Dunzo has now been admitted into insolvency (CIRP) by NCLT after multiple creditor petitions. From being close to unicorn status to insolvency in just three years—Dunzo’s story is a reminder that growth without profits is a ticking time bomb. What do you think: * Did Dunzo’s fall come from chasing “quick commerce” too aggressively? * Or is the 15-minute delivery model itself unsustainable for most players? Would love to hear your thoughts.