Uber rival Rapido doubles valuation to $2.3B following Swiggy stake sale

Core Insights - Rapido, an Indian ride-hailing platform, has doubled its valuation to $2.3 billion following a secondary share sale by Swiggy, indicating strong market interest and growth potential [1][3] - Swiggy has sold its entire 12% stake in Rapido for ₹24 billion (approximately $270 million), with Prosus acquiring about 10% of the stake for ₹19.68 billion (around $222 million) and WestBridge Capital purchasing the remaining stake for ₹4.31 billion (about $49 million) [2] - The valuation increase reflects a significant rise from Rapido's previous valuation of $1.1 billion in September 2024, as confirmed by its CEO [3] Company Developments - Rapido has recently entered the food delivery market in Bengaluru through a pilot program operated by its subsidiary Ownly, marking a strategic move into a sector dominated by Swiggy and Zomato [4] - The partnership with Swiggy as a last-mile delivery provider has allowed Rapido to gain insights into customer demand and operational challenges faced by restaurants [5] - Swiggy had previously indicated a potential conflict of interest regarding its stake in Rapido due to Rapido's entry into food delivery, leading to the decision to sell its stake [6] Market Implications - The impact of Rapido's new food delivery business on established players like Swiggy and Zomato remains uncertain, as it is still early to assess the competitive dynamics [7]