Instacart is one of America’s best-known grocery delivery apps. On October 29, 2026, its ownership story changed in a big way. DoorDash announced a deal to buy the company for about $17 billion.
So who owns Instacart today, and who will own it tomorrow? Here is the full picture in plain English, based on SEC filings and the latest reports.
Who Owns Instacart Right Now in 2026?
Instacart is owned by its public shareholders. Its legal name is Maplebear Inc., and its shares trade on Nasdaq under the ticker CART. No single person or firm controls the company, and it has just one class of shares.
The DoorDash deal is not final yet. Until it closes, the two companies will keep running separately. You can read the terms in DoorDash’s official announcement and in CNBC’s report.
Ownership and Key Stakeholders Table
| Owner / Party | Type | Approx. Stake | Key Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public shareholders | Owners of Maplebear Inc. | Majority of shares | Trades on Nasdaq as CART; no controlling owner |
| Sequoia Capital | Early venture investor | About 8% | Reported in an August 2026 SEC filing; signed a voting agreement for the DoorDash deal |
| Apoorva Mehta | Co-founder | About 6.6% | Left the company after the IPO; still a top individual holder |
| BlackRock | Asset manager | 6.6% | Reported in its 2026 SEC filing |
| Vanguard | Asset manager | About 7% earlier | Now reports through separate units after a January 2026 change |
| D1 Capital Partners | Investment fund | Not disclosed here | Signed a voting agreement for the DoorDash deal |
| Chris Rogers | CEO and Chairman | Less than 1% | Holds about 868,000 shares after an October 26, 2026 sale |
| DoorDash | Pending buyer | 0% until closing | Offering $65 per share; expected close late 2027 or first half of 2028 |
Who Are Instacart’s Biggest Shareholders?
No one holds a majority. Early backer Sequoia Capital reported about 8% through its funds in an August 2026 SEC filing. That number fell after Sequoia handed some shares out to its partners.
Two giant investment firms also show up. BlackRock reported 6.6%. Vanguard held about 7% before it split its reporting into separate units. Founder Apoorva Mehta holds about 6.6%, according to Simply Wall St.
The DoorDash Deal Explained
DoorDash will pay $65 per share, which is a 26% premium over Instacart’s October 22 closing price. Each Instacart shareholder can choose cash, 0.3372 DoorDash shares, or a mix of $48.75 in cash and 0.0843 DoorDash shares. Stock is capped at 25% of the total, so at least 75% of the price is cash.
The deal needs a shareholder vote and a Hart-Scott-Rodino antitrust review in the U.S. It also needs approvals in Canada and Israel. Closing is expected at the end of 2027 or in the first half of 2028. Instacart’s board approved the deal unanimously, and holders of about 19% of the shares have agreed to vote yes.
After closing, DoorDash plans to keep Instacart’s brand, app, and enterprise technology, and it says grocery delivery will stay non-exclusive. The Caper Cart smart-cart business is not part of the deal. Instacart plans to shut it down by the end of the second quarter of 2027.
Who Founded Instacart?
Instacart was founded in 2012 in San Francisco by Apoorva Mehta, Max Mullen, and Brandon Leonardo. Mehta was 26 and had reportedly tried about 20 startups before this one. Y Combinator helped him raise $2.3 million and meet his two co-founders.
The idea was simple. People could shop for groceries online, and a personal shopper would buy the items at a local store and bring them home.
From Startup to IPO
Instacart’s value peaked at about $39 billion in March 2021. It went public on September 19, 2023 at $30 per share. The IPO raised about $660 million and valued the company near $10 billion.
Mehta stepped down as CEO in August 2021 and left after the IPO. By late October 2026, shares traded around $60. DoorDash’s $65 offer is more than double the IPO price.
Leadership: From Fidji Simo to Chris Rogers
Fidji Simo became CEO in August 2021. She left in 2025 to join OpenAI.
Chris Rogers, a longtime Instacart executive, took over as CEO on August 15, 2025. He has also been Chairman since November 2025. The deal announcement does not say who will run Instacart after closing.
How Big Is Instacart in 2026?
Instacart works with more than 2,200 retail banners and nearly 100,000 stores. In the third quarter of 2026, gross transaction value grew 15% and revenue grew 17%, according to its Q3 results. Ad revenue reached $331 million. Because it also sells software to grocers, Instacart is a tech company as much as a delivery service.
In the crowded world of food and grocery delivery, Amazon and Walmart keep pushing faster delivery. Uber is both a rival and a partner, since Uber Eats restaurant orders appear inside the Instacart app.
Instacart also faced regulators. In December 2025 it agreed to pay $60 million in refunds to settle an FTC lawsuit over fees and Instacart+ sign-ups. The company denied any wrongdoing.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. Who owns Instacart in 2026?
Public shareholders own it through Maplebear Inc. (CART), and DoorDash has agreed to buy it for about $17 billion.
Q2. Is Instacart owned by Amazon or Walmart?
No, neither company owns Instacart; both are competitors.
Q3. Who is buying Instacart?
DoorDash is buying Instacart for $65 per share in cash and stock.
Q4. When will the DoorDash deal close?
It is expected to close at the end of 2027 or in the first half of 2028, after shareholder and regulatory approvals.
Q5. Who founded Instacart?
Apoorva Mehta, Max Mullen, and Brandon Leonardo founded it in 2012.
Q6. Who is the CEO of Instacart?
Chris Rogers has been CEO since August 15, 2025.
Q7. Who are Instacart’s largest shareholders?
Sequoia Capital (about 8%), Apoorva Mehta (about 6.6%), BlackRock (6.6%), and Vanguard.
Q8. When did Instacart go public?
It went public on September 19, 2023 at $30 per share on Nasdaq.
Instacart is owned by public shareholders through Maplebear Inc. (Nasdaq: CART). Sequoia Capital, BlackRock, Vanguard, and founder Apoorva Mehta are among its largest holders. None of them controls the company.
That is about to change. DoorDash has agreed to buy Instacart for about $17 billion, with closing expected between late 2027 and mid-2028. Until then, Instacart stays independent under CEO Chris Rogers.
Official Website: instacart.com
