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Zomato Launches Zomato Gold To Battle Swiggy’s Access
Swiggy, the online food ordering platform launched Swiggy Access to allow its restaurant partners to set up kitchen spaces in neighborhoods where they currently do not operate. This initiative will help in bringing quality food closer to consumers while enabling business expansion for its restaurant partners.
While Swiggy upped its game, Zomato also did not leave any spoon unturned. The online restaurant discovery platform launched its international paid subscription programme, Zomato Gold. This subscription based initiative is an exclusive dine out and social drinking membership programme where members can avail complimentary meals and drinks. While Zomato users will get access to complimentary food and drinks at over 1,200 highly rated restaurant partners, Swiggy users will get faster delivery as these kitchen spaces are “delivery only” branches and do not have a dine in option.
Zomato first launched the service in the UAE and Portugal earlier this year before launching it in India. At the moment, the programme is available through two membership plans. Users can pay the inaugural price of Rs. 299 for three months or Rs. 999 for 12 months. At present only Delhi NCR, Mumbai and Bengaluru based users can avail this opportunity.
Meanwhile, Swiggy’s restaurant partners will be able to expand their services to newer neighborhoods where consumers can avail a great variety of food at a lightning fast speed. Through this initiative, restaurants will also be able to optimize their kitchens for factors like stocks planning, demand forecasting, preparation time and order edits.
Although rumors suggest both the giants of the food delivery industry were in talks for a stock based merger, Swiggy denied all allegations in a statement. At present, it seems like both the startups have locked heads to capture a majority of the lucrative industry. Despite global players like UberEATS and Google trying to enter the restaurant discovery and food ordering marketplace, Swiggy and Zomato still hold the upper hand.
According to Zoamto, the company completes close to 3 million online orders per month, while Swiggy claims to complete 4 million. However, as Swiggy is still mainly a food delivering platform, Zomato reigns over the restaurant discovery business. India’s online food delivery market has grown exponentially over the past couple of years. The estimated Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) for the fiscal year 2016 was close to $300 million. While both Swiggy Access and Zomato Gold seem to be bold moves, it is yet to be seen who will wear the ultimate crown.
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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