Tag: fintech

  • Prosus India Achieves EBITDA Profitability on $781 Million FY26 Revenue, Driven by PayU Growth

    Prosus India Achieves EBITDA Profitability on $781 Million FY26 Revenue, Driven by PayU Growth

    Prosus India has reported $781 million in revenue for fiscal year 2026 and turned adjusted EBITDA positive, marking a significant financial milestone. The results reflect stronger operational performance, disciplined cost management, and continued growth across its investment portfolio despite a challenging funding environment. The Prosus India ecosystem employed 3,897 people during the fiscal.

    Prosus India Achieves Key Financial Milestone in FY26

    According to Prosus’ FY26 annual report, revenue from its India ecosystem rose 13% year-on-year to $781 million in FY26 from $694 million a year earlier. The business posted an adjusted EBITDA (aEBITDA) profit of $18 million, compared to a loss of $25 million in FY25, while its adjusted EBIT loss narrowed sharply to $10 million from $49 million. Fintech platform PayU largely drove it.

    PayU’s payments business generated $577 million in revenue, up 10% year-on-year, and delivered EBITDA of $12 million. Higher-margin value-added services (VAS) and SaaS offerings accounted for 33% of payment revenue, supporting margin expansion. The company’s credit business reported an adjusted EBITDA of $6 million. Credit revenue rose 19% year-on-year to $204 million, while new loan issuances touched $221 million during the year.

    Revenue Growth Driven by Strong Portfolio Performance

    The company said PayU accounts for around 25% of India’s online payments industry revenue and manages $682 million in assets under management through its lending business. During the year, it also increased its stake in banking payments technology firm Mindgate to 70.7%. During FY26, PayU processed total payment volume (TPV) worth $90 billion across its platform.

    Prosus said it is building one of India’s most comprehensive digital consumer ecosystems, with PayU increasingly driving collaboration across portfolio companies. The report highlighted that PayU now processes a significant share of credit card payments on Swiggy, has expanded merchant and consumer lending with Meesho, has originated $2.1 million in loans through the partnership, has processed $1.5 million in UPI GMV for ixigo, and has improved transaction success rates. It also processed $5 million of Swiggy’s GMV.

    During the year, Prosus acquired a 16.24 percent stake in ixigo and increased its holding in Rapido to 23.52 percent. The company said its Indian e-commerce ecosystem now reaches more than 500 million users annually and processes 450 million orders each month.

    What EBITDA Profitability Signals for Future Growth

    A positive Adjusted EBITDA indicates that Prosus India is becoming more operationally efficient while it is still growing revenue. The fact shows how good the balance between growth and costs is, which is increasingly appreciated by investors. If the trend continues, it will allow Prosus to build a solid financial foundation and grow the portfolio in the future.

  • Zerodha Files for SEBI Merchant Banking License as Revenue Hits ₹8,847 Crore

    Zerodha Files for SEBI Merchant Banking License as Revenue Hits ₹8,847 Crore

    Zerodha, India’s largest stockbroker by active clients, is taking a significant step beyond its core business. The Bengaluru-based fintech company has applied for a Category I merchant banking license from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), seeking to offer services such as initial public offering management, corporate advisory, and fund-raising. The application was submitted in April and awaits regulatory approval, a company spokesperson confirmed, adding that more details will be shared once the license is granted.

    Strategic Expansion into Investment Banking

    The move positions Zerodha to tap into India’s booming IPO pipeline, as dozens of startups and new-age companies prepare to go public over the coming years. A merchant banking license would allow Zerodha to help these firms navigate public offerings, raising capital through the stock market. This expansion comes as the company already offers a wide array of financial services—mutual funds, lending, asset management, startup investments via Rainmatter, international investing, and fixed deposits through its Coin platform.

    By adding investment banking to its portfolio, Zerodha aims to diversify revenue streams and reduce its reliance on brokerage income. In FY25, the company reported revenue of ₹8,847 crore and net profit of ₹4,237 crore, underscoring its financial strength as it ventures into new territory.

    Competition and Market Impact

    Zerodha’s entry into merchant banking could intensify competition in a sector traditionally dominated by established players such as JM Financial, Kotak Mahindra Capital, Axis Capital, and ICICI Securities. Industry experts believe that a digital-first approach from Zerodha may appeal especially to technology companies and startups, potentially improving service quality and offering more choices for businesses raising capital.

