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Ivanka Trump at the Global Entrepreneurship Summit 2017, Day 2
Ivanka Trump started the second day of the summit with a plenary session on the issue ‘Innovations in Workforce Development and Skills Training.’ The daughter of US President Donald Trump and his chief advisor Ms. Trump, was one of the panelists along with the MD and CEO of ICICI Bank Chanda Kochhar and British barrister and lecturer Cherie Blair. The panel was moderated by Executive Vice President and Chief Customer Officer of Dell Karen Quintos.
Hyderabad’s Hon. IT Minister Mr. K.T. Rama Rao introduced the panelists for the plenary session which was aimed at boosting female participation in innovation and improving their access to skills, training, education and career counseling. Speaking about the need for women in entrepreneurship roles, Ms. Trump said, “Women make up half of the world’s population. We need to think of these issues not as women’s issues but as human issues. Having equal gender representation is a financial positive to businesses today besides being a social responsibility.”
According to Chanda Kochhar, there is no other country in the world other than India where 40% of the banking sector is headed by women, however, not even 25% of graduate women participate in the workforce. The panel discussion was centered around creating awareness and encouraging women to take up the tremendous opportunities that technology offers entrepreneurs. “It’s the desire, support and ecosystem of the organization where women work that will help them break the glass ceiling. Recognition of work keeps us going,” Ms. Kochchar added.
Stressing on the need for men to be a part of the discussion, Dell’s CCO Karen Quintos said, “The biases that exist in society have to be addressed and men need to be a part of that conversation. Business outcomes are great when you have diverse thinking.”
Founder of the Cherie Blaire Foundation, Cherie Blaire, speaking about working women said, “We have to find solutions so women can do better at what they do without giving up on their enterprises. Capacity, confidence, capital – the three things women entrepreneurs need to flourish.”
Along with the captivating panel discussion regarding gender gap in entrepreneurship, GES 2017 also hosted a panel discussion on the value of mentors, sponsors and networks in maximizing entrepreneurs’ potential and driving entrepreneurship in sports. Harsha Bhogle moderated the panel discussion regarding entrepreneurship in sports with Sania Mirza, Pullela Gopichand, Mithali Raj and Chatri Sityodtong as the panelist.
The recently crowned Ms. World Manushi Chhillar also attended the summit and spoke about the importance of women entrepreneurs and the need for both men and women to be treated equally.
Miss World @ManushiChhillar at #GES2017 to #womentrepreneurs: You don’t need to be Miss World to make a difference. @RonnieScrewvala pic.twitter.com/TLmhkGZv0Q
— GES2017 (@GES2017) November 29, 2017
Miss World @ManushiChhillar is about to share her views on #WomenAtWork at #GES2017. Watch her LIVE here: https://t.co/LL9QPn1Y55 @MissWorldLtd pic.twitter.com/jM2YH2hJLC
— GES2017 (@GES2017) November 29, 2017
Despite the focus on women entrepreneur and women empowerment, a 13 year old Australian entrepreneur stole the show at the summit with his five apps. This talented app developer Hamish Finlayson is an autistic child which is a serious development disorder impairing the ability to communicate or interact. Despite the disability, this class & student from Queensland has developed an app for helping people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and four more environmental apps. Hamish has strong values and hopes his apps can someday change the world for the better. But he strongly believes education comes first and saving the world later.
Rozana, India’s leading rural retail platform, has secured ₹290 crore ($35 million) in a Series B funding round led by Bertelsmann India Investments (BII), with participation from Omidyar Network India, Vivid Capital, and Tana Investment Holding. This Rozana funding brings its total capital to over ₹500 crore, fueling hyperlocal expansion in underserved rural markets. Founded in 2021 by brothers Prashant and Prateek Chauhan, the startup’s phygital model blends micro-stores, app-based ordering, and last-mile delivery to connect 5 million+ users in 12 states with brands like ITC and HUL.
The ₹290 crore investment will supercharge Rozana’s rural omnichannel retail strategy, targeting 5x growth in 18 months. Plans include adding 5,000 micro-stores in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Rajasthan; AI-powered inventory tech; and new categories like groceries and electronics. By empowering 20,000+ rural micro-entrepreneurs, Rozana taps into India’s $700 billion rural retail boom, where smartphone penetration and UPI drive 12% annual growth.
This Rozana Series B milestone positions it as a frontrunner against rivals like Ninjacart, eyeing unicorn status by 2028 amid ONDC tailwinds. CEO Prashant Chauhan emphasized, “We’re building rural prosperity through accessible premium brands.” For more on Rozana funding news and rural retail trends, stay updated on India’s startup ecosystem.
Peak XV Partners has launched three new funds totaling $1.3 billion, targeting India’s booming startup ecosystem. The lineup features the $600M Surge fund (8th edition) for early-stage ventures, a $300M Growth Fund for Series B+ scaling, and a $400M Acceleration Fund for rapid portfolio expansion. This commitment arrives as India’s VC inflows rebound, with AI and fintech leading 2026 trends.
These funds build on Peak XV’s legacy of backing unicorns like Zomato and Pine Labs, offering founders capital plus strategic guidance amid post-winter recovery. Early-stage deals surged 20% last year per Tracxn, positioning Peak XV to fuel the next wave of innovation in SaaS, climate tech, and consumer plays.
For startups eyeing Peak XV new funds or Surge fund 2026 applications, this signals prime opportunities. Investors and marketers should watch for deployment updates India remains a global VC hotspot.
Hyderabad, January 13, 2026 Neeman’s, India’s leading D2C footwear brand famed for sustainable shoes and patented PIXLL® technology, has raised $4 million from existing investors. This funding boosts its cumulative capital past $10 million since 2015, with a post-money valuation nearing $50 million. CEO Vijay Chahoria emphasized offline retail as the “next frontier,” planning 50+ new stores in Tier 2/3 cities like Jaipur and Lucknow to blend eco-friendly innovation with hands-on customer experiences.
In India’s booming D2C ecosystem where footwear sales hit ₹1.2 lakh crore in 2025 Neeman’s targets hybrid retail amid high online CAC and 25-30% returns. Backed by vegan, machine-washable shoes priced ₹2,000-4,000, the brand leverages PIXLL® (5x more breathable than leather) for carbon-neutral comfort. Recent 5x revenue growth to ₹100 crore ARR, 1M+ pairs sold via Myntra and stores, and awards at India D2C Summit 2025 position it ahead of rivals like Paaduks.
Neeman’s offline expansion India eyes the $15B sustainable footwear market by 2028, fueled by PLI schemes, Gen Z’s 70% eco-preference (Nielsen), and Southeast Asia exports. Challenges like real estate costs are offset by data-driven inventory and omnichannel QR tech. Watch for Q1 2026 launches in Hyderabad and Bengaluru redefining D2C success through authentic, “Wear the Change” branding.
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