When we talk about the startups, we either think of consumer apps or fintech apps. But we barely think about or talk about the startups that are actually empowering major industries silently. Industrial manufacturing sits quietly in the shadows. Yet it is massive, complex, and deeply underserved.
Today, let us dive into one company named Zetwerk that is the backbone of major industries and factories. They are changing how parts are sourced, how factories respond, and how supply chains fulfil custom orders. And what’s even more interesting is that Zetwerk was already a unicorn startup. So, let’s dive into how Zetwerk solved a problem, what unique factors differentiate it, how it is growing fast, and what lies ahead for it.
The challenge Zetwerk set out to solve looks simple on paper, but when it comes to reality, this is harder. OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) and EPC (engineering procurement & construction) firms need bespoke parts, such as forged shafts, castings, sheet-metal brackets, and precision machining. Suppliers exist, but they are loosely organized, uneven in capability, offline in process, and difficult to manage at scale. As a result, it leads to unpredictable lead times, quality issues, lack of transparency, and sourcing inefficiencies. Even large firms must coordinate dozens of suppliers across geographies. So, this fragmentation makes building global supply chains slow, risky, and expensive. This is a large addressable market, but the infrastructure and tech to digitize and scale it were missing. Zetwerk stepped into that gap.
Zetwerk was founded in 2018 by a group of IIT alumni: Amrit Acharya, Srinath Ramakkrushnan, Rahul Sharma, Vishal Chaudhary (and others). They tried to build a “manufacturing marketplace” where they can connect customers with capacity, standardize processes, and insert transparency and delivery control. Zetwerk is a full-stack operating system for manufacturing. Their model integrated technology, operations, and logistics into a single, managed service that gives enterprises visibility, reliability, and control. Its main offerings include manufacturing services, where on-demand production of custom parts across metal, fabrication, machining, casting, and assembly is available. Then comes Zetwerk Managed Inventory (ZMI), where inventory management and warehousing ensure just-in-time availability and reduce storage costs. Quality control and managed supply chain are the other services that the company offers.
Now we need to understand what the other factors are that contributed to the growth of the company. One of the core factors that contributed is their deep focus on industrial segments. Instead of chasing every category, Zetwerk focused on complex, high-value industries. Such as renewables, aerospace, oil & gas, defense, and other heavy engineering industries. These sectors have fewer players but larger order values and high repeat potential, which helped Zetwerk build depth over breadth. Second comes their technology-first approach. Their proprietary tech layer manages everything from supplier selection to real-time production tracking.
With global companies looking to diversify away from China, Zetwerk positioned itself as a trusted manufacturing alternative in India. This helped them to get global clients and accelerated their expansion into foreign nations. Zetwerk serves over 2,000 customers across India, North America, and Europe. Clients choose Zetwerk for its reliability, transparency, and trust in managing complex supply chains. A remarkable 80–85% of its GMV comes from repeat customers, reflecting how well its technology improves lead times, quality, and sourcing visibility.
In 2020–21, Zetwerk expanded internationally, entering North America and broadening its portfolio to include consumer-focused manufacturing alongside industrial projects. These strategic moves have provided strong long-term growth momentum, positioning Zetwerk as a global player in the industrial-tech ecosystem. In FY24, the Industrials segment, including Renewables and Precision Manufacturing, contributed 92% of Zetwerk’s total GMV, highlighting its continued focus on high-complexity, high-value sectors.
International markets now make up 21% of the business, reflecting successful global expansion. As of September 30, 2024, Zetwerk had secured orders worth ₹12,839 crore (≈ $1.5 billion) at the group level, demonstrating strong demand and market confidence in its operating model. As of March 2025, the company has secured approximately $873 million across 19 funding rounds, with notable investors including Khosla Ventures, IndiGo founder Rakesh Gangwal, and The Schiehallion Fund.
Zetwerk is actively preparing for an Initial Public Offering (IPO) within the next 12 to 24 months, aiming to raise at least $500 million and targeting a valuation of approximately $5 billion. In anticipation of the IPO, Zetwerk is focusing on enhancing productivity, reducing inefficiencies, and ensuring profitability across its operations. Its focus on high-value industries, coupled with international expansion and repeat business, has propelled it to unicorn status and positioned it for a potential IPO.
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