Thousand Flipkart ex-employees seek Walmart aid on stock options

Around 1,000 former employees across Flipkart, Myntra and Cleartrip have approached Walmart and Flipkart seeking ways to realize value from their vested stock options, according to sources familiar with the matter. The petition reflects growing frustration among ex-staff members holding equity stakes as the company's path to going public remains unclear.

Employees who have left the company are unable to exercise or liquidate their vested options, leaving their investments locked in. This liquidity constraint has prompted collective action among the departing workforce, with the group formally seeking intervention from Walmart, which acquired a majority stake in Flipkart in 2018.

The request underscores the tension between employee incentive structures in high-growth startups and the extended timelines for public market exits. While Flipkart has been valued at over $37 billion and remains one of India's most valuable startups, an IPO launch date has remained elusive despite repeated speculation over the past several years.

Neither Flipkart nor Walmart has publicly commented on the employees' petition. Industry observers note that stock option liquidity for departed staff remains a contentious issue across India's startup ecosystem, particularly as companies delay public debuts.