Did you know that a single firm is responsible for processing 50% of India’s UPI volumes? Sarvatra Technologies is a firm that’s been promoting digital transformation in financial services over the last two decades, and has played a crucial role in India’s UPI revolution. Starting with co-operative banks, Sarvatra today provides technology to a wide variety of bank and Fintech clients. Continuing in our TechFin series, we spoke with Mandar Agashe, Founder and MD to get a glimpse into this little known firm. We discussed:

Do listen to this episode to get an inside glimpse into a firm that’s silently powering the digital revolution in both Bharat and India. Oh, and do stay till the end of the episode for a special treat at the end of the episode, we promise you that it will be worth it !!! 

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Starting this Saturday, we begin a limited edition series in collaboration with IAMAI. The series will explore various fintech themes in the run up to the Global Fintech Festival 2021, which this year is from 28th September to 30th September

This week, we take a brief break from our coverage of BNPL and take a look at firms that are building the technology that’s helping transform financial services. In the first in our series on “TechFin” firms, we speak with N Sathish, the Dy. Chief Product Officer at FSS. FSS has been at the cutting edge of the digital transformation of payments in Indian Banking and over the years has been responsible for many firsts within the financial technology space. In conversation we discuss:

Do listen to this interesting conversation on a little understood aspect of the technology behind Fintech. 

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FSS website

We caught up with Gaurav Hinduja, the MD and co-founder of Capital Float to discuss Capital Float’s growth story and what the future of BNPL holds in India. In our conversation we discuss :

Do listen to this insight packed episode and take an inside peek into one of the largest BNPL firms in India.

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We covered a deep dive into BNPL in our last episode and we thought it's time to speak to some more industry practitioners to further understand the concepts. We caught up with Nitya Sharma, the CEO and co-founder of Simpl in a candid conversation on BNPL. In our conversation we discuss :

Do listen in to understand how BNPL can be used as a payment convenience.

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In our last episode we got an introductory glimpse into the world of Buy Now Pay Later or BNPL as it is called. In this episode, we thought we would take a much deeper look into the world of BNPL and what goes on behind the scenes. Hemant and Elroy explore the following in this episode:

So if you want to understand BNPL in a nutshell - this is the episode for you.

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Errata

When we recorded the episode we mentioned Klarna has a valuation of 10+ Billion dollars; since then it has raised another round and is well over 40+ Billion dollars. BNPL moves that fast !!!

Buy Now Pay Later or BNPL is an interesting new trend, which is often likened to a more modern version of the traditional installment loan. Globally, it is growing at a stupendous pace, and is expected to reach $600 Bn to $1 Tn by 2025. The trend has been in India for some time as well and is now gaining momentum post the pandemic.

In the first in our series on BNPL, we spoke with Krishnan Vishwanathan, CEO and Founder, Kissht. In the episode we cover:

So tune in to learn more about how BNPL will likely be an important segment in the years to come

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The MSME sector has long been called the backbone of the Indian economy. We have seen the evolution of the sector from one primarily manufacturing simple products to one producing competitive and sophisticated goods like electronic control systems, medical equipment etc. But the sector remains woefully underserved by financial services with an estimated credit gap of $300 Bn.

To discuss this and more we caught up with Gurjodhpal Singh, CEO - India, Tide. In the episode we cover:

So tune in to learn about this fascinating segment.

Note: Tide announced its investment in India after this episode was recorded

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Continuing in our theme of  Fintech for Bharat, this week we look at the role that networks can play in fostering financial inclusion.  Payment networks sit at the crossroads and provide the rails that connect merchants accepting payments and banks that issue payment instruments.

Therefore when a payment network like Mastercard makes a pledge to financially include 1 billion people and 50 million micro and small businesses into the digital economy by 2025, it certainly has the potential to be transformative !!!  

To discuss this and more we caught up with Vikas Saraogi, VP - Merchant Acceptance, South Asia, Mastercard. In the episode we cover:  

So tune in to learn everything you wanted to know about how Mastercard is helping in foster financial inclusion agenda in India

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Continuing in our theme of  Fintech for Bharat, this week we shift our focus to affordable education.

One of the most important enablers of upward mobility in society, is the access to affordable education. A recent survey conducted by the National Statistics Organization revealed that only 10.6% of the Indian population aged above 15 years had successfully completed a graduate degree. This proportion was only 5.7% in rural India. Affordability of quality education is one of the  reasons for these low numbers. How does FinTech enable affordable access to good education?

To discuss this and more we caught up with Varun Chopra, co-founder and CEO of Eduvanz Financing Private Limited. In the episode we cover:

So tune in to learn everything you wanted to know about how Fintech is enabling access to affordable education.

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