KiranaPro Startup Hit by Internal Breach, Salary Delays, and Leadership Struggles

Bengaluru-based grocery-tech startup KiranaPro has endured an unprecedented week of turmoil, beginning with a catastrophic incident that wiped out critical internal code and logs. Initially reported as a data breach, CEO Deepak Ravindran later clarified that the disruption was caused by a disgruntled former employee who deleted essential components powering KiranaPro’s customer-facing app. This internal sabotage occurred around May 24–25, shortly after the employee’s exit, forcing the startup into immediate crisis management mode.

Ravindran described the situation as an “internal breach” and confirmed that disciplinary action was underway against the former employee. The incident compelled KiranaPro to rebuild its core systems from scratch, an immense technical and operational challenge for any startup, especially one still in its early growth phase. “We raised almost Rs 2 crore in funding to build that product from the ground up. Now we’re writing the code as we speak,” Ravindran said, adding that the app was expected to be functional again within 48 hours of the setback.

Highlights:

• Disgruntled ex-employee deleted critical code and logs causing app outage

• Incident classified as internal breach, not an external hack

• Company raised Rs 2 crore to rebuild app infrastructure

• App expected to resume functionality within 48 hours

The incident put KiranaPro’s resilience and operational preparedness to the test, shining a spotlight on the vulnerabilities startups face in handling internal security and employee grievances.

Salary Delays Spark Employee Discontent Amid Funding Constraints

While the technical setback grabbed headlines, KiranaPro faced another urgent crisis — delayed salary payments for current and former employees. Multiple reports, including an exposé by The CapTable, detailed how several staff members had gone weeks or months without pay, fueling growing unrest and public scrutiny.

Deepak Ravindran acknowledged the salary delays, attributing them to internal approval delays and payment processing failures. “Some of the employees did not get their salaries on time, because we did not process the payments and internal approvals on schedule. It is my mistake, and I again apologize for it,” he admitted. Ravindran emphasized that a recently hired Chief Financial Officer (CFO) was helping to rectify these lapses and that salary dues for current employees were partially cleared by June 5, with nearly all former employees having been paid.

This partial resolution was made possible after KiranaPro secured a seed funding round involving new investors, notably featuring Olympic champion PV Sindhu as both an investor and brand ambassador. While the company had targeted Rs 10 crore in the seed round following an earlier Rs 1.5 crore pre-seed funding in December 2024, sources revealed that only a portion of this capital has been wired so far. This limited infusion has enabled KiranaPro to resume operations and meet some financial obligations, but full recovery remains a work in progress.

Highlights:

• Several employees faced weeks or months of salary delays

• Partial dues cleared after seed funding round with PV Sindhu onboard

• Company raised Rs 1.5 crore pre-seed and targeted Rs 10 crore seed round

• Funding constraints continue to impact operations and employee morale

The salary crisis highlights the intense financial pressures on emerging startups, where cash flow management can directly impact workforce stability and company reputation.

Leadership and Management Under Scrutiny

KiranaPro’s internal challenges are compounded by leadership issues and erratic human resource practices. Media reports have raised concerns about CEO Deepak Ravindran’s management style, including abrupt firings and communication breakdowns. According to The Morning Context, one employee was fired over WhatsApp after taking sick leave, with immediate removal from company communication channels such as Slack and WhatsApp groups. Documents reviewed by the publication suggest a pattern where employees who missed deadlines or questioned management decisions faced sudden termination without adequate explanation.

In a rare display of vulnerability, Ravindran has publicly taken responsibility for these missteps. “The problem is not with the product or the idea. The problem is with me,” he told Moneycontrol. He acknowledged exhibiting what he termed “god-mode behaviour” and confessed to shortcomings in delegation and operational oversight. “This is my fourth startup and I shouldn’t work like a first-timer,” he added.

Ravindran also reflected on the absence of co-founder support following Dipankar Sarkar’s quiet exit earlier this year, which left him as the sole founder managing all aspects of the business. “Everything was under me. We didn’t have enough checks and balances,” he admitted.

Highlights:

• Abrupt employee terminations and questionable HR practices reported

• CEO Deepak Ravindran admits leadership flaws and operational gaps

• Co-founder Dipankar Sarkar exited the company earlier in 2025

• Consideration underway for hiring a professional CEO

The ongoing leadership crisis exposes the critical need for robust governance and balanced management structures in fast-growing startups.

Growth Initiatives and Business Continuity Plans Amid Turbulence

Despite the setbacks, KiranaPro is pressing forward with growth and diversification strategies aimed at stabilizing its market position. On May 30, the company announced the acquisition of augmented reality (AR) startup Likeo.me, which will be integrated with KiranaPro’s fashion commerce vertical, BLACK. This follows a February acquisition of Joper.app, a hyperlocal grocery delivery platform, signaling KiranaPro’s ambitions to expand its quick commerce ecosystem across multiple verticals.

Prior to the outage, the company claimed to have processed approximately 2,000 orders daily and served over 30,000 users across 50 cities. Ravindran dismissed media reports questioning these numbers, noting that KiranaPro’s largest seller generated daily sales of around Rs 1 lakh. However, user reviews paint a more challenging picture, with the app’s ratings languishing below 3 stars on app stores and customers frequently flagging bugs, poor user experience, and unreliable voice-command features.

Ravindran acknowledged that all app store data and user ratings were wiped during the breach, complicating efforts to regain customer trust. The company is currently rebuilding its digital presence from scratch while using fresh capital to bolster its team and operational capabilities.

Highlights:

• Acquisitions of Likeo.me and Joper.app strengthen KiranaPro’s commerce verticals

• Claimed daily orders of 2,000 and over 30,000 users served before outage

• App ratings remain below 3 stars with persistent bugs and poor UX complaints

• Rebuilding efforts underway, leveraging new capital for team expansion

The company’s ability to navigate this tumultuous period will be pivotal for sustaining its footprint in the competitive grocery-tech and quick commerce sectors.

Rebuilding Trust and Addressing Internal Challenges

With the combined pressure of technical failure, financial strain, and leadership questions, KiranaPro faces a critical phase in rebuilding trust—both internally with its workforce and externally with customers and investors. Founder Ravindran emphasized a focus on fixing internal lapses and restoring confidence across all stakeholders. “We are using the capital we’ve raised to hire and strengthen the team. There is no shutdown, just a serious course correction,” he said.

The company’s near-term priorities include completing salary payments, finalizing the app rebuild, improving user experience, and potentially bringing in professional management to ensure more stable governance. Whether these steps will be sufficient to salvage momentum and reassure investors and users remains to be seen.

Highlights:

• Focus on completing salary dues and internal process improvements

• Team expansion planned to support app redevelopment and operations

• Consideration for hiring a professional CEO to improve governance

• Emphasis on restoring trust with users and investors through transparency

As KiranaPro navigates this crisis, its experience serves as a case study on the challenges startups face in balancing rapid growth, internal culture, and operational resilience within India’s evolving tech ecosystem.