In the vast landscape of India’s startup ecosystem, fintech has emerged as a beacon of innovation and disruption. With a burgeoning middle class, rapid digitization, and government initiatives promoting financial inclusion, the Indian fintech sector has witnessed unprecedented growth in recent years. Here, we present a curated list of the top 10 fintech startups that are reshaping the financial landscape of India.
1. Paytm
Paytm – Top 10 Fintech Startups in India
Paytm, founded in 2010 by Vijay Shekhar Sharma, started as a mobile payments platform and has evolved into a comprehensive digital financial services provider. It offers a wide range of services including mobile wallet, bill payments, ticket bookings, online shopping, wealth management, and insurance services. With millions of users and a diverse range of offerings, Paytm has become one of India’s most recognizable fintech brands.
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Founder(s) | Vijay Shekhar Sharma |
| Year Founded | 2010 |
| Overview | Paytm started as a mobile payments platform and has since evolved into a comprehensive digital financial services provider. It offers services such as mobile wallet, bill payments, ticket bookings, online shopping, wealth management, and insurance services. Paytm is one of India’s most recognizable fintech brands, with millions of users and a diverse range of offerings. |
Arguably one of India’s most recognizable fintech brands, Paytm has transformed from a mobile wallet service to a full-fledged digital payments platform. With millions of users and a diverse range of services including bill payments, ticket bookings, and online shopping, Paytm has become synonymous with digital transactions in India. The company’s foray into wealth management and insurance further cements its position as a comprehensive financial services provider.
2. PhonePe
PhonePe – Top 10 Fintech Startups in India
Founded in 2015 by Sameer Nigam, Rahul Chari, and Burzin Engineer, PhonePe is a leading player in India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) ecosystem. It offers seamless peer-to-peer transactions, bill payments, and merchant services. PhonePe stands out with its user-friendly interface, innovative features like ‘Switch’ for in-app services, and integration with the UPI ecosystem. Acquired by Walmart in 2018, PhonePe continues to expand its user base and service offerings.
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Founder(s) | Sameer Nigam, Rahul Chari, and Burzin Engineer |
| Year Founded | 2015 |
| Overview | PhonePe is a leading player in India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) ecosystem. It offers seamless peer-to-peer transactions, bill payments, and merchant services. PhonePe features innovative services like ‘Switch’ for in-app services and investments. Acquired by Walmart in 2018, PhonePe continues to expand its user base and service offerings. |
Acquired by Walmart in 2018, PhonePe is a leading player in India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) ecosystem. Offering seamless peer-to-peer transactions, bill payments, and merchant services, PhonePe has gained widespread adoption among consumers and businesses alike. Its innovative features such as ‘Switch’ for in-app services and investments have contributed to its rapid growth and popularity.
3. Razorpay
Razorpay – Top 10 Fintech Startups in India
Razorpay, founded in 2014 by Harshil Mathur and Shashank Kumar, empowers businesses with its suite of payment solutions catering to online and offline transactions. From payment gateways to subscription billing, Razorpay offers a seamless payment experience coupled with robust security features. Its focus on simplifying financial operations for businesses has earned it a strong reputation in India’s fintech space.
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Founder(s) | Harshil Mathur and Shashank Kumar |
| Year Founded | 2014 |
| Overview | Razorpay is empowering businesses with its suite of payment solutions, catering to online and offline transactions. From payment gateways to subscription billing, Razorpay offers a seamless payment experience coupled with robust security features. The company’s focus on simplifying financial operations for businesses has earned it a strong reputation in India’s fintech space. |
Razorpay is empowering businesses with its suite of payment solutions, catering to online and offline transactions. From payment gateways to subscription billing, Razorpay offers a seamless payment experience coupled with robust security features. The company’s focus on simplifying financial operations for businesses has earned it a strong reputation in India’s fintech space.
4. Zerodha
Zerodha – Top 10 Fintech Startups in India
Zerodha, founded in 2010 by Nithin Kamath, is India’s largest retail brokerage firm, revolutionizing stock trading with its technology-driven platform. It offers low-cost brokerage and a user-friendly interface, democratizing access to capital markets for retail investors. Zerodha’s innovative products like Coin (mutual fund platform) and Kite (trading platform) have garnered a loyal customer base, making it a dominant player in India’s fintech landscape.
