India’s Zero Commission Food Delivery Pioneers: In a Conversation with Anirudha Kotgire and Mandar Lande, Co-Founders, Waayu

India’s food delivery landscape is undergoing a quiet but powerful transformation, and at the centre of this shift are Anirudha Kotgire and Mandar Lande, the Co-Founders of Waayu. At a time when high-commission platforms dominate the market and restaurant margins continue to shrink, Waayu has emerged with a radically different proposition — a zero-commission model designed to return control and profitability to restaurants.

In this conversation, the founders discuss how the idea originated, why the franchise model became the natural next step, and how Waayu aims to empower local entrepreneurs while building a truly decentralised food delivery ecosystem across India. They also explain their expansion plans, the support system behind their franchise partners, and what restaurants should consider when choosing an online ordering platform in an increasingly tech-driven market.

Waayu’s no-commission approach was a bold move in an industry built on fees. How did this idea originate, and what inspired you to expand it into a franchise model?

Waayu was born from a simple yet powerful belief: that restaurants deserve to keep what they earn. The food delivery industry had become heavily dependent on high commissions, squeezing restaurant margins and limiting their growth. We wanted to flip that model entirely.

Our zero-commission platform began as a way to return control, transparency and profitability to restaurants. As adoption grew, we realised that the same empowerment philosophy could scale through entrepreneurs who shared our vision. That is where the franchise model came in — enabling partners across India to build local restaurant ecosystems while earning through multiple revenue streams.

In essence, the franchise model is a natural extension of our mission, creating a win-win network in which both restaurants and franchise owners thrive together. It is a structure designed to be genuinely fair for everyone involved — restaurants, franchise partners and customers alike.

What specific market gap is Waayu aiming to address through its franchise initiative, and how does this empower local entrepreneurs while strengthening your overall ecosystem?

The Indian food delivery market has long been dominated by high-commission platforms that restrict restaurant profitability and centralise control. Waayu’s franchise initiative was created to bridge that gap by decentralising growth and giving local entrepreneurs the opportunity to lead the digital food revolution in their own cities.

Through our zero-commission model and affordable software suite, we are not only transforming how restaurants operate, we are enabling franchise partners to become ecosystem builders. They earn from multiple recurring revenue streams while helping restaurants in their region grow sustainably.

This local ownership model ensures deeper market penetration, quicker restaurant onboarding and stronger community trust — ultimately building an ecosystem in which restaurants earn more, franchise owners scale faster and customers enjoy fair pricing.

Could you walk us through how this model works and how people can become franchise partners in their own cities?

Waayu’s franchise model is based on a simple premise: enabling partners to bring the zero-commission ecosystem to their own cities. As a franchisee, you will operate within an assigned area by forming a small team to onboard restaurants and vendors to Waayu’s suite, which includes food delivery, POS, QR menus, WhatsApp ordering and the Restaurant Mandi B2B marketplace.

The onboarding process involves several stages — application, profile review, discussion with the founder, LOI signing, final agreement and structured training for the partner and their team. Overall, Waayu provides a clear, high-potential franchise opportunity for partners interested in building and scaling local markets.

What kind of support and training does Waayu provide to franchisees to help them operate smoothly, onboard restaurants and vendors, and achieve their targets?

At Waayu, our franchise partners are true collaborators in building the future of zero-commission food delivery. This is why we ensure they receive complete support from day one. Each franchisee undergoes comprehensive onboarding and product training covering restaurant and vendor acquisition, local marketing and the use of our entire ₹999-per-month software suite.

We assign a dedicated company resource as well as a Point of Contact from Waayu’s Founders Office — typically an IIT or IIM graduate — who provides personal support and strategic guidance at every step. Alongside this, our central operations and marketing teams offer ongoing assistance through digital campaigns, sales materials and performance reviews. Regular check-ins and refresher sessions ensure smooth execution and consistent growth.

In short, every franchisee is backed not just by a brand, but by a network of experts and mentors committed to helping them succeed in their territory.

How does this franchise model fit into your expansion plans, and which regions or cities are you prioritising as you scale this next phase of growth?

We are prioritising expansion in key markets across India, including Delhi NCR, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Pune, Kolkata, Chennai, Jaipur, Lucknow, Ahmedabad, Indore, Chandigarh, Bhopal, Surat, Agra, Kanpur, Patna, Nagpur, Amritsar, Ludhiana, Visakhapatnam, Kochi, Kalyan, Vadodara, Vijayawada and Bengaluru.

Finally, what should restaurants consider when choosing an online delivery or ordering platform today, especially in a market that is becoming increasingly tech-driven and competitive?

Today, restaurants must think beyond simply “getting listed”. They need to evaluate which platform genuinely helps them grow. In a tech-driven market, the right platform should not only provide visibility but also protect margins, offer access to customer data and support long-term independence.

Many legacy delivery platforms rely on heavy commissions, which gradually erode a restaurant’s profit and control. At Waayu, we reversed that model. Our zero-commission, subscription-based system ensures restaurants retain what they earn, own their customer relationships and access tools that simplify everything — from billing and digital menus to sourcing and delivery.

So, when restaurants assess platforms today, they should ask one fundamental question: “Is this platform helping me build my brand, or theirs?” That is where Waayu stands apart. We are not merely a service provider; we are a growth partner, offering a model that is sustainable, transparent and fair for everyone.