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Paytm Transfers 800 Staff To Paytm Mall, Hire 2000 More
The digital payments company Paytm has moved 800 employees from its parent company One97 Communications to its latest venture Paytm Mall. Paytm Mall also announced the heads of key executive roles and plans to hire about 2000 more employees across business and technology roles this year.
The payments bank was launched after One97 Communications separated its commerce and payments businesses into separate entities. The company, backed by Alibaba, also plans to scale up its partner network by adding 3000 Paytm Agents and go deeper into tier II and tier III cities.
Paytm E-Commerce Private Limited also raised $200 million from Alibaba Group and SAIF Partners in April for its stand alone web portal and app based Paytm mall. Amit Sinha was previously appointed as the Chief Operating Officer for Paytm Mall this past month. On Monday, Saurabh Vashishtha, Amit Bagaria Bhushan Patil and Sunil Goyal were appointed as the heads of marketing, customer experience, logistics, products and technology respectively.
The app, launched in February will host 14,000 sellers for millions of products across various categories including fashion, electronics, consumer durables and home furnishings among others. They have partnered with 40 couriers and own 17 fulfillment centers to offer good reach to sellers.
Paytm Mall, which will compete against ecommerce giants Flipkart and Amazon, also plans to add close to a billion products, for which sellers from all over Southeast Asia are being contacted. Speaking of the recently appointed heads of the various departments, COO Amit Sinha said he was excited to work with the long standing colleagues to build the most trusted online shopping platform.
The ecommerce company has also will also introduce a new penalty and cancellation policy from July 10. They will create different slabs for cancellation fee depending on the stage of the order getting canceled or delayed by a seller. Sinha also added that they constantly update their trusted seller partners about the best practices to ensure they offer consumers an enhanced consumer experience.
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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