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Microsoft, Facebook, YouTube and Twitter Collab To Fight Terrorism
In a joint statement on Twitter’s public policy blog, Microsoft, Facebook, YouTube and Twitter announced they would form the Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism.
This collaboration is a move to push back against content from terrorists and other extremist groups and combats terrorism online. In a blog post released by Microsoft, the company said only by working together, sharing the best technological and operational elements of their individual efforts, will they have a greater impact on the threat of terrorist content online.
The group also expects to foster cooperation from everyone including small tech companies and supra national bodies like the European Union and the United Nations to counter the dissemination of extremist information on online platforms. The forum will formalize and structure existing and future areas of collaboration to develop new technology and tools to improve automatic detection and removal of extremist content.
In December 2016 all four companies had announced a similar collaboration that would allow them to share databases without each having to do the legwork independently. This was achieved by creating a shared industry hash database to share unique digital fingerprints that are automatically assigned to videos or photos of extremist content.
The forum will also host workshops around the world in partnership with the U.N., to teach smaller companies and organizations to adopt their own proactive plans for combating terror. The sessions will also cover key strategies for executing counter speech programs like YouTube’s Creators for Change and Facebook’s Peer to Peer and Online Civil Courage Initiative.
The forum, according to Microsoft, will allow them to learn from and contribute to one another’s counter speech efforts, discuss how to further empower and train civil society organizations and support ongoing efforts such as the Civil Society Empowerment Project (CSEP.)
This call for better Internet regulation comes after all four companies were heavily criticized for not doing enough against the rise of terrorist content on platforms created by them. Earlier Google announced technological measures to identify and remove terrorist propaganda or inflammatory religious content from its video sharing platform YouTube. Similarly, Twitter also suspended 376,890 accounts in 2016 for violating rules relating to the promotion of terrorism.
All four companies agree the scope of the forum will increase over time and further information on all their initiatives will be revealed and shared in due course of time.
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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₹290 Crore Boost: Rozana’s Series B Funding Scales Rural Retail Network Nationwide
