Exclusive: Google-backed Dunzo kicks-off operations in Gurugram

Google-backed task management app Dunzo has begun operations in Gurugram. This is the third city for the Bengaluru-based company after Bengaluru and Pune. Users can request for fulfilling virtually any job such as grocery, food, movement of good from one area to another amongst many others.

Importantly, Dunzo is also delivering alcohol in the Millenium city. Using Dunzo team Entrackr successfully ordered alcohol on the Golf Course Road. It charged a modest fee of Rs 15 for delivering three bottles of beer.

While we aren’t sure whether businesses can deliver liquor on request without approval from administrative agencies (such as excise), Entrackr has sent queries to Dunzo and the Gurugram Police.

In a response, Dunzo said that by itself it doesn't run any tasks. Its partners can walk into an open store in the city, and run a legally viable transaction, and have it delivered to the customer, similar to how a customer would walk into any store and purchase items.

It further added that the firm enables the ability for users to coordinate with Dunzo partners to complete the purchase cycle - from any store or restaurant in the city, including legally licensed alcohol stores during legal open hours. In accordance with the law, users can only purchase alcohol for personal consumption through a Dunzo partner and within the legally allowed limit, the company added.

With a chat based interface, it allows individuals to create ‘To do lists’ and collaborate with vendors to strike off the tasks from the list. Founded in 2015, the company’s task volumes primarily come from pickups and drops followed by buying and selling.

So far, the company had secured about $14.5 million risk capital across three rounds. Last month, it had raked in $12.4 million Series B round led by Google.

Earlier, it raised $1.18 million Series A funding from Aspada Investment Advisors and $650K seed capital from Blume Venture, and angels including Rajan Anandan and Sandipan Chattopadhyay.

Besides task management, Dunzo is also planning to enter the bike-sharing service to leverage its existing fleet of bikers for pick and drop service. It also plans to work with the government to solve the last mile connectivity pain in metros.

Meanwhile, the company is also in discussion with Sequoia Capital to raise another $30-40 million in a fresh round. Service like Dunzo has a big market in cities like Gurugram as a large chunk of the population comprises of the working class. Given the popularity of the app in Bengaluru, the Millenium city would be proved pivotal in achieving a greater scale for the company.