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Paytm Reports Triple Growth In 12/12 Festival
Paytm, the Alibaba backed online payments and ecommerce company, reported a three fold growth in transactions during its annual 12/12 offline shopping festival. Held on 12 December, the 12/12 festival sale is aimed at increasing greater sales for its partner merchants and brand stores.
The company released an official statement claiming, retail brands like Big Bazaar, Pantaloons, Central, Reliance, Digital and Woodland saw 1.5 times increase in single day revenue. The report further added the 12/12 festival drove high footfalls and transactions for millions of offline retail partners. Speaking about the success of the shopping festival, the Chief Operating Officer of Paytm, Kiran Vasireddy said, “Paytm has become a preferred choice for in store mobile payments in the country. The excitement around this event from both consumers and merchants are overwhelming and we will continue to strengthen our relationship with the country’s retailer community with many such initiatives.”
Vasireddy further added local merchants and neighborhood stores across tier II and tier III cities such as Pune, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Indore, Lucknow, Chandigarh, Coimbatore and Kolkata participated in this year’s sale. Products across various categories such as groceries, FMCG, jewelry, apparels and pharmacy were offered in the 12/12 festive sale.
The 12/12 Festive Sale, similar to Alibaba’s Singles Day sale, is an annual offline shopping festival organized in an attempt to enable brick and mortar retailers to tap into the ongoing digital movement. This was the second year Paytm conducted the festive sale offering the best deals and cash back services to shoppers paying through Paytm.
This years sale offered some of the biggest cashback and discounts on electronics and various food and fashion outlets around the country. Post this sale, Paytm is also gearing up for its Grand Finale sale beginning on December 13. The company also has plans to spend close to $ 5 million to bring on board offline sellers, under their Retailer Inclusion Programme.
OpenAI’s introduction of trusted contact safeguards for potential self-harm cases reflects a major evolution in AI responsibility.
Beyond Moderation
AI safety is shifting from simply blocking harmful content to actively supporting user wellbeing through:
- early risk detection
- human-centered intervention
- stronger emotional safety frameworks
This positions AI as more than an information tool—it becomes part of broader digital support systems.
Key Industry Impact
Trusted contact models could influence future safety standards across:
- AI assistants
- mental health platforms
- social media
- digital health services
The Bigger Challenge
While promising, success depends on balancing:
- privacy
- consent
- ethical intervention
- user trust
Final Take
This move signals that the future of AI safety may rely not just on preventing harmful responses, but on building more responsible, human-connected support systems.
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.
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