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Alibaba Launches First Cloud Data Center In India
In an attempt to expand its fast and quickly growing economy, Alibaba launches its first cloud data center in India. According to reports, this China based firm will come online in January 2018 and will be based out of Mumbai.
Beyond offering the basic cloud based services, this new data center is also going to provide large scale computing, storage and big data capabilities. Further, this centre will give Indian customers access to elastic computing, database, storage and content delivery, networking, analytics and big data, containers, middleware, and security.
The new Alibaba data center will have 33 zones, spanning over regions like China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, Australia, the Middle East, Europe and the United States. This move comes in a fight against the likes of AWS, Microsoft, Azure and Google Cloud.
To make the services more streamlined, Alibaba has employed a group of local professionals. Interestingly, this is going in line with Alibaba’s work in helping small and medium sized businesses grow and generate more revenue. In the past, Alibaba has made major investments in three different companies in India. These include Paytm, TicketNew and BigBasket. The totality of these investments come up to about $ 1 billion.
Established in 2009, Alibaba has partnered with Global Cloud Xchange (GCX,) a subsidiary of Reliance Communications and Tata Communications (TCS.) GCX enables direct access to Alibaba Cloud Express via GCX’s CLOUD X Fusion. On the other hand, Tata Communications provides direct access to Alibaba Cloud Express Connect through its IZOTM Private Connect service.
“Indian enterprises are innovative and operating in growth sectors, and we look forward to empowering them through our cloud computing and data technologies. As we build out the Alibaba Cloud network globally, India is another important piece that is now firmly in place,” Simon Hu, Senior Vice President of Alibaba Group and president of Alibaba Cloud, said in a statement.
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.
Apple MacBook Air M5 Launched: M5 Chip, 22-Hour Battery in India
₹290 Crore Boost: Rozana’s Series B Funding Scales Rural Retail Network Nationwide
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