In an industry where retaining employees and maintaining morale is a constant challenge, Deepak Ravindran, co-founder of AI-driven quick-commerce platform KiranaPro, has made an unprecedented move—gifting 1% company equity to each of his 42 employees as a personal birthday present.
The announcement came via an early-morning Slack message, where Ravindran instructed senior management to allocate the shares. “Distribute 1% each to all our employees as a gift from my end,” he wrote, tagging the entire company.
This remarkable gesture has ignited conversations across India’s startup ecosystem, with many applauding it as a bold step toward inclusive ownership. In an era where layoffs and funding struggles dominate headlines, Ravindran’s decision stands out as a commitment to shared success rather than traditional hierarchical ownership.
KiranaPro, co-founded by Deepak Ravindran and Dipankar Sarkar, operates in India’s highly competitive quick-commerce market. Unlike large delivery giants, the company empowers local kirana stores with AI-driven technology, enabling them to offer 10-minute deliveries and flexible revenue models. Currently active in seven cities, KiranaPro aims to revolutionize small retail businesses.
Adding a quirky touch to the announcement, Ravindran highlighted the significance of the number 42—an homage to Douglas Adams’ The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, where it is humorously described as “the answer to life, the universe, and everything.” He shared the news on LinkedIn with the caption, “It’s my birthday. My gift to my employees at KiranaPro today 🎂.”
Whether other startups will follow suit remains uncertain, but Ravindran’s bold move has undoubtedly set a new benchmark for founder-employee trust and loyalty in India’s fast-evolving startup landscape.
