Signaling continued investor confidence in India’s rural e-commerce potential, Rozana.in, a startup focused on serving rural consumers, announced today that it has successfully raised $22.5 million in its Series A funding round.
This latest injection of capital will fuel Rozana’s expansion plans, particularly in the areas of warehousing, logistics, and technology enhancement.
An integral part of Rozana’s strategy for growth involves a strategic partnership with xto10x Technologies, a startup scaling platform led by Binny Bansal, co-founder of Flipkart. This collaboration aims to leverage xto10x’s expertise in warehouse design, last-mile delivery optimization, and category expansion, thereby accelerating Rozana’s expansion into new territories and product categories.
Rozana targets Rural India Opportunity
Commenting on the funding milestone, Ankur Dahiya, Co-founder and CEO of Rozana, expressed enthusiasm about the vast potential of rural India’s untapped e-commerce market. He stated, “Rural India represents a massive and underserved e-commerce opportunity consisting of nearly a billion people. With this funding, we will continue building out our logistics and supply chain infrastructure to reach new districts and empower rural communities with access to essential products.”
Rozana’s unique model relies on a network of 18,000 hyperlocal ‘peer partners’ at the village level, primarily composed of women, who serve as last-mile delivery agents. These partners play a pivotal role in consolidating orders and facilitating deliveries within their local communities, catering to the needs of as many as 30 to 40 households.
Rohit Sood, Partner at Bertelsmann India Investments, expressed confidence in Rozana’s ability to make a meaningful impact on millions of lives in rural India. He praised the company’s innovative approach and strong consumer appeal, emphasizing the immense potential for growth and social impact.
Rozana faces competition in the rural e-commerce segment from players like Shop101, backed by InMobi, and social commerce startup CityMall. However, with its robust funding support and strategic partnerships, Rozana is well-positioned to solidify its position as a leader in serving the unique needs of rural consumers across India.
Leading the investment was Bertelsmann India Investments (BII), with participation from Fireside Ventures and existing investors.