    The application aligns with a broader trend of fintech companies moving into conventional financial services. As India’s public markets continue to attract new issuers, more firms are seeking merchant banking licenses, which could foster a more dynamic capital market ecosystem.

    What This Means for Zerodha’s Future

    If SEBI approves the license, Zerodha will join a growing list of full-service financial companies. The company recently launched fixed deposit investments on its Coin platform, allowing customers to invest across partner banks from a single interface. Expanding into investment banking would further solidify its presence in the capital markets and create new income sources, supporting long-term growth.

    Zerodha’s latest move highlights how fintech innovators are reshaping traditional finance. With strong fundamentals and a loyal user base, the company is well-positioned to compete for IPO and fund-raising mandates in the years ahead—pending the regulator’s green light.

  • 5 Finance Certifications That Still Hold Value in the Age of AI

    5 Finance Certifications That Still Hold Value in the Age of AI

    Artificial intelligence is reshaping the finance industry, handling tasks from data processing to basic reporting with unprecedented speed. Yet demand for skilled professionals hasn’t waned—employers now prize expertise that algorithms can’t replicate. For finance professionals seeking to future-proof their careers, these five certifications remain highly relevant.

    Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA)

    The CFA charter remains one of the most respected credentials in investment banking, portfolio management, equity research, and asset management. While AI can process massive datasets, interpreting market signals—shaped by economic cycles, geopolitics, and sentiment—still requires human judgment. CFA charterholders are sought after for their ability to analyze and decide in complex environments.

    Financial Risk Manager (FRM)

    As technology increases financial system efficiency and connectivity, it also amplifies risk. The FRM certification covers market, credit, operational risk, and regulatory compliance. With firms deploying AI models, specialists who can assess model reliability and regulatory alignment are essential.

    Certified Public Accountant (CPA)

    Automation has transformed accounting operations, but CPA remains critical for audits, tax work, and financial accounting. Companies operate in highly regulated environments where software alone cannot be trusted. CPA-certified professionals are integral to corporate finance.

    Certified Financial Planner (CFP)

    Financial planning is deeply client-focused. While technology can manage investments, retirement, estate, and tax planning require a personal touch. The CFP designation equips professionals with the trust, communication skills, and situational knowledge needed in wealth management.

    Certificate in Quantitative Finance (CQF)

    Data-driven investing is on the rise, making CQF increasingly valuable. The program covers quantitative modeling, derivatives, machine learning, algorithmic trading, and programming. It’s ideal for those entering fintech, quantitative research, hedge funds, or trading organizations.

    Final Thoughts

    Finance jobs most vulnerable to automation are routine and process-driven. Roles that continue to grow require analytical thinking, regulatory understanding, risk assessment, and client-facing expertise. Certifications like CFA, FRM, CPA, CFP, and CQF signal specialized knowledge and professional credibility, helping professionals navigate an industry evolving alongside technology—not being replaced by it.

  • Hybrid Cloud in Banking: A Strategic Move for Survival and Control

    Hybrid Cloud in Banking: A Strategic Move for Survival and Control

    The banking industry is undergoing one of its most significant technology transitions in decades. Faced with rising customer expectations, increasing regulatory scrutiny, cybersecurity threats, and pressure from fintech challengers, banks are rethinking how they manage data and digital services. At the center of this transformation is hybrid cloud—a model that combines private infrastructure with public cloud services.

    While banks typically consider hybrid cloud an innovation and resilience strategy, the real issue is whether the financial sector is implementing hybrid cloud to survive in a fast-changing environment or to gain better control over its processes.

    Pressure to Modernize

    Historical banking architecture has been designed for stability and not agility. Most financial organizations continue to rely on legacy architectures that are expensive to operate and hard to scale. Providing services to customers through digital banking requires upgrading the existing legacy systems.

    Furthermore, increased pressure from fintech companies that provide fast service and rely on relatively cheaper infrastructure has forced most banks to modernize their operations to remain competitive in the new digital banking environment.

