KEY MILESTONE WILL MARK NEW GROWTH CHAPTER AMID ONLINE QCOMM BOOM

"The IPO moment is an interesting milestone. It is obviously a good validation of discipline and scale we've built, and of governance," said Goel, who alongside management of the company, actively heads product strategy, user experience, and growth initiatives.

- TBG NETWORK

Shiprocket Co-Founder and CEO Saahil Goel sees the upcoming IPO is a key milestone reflecting internal discipline, scale and governance, and believes it will set the logistics tech company on a new growth trajectory with India's direct-to-consumer, online and quick commerce space poised to boom.

Shiprocket, backed by marquee investors like Temasek, Zomato and Paypal, had submitted its draft red herring prospectus (DRHP) with Sebi via the confidential route earlier this year, an increasingly popular option among Indian startups as it allows vital financial and strategic information to remain undisclosed during the initial review while the firm obtains necessary feedback from the regulators.

Goel told PTI in an interview said the IPO will be an important milestone as it "institutionalises" the company that has evolved from being a shipping partner to an end-to-end e commerce enablement platform for Indian merchants.

According to Goel, it brings discipline, and aligns stakeholders for long-term productive returns, but is by no means an end in itself.

"The IPO moment is an interesting milestone. It is obviously a good validation of discipline and scale we've built, and of governance," said Goel, who alongside management of the company, actively heads product strategy, user experience, and growth initiatives.

Goel emphasised that the IPO does not mark the end of the journey but rather the beginning of a new phase, and likened the company to an adolescent poised for the long haul.

"I think of the company as a child, 13 years old. So, this is adolescence, and we've still got a long way to grow and mature. I think it is that point in the company's life," he said.

On the expected timelines for listing, Goel said, "I don't want to comment, but it will be next year."