Unicorn India Ventures’ Post

1. **Startup Overview:** - Former ZestMoney CEO Lizzie Chapman and CTO Ashish Anantharaman are launching a new B2B fintech venture called SwiffyLabs. - Jio Platforms is expected to invest $100 Mn, holding a majority stake in SwiffyLabs. 2. **Focus Area:** - SwiffyLabs will operate as a full-fledged B2B firm, concentrating on digital payment infrastructure (DPI), Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) products, APIs, and other solutions for banks and NBFCs. 3. **Location and Teams:** - The startup will be headquartered in Bengaluru, with teams in place for product development, technology, and other functions. 4. **Potential Impact:** - In a regulatory challenging environment for B2C fintech in India, the B2B model of SwiffyLabs aims to attract investors by helping financial services digitize with emerging technologies. 5. **Jio Platforms Involvement:** - Jio Platforms, backed by Reliance Industries Limited, has a diverse portfolio, including pharmaceuticals, AR/VR, ecommerce, logistics, and drone technology. - SwiffyLabs will join this portfolio, benefiting from Jio's substantial subscriber base and investments in tech networks. 6. **Investment Comparison:** - Jio Platforms' investment in SwiffyLabs is expected to mirror its approach with Haptik, an AI-based conversational platform acquired in 2019. 7. **Independence and Collaboration:** - SwiffyLabs will operate independently within Jio Platforms, although potential clients may come from Jio Financial Services. 8. **Service Range:** - SwiffyLabs aims to offer services for banks' digitization journeys, catering to both domestic and international markets. 9. **Founder Background:** - Lizzie Chapman, co-founder of ZestMoney, brings her experience to SwiffyLabs, emphasizing a shift from B2C to B2B fintech. 10. **Market Landscape:** - The B2B fintech space SwiffyLabs is entering is less crowded, providing potential growth opportunities. In summary, SwiffyLabs, backed by Jio Platforms, ventures into B2B fintech, focusing on digital payment infrastructure for banks and NBFCs, with a strategic approach and potential for significant impact in the evolving financial services landscape.

In a country where cash transactions were the norm, this startup envisioned a future where payments were seamless, secure, and accessible to all. In today’s Monday Motivation, FavcyVB presents the success story of Pine Labs - a startup revolutionizing payments in India The Problem Statement: India, with its vast and diverse population, faced significant challenges in traditional payment methods. The dominance of cash transactions, especially in smaller towns and villages, hindered economic growth and financial inclusion. The Solution: Founded in 1998 by Lokvir Kapoor, Rajul Garg, and Tarun Upadhyay, Pine Labs emerged as a pioneering force in the Indian payments industry. The company envisioned a future where payments were seamless, secure, and accessible to all. Pine Labs started by providing point-of-sale (POS) terminals to merchants, enabling them to accept card payments. However, they quickly realized the potential for innovation and expansion. Growth: Product Diversification: Pine Labs expanded its product offerings to include payment gateways, loyalty solutions, and digital wallets. This diversification allowed them to cater to a wider range of businesses and customers. Technological Advancements: The company invested heavily in technology to stay ahead of the curve. They developed proprietary payment platforms and integrated them with emerging technologies like QR codes and NFC. Strategic Partnerships: Pine Labs forged strategic alliances with banks, fintech companies, and retailers to strengthen its market position. Key Features: Unified Commerce Platform: Pine Labs offers a comprehensive platform that enables businesses to manage their entire payment ecosystem, including online and offline transactions. Data Analytics: The company leverages data analytics to provide valuable insights to merchants, helping them optimize their operations and make data-driven decisions. Impact: Pine Labs has played a pivotal role in driving digital transformation in India. By providing reliable and efficient payment solutions, the company has contributed to the growth of e-commerce, retail, and other industries. It has also empowered millions of businesses and consumers by making payments more accessible and convenient. Conclusion: Pine Labs' success story is a testament to the power of innovation and entrepreneurship. By identifying a significant market need and developing innovative solutions, the company has become a leader in the Indian payments industry. #startups #favcy #founders #mondaymotivation