    Hybrid cloud offers a good middle ground for banks. The traditional method of migrating all activities to a public cloud may not be necessary. Banks should be able to maintain some of their important activities in a private environment and innovate on cloud platforms.

    Why Public Cloud Alone Is Not Enough

    While most businesses can operate without such constraints, the banking industry is subject to stringent rules governing data protection, privacy, and resilience.

    The move towards public cloud poses serious issues, including data sovereignty concerns, dependence on third-party vendors, and operational risk. Many regulatory bodies in different countries still mandate that financial institutions be able to oversee their systems.

    In this regard, hybrid cloud provides banks with an opportunity to run mission-critical applications and sensitive data on the controlled side while utilizing the public cloud for data analysis, customer engagement tools, artificial intelligence, and software development.

    Control Has Become a Strategic Asset

    Control becomes the crux of the hybrid cloud argument. Financial institutions have recognized the importance of controlling data, application deployment, and security policies to gain an edge. Financial companies should have the opportunity to change their applications, be free from vendor lock-in, and adapt their approaches in response to regulations.

    A hybrid cloud approach allows for that. Rather than entrusting their applications to a single provider, banks will be able to distribute them across their private infrastructure and cloud solutions. Cloud strategy is no longer an IT decision, but a business one.

    AI Factor Speeds Up Adoption

    The increasing popularity of AI technology obliges banks to invest more in cloud infrastructure, as they need it to detect fraud, assess risk, deliver customer services, ensure compliance, and provide financial counseling.

    A lot of computing power and massive amounts of data are needed for that. The public cloud will allow scaling of necessary capabilities, while keeping financial information protected in the private cloud.

    Hybrid cloud offers a solution to these two needs at once. The need to find such a balance will only grow as banks start using AI more widely.

    Survival and Control Are No Longer Separate Goals

    The outdated idea of a trade-off between survival and control in banks no longer fits reality. In fact, these two things are strongly correlated. Survival in modern banking presupposes being fast, innovative, and resilient. Control is important for risk management, building up customer trust, and fulfilling regulatory requirements. The concept of hybrid cloud can address both needs.

    Public cloud or a purely private ecosystem would most likely not be the future of banking. Instead, the future will be associated with balanced ecosystems.

    For banks, hybrid cloud is not just a technical solution. This is the way to respond to a competitive environment in which innovation is necessary while maintaining control over the systems underpinning the financial sector.

  • PayU Unveils CLI and Builder MCP: AI-Powered Developer Tools for Lightning-Fast Payment Integration and Operations

    PayU Unveils CLI and Builder MCP: AI-Powered Developer Tools for Lightning-Fast Payment Integration and Operations

    PayU, India’s leading diversified fintech platform, has announced the launch of two innovative developer tools: PayU CLI and Builder MCP. These tools are designed to accelerate payment gateway integrations and streamline daily payment operations, leveraging AI to boost developer productivity.

    PayU Builder MCP: AI-Native Integration Made Simple

    Builder MCP is an AI-native server that connects AI coding assistants—such as Cursor, VS Code, and Claude Desktop—directly to PayU’s APIs. It generates production-ready integration code in seven languages, including PHP, JavaScript, Java, Python, Kotlin, and Swift. The code comes with built-in error handling, webhook verification, and security best practices, allowing developers to complete integrations in hours rather than days. Developers can browse integration catalogs, retrieve platform-specific code, and search documentation semantically without leaving their IDE.

    PayU CLI: Command-Line Payment Management

    PayU CLI brings payment management and operational workflows to a single terminal. Teams can create and send payment links, search transactions, process refunds, review settlements, and generate reports—all without navigating complex web dashboards. The tool supports multi-account management and seamless switching between test and production environments, making it especially useful for DevOps teams handling multiple merchants.

    Complementary Tools for the Full Payment Lifecycle

    While each tool serves a distinct purpose, they work together across the payment lifecycle. Developers can use Builder MCP during implementation to generate code via AI assistants, then switch to PayU CLI for ongoing operations like transaction monitoring and settlement tracking. For instance, a developer using Cursor could ask Builder MCP for PayU checkout integration and receive copy-paste-ready JavaScript with error handling. Meanwhile, the operations team could use PayU CLI to instantly create a ₹5,000 payment link or check yesterday’s settlement—all from the terminal.

