The Offline Network

WeWork India IPO, Zerodha’s 40% Hit & The Next Identity Layer | Episode 14


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Episode 14 of The Offline Network — hosted by Utsav and Dhruv — dives into India’s hottest startup and tech stories: WeWork India’s IPO, Zerodha’s pivot moment, founders upping stakes ahead of listings, Chamath’s comeback SPAC, OpenAI’s Sora 2 + app, and ChatGPT’s instant checkout. 


📰 This Week’s News Rundown

  • WeWork India IPO-bound – Q1 FY26: net loss narrows 51% to ₹14.14 Cr; revenue up 19% to ₹535.3 Cr. IPO via 100% OFS (~₹3,000 Cr), price band ₹615–₹648, listing Oct 10. Implied valuation: ₹8,685 Cr. 68 centres, ~7M sq ft, ARPM at ₹19,085. Runs independently of US bankruptcy.

  • Zerodha Revenue Hit – Brokerage revenue −40% YoY in Q1 FY26. Kamath says: “time to pivot” after F&O curbs; charging for delivery trades may be next.

  • Founders Upping Stakes – Groww, Lenskart, Zomato, Swiggy founders increase holdings pre-IPO/listings; Policybazaar founders cut OFS. Signals confidence in long-term value.

  • Chamath Palihapitiya Returns – $345M SPAC “AEXA” (5× oversubscribed) focused on AI, defense, energy, DeFi. Sponsor shares tied to post-merger stock appreciation.

    • OpenAI’s Sora 2 + App – Invite-only iOS app launches (US/Canada). Realistic physics, synced audio, cameo insertion with strict consent + watermarking. Competes with Google Veo, Runway.
      ChatGPT Instant Checkout – Shopify + Etsy integration live. First commerce monetization beyond subs, via Stripe Shared Payment Tokens. 700M weekly users = massive “superapp” prize.
  • 🎙️ Deep-Dive Conversations

    • Reinventing India’s Textile Supply Chain – Pratik Gadia (Founder & CEO, The Yarn Bazaar) on how SMEs are embracing tech, sustainability wedges (recycled yarns, traceability), price transparency in volatile commodities, and whether India-first or export-facing models win in textiles.
    • Building the Next-Gen Identity Layer – Bhavik Koladiya (CEO, OTPless; ex-BharatPe founding team) on WhatsApp-first login, scaling identity infra from India, balancing privacy with seamless UX, investor skepticism, and how OTPless extends his thesis on rewiring financial/identity rails

    This episode was made possible by Smartworks, India’s largest managed office platform.


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    The Offline NetworkBy The Offline Network