Zepto, the quick commerce unicorn, has increased its employee stock option plan by $170 million (approximately Rs 1,495 crore), bringing the total value of its stock option pool to more than $500 million, based on recent documents filed with the Registrar of Companies.

The company has allocated an additional 39.4 lakh stock options to its current employee ownership program, raising the total pool to approximately 1.23 crore options, according to filings obtained through Kredible.

With this increase, Zepto's ESOP pool now has a combined value of around $527 million (about Rs 4,637 crore), making it among the largest for Indian consumer internet companies.

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This development follows the company's $450 million Series H funding round, which established Zepto's valuation at $7 billion, an increase from $5 billion in the previous year.

In addition to expanding the option pool, Zepto has authorized a Rs 700 crore interest-free loan to its employee welfare trust to support share subscriptions and purchases for employees. This loan is designed to enable staff members to exercise their vested options without requiring immediate financial investment.

This move demonstrates Zepto's increasing emphasis on creating employee wealth and improving retention as the company expands operations and seeks to enhance its leadership and technical teams throughout India.

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The pool expansion positions Zepto among the select group of mature Indian startups to exceed the half-billion-dollar threshold in ESOP value, highlighting its commitment to attracting and keeping top-tier talent amid growing competition in the quick commerce industry.

Established by Aadit Palicha and Kaivalya Vohra, Zepto has pursued rapid expansion since beginning operations in 2021, quickly building its 10-minute delivery infrastructure across major cities. The company's recent funding has supplied the resources needed to expand store coverage, enhance operational efficiency, and support workforce growth.

The expanded ESOP allocation, combined with liquidity support through the trust mechanism, is anticipated to provide Zepto with greater flexibility in compensating employees and enabling partial cash-out opportunities as the company gears up for its upcoming growth stage.

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Multiple mature startups have lately increased their employee stock option reserves in anticipation of possible public offerings or secondary market transactions. This strategic decision by Zepto reflects a wider pattern among Indian technology companies — spanning logistics, financial technology, and meal delivery sectors — to leverage enhanced ESOPs as both employee retention strategies and pre-public offering incentive mechanisms.

Through this expanded allocation, Zepto has positioned itself alongside companies such as Zomato and Swiggy in providing some of the most substantial employee equity programs within India's digital consumer marketplace.