Every great startup doesn’t begin with an idea. It begins with a problem someone lives with every single day. In India’s Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, millions of families still struggle with access to trusted grocery brands and a modern shopping experience. That gap gave birth to Gropto, not in a boardroom, but from the streets, stores, and everyday realities of small-city India.
A Founder Who Saw What Others Ignored
In 2020, Arpit Gupta, Founder of Gropto, noticed what most businesses overlooked. Big brands existed. Technology existed. But Tier-2 India was still disconnected. Local grocery stores lacked access to quality brands. Customers lacked trust, choice, and consistency. And large e-commerce platforms weren’t truly designed for smaller cities. What began as an observation soon became a mission: “Why should quality grocery shopping be limited only to metro cities?”
Building a Phygital Brand — Where Trust Meets Technology
Gropto was designed as a phygital grocery ecosystem, combining technology with on-ground presence. Mobile-first ordering ensured ease and accessibility, while physical Gropto Mart stores built trust and visibility. On 8 September 2022, Gropto launched its first offline store. Today, it operates 2 physical outlets, and delivers in 5-6 pincode serving customers both online and offline — proving that real scale in India happens on the ground.
Bootstrapped, Disciplined, and Profitable Growth
Gropto started with just ₹5 lakh, no hype, no vanity metrics. Today, the company has achieved a ₹ 5crore annual turnover with 100% year-on-year growth. It serves 25,000+ customers in a single catchment area, driven by strong repeat usage and deep local brand trust. This growth is powered by real demand, not discounts.
Why the Name “Gropto”?
Inspired by brands like Paytm, the name Gropto comes from the idea of “Grocery Phone Through Order.” It represents ease of access, familiarity, and technology that feels human, exactly what India needs.
Built From Struggle, Not Privilege
Arpit Gupta comes from a middle-class family. He studied in Agra, pursued an MBA in Noida, and then dropped out not because education failed him, but because his vision was bigger than the classroom. Convincing family, facing financial uncertainty, and building a team with limited resources shaped him into a resilient founder who refused to quit.
A Father’s Belief That Changed Everything
During Gropto’s toughest phase, when survival itself was uncertain, Arpit’s father stepped in. He took a loan and invested — not just money, but belief. That belief became the fuel Gropto needed to keep moving forward.
Mission Bigger Than Revenue
Gropto aims to expand across Tier-2 and Tier-3 India, create local employment, empower neighbourhood economies, and make modern retail accessible, affordable, and trusted. This is not just a startup, it is infrastructure for small-city India.
For Founders. For Investors. For the Future. Gropto proves that big businesses don’t always come from big cities. They come from real problems, solved with honesty and execution. The journey has just begun, and this time, Tier-2 India leads the way.
Author: Team BTP
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