Flipkart vs Zalando: Founders, CEOs and History
Flipkart was founded in 2007 by Sachin Bansal, Binny Bansal and is led by Kalyan Krishnamurthy. Zalando was founded in 2008 by Robert Gentz, David Schneider and is led by Robert Gentz, David Schneider.
Company facts
Founders
Flipkart
Sachin Bansal
Sachin Bansal co-founded Flipkart in 2007 alongside Binny Bansal (no relation). Operating initially out of an apartment in Bangalore, they launched the company by selling books online.
Binny Bansal
Binny Bansal co-founded Flipkart in 2007. Serving as the Chief Operating Officer, he designed the underlying supply chain and logistics infrastructure (eKart) that allowed Flipkart to reliably deliver goods across India's notoriously difficult terrain.
Zalando
Robert Gentz
Robert Gentz co-founded Zalando in Berlin in 2008 with David Schneider and has served as Co-CEO since. He led the company through its 2014 IPO, its 2021 DAX inclusion and the 2025 ABOUT YOU acquisition. Robert Gentz was born in 1983.
David Schneider
David Schneider co-founded Zalando in 2008 alongside Robert Gentz. Backed by the highly aggressive, legendary German startup incubator Rocket Internet, Schneider helped blatantly clone the American Zappos model.
CEOs and their tenures
Flipkart
- Sachin Bansal2007–2016
Co-founder & former CEO
An IIT Delhi computer science graduate and former Amazon software engineer, Bansal laid the foundational infrastructure for India's modern internet economy.
Source - Binny Bansal2016–2017
Co-founder & former Group CEO
Binny Bansal was instrumental in engineering Ekart's national logistics network before transitioning to Group CEO during Flipkart's historic transaction with Walmart.
Source - Kalyan Krishnamurthy2017–present
CEO
A former Tiger Global managing director with an MBA from UIUC, Krishnamurthy's execution prowess solidified Flipkart's position as India's leading digital retail ecosystem.
Source - Ravi Iyer2019–present
Chief Financial Officer, Flipkart
As Senior Vice President of Corporate Finance, he manages the incredibly complex capital requirements for Flipkart's ongoing, brutal price war against Amazon India.
Source
Zalando
- Robert Gentz2008–present
Co-founder & Co-CEO
Founder-led management of Zalando for its whole history.
Source - David Schneider2008–present
Co-founder & Co-CEO
As Co-Founder and Co-CEO, he drives the absolute core brand relationships and highly lucrative expansion into premium luxury fashion segments.
Source - Anna Dimitrova2022–present
Chief Financial Officer
As a key financial executive, she helps navigate the highly complex logistics costs of offering free shipping and returns across heavily fragmented European borders.
Source
Timeline: Flipkart and Zalando side by side
2007Flipkart
Flipkart founded in Bengaluru by Sachin Bansal and Binny Bansal as an online bookstore.
2008Zalando
Zalando founded in Berlin by Robert Gentz and David Schneider.
2009Flipkart
Accel India invests $1 million in seed capital, accelerating tech infrastructure and marketing.
2010Flipkart
Flipkart pioneers Cash on Delivery (COD), sparking large consumer trust and transaction growth.
2010Zalando
First markets outside German-speaking Europe
Zalando launched in the Netherlands and France, its first non-German-speaking markets, and added apparel to its original shoe range.
2014Flipkart
Launches inaugural Big Billion Days festival and acquires premier fashion marketplace Myntra for $300M.
2014Zalando
IPO on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.
2016Flipkart
Acquires UPI payments startup PhonePe, integrating mobile payments across its commerce ecosystem.
2017Flipkart
Kalyan Krishnamurthy becomes CEO; Flipkart raises $1.4 billion from Tencent, eBay and Microsoft, then $2.5 billion from SoftBank Vision Fund.
2018Flipkart
Walmart acquires a 77% controlling stake for $16 billion, its largest acquisition ever.
2018Zalando
Beauty Category Launched
Zalando began selling beauty products in 2018.
2020Zalando
Acquired Fision
Zalando acquired Fision.
2021Flipkart
Acquires travel platform Cleartrip; raises $3.6 billion at a $37.6 billion valuation.
2021Zalando
Joined the DAX; Rubin Ritter stepped down as Co-CEO.
2022Flipkart
Completes the separation of PhonePe into an independent company, with both remaining under Walmart majority ownership.
2022Zalando
Acquired Highsnobiety (majority stake)
Zalando acquired Highsnobiety (majority stake).
2023Zalando
Job Cuts
Zalando said in February 2023 that it would cut several hundred jobs.
2024Flipkart
Raises about $1 billion in a Walmart-led round including Google at a roughly $36 billion valuation; launches Flipkart Minutes quick commerce in August.
2025Flipkart
Flipkart India reports FY2025 revenue of ~$9.6 billion (₹82,787 crore) (+17.3%) and a ~$602 million (₹5,189 crore) loss; marketplace arm Flipkart Internet cuts its loss 37%.
2025Zalando
ABOUT YOU acquisition closed on 11 July; FY revenue reached ~$13.9 billion (€12.3 billion).
2026Flipkart
Completes reverse flip of its holding company from Singapore to India in March; a July employee buyback values Flipkart at about $38.2 billion as it prepares for an Indian IPO.
2026Zalando
Announced a buy-back of up to $339 million (€300 million); narrowed 2026 adjusted EBIT guidance to €680-720 million in August.
Acquisitions
Flipkart
- Cleartrip2021$40M
- eBay India2017Undisclosed
- Jabong2016$70M
- Myntra2014$300M
Zalando
- ABOUT YOU2025Undisclosed
- Highsnobiety (majority stake)2022Undisclosed
- Fision2020Undisclosed
Questions about Flipkart vs Zalando
Who is the CEO of Flipkart and Zalando?
Flipkart is led by Kalyan Krishnamurthy and Zalando is led by Robert Gentz, David Schneider. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was Flipkart founded vs Zalando?
Flipkart was founded in 2007 — 1 year before Zalando, which was founded in 2008. Flipkart's longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger Zalando.
How many employees does Flipkart have compared to Zalando?
Flipkart employs approximately 45,000 people, while Zalando employs approximately 15,500. Flipkart has the larger workforce at 45,000 employees, compared to Zalando's 15,500. A higher headcount does not necessarily imply greater efficiency — it often reflects differences in business model (e.g., manufacturing vs. software).
Where are Flipkart and Zalando headquartered?
Flipkart is headquartered in India and Zalando is headquartered in Germany. Their different home markets mean they may face different regulatory frameworks, tax regimes, and currency exposure.
Who founded Flipkart and Zalando?
Flipkart was founded by Sachin Bansal, Binny Bansal. Zalando was founded by Robert Gentz, David Schneider.
Which company has a longer operating history — Flipkart or Zalando?
Flipkart has been operating for approximately 19 years, making it the more established of the two companies. Zalando has been in operation for around 18 years. A longer operating history often signals greater institutional resilience and brand recognition, though it can also mean slower adaptation to new market conditions.
Figures come from each company's filings and the sources linked beside them. Amounts reported in another currency are shown in US dollars at an approximate rate and marked with ~. Back to the Flipkart vs Zalando overview