From Grofers to Blinkit: Albinder Dhindsa writes his startup journey in 'Buildit'

Albinder Dhindsa, the visionary co-founder of Blinkit and the current CEO of Eternal, the parent company of Zomato and Blinkit, is poised to share his entrepreneurial insights through his debut book, titled 'Buildit.' Set to launch on April 15, the book will be published by HarperCollins India and will be available in bookstores as well as online platforms. In 'Buildit,' Dhindsa reflects on his ten years of experience in the fiercely competitive Indian market, detailing the complexities of launching and scaling Blinkit. He provides a candid look into the high-pressure decisions he faced while steering the company through various challenges and highlights the importance of creating scalable systems amid rapid development. Joining a growing collection of autobiographies from Indian entrepreneurs, Dhindsa's work follows in the footsteps of notable titles such as Ronnie Screwvala's 'Dream With Your Eyes Open' and Ashneer Grover's 'Doglapan.' Dhindsa co-founded Grofers in December 2013 with Saurabh Kumar, establishing a hyperlocal delivery service designed to link consumers with nearby stores for instant pickups and deliveries. A major transformation occurred between 2016 and 2020 when the company shifted to an inventory-led model, expanding its reach to over 20 cities while facing fierce competition and challenges related to profitability. The most notable change came in December 2021, when Grofers rebranded as Blinkit, focusing on rapid delivery services that promise orders within 10 to 15 minutes. This strategic pivot involved the establishment of dark stores and micro-fulfilment centres in major urban areas. In 2022, Blinkit was acquired by Zomato in a landmark all-stock transaction valued at around $568 million, integrating it into a wider delivery ecosystem that includes food and various on-demand services. Since the acquisition, Blinkit has expanded its operations to over 30 cities while diversifying its product offerings to include electronics and home care items. The company faces stiff competition from rivals such as Zepto, Swiggy Instamart, and BigBasket Now, amidst ongoing challenges in logistics and workforce management. Earlier this year, Dhindsa took on the role of CEO of Eternal following the exit of Deepinder Goyal, marking a significant leadership shift within one of India's leading consumer technology firms.