Fintech

Bernstein raises Paytm target price to Rs 1,000, maintaining 'Outperform' rating. Optimistic outlook with potential 100% upside, but downside risk of 40% in bear case. Shares rise 2%.

CredFlow will use the capital to scale up its financial services and lending verticals, and to improve its technology and innovation capabilities, it said.

Groww paid Rs 1,340 crore ($160 million) in taxes to the US government, based on the new fair market value (FMV), which is more than 30% lower than its $3 billion valuation during its last funding in 2021, sources told ET. Razorpay, which was last valued at $7.5 billion, is working with consulting firm Deloitte on the matter.

According to two people in the know, ZFunds is in talks with Elevation Capital to lead a Rs 25 crore equity funding round, which will be its first institutional funding round. AssetPlus, which had previously raised equity funding from Rainmatter and InCred, has secured Rs 50 crore in another institutional funding round led by Eight Roads Ventures, a global investment firm backed by Fidelity.

Multiple industry insiders ET spoke with pointed out that the larger message that Sebi wants to give is that retail investors should stay away from unregulated products. “Unlisted bonds are issued by every company, but they are to be acquired through private placements only; retail investment in such bonds is what has irked the regulator,” said the founder of a fintech startup operating in the same space.

Our vision is to build a sustainable, inclusive agricultural sector in Karnataka, and we’re establishing a digital agri centre of excellence to foster collaboration and innovation, says Madan Padaki, Chair of TGS24 and President of TiE Bangalore.

PeLocal, a payment solutions provider enabling e-commerce transactions through messaging platforms like WhatsApp, has secured $2 million in funding. The round was led by Unicorn India Ventures. The company aims to scale its monthly transactions from three million to ten million in the coming year.

The fintech platform Rio said that the objective of this partnership is to bring together the credit card's benefits and the ubiquity of UPI. This is being done in order to cater to the need for accessible and efficient financial solutions, especially in tier 2 and tier 3 cities.

Happay’s business to be split with Cred retaining payments vertical and MakeMyTrip taking over travel & expense management business.

Cedar-IBSi Capital is actively seeking to invest in 10-15 startups specializing in banking and insurance technology. With commitments reaching Rs 50-75 crore from their Rs 240 crore early-stage fund, they aim to allocate Rs 4-10 crore per company. Their primary focus is on startups that offer innovative solutions to modernize outdated systems within financial institutions.

Chennai-based matchmaking service provider, Matrimony.com, has introduced a new financial technology platform designed to provide financial assistance for marriages. The platform offers comprehensive loan solutions through partnerships with leading financial institutions, aiming to simplify wedding planning and budgeting while prioritizing financial well-being.

Market analyst Laurence Balanco identifies potential investment opportunities for 2025. Balanco suggests Bitcoin, fintech, and travel tech as favorable sectors. He anticipates a peak in the US dollar and highlights risks for emerging markets. Balanco observes weakness in the Hong Kong stock market and suggests a potential rebound in commodities like copper and palladium.

Industry leaders gathered to discuss India's potential as a global AI hub, citing the nation's vast data resources and innovative spirit. While acknowledging the challenges of adopting new technologies like generative AI, panelists emphasized the importance of identifying practical use cases and fostering a skilled workforce to drive AI-powered solutions.

India's IT flexi-staffing market, currently valued at USD 4.9 billion, is projected to grow by 7% annually through FY26. The growth is driven by ease of business, talent availability, and demand from sectors like IT, BFSI, and Fintech. While major tech hubs dominate, emerging cities are also contributing to the demand for flexible IT professionals.

“Given how transformative and important AI is, I hope we can see more companies building in India, not only for India but also for the world,” Harshjit Sethi, managing director at Peak XV Partners at the inaugural edition of The Economic Times India Ascends held in New Delhi.

Founded in 2023 by former Google engineers Era and Divam Jain, the New York-based company’s artificial intelligence (AI) Meeting Assistant is tailored for financial advisors and wealth management firms. The tool converts unstructured conversational data into accurate notes, the company said.

Razorpay Venture Investment Programme, as it is named, will scout for opportunities in sectors like fintech, travel, healthcare, hospitality, retail and ecommerce. But the company intends to invest only in business-to-business (B2B) startups. The Reserve Bank of India-licensed payment aggregator believes that India will see 10-15 B2B unicorns getting created over the next five years.

Chitkara University has launched a financial technology centre of excellence at its Rajpura campus in Punjab to address the growing demand for skilled professionals in the burgeoning sector. The centre aims to offer a specialized curriculum that combines theoretical knowledge with hands-on experience, preparing students for the real-world challenges of the FinTech ecosystem.

The Gurugram-based startup, which operates insurance marketplace Policybazaar and credit marketplace Paisabazaar, had reported a loss of Rs 21 crore in the year-ago period.

India and Saudi Arabia aim to collaborate in fields like fintech, new technologies, energy efficiency, clean hydrogen, textiles, and mining to enhance trade and investment. This follows the recent meeting between ministers in Riyadh. India is the second largest trade partner for Saudi Arabia. Over 2,700 Indian companies are already operating in Saudi Arabia.