    “AI has fundamentally transformed software development, and AI agents are now a nuanced part of everyday developer workflows. Merchants and their tech teams are looking for a payment partner that provides lightning-fast product integrations, operational flexibility, and enhanced developer productivity. Our new CLI and Builder MCP tools solve each of these requirements by bringing PayU’s payment infrastructure to where developers work—in the terminal. This is just the first of our steps in this direction,” said Narendra Babu, CTO of PayU.

    About PayU

    PayU is India’s leading diversified fintech platform, backed by Prosus. Regulated by the Reserve Bank of India, PayU offers advanced digital financial solutions to merchants, banks, and consumers. Its award-winning payment gateway empowers over 450,000 businesses—including top enterprises, e-commerce giants, and SMBs—to accept digital payments across more than 100 online methods, including credit cards, debit cards, net banking, EMIs, pay-later options, QR, UPI, and wallets. PayU is a preferred partner in the affordability ecosystem, offering broad issuer coverage and easy integration for card-based EMIs, pay-later options, and new-age cardless EMIs, while delivering industry-leading success rates and a seamless checkout experience.

  • India’s AI Startup Ecosystem Expands Beyond Bengaluru: Key Hubs and Specializations

    India’s AI Startup Ecosystem Expands Beyond Bengaluru: Key Hubs and Specializations

    India’s artificial intelligence ecosystem has entered a new phase. Bengaluru still dominates the funding charts and deep-tech innovation, but the country’s AI growth story no longer revolves around a single city. Hyderabad, Mumbai, Pune, Delhi-NCR, Chennai, and emerging cities like Kochi, Chandigarh, Ahmedabad, and Kolkata are developing specialized strengths in enterprise AI, fintech, healthcare, industrial automation, and language technologies.

    Why Bengaluru Continues to Lead India’s AI Economy

    Bengaluru remains the country’s biggest AI startup destination because of its unmatched scale. The city hosts India’s deepest pool of engineers, startup founders, venture capital firms, and multinational R&D centers. AI companies working on foundational models, cloud infrastructure, and enterprise software continue to choose Bengaluru as their primary base. Notable startups include Sarvam AI, Observe.AI, Mad Street Den, and Uniphore. Global firms have also strengthened Bengaluru’s position, driven by engineering talent and startup density.

    How Hyderabad Turned into India’s Fastest-Growing AI Hub

    Hyderabad has rapidly transformed from an IT outsourcing destination into one of India’s most ambitious AI ecosystems. Government-backed initiatives, better infrastructure, and lower operational costs have encouraged startups to expand aggressively. HITEC City and T-Hub have played a major role in building the ecosystem around enterprise technology and AI innovation. The city has gained traction in conversational AI, enterprise automation, and cloud technologies.

    Why Mumbai’s AI Ecosystem Focuses on Finance and Media

    Mumbai’s AI startup landscape reflects the city’s larger economy. Unlike Bengaluru’s engineering-heavy ecosystem, Mumbai specializes in fintech, advertising technology, and consumer-facing AI products. Banks, financial institutions, media companies, and large enterprises create strong demand for AI-driven analytics and automation tools. AI firms in Mumbai work on fraud detection, financial analytics, personalized advertising, and generative content systems.

    How Delhi-NCR Became a Major AI Innovation Corridor

    Delhi-NCR has quietly emerged as one of India’s strongest AI startup regions. The ecosystem spreads across Gurugram, Noida, and Delhi, creating a large network of enterprise software firms, logistics platforms, and edtech startups. AI companies operating in automation, mobility, and cloud infrastructure are increasingly based in the region. The region also benefits from access to policymakers and government-backed technology initiatives.

    Why Pune is Becoming an Engineering and Industrial AI Center

    Pune’s AI rise comes from its strong engineering and manufacturing base. The city is home to major automotive companies, industrial firms, and educational institutions, creating demand for AI-powered automation and predictive technologies. Startups in robotics, supply-chain optimization, and industrial analytics are increasingly choosing Pune. Lower operating costs and access to skilled engineering talent further strengthen its ecosystem.

