Flipkart raises whopping $1.4bn, Microsoft among investors

In the biggest round of funding by an Indian Internet company till date, e-commerce company Flipkart on Monday raised USD 1.4 billion from blue-chip technology companies Microsoft, eBay and Tencent.

With this round of funding, Flipkart’s valuation has reached USD 11.6 billion, and US IT major Microsoft joins the marketplace as a strategic investor.

Flipkart's existing investors include Tiger Global Management, Naspers Group, Accel Partners and DST Global.

"Flipkart Group has raised a total of USD 1.4 billion from Tencent, eBay and Microsoft -- three of the world's premier technology companies," Flipkart said in a statement.

"The latest funding round, at a post-transaction valuation of USD 11.6 billion, is the largest in Flipkart's 10-year history as well as in the Indian Internet sector and comes as Flipkart gears up to drive the next phase of e-commerce growth in India," the online marketplace said.

China-based Tencent owns social messaging app WeChat and has investments across various online companies like Practo, Ibibo etc.

Flipkart founders Sachin Bansal and Binny Bansal said it's a landmark deal for the company and for India as it endorses the firm's tech prowess, innovative mindset and the potential to disrupt traditional markets.

The Flipkart group owns several well-known Indian brands such as Myntra, Jabong, PhonePe and Ekart.