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Rural commerce startup Rozana raises $22.5 Mn led by Bertelsmann India

EntrackrEntrackr · 2y ago
Rural commerce startup Rozana raises $22.5 Mn led by Bertelsmann India
Medial

Rural commerce startup Rozana has raised $22.5 million led by Bertelsmann India Investments (BII) with participation from Fireside Ventures and existing investors. Earlier to this round, the startup had raised $2.5 million in its pre-Series A round from 3one4 Capital and Europe’s IEG – Investment Banking Group in April 2022. The new proceeds will be used to expand Rozana’s warehousing and logistics reach into new districts, enhance its technology platform, and ramp up hiring across technology, product and operations teams. Founded in 2021 by Ankur Dahiya, Adwait Vikram Singh, Mukesh Christopher and Prithvi Pal Singh, Rozana operates an e-commerce platform and logistics network focused on serving the needs of rural communities in India. The startup presently serves more than 12,000 villages across 13 districts in Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. Rozana has built a hyperlocal e-commerce model using village-based “peer partners” to make last-mile deliveries. This allows Rozana to offer rural customers convenience through delivery to their doorstep while keeping costs low. Currently, it has a network of over 18,000 peer partners, who can earn additional income through Rozana.

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Rural commerce startup Rozana raises Rs 290 Cr in Series B led by Bertelsmann

EntrackrEntrackr · 7d ago
Rural commerce startup Rozana raises Rs 290 Cr in Series B led by Bertelsmann
Medial

Rural commerce startup Rozana raises Rs 290 Cr in Series B led by Bertelsmann Rural omnichannel retail platform Rozana has raised Rs 290 crore ($31.6 million) in a Series B funding round led by Bertelsmann India Investments. The round also saw participation from Fireside Ventures, US-based Spark Growth Ventures, Bikaji Family Office, FE Securities, and other family offices. The fresh capital will be used to strengthen the company’s technology infrastructure, broaden product categories, develop private label offerings, and deepen brand partnerships. Founded in 2021 by Ankur Dahiya, Adwait Vikram Singh, and Mukesh Christopher, Rozana operates a rural-focused omnichannel retail platform that combines a consumer-facing app with modern retail experience centres and its own distribution network. It runs over 75 retail experience centres and works with more than 35,000 women partners who act as last-mile fulfilment agents embedded within local communities. According to the company, it has expanded its hybrid commerce infrastructure to 21,000 villages across the Gangetic plains, a region home to over 50% of India’s rural population. It currently serves more than 1 million active households across Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. In its next phase of growth, Rozana plans to expand to over 200 stores and enter two to three additional northern states across the Gangetic belt. The company also aims to eventually reach 130,000 villages. India’s rural consumption market is estimated to exceed $2 trillion, with more than 200 million rural households spending upwards of Rs 20,000 per month across staples, FMCG, personal care, household goods, apparel, and discretionary categories. Rozana has raised nearly $60 million in funding to date. In March 2024, the company raised $22.5 million in a Series A round led by Bertelsmann India Investments with participation from Fireside Ventures and other investors. Prior to that, the startup raised $2.5 million in a pre-Series A round from 3one4 Capital and IEG Investment Banking Group in April 2022.

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