Rozana, a rural commerce startup, has announced a significant investment of USD 22.5 million in its latest funding round. The round was led by Bertelsmann India Investments (BII) and saw participation from Fireside Ventures and existing investors. This funding will be instrumental in driving Rozana’s expansion into new districts, upgrading its technology platform, and increasing hiring across its technology, product, and operations teams.
Founded in 2021 by Ankur Dahiya, Adwait Vikram Singh, Mukesh Christopher, and Prithvi Pal Singh, Rozana aims to leverage technology and data science to cater to the unique local demands of the 1 billion people living in rural India. The company operates an e-commerce platform and logistics network focused exclusively on serving the needs of rural communities.
With a presence in over 12,000 villages across 13 districts in Uttar Pradesh and Haryana, Rozana has already made a significant impact in rural India. The company’s hyperlocal e-commerce model utilizes village-based “peer partners” to make last-mile deliveries, offering rural customers convenience while keeping costs low.
Ankur Dahiya, CEO, and Co-founder of Rozana, highlighted the massive opportunity that rural India represents for e-commerce. He expressed the company’s commitment to expanding its logistics and supply chain infrastructure to reach new districts and empower rural communities with access to essential products.
Rohit Sood, Partner at Bertelsmann India Investments, emphasized the potential for meaningful impact in millions of lives through Rozana’s innovative approach to rural commerce. He expressed excitement about partnering with Rozana on this journey.
Kanwal Singh, Founder, and Managing Partner of Fireside Ventures praised Rozana’s focus on providing a wide range of products across categories in rural markets. He commended the company’s unique model of appointing peer partners from within village communities, especially women, as a commendable approach.
Vivek Gupta, Co-Founder of Licious and now a board member at Rozana, was impressed by the founders’ understanding of rural India’s landscape and challenges. He expressed confidence in Rozana’s ability to revolutionize rural commerce in India.
Nitya Agarwal, VP, Investments at 3one4 Capital, highlighted the immense potential for commerce beyond tier-1 cities in India. She expressed excitement about partnering with Rozana as they lead the charge in transforming rural commerce.
With a focus on empowering rural communities and providing access to essential products, Rozana is set to revolutionize the rural commerce landscape in India. The company’s partnership with xto10x, led by Binny Bansal, will further accelerate its growth and impact in rural India.