    How Chennai Built a Strong Presence in Healthcare and Industrial AI

    Chennai’s AI ecosystem has developed around manufacturing, mobility, and healthcare. The city’s long-standing automotive and industrial network created early demand for AI-led automation. Healthcare technology has emerged as another important sector, with AI startups working on diagnostics, medical imaging, and hospital management systems. Engineering institutions and research centers continue supporting innovation in robotics, mobility technology, and semiconductor research.

    Why Ahmedabad is Emerging as a Growing AI Startup Destination

    Ahmedabad represents the expansion of India’s AI economy beyond Mumbai into western India. The city’s strong business culture and manufacturing ecosystem have encouraged startups building automation and analytics solutions for SMEs and industrial firms. AI companies in Ahmedabad focus on retail intelligence, logistics, and operational software. Lower business costs and faster operational execution are major advantages.

    How Kolkata is Building a New AI Startup Identity

    Kolkata entered the AI startup race later than most major cities, but the ecosystem has begun to show steady growth. Lower operating costs and a strong technical education network have helped several startups emerge in analytics, edtech, and language technologies. University incubators and state-backed innovation programs continue to support early-stage companies. Founders focus on niche areas such as regional-language AI and civic technology.

    Why Kochi and Chandigarh are Attracting the Next Generation of Founders

    India’s AI boom isn’t restricted to metros anymore. Kochi and Chandigarh have started luring startups because of cheaper costs, better infrastructure, and remote work capabilities. Kochi’s ecosystem revolves around health-tech, digital products, and marine technologies. Chandigarh has evolved into a thriving hub for SaaS and enterprise software startups targeting northern India. Remote working practices have lowered the need to recruit from Bengaluru-centric centers.

    Why India’s AI Future Now Belongs to Multiple Cities

    The AI ecosystem in India is slowly breaking free from centralized control. While Bengaluru continues to lead in funding, talent, and startups, other cities have found their own ways to attract entrepreneurs and venture capitalists. Hyderabad comes across as the key city for business development. Mumbai acts as the engine for AI implementation by businesses. Pune serves as the engine for industrial AI research and development. The Delhi-NCR region acts as the engine for both business software and governance technology. Smaller cities are now part of the conversation. The current Indian startup ecosystem has transformed into a diverse network of innovation centers, each developing specialized capabilities to drive progress in the artificial intelligence economy.

  • June 2026 Issue: India’s Top Tech CEOs and the Rise of Semiconductor, Fintech & Space Startups

    June 2026 – Analytics Insight

    Analytics Insight’s June 2026 issue delivers a comprehensive look at India’s digital transformation, featuring in-depth interviews, industry analyses, and exclusive stories. The spotlight is on the country’s top ten tech CEOs—from Sundar Pichai to Bhavish Aggarwal—who are redefining the global tech landscape. Alongside these leadership profiles, the issue dives into groundbreaking developments in semiconductors, space startups, fintech, and AI readiness.

    Top Articles in This Issue

    • Capability Over Scale: Ajay Modi of Piper Serica explains why India’s most vital startups are hidden inside supply chains, from rocket igniters to edge AI chips.
    • From Rocket Igniters to Edge AI Chips: An exclusive look at Piper Serica’s bet on India’s industrial future.
    • Aravind Srinivas and the Rise of Perplexity: How an IIT alumnus built a leading AI search engine.
    • Leading Without the Noise: The Salil Parekh Way: A leadership lesson in quiet impact.
    • Semiconductor Dreams: Can India build a chip industry from scratch?
    • Roshni Nadar Malhotra’s Journey: From media to HCLTech leadership.
    • How Small-town India Became the World’s Most Exciting Fintech Market: A deep dive into the fintech revolution.
    • Building Intelligence for a Billion Voices: Vivek Raghavan’s next national infrastructure bet.
    • Bhavish Aggarwal’s Journey: From Ola Cabs to Ola Electric and Krutrim AI.
    • India’s Private Space Startups: Who will be the country’s SpaceX?

    This issue is a must-read for anyone tracking India’s ascent in technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship.

  • Checkout.com Adopts Microsoft Azure to Fuel AI-Powered Payments and Agentic Commerce

    Checkout.com Adopts Microsoft Azure to Fuel AI-Powered Payments and Agentic Commerce

    Checkout.com has announced a multi-year agreement with Microsoft to migrate its payment infrastructure to Azure cloud services, positioning both companies for the rise of agentic commerce—where AI agents complete transactions without human intervention.

