Latest News
These Two Powerful Women Own The Couch At 2018 Forbes Women’s Summit!
The 2018 Forbes Women’s Summit kicked off at Pier Sixty, New York on June 19, making an immense impact. The event notices influential women including leaders, policymakers, entrepreneurs and artists from across the globe. These ladies come together to discuss how women surface the path toward an extraordinary future with courage and enthusiasm. The summit was initiated with a welcome note delivered by Moira Forbes, EVP, Forbes Media. Not only that but India’s most influential women, PepsiCo Chairman and CEO Indra Nooyi and actress cum activist Priyanka Chopra, both conveyed the last keynote of the day.
In conversation with Priyanka Chopra and Indra Nooyi!
Speaking about Priyanka Chopra, from Bollywood to Hollywood, she is the first Bollywood actor to lead a major drama series on American television. Also in 2017 Forbes’ ranked Priyanka on the 15th spot on the list of Most Powerful Women In Entertainment And Media. Apart from her acting prowess, Priyanka is also well known for her contributions as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. Whereas, Indra Nooyi comes second on the Forbes’ list of most powerful women in business in 2017. Being marked among the highest ranking women of Indian heritage in corporate America, Indra Nooyi spoke about the beginning of her career in America at the 2018 Forbes Women’s Summit. She said, In my early days working in corporate America, I never really fit in. I worried about how I was perceived. I decided after a while that I’m never going to win the looks battle. So I’m going to focus on the brains. I focussed on doing the job better than anyone else could do it. Nooyi spoke her heart out to the women out there saying, If you struggle with these choices, you’re not crazy. You’re human. Moving over, Priyanka Chopra added, You may not know me, I’m an actor from India. I’ve done 50-something movies. But I’m also someone who is not defined by my ethnicity or where I come from. I’m a woman, I’m an actor, I’m an artist and I’d like to see where that takes me.
The conversation was packed with extremely intellectual talks and inspiring stories from their lives. The actress later spoke about how marriages in India have an impact on women’s careers. She added, Because I’m in my 30s, which is obviously over the hill, my mother said to me, you’ll get married the day you find someone who appreciates how hard you worked to get where you are and no one is the decision maker in my life. From marriage to interesting lifetime experiences, the two powerful women came out with their fierce stories.
Be it the corporate world or the entertainment industry, women have emerged as the modern day heroes and are still going strong!
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.
Apple MacBook Air M5 Launched: M5 Chip, 22-Hour Battery in India
₹290 Crore Boost: Rozana’s Series B Funding Scales Rural Retail Network Nationwide