Airwallex, the Tencent-backed digital payments startup, just hit $𝟱𝟬𝟬 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻 🤯 of annual run rate (ARR) revenue and is seeking to get IPO-ready by 2026, according to CEO Jack Zhang “I think the next big milestone is the $1 billion,” Zhang said, in response to a question on what’s next for the Singapore-based firm after crossing the $500 million ARR milestone last month. “Hopefully we can achieve that in 2026, or 2027. That is the goal.” Zhang said that Airwallex has seen significant growth in its business in the last year, boosted by an expansion into developed markets such as the U.K., Europe, and North America. In the Americas region, Airwallex grew its revenue by more than 300% year-over-year, according to figures shared with CNBC. Airwallex crossed $100 billion in annual payment processing volumes this year, Zhang said, marking a 73% increase from last year. “It took us nine years to cross the $100 billion mark,” Zhang said. “Hopefully it takes less than a year to get to $200 billion.” I highly recommend reading the complete interview by Ryan Browne for more interesting info: https://lnkd.in/dCfv-V3W Airwallex, which was most recently valued at $5.6 billion and is backed by Tencent, has been tipped as one of many major fintech IPO candidates. Find this helpful? [ 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘁 ] Anything to add about this subject? [𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁] Nice story, Marcel. Next! [ 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 ] 

NPCI, startups brainstorm on ways to mitigate concentration risk on UPI https://lnkd.in/gfeuvyVg Download Economic Times App to stay updated with Business News - https://lnkd.in/eK4XZsX #npci #upi #upipayments

We are thrilled to report that AuthPay, the leading fintech startup, has just secured a significant milestone in its journey towards revolutionizing the payment solutions landscape! In a remarkable feat, AuthPay has successfully closed a $450K pre-seed funding round, with Scope VC leading the charge as the primary investor. This substantial investment will fuel AuthPay's innovative growth strategies and cement its position as a frontrunner in the fintech sector. Established in July 2020, AuthPay is dedicated to providing businesses worldwide with secure and seamless payment solutions underpinned by cutting-edge technology and a steadfast commitment to customer satisfaction. Their platform streamlines transaction processing enhances security measures and delivers frictionless payment experiences for end-users. A standout feature of AuthPay's offering is its revolutionary intelligent wallet technology, which maximizes rewards for every transaction. Leveraging patent-pending artificial intelligence, AuthPay recommends the most suitable card based on factors such as merchant type, location, and existing loyalty programs, ensuring users derive maximum value from their purchases. This momentous investment from SCOPE VC underscores AuthPay's potential for disruptive innovation in fintech. It follows SCOPE VC's recent launch of a $45 million venture capital fund to fuel innovation in the fintech and gaming sectors. As a news reporter, I find it fascinating to witness AuthPay's remarkable progress and the endorsement it receives from industry leaders like SCOPE VC. AuthPay's commitment to innovation and customer-centricity positions it as a formidable force driving positive change in fintech. Congratulations to AuthPay and SCOPE VC on this momentous achievement! https://lnkd.in/gBgKpasW #Fintech #StartupNews #VentureCapital #AuthPay #SCOPEVC #Innovation #SmartWallet #AI #TransactionProcessing #LoyaltyPrograms