    Azure Infrastructure for AI-Driven Payments

    The payments provider will leverage Azure’s cloud infrastructure to process digital payments for enterprise merchants including eBay, ASOS, Vinted, Pinterest, and Klarna. Central to the migration is Azure Payment HSM, which uses Thales payShield 10K hardware security modules meeting PCI DSS, PCI 3DS, and PCI PIN certifications, along with FIPS 140-2 Level 3 security.

    Mariano Albera, CTO of Checkout.com, stated: “We’re thrilled to collaborate with Microsoft and adopt Azure, bringing this mission-critical platform into our technology stack. The Azure platform has leading machine learning capabilities—and Microsoft has long been a pioneer of embedding trust into every layer of cloud innovation.”

    Machine Learning Optimizes Transaction Acceptance

    Checkout.com already uses machine learning to improve transaction acceptance rates in real time. Its Intelligent Acceptance feature analyzes payment data, adjusts strategies, and applies successful optimizations across all merchants, creating network effects that reduce declines and processing costs. Azure’s ML capabilities will integrate with this existing AI engine, and Azure’s confidential computing solutions enhance fraud prevention and risk assessment.

    Preparing for Agentic Commerce

    The partnership aims to prepare for a future where AI systems search products, compare options, and complete purchases based on user preferences without human oversight. This requires payment infrastructure capable of handling high volumes of machine-initiated transactions with minimal latency and robust security.

    Tyler Pichach, Global Head of Payments at Microsoft Financial Services, commented: “The payments industry is a constant source of AI-powered innovation and by collaborating with Microsoft, Checkout.com will be able to further enhance payment performance for merchants around the world.”

    Albera added: “Our combined commitment to relentless innovation sets merchants up for success, enabling them to explore and embrace the agentic commerce models where AI agents search and shop on behalf of consumers.”

  • AIB Debuts AI-Driven Mobile App to Deliver Personalized Financial Insights

    AIB Debuts AI-Driven Mobile App to Deliver Personalized Financial Insights

    Allied Irish Banks (AIB) has launched a completely redesigned mobile banking application, marking what the lender calls its most significant digital channel update in over a decade. The new app, rolling out from late June, leverages machine learning and advanced data analytics to turn everyday transaction data into actionable, personalized financial guidance.

    The upgrade addresses a key industry challenge identified by AIB’s own research: while 76% of Irish adults check their banking app multiple times a week, 47% rarely use it for financial insights. The app aims to close this gap by embedding AI-powered intelligence directly into the user experience, moving beyond basic balance checks and payments.

    Developed over 18 months with extensive customer collaboration and pilot programs, the app introduces intelligent spending categorization, merchant-level analysis, and proactive budget recommendations. Machine learning algorithms analyze transaction histories to surface spending trends, helping users set goals and make more informed decisions. This directly responds to the 31% of consumers who report low confidence in managing their finances and the 24% who find long-term planning frustrating.

    Security remains a cornerstone of the new platform. It integrates passkey authentication, intelligent card controls (including freeze functionality), and what AIB describes as best-in-class cyber security technology — likely leveraging ML for fraud detection and anomaly identification. The bank emphasizes that trust is foundational, supported by secure, resilient technology.

    The app is built on a cloud-based, modular architecture designed for continuous delivery and iterative improvement. This platform approach enables faster deployment of new AI features and positions AIB to compete against a fragmented fintech ecosystem. Upcoming enhancements include tools for children and parents, goal-based savings pots with predictive modeling, and mortgage management with personalized recommendations.

    AIB maintains a hybrid service model with 170 branches and ongoing investment in human support, reflecting that 94% of customers still value access to human assistance. Geraldine Casey, Managing Director of Retail Banking, stated: "This new AIB app is a major step forward in digital innovation and security for our customers, providing the convenience and accessibility of best-in-class banking they can trust." Chief Operating Officer Graham Fagan added: "We’ve built a digital engagement platform that sits beneath the app that is designed to enable us to continuously add to it quarter on quarter."