Fintech in India: A Billion-User Opportunity

Technology isn’t a luxury. It’s democracy delivered. At Global Fintech Fest 2025, PM Modi reminded us that India’s real innovation isn’t just in apps or AI, it’s in how technology has been democratised. As a CA, I couldn’t agree more. The India Stack is not just a tech story - it’s a governance story. Here are 5 takeaways from his address that every finance and business leader should think about 👇 As finance professionals, we’re not just balancing books anymore. We’re helping balance progress — between speed and inclusion, innovation and integrity. That’s the new definition of sustainable growth. #FinanceLeadership #DigitalInclusion #FintechIndia #CAsSpeak #BusinessStrategy #IndiaStack #ResponsibleAI #GrowthMindset #PolicyAndProgress

It was a privilege to join the India Fintech Diaries Podcast to share insights on a subject that deeply resonates with me, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗮’𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗲𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺. Over the last two decades, I have witnessed this industry evolve from traditional, branch-led models to a digitally driven ecosystem that’s empowering millions of investors across the country. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽-𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱, 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵-𝘁𝗼𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗮𝗽 𝗼𝗳 𝗮 𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻, 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝘁 𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁. Today, the majority of new users come from beyond metros, and many are engaging with financial products from investments to credit and insurance for the first time. This is more than an industry shift; it’s a generational movement. 𝗔 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗮 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲, 𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲, 𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳-𝗱𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗻, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗼𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲. We Angel One see this transition play out every day across our 𝟯.𝟰+ 𝗰𝗿𝗼𝗿𝗲 clients. Technology has made managing finance effortless. Through our Super App, growing wealth business, and digital-first approach to protection and investments, 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿 — 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘀𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲, 𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗺𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗻. The conversation was insightful, highlighting how technology, regulation, and consumer behaviour are collectively shaping the next decade of FinTech in India. 𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲: https://lnkd.in/dsD3FDcN

📈 India’s Fintech Evolution: The Road Ahead The fintech industry in India is no longer the “next big thing”—it is the big thing. From digital payments to lending, wealth tech, and insurance tech, fintech is reshaping how Indians save, invest, and transact. Some key trends to watch: Digital payments dominance: UPI continues to scale, now exceeding billions of monthly transactions. Embedded finance: Non-financial platforms are offering banking services seamlessly. Fintech consolidation: Startups are merging, aiming for scale and profitability. Regulatory clarity: RBI and SEBI are defining frameworks, giving investors confidence. For investors and professionals, the fintech space is a playground of innovation, disruption, and opportunity. Companies that prioritize user trust, technology, and compliance will lead the next wave. India is poised to become a global fintech hub, and understanding these dynamics early can make the difference between following trends and setting them. #FintechIndia #DigitalFinance #Innovation #InvestingTrends #FutureOfFinance #IndustryInsights

Three days. 400+ fintech leaders. One clear direction forward. Walking the floors, it became clear that India's fintech conversation is shifting. Hon'ble Prime Minister, Narendra Modi's keynote on financial inclusion set a backdrop for what everyone was actually building toward—solutions that scale, solutions that matter. What stood out: the conversations weren't just about technology for technology's sake. Founders were thinking deeply about rural finance, fraud prevention at scale, cost reduction, and building systems that work for India. That's the same direction Winvesta is heading in. The Bharat AI Experience Zone highlighted something important—responsible AI governance isn't a future concern, it's a present-day requirement. And the teams tackling fraud detection, payment systems, and financial accessibility are already moving fast. Three key insights Winvesta is taking forward: First, the infrastructure for inclusive finance exists—it's about connecting the dots better. Second, AI will reshape how fintech operates, but only if built with intention and responsibility. Third, collaboration matters more than ever. The problems are too big for any one team to solve alone. Winvesta leaves Global Fintech Fest 2025 with new connections, clearer direction on product evolution, and renewed conviction that the work being done in India's fintech space is genuinely important. The momentum is real. Let's build on it. #GlobalFintechFest2025 #Fintech #AI #InclusiveFinance #Winvesta

