Urban Company IPO 2025: From Homes to Dalal Street – The Next Big Tech Story?
Urban Company (formerly UrbanClap) is set to launch its ₹1,900 crore IPO between September 10–12, 2025, and it’s already creating a buzz in Dalal Street. Known as India’s largest tech-enabled home services platform, the company has transformed how urban households book services from beauty and grooming to cleaning, plumbing, and appliance repair.
But the big question for investors is: Can Urban Company be the next Zomato on the stock market? Let’s dive into the company’s past, present, future, core investors, exits, IPO details, and Zomato-style comparison.
The Journey: From UrbanClap to Urban Company
- Founded: 2014 in Gurugram by Abhiraj Singh Bhal, Varun Khaitan, and Raghav Chandra.
- Early Days: Started as UrbanClap to connect customers with service professionals.
- Rebranding: In 2020, the brand became Urban Company, reflecting its global aspirations.
- Funding: Backed by Accel, SAIF Partners, Tiger Global, Prosus, Dragoneer, and others.
- Valuation: Peaked at $2.8 billion in 2021.
The Present: IPO Buzz & Profitability
Urban Company is now operational in 51 Indian cities and expanding internationally in UAE and Singapore.
Financial Highlights (FY25)
- Revenue: ₹1,144 crore (38% YoY growth)
- Net Profit: ₹240 crore (first profitable year)
- PBT: ₹28 crore
IPO Details
- IPO Size: ₹1,900 crore
- Fresh Issue: ₹472 crore
- Offer for Sale (OFS): ₹1,428 crore
- Price Band: ₹98 – ₹103 per share
- Lot Size: 145 shares (₹14,935 minimum investment)
- Dates:
- Open: September 10 – 12, 2025
- Allotment: September 15, 2025
- Listing: September 17, 2025 (BSE & NSE)
Grey Market Premium (GMP)
- GMP has risen from ₹10 to ₹28–₹33, indicating 25–30% expected listing gains.
Who’s Exiting in the IPO?
Founders’ Secondary Exit
- Founders sold ₹780 crore worth of shares between Sep 2024 – Feb 2025.
- Buyers included Prosus Ventures, Dharana Capital, Think Investments, Sanjiv Rangrass, and others.
- Founders still hold ~20% stake combined (~6.7% each).
Major Investors in OFS (₹1,428 crore)
- Accel India: ₹433 crore exit
- Elevation Capital: ₹346 crore exit
- Tiger Global: ₹303 crore exit
- VYC11: ₹216 crore exit
- Bessemer India: ₹173 crore exit
Pre-IPO Secondary Deals (₹500 crore)
- SBI Mutual Fund, Permira, Prosus, and Elevation Capital acquired shares from Tiger Global and Accel, valuing Urban Company at ₹15,000 crore.
Core Investors & Shareholding (Pre-IPO)
Investor | Stake (%) |
---|---|
Elevation Capital | 10.84% |
Accel India | 10.5% |
VYC11 Ltd | 9.18% |
Prosus | 6.8% |
Steadview Capital | 6.8% |
Bessemer India | 6.46% |
Tiger Global | 4.73% |
Founders (combined) | ~20% |
👉 Note: Kunal Bahl and Rohit Bansal (Snapdeal founders) were early investors via Titan Capital in 2015, but fully exited in July 2024 with a 200x return (₹57 lakh → ₹111 crore).
The Future: Opportunities & Challenges
Growth Drivers
- Expanding service categories (subscriptions, appliance care, beauty).
- Tech-driven efficiencies using AI/ML for personalization.
- International expansion in UAE, Singapore, and Middle East.
- Strong brand trust in urban households.
Challenges
- High competition from local unorganized players.
- Gig worker regulations could increase costs.
- Maintaining profit margins in a scaling phase.
- Expensive IPO valuation (P/E ~60x) vs peers.
Urban Company vs Zomato: A Comparison
Factor | Zomato (IPO 2021) | Urban Company (IPO 2025) |
---|---|---|
Business Model | Food delivery marketplace | Home services marketplace |
Profitability | Loss-making at IPO | Profitable in FY25 |
Brand Recall | Strong (food = Zomato) | Growing (services = UrbanCo) |
Competition | Swiggy, ONDC, hyperlocals | Mostly unorganized sector |
Global Play | Retreated from int’l markets | Expanding in UAE, Singapore |
Valuation Risk | High, post-IPO correction | High P/E, but backed by profits |
Can Urban Company Be the Next Zomato?
- Short-Term View: Like Zomato, Urban Company’s IPO is buzzing in the grey market and may deliver solid listing gains.
- Long-Term View: Unlike Zomato, Urban Company is already profitable, has less direct organized competition, and global expansion opportunities.
If it can scale profitably while keeping gig workers engaged, Urban Company could become India’s first large listed profitable gig-economy stock—something Zomato is still chasing.
Final Takeaway
Urban Company’s IPO is a milestone in India’s consumer tech IPO journey. With strong brand equity, profitability, and global ambitions, it is well-positioned for growth. However, investors must balance enthusiasm with caution due to high valuations and execution risks.
For retail investors and Gujju Traders community:
- Traders: Can eye listing gains given the strong GMP.
- Long-term investors: Should assess growth vs. valuation before committing large capital.
Urban Company may not just be the next Zomato—it could be an even stronger story if it sustains profitable growth.