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Founder(s) | Nithin Kamath |
| Year Founded | 2010 |
| Overview | Zerodha is India’s largest retail brokerage firm, revolutionizing stock trading with its technology-driven platform. It offers low-cost brokerage and a user-friendly interface, democratizing access to capital markets for retail investors. Zerodha’s innovative products like Coin (mutual fund platform) and Kite (trading platform) have garnered a loyal customer base, making it a dominant player in India’s fintech landscape. |
As India’s largest retail brokerage firm, Zerodha has revolutionized stock trading with its technology-driven platform. Offering low-cost brokerage and a user-friendly interface, Zerodha has democratized access to capital markets for retail investors. Its innovative products like Coin (mutual fund platform) and Kite (trading platform) have garnered a loyal customer base, making it a dominant player in India’s fintech landscape.
5. PolicyBazaar
PolicyBazaar – Top 10 Fintech Startups in India
PolicyBazaar, founded in 2008 by Yashish Dahiya and Alok Bansal, bridges the gap in India’s insurance market by offering a digital platform for comparing and purchasing insurance policies. It provides a wide range of offerings including health, life, and motor insurance, with transparency and convenience for users. PolicyBazaar’s user-friendly interface and personalized recommendations have made it a go-to destination for insurance seekers.
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Founder(s) | Yashish Dahiya and Alok Bansal |
| Year Founded | 2008 |
| Overview | PolicyBazaar is bridging the gap in India’s insurance market by offering a digital platform for comparing and purchasing insurance policies. It provides a wide range of offerings including health, life, and motor insurance, with transparency and convenience for users. PolicyBazaar’s user-friendly interface and personalized recommendations have made it a go-to destination for insurance seekers. |
In a country where insurance penetration remains low, PolicyBazaar is bridging the gap by offering a digital platform for comparing and purchasing insurance policies. With a wide range of offerings including health, life, and motor insurance, PolicyBazaar provides users with transparency and convenience in their insurance decisions. Its user-friendly interface and personalized recommendations have made it a go-to destination for insurance seekers.
6. Lendingkart
Lendingkart – Top 10 Fintech Startups in India
Lendingkart, founded in 2014 by Harshvardhan Lunia and Mukul Sachan, addresses the credit needs of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with its technology-driven lending platform. It provides quick and hassle-free access to credit for businesses by leveraging alternative data sources and machine learning algorithms. Lendingkart’s innovative credit scoring model evaluates the creditworthiness of SMEs, enabling them to secure loans without traditional collateral requirements.
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Founder(s) | Harshvardhan Lunia and Mukul Sachan |
| Year Founded | 2014 |
| Overview | Lendingkart is addressing the credit needs of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with its technology-driven lending platform. It provides quick and hassle-free access to credit for businesses by leveraging alternative data sources and machine learning algorithms. Lendingkart’s innovative credit scoring model evaluates the creditworthiness of SMEs, enabling them to secure loans without traditional collateral requirements. |
Lendingkart is addressing the credit needs of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with its technology-driven lending platform. By leveraging alternative data sources and machine learning algorithms, Lendingkart provides quick and hassle-free access to credit for businesses. Its innovative credit scoring model evaluates the creditworthiness of SMEs, enabling them to secure loans without traditional collateral requirements.
7. CRED
CRED – Top 10 Fintech Startups in India
CRED, founded in 2018 by Kunal Shah, is redefining credit card payments with its rewards-based platform that incentivizes timely bill payments. It encourages responsible credit behavior among users by offering exclusive rewards and benefits. CRED’s gamified interface and curated rewards have struck a chord with credit card users, making it one of the fastest-growing fintech startups in India.
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Founder(s) | Kunal Shah |
| Year Founded | 2018 |
| Overview | CRED is redefining credit card payments with its rewards-based platform that incentivizes timely bill payments. It encourages responsible credit behavior among users by offering exclusive rewards and benefits. CRED’s gamified interface and curated rewards have struck a chord with credit card users, making it one of the fastest-growing fintech startups in India. |
CRED is redefining credit card payments with its rewards-based platform that incentivizes timely bill payments. By offering exclusive rewards and benefits, CRED encourages responsible credit behavior among users. Its gamified interface and curated rewards have struck a chord with credit card users, making it one of the fastest-growing fintech startups in India.
