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Paytm May Acquire Discovery App Little
The digital payments platform Paytm owned and operated by One97 Communications Ltd., is reportedly in talks with investee firm Little Internet Pvt., Ltd., for a potential acquisition. Little Internet Pvt. Ltd., runs the deal discovery platform Little.
VCCircle reported, according to two sources close to the development, the digital wallet Paytm has already had early stage talks with the founders of the discovery platform, Manish Chopra and Satish Mani. The founders of Little, according to the report, did not agree to Paytm’s initial offer. Neither Paytm, SAIF Partners nor Little Internet Pvt., Ltd., have responded to queries regarding the talks.
Paytm and venture capitalist SAIF Partners invested $ 50 million in the startup two years ago to become major investors. According to the sources, SAIF Partners was playing a key role in the negotiations for the potential acquisition. Venture capital firm Tiger Global along with Singapore’s GIC are the other investors in the company.
The discovery app Little is a pioneering app for deals in the burgeoning Online to Offline (O2O) space that lets users access the best deals on restaurants, movies, last minute hotels, weekend gate away, salons, gyms, health care and spas. The company boasts of providing over 50,000 live deals from over 11000 merchants. The app is currently available on Android, iOS and Windows devices.
Paytm has started an expansion drive in recent times after Japan’s SoftBank invested $1.4 billion in the company in May this year. This investment has helped the digital platform advance its leadership in the country’s digital payment ecosystem. This acquisition will also help Paytm accelerate its mobile commerce and transactions and empower Paytm’s deal platform.
Recently, Paytm’s ecommerce arm Paytm Mall was planning to invest $ 35 million in its technology and logistics infrastructure to strengthen their logistics network. The company has backed 25 startups till date such as mobile data analytics venture Mobiquest, curated events platform Insider.in and Noida based health tech startup QorQL.
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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