Key Takeaways
- Info Edge has agreed to invest approximately ₹5 crore in Bizcrum Infotech, the company formerly known as Bijnis and now rebranded as Zorit.
- The investment is expected to raise Info Edge’s shareholding to 20.12% on a fully diluted basis.
- Info Edge had written off its entire ₹76.65 crore investment in Bijnis in May 2023.
- Zorit has shifted from a conventional B2B marketplace to an inventory-led quick-commerce model for offline retailers.
- The company has raised nearly ₹27 crore in a funding round led by Sparrow Capital.
- Zorit says it operates 12 dark stores across 12 cities and has reached ₹120 crore in annualised sales.
Info Edge agrees to invest another ₹5 crore
Info Edge’s wholly owned subsidiary, Startup Investments (Holding) Ltd, approved a primary investment of approximately ₹5 crore in Bizcrum Infotech on October 23, 2026. The investment will be made through Series B2 compulsorily convertible preference shares.
According to the company’s stock exchange disclosure, the subsidiary will acquire 23,683 shares. Following the primary investment, Info Edge’s holding is expected to reach 20.12% on a fully converted and diluted basis.
The company has also indicated that it may acquire additional shares from an existing investor through a secondary transaction. Such a purchase is not automatic: it depends on a separate share purchase agreement being executed within the stipulated period.
Info Edge described the investment as part of its strategy of making external financial investments aimed at creating value over the medium to long term.
Why Info Edge wrote off its Bijnis investment in 2023
The renewed investment is notable because Info Edge had previously written off its entire investment in Bijnis.
In May 2023, Info Edge disclosed that it had written off approximately ₹76.65 crore invested in Bizcrum Infotech, Bijnis’s parent company. At the time, Info Edge held around 26.27% of the startup.
The decision followed concerns about continuing cash burn, limited cash availability relative to potential liabilities and uncertainty over future fundraising.
One important issue involved buyback obligations under the shareholders’ agreement. Info Edge said potential liabilities could arise if Bijnis failed to provide certain investors with an exit through other mechanisms and shareholders exercised their buyback rights.
However, Info Edge’s investment team described the write-off as a technical accounting decision based on conservative accounting principles. It clarified that the accounting treatment was not necessarily a judgement on Bijnis’s business proposition or the broader market opportunity.
The 2023 write-off therefore did not automatically mean that the company had ceased operating or that every possibility of a future investment had disappeared.
Bijnis transforms into Zorit
Founded in 2015, Bijnis originally operated as a business-to-business marketplace connecting manufacturers with offline retailers, particularly in footwear, apparel and related fashion categories.
The model aimed to help manufacturers reach retailers through a digital platform. However, the company later moved towards a different approach.
In late 2024, it shifted to an inventory-led quick-commerce model. It subsequently rebranded as Zorit.
Under this model, the company stocks products in local dark stores and supplies them to neighbourhood retailers. Instead of relying on a conventional marketplace model with longer delivery cycles, Zorit aims to provide faster inventory replenishment.
The company says retailers can receive products in as little as 60 minutes, depending on the market and availability.
This approach changes the company’s role in the supply chain. Zorit is no longer simply connecting buyers and sellers online; it is also taking responsibility for inventory, local distribution and fulfilment.
Zorit raises ₹27 crore in a new funding round
The fresh investment from Info Edge is part of a larger funding round in which Zorit has raised nearly ₹27 crore, or approximately $2.84 million.
The round was led by Sparrow Capital and included participation from existing investors Info Edge and WaterBridge Ventures, as well as Better Capital, angel investors and employees.
The participating angel investors include Shaadi.com founder Anupam Mittal, founders of Shiprocket, Xpressbees CEO Mohit Sardana and Sarthak Misra of SoftBank.
The company plans to use the fresh capital to strengthen its quick-commerce infrastructure, expand its product assortment and deepen engagement with offline retailers.
What Zorit’s operating numbers reveal
Zorit has reported several operating indicators to explain the progress of its new business model.
| Operating metric | Company-reported figure |
|---|---|
| Dark stores | 12 |
| Cities covered | 12 |
| Annualised sales | ₹120 crore |
| Stores at break-even | Nearly 50% |
| Retailers new to online B2B platforms | Around 60% |
| Improvement in retailer retention after month six | 4 times |
| Improvement in monthly ordering frequency | 5 times |
These figures are company-reported and should be viewed in that context. Annualised sales are not the same as audited annual revenue, while the break-even figure relates to the company’s stated store-level economics.