Why copy when it’s time to innovate? We’re the largest population in the world, buzzing with ambition and intelligence — yet, when it comes to innovation, we often look outside our borders. At the Global Fintech Fest, the RBI reminded us: “Fintechs must innovate for the unserved and underserved.” That’s not just a policy direction — it’s a wake-up call. Because the next wave of fintech isn’t about faster apps or prettier dashboards, it’s about solving India’s real problems — payments that empower small merchants, credit that reaches tier-3 towns, compliance that’s simple yet robust. Our SME sector doesn’t need another imported solution. It needs ideas born in India, built for India, and scalable to the world. It’s time we stop chasing trends — and start creating them. Let’s innovate, not imitate. 🇮🇳 #Fintech #Innovation #RBI #GFF2025 #DigitalIndia #SME #Payments #MakeInIndia #FinancialInclusion

Why Tier 2 and Tier 3 Cities Are the True Test for Fintech Scalability in India India’s fintech story is often told through the lens of metro cities. But the real test of scalability lies in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. Here is why these markets matter most: 𝗦𝗵𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗣𝗼𝗽𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 More than 500 million people live outside metros. Many are yet to be fully integrated into formal financial systems. 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁-𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗗𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 A large proportion of new Demat accounts and mutual fund SIPs are now coming from Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, showing a shift in participation. 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 Financial decisions in these regions are often community-driven. Building trust requires simplicity, transparency, and continuous education. 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 If platforms can deliver seamless service in lower bandwidth environments and with regional support, it proves real scalability. 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗔𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 As SEBI and RBI continue to push for inclusion, fintech adoption in smaller cities will be a key measure of policy success. The next chapter of India’s fintech growth will not be written only in metros. It will be shaped by how effectively we serve the aspirations of smaller cities that represent both the challenge and the true opportunity. #FintechIndia #FinancialInclusion #CapitalMarkets #InvestorMindset #Scalability

#BeDesi: The Next Frontier for Fintech Scale in India India’s fintech story is vibrant, competitive, and innovative. We have built world-class solutions in payments, credit, insurance, and beyond. But if we want to get bigger, go deeper, and reach every Indian, we must now Be Desi. Money in India has always been more than a transaction. It is tied to trust, tradition, and everyday life. We learned about money from our families and communities. Finance evolved from word-of-mouth savings advice to formal banking, from the sahukar and the postman kaka to the BC behen. That journey still shapes how people think about money today. Many of the fintech founders and architects grew up in times of limited salaries, limited brands, and limited options. These experiences inform some of the best solutions that define India’s fintechs. But somewhere we started focusing more on the Tech side of things. If fintech wants to truly scale, it must build for this reality about us: -Stop seeing “India” and “Bharat” as two worlds. They are one market, connected and full of opportunity. -Design for desi behaviours. True scale, trust, and customer stickiness come from understanding how people use and relate to money. -Don’t ignore the ‘Women’- they are half of your untapped customer base! -Solve for culture, not just convenience. From the ₹1 we set aside to buy the favourite candy, to the ₹101 shagun, to the ₹50 pocket money that taught us budgeting. These moments shape financial habits. Now it’s time to bring that desi wisdom into the products we build by being bold, rooted, relevant, and ready for scale. Global Fintech Fest Payments Council of India Women's World Banking India Paytm Spice Money MobiKwik PhonePe Lxme MahaMoney (महामनी) MahaMoney English #GFF2025 #Fintech #DigitalIndia #FinancialInclusion #Innovation #ViksitBharat #InclusiveFinance

At this year’s Global Fintech Festival, one message stood out: India’s capability is no longer defined by scale but by sophistication. Nirmala Sitharaman’s remarks on India’s 1,800+ GCCs captured that shift perfectly. What began as cost hubs has evolved into AI-driven innovation and fintech capability centres, building global products and designing the next phase of digital finance. But beyond technology, the festival reflected something deeper, a maturing ecosystem where policy, governance, and enterprise innovation are finally moving in sync. It’s a sign that India’s fintech and GCC narratives are beginning to converge, both shaping how global business is built and scaled from here. At BetterCompliance, we see this convergence as India’s next growth chapter, where governance doesn’t slow innovation; it strengthens it. Because as India’s GCC and fintech ecosystems mature together, the companies that align early with this clarity will define what “global from India” truly means. 💬 Which of these shifts do you think will shape India’s global role more: regulatory clarity or innovation speed? #GCCIndia #Fintech #Innovation #AI #GlobalBusiness #BetterCompliance

