Founders: Monica Rastogi, Shashank Shekhar Singhal
Founded: 2015
Shut Down: 2016
Founded: 2015
Shut Down: 2016
The Origin Story
Monica Rastogi and Shashank Shekhar Singhal, passionate about food and tech, launched Dazo (initially Tapcibo) in 2015 to bring curated, on-demand meals to Bengaluru’s busy professionals. They wanted to make fresh, restaurant-quality food accessible with a few taps. Monica, with her marketing flair, and Shashank, a logistics expert, dreamed of revolutionizing food delivery in India’s startup capital.
Monica Rastogi and Shashank Shekhar Singhal, passionate about food and tech, launched Dazo (initially Tapcibo) in 2015 to bring curated, on-demand meals to Bengaluru’s busy professionals. They wanted to make fresh, restaurant-quality food accessible with a few taps. Monica, with her marketing flair, and Shashank, a logistics expert, dreamed of revolutionizing food delivery in India’s startup capital.
The "Aha" Moment
The duo noticed how Bengaluru’s young workforce craved quick, quality meals but was stuck with limited options. Their idea: an app that let users order handpicked meals from top restaurants, delivered fast. With $235,000 from angel investors like Rajan Anandan, Dazo gained traction, delivering 1,200 orders daily at its peak.
The duo noticed how Bengaluru’s young workforce craved quick, quality meals but was stuck with limited options. Their idea: an app that let users order handpicked meals from top restaurants, delivered fast. With $235,000 from angel investors like Rajan Anandan, Dazo gained traction, delivering 1,200 orders daily at its peak.
The Challenges
The food-tech space was a battlefield. Swiggy and Zomato, with massive funding, slashed prices and scaled faster. Dazo struggled to secure follow-on funding, and its low margins couldn’t sustain operations. Operational hiccups, like inconsistent delivery, frustrated customers. By 2016, unable to keep up, Dazo shut down, leaving its small team and loyal customers disappointed.
The food-tech space was a battlefield. Swiggy and Zomato, with massive funding, slashed prices and scaled faster. Dazo struggled to secure follow-on funding, and its low margins couldn’t sustain operations. Operational hiccups, like inconsistent delivery, frustrated customers. By 2016, unable to keep up, Dazo shut down, leaving its small team and loyal customers disappointed.
The Impact
Dazo proved that curated meal delivery had demand, influencing larger players to adopt similar features. Its failure highlighted the risks of entering a crowded market without enough capital or a unique edge. Employees moved on to other startups, carrying valuable lessons, while investors saw the volatility of food-tech.
Dazo proved that curated meal delivery had demand, influencing larger players to adopt similar features. Its failure highlighted the risks of entering a crowded market without enough capital or a unique edge. Employees moved on to other startups, carrying valuable lessons, while investors saw the volatility of food-tech.
Takeaways for Entrepreneurs
- Capital is King: Secure enough funding to weather competition.
- Carve a Niche: Stand out with a unique offering to avoid price wars.
- Scale Smart: Don’t expand until operations are solid.
Call to Action
What’s your favorite food-tech startup story? Share it below and join Untold Founders to explore more tales of ambition and resilience!
What’s your favorite food-tech startup story? Share it below and join Untold Founders to explore more tales of ambition and resilience!