Zorit also says that nearly 60% of its retail partners had not previously used an online B2B platform. This suggests the company is trying to bring retailers who traditionally relied on local wholesalers into digital sourcing.
The improvement in repeat orders and retailer retention is particularly relevant to the inventory-led model. Frequent replenishment can make local dark stores more useful to retailers, but it also requires careful management of stock availability, delivery costs and unsold inventory.
The financial picture behind the renewed investment
The company’s regulatory disclosure provides another important detail: Bizcrum Infotech reported turnover of ₹113.89 crore in FY26, compared with ₹132.62 crore in FY25 and ₹79.05 crore in FY24.
Its FY26 disclosure also reported profit after tax of ₹44.04 crore and net worth of ₹7.84 crore as of March 31, 2026.
The decline in reported turnover between FY25 and FY26 is worth watching. It also means the latest funding announcement should not be interpreted as proof that the business has returned to sustained growth.
The reported profit figure and net worth are separate accounting measures; neither alone establishes the company’s cash position or the profitability of its new quick-commerce operations. Investors will need to assess how the business performs as it expands its dark-store network.
What the deal means for Info Edge
Info Edge is known for investments in internet businesses beyond its core recruitment platform, including companies in consumer internet and technology.
Its renewed investment in Zorit shows that the company is willing to support a previously written-off portfolio business when its operating model and prospects change.
However, the new ₹5 crore commitment is considerably smaller than the ₹76.65 crore investment written off in 2023. It should therefore be understood as a fresh, limited investment rather than a recovery of the earlier accounting loss.
The potential secondary purchase could increase Info Edge’s ownership further, but the company has not committed to completing that transaction.
The Bigger Picture
India’s neighbourhood retailers remain an important part of the country’s distribution network. Many small shops need to replenish inventory frequently but may not have the purchasing scale, technology or logistics capabilities available to larger retail chains.
B2B quick commerce companies are attempting to address this gap by combining local inventory, digital ordering and faster delivery. The model could make sourcing more convenient, but it also creates operational challenges: inventory must be placed close to demand, delivery costs must remain manageable, and slow-moving products can tie up working capital.
Zorit’s transition illustrates how a startup can change its business model after struggling with its original approach. Its reported retailer retention and ordering-frequency improvements are encouraging operating indicators, but the long-term economics of the model will depend on repeat demand, store-level profitability and disciplined expansion.
Looking Ahead
The next stage for Zorit will be to demonstrate that its quick-commerce model can scale beyond its current network of 12 dark stores while maintaining healthy unit economics. Its ability to manage inventory, reduce fulfilment costs and expand retailer relationships will be central to that effort.
For Info Edge, the investment is a renewed exposure to a business it previously marked down to zero. Whether this decision creates value will depend on Zorit’s future performance, the completion of the proposed investment and any secondary share purchase. The company’s upcoming financial disclosures should provide a clearer picture of whether its new operating model can deliver sustained growth.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why is Info Edge investing in Bijnis again?
Info Edge is participating in a new funding round after Bijnis changed its business model and rebranded as Zorit. The company now focuses on inventory-led B2B quick commerce for offline retailers.
2. How much is Info Edge investing?
Info Edge, through its wholly owned subsidiary Startup Investments (Holding) Ltd, has agreed to make a primary investment of approximately ₹5 crore.
3. What happened to Info Edge’s earlier investment in Bijnis?
In May 2023, Info Edge wrote off its entire investment of approximately ₹76.65 crore, citing continuing cash burn, potential liabilities linked to investor buyback obligations and uncertainty over future fundraising.
4. What is Bijnis called now?
Bijnis has rebranded as Zorit. The company operates a B2B quick-commerce platform focused on footwear, apparel and related fashion categories.
5. How much funding has Zorit raised recently?
Zorit has raised nearly ₹27 crore in a funding round led by Sparrow Capital, with participation from Info Edge, WaterBridge Ventures, Better Capital, angel investors and employees.
6. What is Zorit’s business model?
Zorit uses local dark stores to hold inventory and supply products to neighbourhood retailers. It aims to provide faster stock replenishment, with deliveries in as little as 60 minutes.
7. What stake will Info Edge hold in Zorit?
Following the proposed primary investment, Info Edge’s shareholding is expected to increase to 20.12% on a fully converted and diluted basis. A possible additional secondary purchase remains subject to a separate agreement.
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