In just a few years, Zepto has disrupted the Indian grocery market with its 10-minute delivery model. Behind this "operational madness" is a very specific leadership philosophy. When asked what books he recommends, Zepto CEO Aadit Palicha highlighted two resources that are mandatory reading for his team.
1. The "Bible" of Zepto: The Hard Thing About Hard Things
Aadit mentions that this is the "one book that we give everybody when they join". Written by Ben Horowitz, it is widely considered the most honest book ever written about entrepreneurship.
Why the Zepto founders swear by it:
No "Toxic Positivity": Most business books focus on the "rainbows and sunshine" of success. Aadit appreciates that Horowitz is "very frank" and talks about the "messy and uncomfortable parts" of building a business.
Straight Talk: It provides a roadmap for "wartime leadership"—how to fire a friend, how to handle a failing product, and how to manage the crushing pressure of a high-growth startup.
Cultural Alignment: By giving this to every new hire, Zepto ensures that everyone understands the "grind" required to build a multi-billion-dollar company from scratch.
2. The Strategy Manual: Amazon Shareholder Letters
The second recommendation Aadit is currently pushing for his leadership team is not a single book, but a collection: Jeff Bezos’s Amazon Shareholder Letters.
Why it’s relevant for Quick Commerce:
Day 1 Mentality: Zepto operates with the same "Day 1" obsession that Bezos championed—the idea that you must always act with the speed and hunger of a startup, no matter how large you get.
Customer Obsession: The letters detail how to build an infrastructure (like Amazon's delivery network) that prioritizes the customer above all else.
Long-Term Thinking: For a company like Zepto, which is scaling rapidly in a competitive market, these letters provide a masterclass on balancing immediate execution with long-term profitability.
Bonus: The Founders' Other Favorites
While the two above are the "corporate standard" at Zepto, Aadit and co-founder Kaivalya Vohra have also referenced these influential reads in other interviews:
"The Indigo Story" by Shelley Vishwajeet: Often cited for its lessons on "systemizing excellence" and operational discipline in the Indian context.
"The Psychology of Money" by Morgan Housel: A favorite for its timeless lessons on risk, wealth, and decision-making.
The Takeaway
The Zepto philosophy isn't about "getting lucky"; it’s about relentless execution and intellectual honesty. By studying Horowitz’s grit and Bezos’s systems, the founders have built a culture that thrives on solving "hard things" at 10-minute speeds.
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