India is arguably the most exciting fintech market in the world — high volumes, deep mobile penetration, and a digital public infrastructure that’s years ahead of many developed economies. And yet, as we look ahead, there’s a growing opportunity to go beyond incremental improvements and start solving the harder, more meaningful problems that create lasting impact for millions. Here are four areas where real innovation could move the needle: 1. Programmable Money for MSMEs Small businesses don’t just need payment links , they need programmable financial flows. Imagine money that automatically splits into taxes, inventory, and payroll the moment it’s received. No dashboards. No spreadsheets. Just logic in motion. 2. AI-Native Credit Models Built on Indian Data Underwriting still relies on outdated credit scores and PDF salary slips. With GST, UPI, telecom, and mobility data available, why aren’t we building real-time, context-aware models for credit decisions for the underserved? 3. Embedded Finance That Works at Scale Every tech product is a potential fintech product provided the infra allows. India needs a Stripe-level stack that actually plays well with compliance, scales with Bharat volumes, and doesn’t require a 6-month integration cycle. 4. Decentralised Risk Pools for the Uninsured ~70% of India remains uninsured. Centralised insurance players can’t reach or price for the long tail. Smart, transparent, community-based pooling (with the right tech + governance) could unlock protection for millions. India’s fintech builders have the talent. The market is ready. The infrastructure is in place. What we need now is the ambition to solve deeper, more systemic problems and the patience to build enduring solutions. Let’s build boldly. #Fintech #FinancialInclusion

From GFF Mumbai to India’s States: Fintech for Inclusion “Empowering Finance for a Better World — Powered by AI.” That was the theme of the Global Fintech Fest 2025, held in Mumbai this week and it perfectly captured how India’s fintech journey is shifting from innovation to inclusion. For someone deeply interested in governance and public infrastructure, GFF was a reminder that digital finance is no longer a private-sector experiment, it’s public infrastructure in motion. 🔍 Key Takeaways from GFF • The RBI unveiled four new digital payment initiatives to enhance convenience, security, and accessibility, including AI-powered UPI HELP and expanded offline digital payments for low-connectivity areas. • Easebuzz, in partnership with NPCI, launched Banking Connect IBMB - a step toward seamless interoperability between banks and fintechs. • NPCI’s Chairman highlighted the growing risks of AI concentration, urging India to preserve digital sovereignty while scaling inclusion. These moves represent more than fintech progress, they’re steps toward building India’s digital public infrastructure: a framework where citizens, MSMEs, and local governments can transact, borrow, insure, and grow with ease. 🏘️ Why This Matters for India’s States 1. Deeper financial inclusion: Stronger digital rails can bring formal finance to remote districts, small towns, and rural economies across India. 2. Empowered MSMEs: Fairer, data-driven credit systems will help small enterprises access capital faster and compete better. 3. Localized fintech ecosystems: As states invest in innovation clusters and fintech hubs, localized solutions can emerge for agriculture, micro-lending, and local governance. 4. Policy alignment: Digital finance works best when state and central policies sync, turning technology into a tool for public good. 🌱 A Vision for India’s Fintech Future When I think of #GrowthInProgress, I see an India where a farmer in Madhya Pradesh, a trader in Tamil Nadu, and a startup in Assam have the same seamless access to digital finance as someone in Mumbai or Bengaluru. The Global Fintech Fest wasn’t just an industry gathering, it was a glimpse of India’s next phase of development: digital, distributed, and deeply democratic. Here’s to building financial infrastructure that connects not just users, but opportunities -one state, one citizen, and one innovation at a time. #GrowthInProgress #Fintech #DigitalGovernance #PublicInfrastructure #FinancialInclusion #MSME #Innovation #IndiaGrowthStory