Wallet as a service startup Ansa raises a $14 million series A #Ansa, the innovative Wallets-as-a-Service platform empowering merchants to launch branded customer wallets, has secured $14 million in a Series A funding round. Renegade Partners led the investment, with participation from Bain Capital Ventures, B37 Ventures, BoxGroup, and Wischoff Ventures. Ansa is led by CEO and co-founder Sophia Goldberg and 👨🏻💻 JT Cho, a visionary due in the payments industry. Ansa addresses the pressing need for modern payment solutions in the rapidly evolving commerce and #fintech landscape. With merchants facing increasing costs and consumer spending trends shifting, Ansa's platform offers a solution to optimize payment strategies, drive customer engagement, and enhance revenue streams. The funding will enable Ansa to expand the depth of its payment solutions, focusing on product development and engineering. By empowering merchants to offer branded customer wallets and seamlessly integrate rewards and loyalty incentives, Ansa aims to drive increased customer engagement, retention, and frequency. The platform's API-first approach allows merchants to effortlessly launch white-labeled customer wallets, driving business growth and enhancing the overall customer experience. Sophia Goldberg emphasizes the importance of modernizing payment solutions to meet the evolving needs of consumers and merchants alike. Ansa's platform not only addresses current challenges but also sets a new standard for seamless purchasing experiences, boosting customer loyalty and lifetime value. Ansa's groundbreaking approach to payments has garnered recognition from industry experts, including The Information's Most Promising Startups of 2023 and Money2020's esteemed Startup Network. The significant female investor representation in the funding round reflects a positive shift in the fintech funding environment, highlighting diversity and inclusion in the industry. The article on Finextra in the first comment. Want to stay up to date with the market? Here my newsletter: - Linkedin: https://t.ly/s541W   - Substack: https://lnkd.in/dzfGJzmW

NICHE STATS Niche Idea : Build a payment facilitation platform for companies to embed payment service Niche Industry : Financial Technology Niche Sub - Industry : Payment Facilitation (PayFacs) Lite Niche Sector : Payment Sector Niche Sub - sector : Payment Service Provider Niche Products : A platform Niche End-users: SMEs, Merchants, SaaS companies Niche Business Model : Subscription Model Niche Services : Risk monitor, Settle, Offer payment consultation, Underwrite, Onboard, Register, Apply fees, Integrate, Report, Comply Niche Aim : Empower SaaS companies to integrate and monetize payments Niche Goal : Improve the client & merchant experience by applying artificial intelligence to the risk functions of payments Niche Vision : To propel businesses forward by doubling their revenue per customer Niche Mission : Enable customers to receive, track, and manage payments inside your application Niche Focus : Is to reduce churn rate by using payment Niche Objective : Provide the opportunity for businesses to make new, high margin revenue from payment Niche Purpose : Offer an additional source of revenue to businesses The Problem : Small & medium businesses pay approximately 3% to networks and issuing banks to accept credit cards Niche Solution : Provide a payment facilitation solution that enables companies to integrate payment into their product and services Niche size : US$260.2 Billion Gross payment volume : US$4.013 Trillion Transaction Revenue : US$15 Billion Total number of startups (Globally) - Seed & Stealth Stage - 16,751 Ventures Early stage - 8,430 Startups Growth stage Startups - 5, 290 Startups Top Companies : 4,853 Firms Total funding raised : USD$5.12 Billion Niche Demand  : 15.60% Niche Driver : Is being driven by investments from payment networks Niche strength - 30.5% Velocity to Scale : 10X² Survival matrix: 20.5% Investors Appetite : Strong Niche Status : Trending Competition Rating : Very Intense Market Launch : North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East, Oceania, Latin America, Africa Amount raised Today - 4 startups raised USD$77 million in funding Funding Purpose : To further develop their products #Niche #Statistics #payment #facilitator #embedded #platform #vc #startups #funding