8. BharatPe
BharatPe – Top 10 Fintech Startups in India
BharatPe, founded in 2018 by Ashneer Grover and Shashvat Nakrani, empowers small merchants with its QR code-based payment solution and business finance offerings. It digitizes offline transactions and provides access to working capital loans, enabling small businesses to thrive in the digital economy. BharatPe’s focus on serving the underserved segments of the market has earned it accolades and recognition in India’s fintech ecosystem.
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Founder(s) | Ashneer Grover and Shashvat Nakrani |
| Year Founded | 2018 |
| Overview | BharatPe is empowering small merchants with its QR code-based payment solution and business finance offerings. It digitizes offline transactions and provides access to working capital loans, enabling small businesses to thrive in the digital economy. BharatPe’s focus on serving the underserved segments of the market has earned it accolades and recognition in India’s fintech ecosystem. |
BharatPe is empowering small merchants with its QR code-based payment solution and business finance offerings. By digitizing offline transactions and providing access to working capital loans, BharatPe is enabling small businesses to thrive in the digital economy. Its focus on serving the underserved segments of the market has earned it accolades and recognition in India’s fintech ecosystem.
9. Niyo
Niyo – Top 10 Fintech Startups in India
Niyo, founded in 2015 by Vinay Bagri and Virender Bisht, is transforming the banking experience for salaried professionals with its neo-banking platform. It offers salary accounts with integrated savings, investment, and expense management features, simplifying personal finance for users. Niyo’s seamless integration with popular payroll systems and innovative banking products have positioned it as a disruptive force in India’s fintech landscape.
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Founder(s) | Vinay Bagri and Virender Bisht |
| Year Founded | 2015 |
| Overview | Niyo is transforming the banking experience for salaried professionals with its neo-banking platform. It offers salary accounts with integrated savings, investment, and expense management features, simplifying personal finance for users. Niyo’s seamless integration with popular payroll systems and innovative banking products have positioned it as a disruptive force in India’s fintech landscape. |
Niyo is transforming the banking experience for salaried professionals with its neo-banking platform. By offering salary accounts with integrated savings, investment, and expense management features, Niyo is simplifying personal finance for its users. Its seamless integration with popular payroll systems and innovative banking products have positioned Niyo as a disruptive force in India’s fintech landscape.
10. Upstox
Upstox – Top 10 Fintech Startups in India
Upstox, founded in 2012 by Raghu Kumar and Ravi Kumar, is disrupting the online trading space with its low-cost brokerage and advanced trading tools. It caters to both seasoned traders and first-time investors, offering a feature-rich platform with real-time market data and analytics. Upstox’s focus on customer empowerment and education has helped it gain traction among India’s growing investor community.
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Founder(s) | Raghu Kumar and Ravi Kumar |
| Year Founded | 2012 |
| Overview | Upstox is disrupting the online trading space with its low-cost brokerage and advanced trading tools. It caters to both seasoned traders and first-time investors, offering a feature-rich platform with real-time market data and analytics. Upstox’s focus on customer empowerment and education has helped it gain traction among India’s growing investor community. |
Upstox is disrupting the online trading space with its low-cost brokerage and advanced trading tools. Catering to both seasoned traders and first-time investors, Upstox offers a feature-rich platform with real-time market data and analytics. Its focus on customer empowerment and education has helped it gain traction among India’s growing investor community.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s) about Top 10 Fintech Startups in India
1. Paytm
Q: What services does Paytm offer?
A: Paytm offers a wide range of digital financial services including mobile wallet, bill payments, ticket bookings, online shopping, wealth management, and insurance services.
Q: Is Paytm secure for transactions?
A: Yes, Paytm employs robust security measures to ensure the safety of transactions, including encryption and multi-factor authentication.
Q: How can I contact Paytm customer support?
A: You can reach Paytm customer support through the app or website, via email, chat support, or by calling their customer care number.
2. PhonePe
Q: How does PhonePe stand out in the digital payments space?
A: PhonePe stands out with its seamless user experience, innovative features like ‘Switch’ for in-app services, and its integration with the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) ecosystem.
Q: Can PhonePe be used for international transactions?
A: As of now, PhonePe primarily focuses on domestic transactions within India.
Q: What are the fees associated with using PhonePe?
A: PhonePe does not charge users for UPI transactions. However, there may be fees associated with certain services or transactions.
