India’s fintech landscape is rapidly evolving, driven by visionary leaders who are pushing innovation, financial inclusion, and digital-first strategies. From cross-border transactions and seamless credit solutions to sophisticated digital wealth management, these entrepreneurs are redefining the future of finance. By translating ambitious ideas into real-world solutions, they're empowering small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to expand and flourish in previously underserved markets.
1. Upasana Taku – Co-founder & COO, MobiKwik
A pioneering figure in India's fintech sector, Upasana Taku has transformed MobiKwik into a leading digital financial services platform offering payment solutions, "Buy Now, Pay Later" (BNPL), and accessible credit options. Her relentless dedication to financial inclusion continues to drive innovation tailored specifically for underserved populations. Upasana’s groundbreaking achievements include being the first woman to lead a payments startup in India, appearing in Forbes Asia’s Power Businesswomen (2019), and ranking 12th on the Kotak Wealth Hurun list of India’s richest self-made women (2020).
2. Prachi Dharani – Co-founder & CEO, PayGlocal
Prachi Dharani is revolutionizing how Indian businesses engage in global commerce. Through PayGlocal, she addresses complex challenges in cross-border payments, providing Indian merchants seamless, secure, and compliant payment solutions that help them unlock international revenue streams. Prachi’s innovative approach and emphasis on robust security have successfully prevented fraud attempts exceeding INR 1 billion, highlighting the platform’s effectiveness and trustworthiness.
3. Nitya Sharma – Co-founder & CEO, Simpl
Nitya Sharma is significantly improving accessibility to instant credit through Simpl’s innovative “pay later” model. Simpl streamlines checkout processes for millions of consumers, reducing friction and enhancing trust in digital commerce. Leveraging his extensive background in financial services, Nitya continues to focus on creating intuitive and user-friendly checkout solutions, profoundly enhancing the consumer experience in online purchasing.
4. Anurag Sinha – Co-founder & CEO, OneCard (FPL Technologies)
Anurag Sinha is reshaping India's credit card industry with OneCard, a mobile-first, no-fee solution tailored for young, digitally-savvy consumers. By emphasizing transparency, user control, and smart credit management, OneCard appeals to India's expanding middle class, offering an attractive alternative to traditional banking products. Under Anurag's leadership, OneCard has rapidly grown its user base while consistently focusing on innovation that prioritizes user needs and preferences.
5. Akshay Mehrotra – Co-founder & CEO, Fibe (formerly EarlySalary)
Akshay Mehrotra is leading a transformation in short-term credit accessibility through Fibe, an innovative digital lending platform. Fibe provides instant personal loans and salary advances, particularly targeting underserved and credit-thin consumers such as young professionals and first-time borrowers. By utilizing advanced AI technology and alternative data sources, Fibe ensures fast, responsible, and inclusive lending practices, playing a vital role in India’s journey towards financial inclusion.