Rozana, a rural-focused omnichannel retail platform co-founded by Ankur Dahiya, Adwait Vikram Singh and Mukesh Christopher, has raised Rs 290 crore in a Sequence B funding spherical.

The spherical was led by Bertelsmann India Investments (BII), with participation from Fireplace Ventures, US-based Spark Development Ventures, Bikaji Household Workplace, FE Securities and different choose distinguished household places of work.

The fundraise comes at an inflection level for the corporate. Rozana has expanded its hybrid commerce infrastructure throughout 21,000 villages within the Gangetic plains, a area which it says is house to over 50% of India’s rural inhabitants, and has grown income 4x since its final funding spherical.

Based in 2021, Rozana operates a blended omnichannel mannequin that integrates a consumer-facing app and digital commerce platform with 75+ fashionable retail expertise centres and owned distribution infrastructure. On the coronary heart of its last-mile fulfilment community are over 35,000 ladies companions — entrepreneurs embedded in native communities who function trusted intermediaries and fulfilment brokers, essentially completely different from the transactional, discount-led market mannequin frequent in city e-commerce.

The startup at present operates in Uttar Pradesh and Haryana and claims to serve over 1 million energetic households. In its subsequent section of development, Rozana plans to develop to 200+ shops and enter 2-3 further northern states throughout the Gangetic belt, with a long-term goal of reaching 130,000 villages.

The brand new capital will likely be deployed to strengthen expertise infrastructure, broaden product classes, develop non-public label choices, and deepen model partnerships, the discharge notes.

“Rural India is house to just about a billion individuals, but the essential act of purchasing has lengthy lacked equity, dignity and selection. At Rozana, we’re altering this by constructing belief by means of ladies companions, fashionable expertise centres, and entry to merchandise that households can see and imagine in. This funding will assist us deepen our presence, broaden our classes, and proceed empowering communities throughout Bharat,” mentioned Ankur Dahiya, Co-Founder, Rozana.

“Rozana founders are dedicated to dedicating their lives for rural transformation. It’s a means for wealth creation not just for buyers however a possibility to create wealth for a neighborhood far-off from the sector’s creativeness. Our dedication by means of Rozana is for rural empowerment,” mentioned Adwait Vikram Singh, Co-Founder, Rozana.

“India’s subsequent consumption wave will likely be received in Bharat’s heartland, and Rozana is constructing the type of trusted, omnichannel retail platform that rural households really want. With income up 4x for the reason that final spherical, Rozana has demonstrated each product–market match and disciplined execution at scale. We’re happy to again the staff once more as they deepen presence throughout the Gangetic belt, develop classes, and scale responsibly to serve many extra rural households,” mentioned Pankaj Makkar, Managing Director, Bertelsmann India Investments.