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Axis Bank Front Runner To Buy FreeCharge
India’s third largest private sector lender, Axis Bank has emerged as one of the key players to acquire the digital payments platform FreeCharge. According to reports, Axis Bank is currently conducting due diligence for the acquisition.
The Economic Times reported according to sources aware of the development a potential deal could deliver a payout of up to $ 100 million to its cash starved parent company Snapdeal. The ecommerce company Snapdeal is in the middle of negotiations itself with Flipkart for a potential takeover.
Jasper Infotech owned FreeCharge which was once valued at $ 5 billion was acquired by Snapdeal in 2015 in a deal worth $ 400 – $ 500 million. The Flipkart-Snapdeal acquisition put the payments wallet on the back seat as majority investor SoftBank planned to sell Snapdeal independently.
In March this year, Snapdeal invested $ 20 million in the online payments platform to accelerate growth post demonetization. Parent company Jasper Infotech also made another investment of $ 3.38 million in May. Post that, Jasper Infotech has been seeking a suitable buyer with reports suggesting that Paytm, MobiKwik, Bank of Baroda and Times Internet were interested in a deal.
In May this year, it was also reported Alibaba backed Paytm had signed a nonexclusive term sheet to acquire Snapdeal in an all cash deal which was pegged at $ 45 – 90 million.
It is estimated that the company has recorded Rs. 300 crores in transaction revenue on about 12 million transactions in April and has forecasted seven million transactions making Rs. 20,000 crores by March 2018.
FreeCharge was founded in 2010 by Kunal Shah and Sandeep Tandon and secured Series A funding of Rs. 200 million from Sequoia Capital in 2011. The digital payments platform also managed to raise $ 33 Million in a Series B funding round from Sequoia Capital, Sofina and Ru-Net in September 2014. They further raised $ 80 million from Hong Kong based fund Tybourne Capital Management and SF based fund Valiant Capital Management along with its existing investors in February 2016.
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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