Dugar Finance has raised $5 million in a pre-Series A round led by HegdInvst, with plans to deepen its footprint in semi-urban and rural markets. The additional capital will be used to strengthen technology and risk management systems, positioning the fintech for its next growth phase and smoother scaling of operations.
Salmon has raised $100M in equity and debt to expand digital credit for underbanked Filipinos, including people with little or no credit history. The startup is also aiming at borrowers frustrated by the reliability gaps of incumbent lenders. With the funding, Salmon plans to widen access to credit while navigating a market where traditional underwriting can leave many behind.
Your news, in seconds
Get the Beige app — every story in 60 words, updated hourly. Free on iOS & Android.
Visa is reportedly set to appoint Suresh Sethi, the former CEO of Protean eGov Technologies, as its new India country head, succeeding Sandeep Ghosh. The move comes as Visa steps up focus on digital payments and deeper regional partnerships. With Sethi’s background across banking and technology, the leadership change signals a renewed effort to accelerate growth in India’s fast-evolving payments market.
An estimated 3 million bottom-of-the-pyramid borrowers have lost access to formal financing over the past nine months, raising concerns that regulatory tightening is diluting India’s financial inclusion push. The shift appears to be hitting lower-income borrowers hardest, potentially reversing gains made by fintech and lenders in expanding credit access to underserved communities.
Indian savers are increasingly shifting money from fixed deposits to equities and mutual funds, signaling a major change in household finance. Lower and more uncertain FD returns, improving access to mutual funds via fintech, and greater comfort with market-linked investing are pushing savers to seek higher long-term growth. The result: a rapid transition from safety-first to returns-focused portfolios.
Private asset reconstruction companies are steadily losing market share, with their total AUM projected to dip 4%–6% to about INR 1.05 lakh crore this fiscal after a 15% fall last year. Meanwhile, government-backed NARCL is emerging as the preferred buyer and resolver of stressed assets, reshaping who gets the most bad-loan business.
Never miss a story
Set alerts for the topics and sources you care about. Download Beige for free.
As UPI and digital wallets grow fast, India’s coin presses are reportedly slowing and going underused. The shift is leaving the currency system in limbo, with overlapping coin denominations and an unclear withdrawal policy. With cash demand weakening, mints that once ran steadily now struggle to stay relevant amid a digital payment surge.
Veteran bankers are launching rural-focused lending startups to replace abusive local loan sharks, betting on a growing credit need across villages. But expansion is far from easy: building reliable borrower data, managing defaults, and handling thin documentation can quickly erode margins. The opportunity is huge, yet execution decides who survives.
AI adoption is giving NBFCs a measurable edge in lending, helping them win market share by improving credit underwriting and decision speed. The shift could let NBFCs grow faster than traditional banks over the next decade, squeezing incumbents that rely on older risk models and slower processes. As efficiency rises, competitiveness tilts toward AI-first lenders.
Fico, a US analytics firm behind credit scoring used by homebuyers, says stringent data localisation rules in India may impair fraud detection for banks. The company already runs traditional fraud models in the country, and is now pitching new payment fraud detection solutions. Its concern centers on how localisation requirements could restrict effective deployment of fraud analytics.
Reading on mobile?
Open Beige in the app for a smoother experience — free on iOS and Android.
JITO Incubation and Innovation Foundation plans to invest Rs 80–100 crore in early-stage startups over the next 12–18 months, backing 20–25 companies annually. The foundation has also taken a step to expand its deal flow by investing in Atomic Capital. It’s now preparing a new Asia-Pacific accelerator program focused on AI, fintech, and climate ventures.
A year-old fintech, PaisaDukan, is looking to become an alternate banking system for rural communities by opening branches in places like Madhubani, Bihar. The push reflects growing demand for easier, local financial services and highlights how new fintech players are trying to bridge the gap left by traditional banking coverage.
Despite massive IT budgets, banks are still relying on fraud controls that critics say look primitive as cases rise. The gap suggests technology spending isn’t translating into smarter detection, faster prevention, or better protection for customers. With fraud tactics evolving, the real question is whether banking systems are keeping pace or lagging behind the threat curve.
Fintech platform Groww has granted 24.32 lakh employee stock options worth about Rs 51 crore, following a standout Q4 FY26. The company reported an 87% jump in revenue and a more than doubling of net profit. With a lean team, Groww is also leaning into AI to speed up product development, signaling ambitious growth plans.
Follow your favourite sources
Track sources, tags and categories — all in the Beige app.
Slice, a small finance bank, is reportedly in discussions with VC firms and other investors to raise $50–100 million, but at a lower valuation. The move comes as the fintech sector faces increased regulatory scrutiny, putting funding plans and growth timelines under sharper pressure.
Merisis has appointed Ruchir Kapoor to strengthen its fintech practice and drive a new wealth management foray. The hire brings over 20 years of experience spanning wealth management, fintech, NBFCs, and trade and SME banking, along with leadership experience across multiple geographies. The move signals Merisis’ intent to deepen financial services capabilities.
M2P Fintech has appointed Vivek Seshadri as its group chief financial officer, aiming to tighten capital discipline and strengthen internal systems ahead of a potential IPO in India. With over 15 years of experience from investment banking and investor relations, Seshadri’s role is positioned as groundwork for a future public listing.
Indian tech startups raised $11.7 billion in FY 2025-26, down 18% from the prior year, even as early-stage funding climbed 33%. India stayed the fourth-highest funded country globally. FinTech and Enterprise Applications attracted most investment, while IPOs and unicorn creation rose noticeably—signaling a shift in where and how capital is flowing.
Stay informed on the go
Bite-sized news from 100+ trusted sources, right in your pocket.
As fintech expands beyond polished urban hubs, patchy internet access is undermining user confidence. Frequent time-outs, slow pockets of connectivity, and sudden drops make digital banking feel unreliable—especially for customers in tier-2 and smaller towns—creating a practical barrier to adoption despite the promise of convenience and speed.
Razorpay is reportedly preparing a confidential IPO filing, but investors may scrutinize whether its growth is sustainable and how quickly it can reach profitability. The startup, previously valued at $7.5 billion, could face valuation pressure, with estimates pointing to roughly $5 billion. The move also comes after Walmart-backed PhonePe paused its $1.3 billion IPO due to geopolitical concerns.
Swipe through stories, personalise your feed, and save articles for later — all on the app.