"Get ready to be amazed by the top-tier startups transforming the UK Tech Scene through their innovative apps. Our latest article sheds some light on their ventures and their contribution to the industry. Here is the link to the post: https://lnkd.in/gAdv2QZP Featuring: Atlantic Money, founded by Neeraj Baid and Patrick Kavanagh, is revolutionising international money transfers. Diving into command bar software, Raycast built by Petr Nikolaev and Thomas Mann is empowering developers to their fullest potential. WeLinQ, headed by Amit Kumar Kushwaha, introduces an energetic mingling of mobile apps, online games and personal health. pawaPay, a rising star in mobile payments, offering comprehensive solutions across Africa. Anima, led by Shun Pang, is the new-age platform for healthcare, helping care teams resolve caseload swiftly and safely. Zeta Markets sultrily treads into the realm of financial exchanges with a focus on DeFi derivatives. Shackle, a novel concept transforming the traditional guests' experience at hotels, digitalising services for a seamless stay. Earnr, a visionary concept by Anil Nair, Enzo Ottens, and Jamie Leverton, tailoring tax services for the UK creator economy. Twig, birthed by 🌱 Geri Cupi, is a fintech company promoting the circular economy, turning things into cash instantly. Club Med, the brainchild of Chris Cragg, engaging fans with a mobile football fantasy game that allows users to create their own clubs. Camlist, founded by Moustafa Mahmoud, a pet-friendly mobile app for buying and selling anything related to pets. Stay tuned for more updates on innovative start-ups, application technology, consumer solutions, health-tech platforms and fintech. #TechStartups #LondonStartups #Innovation #AppDevelopment #Fintech #Healthtech #FinanceApps #PaymentSolutions #TransformativeTech #TechNews"

Ayman Essawy is a three time co-founder of Dsquares, Lucky ONE and now, Connect Money! Ayman's career began at Vodafone Egypt, where he led digital and value-added services. However, he’s always been an entrepreneur and so he co-founded Dsquares in 2011 with Marwan Kenawy and Momtaz Moussa. Dsquares is a loyalty and rewards company that helps businesses increase customer loyalty and retention with tools for strategic planning, merchant management, AI, and data analytics. It operates in over 10 countries in MENA, offering features like pointing systems, e-vouchers, and gamification. Then in 2018, Ayman, along with his co-founders, launched Lucky, a consumer commerce network that provides underbanked users with access to credit through a 'save now, pay later' model. Ayman has been recognized by Forbes Middle East and he was selected for the Global Endeavor network. Now, Ayman is CEO at Connect Money, a fintech startup he co-founded with his OG friends from his first business venture Dsquares! And they’ve just closed an $8 million seed funding round led by DisrupTech Ventures and Algebra Ventures! Connect Money offers a white-label card issuing platform that enables businesses to provide their customers with debit and credit cards without the need to develop fintech infrastructure or obtain regulatory licensing. Connect Money's solutions include digital payments, instant financing, and access to a network of over 20,000 marketplace partners. Their support includes white-labeled card issuance, distribution, KYC, customer support, and mobile banking app development. This platform simplifies the payments experience for their clients and their customers through their SaaS offering. 📌 In the last edition of FWDstart, we dived deeper into Connect Money, check out the story here - https://lnkd.in/dpK8PCYn 🐢 Get more MENA start-up, VC and tech stories, interviews and deep-dives, direct to your inbox twice a week: https://lnkd.in/eVbWNJNp 📥 #fintech #startup #venturecapital #NorthAfrica #financialinclusion

Exciting News in Fintech! Bengaluru-based fintech startup POP has secured $2.4 million in seed funding, with IndiaQuotient leading the investment round alongside prominent angel investors. This funding milestone comes as POP receives approval as a Third-Party Application Provider (TPAP) from the National Payments Corporation Of India (NPCI)), enabling it to offer UPI payments through its innovative POPclub app. Partnering with financial stalwarts like YES BANK and JUSPAY, POP is set to revolutionize digital payments by enhancing user experience and operational efficiency within its platform. The funding injection will accelerate POP's strategic initiatives, notably the rollout of POP UPI services. This advancement allows users to earn POPcoins with every UPI transaction, redeemable across a diverse range of products from leading direct-to-consumer (D2C) brands. Since its launch in May 2023 by founder Bhargav Errangi, POP has rapidly expanded its network to include over 200 top brands, such as mCaffeine, Simple Skin Care (HUL-owned), Adil Qadri, Anveshan, Two Brothers Organic Farms® and epigamia. Stay tuned as POP continues to innovate and redefine the fintech landscape, offering unparalleled convenience, rewards, and access to premium products. Read More: https://lnkd.in/g8FM5bt9 #Fintech #StartupNews #DigitalPayments #UPI #POPcoins #D2C #Innovation