3. Razorpay
Q: What types of businesses does Razorpay cater to?
A: Razorpay caters to both online and offline businesses, offering payment solutions such as payment gateways, subscription billing, and more.
Q: How does Razorpay ensure the security of transactions?
A: Razorpay employs industry-standard security protocols including encryption and compliance with regulatory guidelines.
Q: Does Razorpay support international payments?
A: Yes, Razorpay supports international payments for businesses operating globally.
4. Zerodha
Q: What are the brokerage charges for trading with Zerodha?
A: Zerodha offers competitive brokerage rates, including zero brokerage for equity delivery trades. Other trades incur flat fees or a percentage of the trade value.
Q: Can I invest in mutual funds through Zerodha?
A: Yes, Zerodha offers a platform called Coin for investing in direct mutual funds with no commission fees.
Q: How can I open an account with Zerodha?
A: You can open an account with Zerodha online by filling out the account opening form and completing the KYC process.
5. PolicyBazaar
Q: How does PolicyBazaar make money?
A: PolicyBazaar earns revenue through commissions paid by insurance companies for policies sold through its platform.
Q: Can I renew my insurance policies through PolicyBazaar?
A: Yes, PolicyBazaar allows users to compare and renew their insurance policies online.
Q: Is PolicyBazaar affiliated with any insurance company?
A: PolicyBazaar is an independent insurance aggregator and is not affiliated with any specific insurance company.
6. Lendingkart
Q: What types of businesses does Lendingkart provide loans to?
A: Lendingkart provides loans to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) across various industries, including manufacturing, trading, and services.
Q: What documents are required to apply for a loan with Lendingkart?
A: The documents required may vary, but typically include business registration documents, financial statements, and KYC documents for the business owner(s).
Q: How long does it take to get a loan approval from Lendingkart?
A: Lendingkart aims to provide quick loan approvals, often within a few days of receiving all required documents.
7. CRED
Q: How does CRED reward users for timely bill payments?
A: CRED offers exclusive rewards and benefits to users who pay their credit card bills on time. These rewards can include cashback, discounts, or access to premium services.
Q: Are there any fees for using CRED?
A: CRED does not charge users for its basic services. However, certain premium features may have associated fees.
Q: How can I redeem rewards earned through CRED?
A: Users can redeem their CRED rewards for various offers and discounts available on the platform.
8. BharatPe
Q: How does BharatPe’s QR code-based payment solution work?
A: BharatPe provides merchants with a QR code that customers can scan to make payments using their preferred payment method, including UPI, credit/debit cards, and digital wallets.
Q: Does BharatPe offer working capital loans to merchants?
A: Yes, BharatPe offers working capital loans to merchants based on their transaction history and sales performance.
Q: How can merchants sign up with BharatPe?
A: Merchants can sign up with BharatPe by downloading the BharatPe app and following the registration process, which typically involves providing basic business information and completing KYC requirements.
9. Niyo
Q: What features are included in Niyo’s neo-banking platform?
A: Niyo’s neo-banking platform offers salary accounts with integrated savings, investment, and expense management features, along with a Visa-powered debit card for online and offline transactions.
Q: Can I use Niyo’s services if I am self-employed?
A: Niyo primarily caters to salaried professionals but may offer services to self-employed individuals depending on their specific circumstances.
Q: Does Niyo charge any fees for its services?
A: Niyo’s basic services are typically offered free of charge, but certain premium features may have associated fees.
10. Upstox
Q: What are the brokerage charges for trading with Upstox?
A: Upstox offers competitive brokerage rates, including zero brokerage for equity delivery trades. Other trades may incur flat fees or a percentage of the trade value.
Q: How does Upstox provide market data and analytics to users?
A: Upstox offers real-time market data and analytics through its trading platform, providing users with insights to make informed investment decisions.
Q: Can I trade in derivatives using Upstox?
A: Yes, Upstox allows users to trade in derivatives including futures and options, subject to regulatory requirements.
Conclusion:
The fintech revolution in India is driven by innovation, technology, and a deep understanding of consumer needs. As these top 10 fintech startups continue to push the boundaries of financial services, they are not only reshaping the industry but also empowering millions of Indians with access to better financial solutions. With a supportive regulatory environment and a thriving startup ecosystem, the future looks promising for fintech innovation in India.
