• Fynd opens its first international office in the GCC, establishing its Middle East presence and taking homegrown tech global

• Fynd will accelerate the region’s transition to AI-native, unified commerce

• Expansion is part of a broader global rollout across the GCC, Africa, and Southeast Asia

Fynd, India’s leading AI retail technology company, today announced its entry into the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, establishing a regional headquarters and operational hub in the Middle East. This marks a major milestone in Fynd’s international journey and positions it as one of the first India-born unified commerce companies to go global.

With its expansion into the GCC, Fynd aims to unlock omnichannel growth for ambitious retail brands operating across the region. The company’s modular, cloud-based platform unifies online, in-store, and backend operations — enabling faster digital transformation for retailers navigating rising consumer expectations and operational complexity.

To support regional deployment, Fynd has partnered with Yavi Technologies, which will lead GCC operations, including local compliance, invoicing, and 24/7 merchant support. The company’s unified commerce platform is built to adapt to regional nuances – with Arabic and English storefronts, localized tax configurations, and native support for GCC-specific compliance frameworks such as ZATCA e-invoicing.

Farooq Adam, Founder, Fynd

“GCC is undergoing a profound digital transformation, fueled by ambitious national visions like Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and Dubai’s AI Vision 2031. These shifts align perfectly with Fynd’s mission to help retailers eliminate legacy silos and leapfrog into AI-native, unified autonomous commerce,” said Farooq Adam, Founder of Fynd. “We’re proud to bring our platform to, enabling both global and regional brands to simplify operations and elevate customer journeys.”

Fynd’s unified commerce stack includes OMS, POS, WMS, PIM, TMS, Storefront, and GenAI-powered retail tools — all pre-integrated for faster deployment and lower total cost of ownership. Backed by Reliance Industries, Fynd powers over 300+ brands, including Puma, Coach, and Kate Spade.

We are already working with leading retailers in Dubai, Riyadh, Doha, and other major GCC markets, across fashion, consumer electronics, grocery, and department stores. Fynd’s growth strategy includes onboarding a regional partner network of commerce agencies and system integrators to accelerate adoption at scale.

Ronak Modi, Chief Business Officer (Global), Fynd

“We see the GCC as one of the fastest-growing retail markets globally, where digital adoption and high consumer spending are reshaping commerce. With shoppers moving seamlessly between online and offline channels, retailers in the GCC are demanding unified commerce solutions to deliver consistent experiences across stores, marketplaces, and e-commerce,” said Ronak Modi, Chief Business Officer (Global) at Fynd. “Supported by pro-business government initiatives like Saudi Vision 2030 and the UAE’s push for digital transformation, the GCC offers a unique opportunity for Fynd to scale its AI-driven unified commerce platform, helping global and regional brands bridge physical and digital retail in a market that thrives on innovation and luxury.”

With this expansion, Fynd is not only growing its international footprint – it is demonstrating how Indian innovation can power the next wave of retail transformation across high-growth economies worldwide.

About Fynd
Fynd is an AI-native retail technology company headquartered in Mumbai, India. It serves over 20,000+ stores and 300+ enterprise retailers, offering a modular commerce stack that unifies in-store, online, and logistics operations. Backed by Reliance Retail Ventures Limited, Fynd is expanding across the GCC, Africa, and Southeast Asia to power next-generation retail experiences.

For more information, visit www.fynd.com.

India’s banking sector is not just growing—it’s growing with purpose. This was the key takeaway from the CNBC-TV18 3rd Banking Transformation Summit, presented by Nucleus Software, where regulators, bank leaders, and fintech innovators convened to chart the sector’s future.

3rd Banking Transformation Summit 2025

RBI Deputy Governor M. Rajeshwar Rao highlighted the sector’s resilience and growth: India’s banking sector has demonstrated strong resilience and growth, with credit expanding at an average of 10.5% over the last five years. Addressing a gathering of banking sector experts and leaders at a banking summit Rao informed that retail lending now constitutes 32% of total credit, while credit to MSMEs which contribute 30% to India’s GDP has grown steadily to form 18% of total lending as of March 2025, reflecting the sector’s important role in driving Viksit Bharat.

Building on this, M. Nagaraju, Secretary (FS), Ministry of Finance, made it clear: India’s economic rise demands banking muscle. “As we transition from the world’s fourth-largest economy to the third, Indian banks must aim for global recognition by featuring among the world’s top 10. This requires building larger institutions with secure capital bases and sustained credit growth,” he said.

Nagaraju stressed that India’s banking sector not only supports economic growth but must also ensure stability and resilience as it scales. By strengthening capital bases and expanding credit sustainably, banks can play a central role in powering India’s rise on the global stage.

RBI Deputy Governor M Rajeshwar Rao elaborated on the inclusive growth trajectory of the sector. “The rise in retail and MSME lending reflects how the sector is deepening its reach and supporting productive growth. The goal is not just universal bank accounts, which Jan Dhan Yojana has largely achieved, but affordable credit, insurance, and investment options for every citizen. Credit directed toward MSMEs, infrastructure, and rural India ensures a Samaveshi Viksit Bharat,” he said.

Rao added further insights on the opportunities ahead. “While 40% of MSME credit needs are currently met, this also represents a huge potential for expansion. Banks and financial institutions have an opportunity to bridge this gap, bringing access to productive sectors and contributing to Bharat’s next phase of inclusive growth,” he said.

Parag Bhise, CEO & Executive Director, Nucleus Software, in his keynote emphasised “Banking today must be more than digital-it must be AI-powered, credit-driven, and purpose-built for Bharat. The future belongs to banks that can combine technology, resilience, and inclusivity to build trust at scale. Together with regulators and financial institutions, we are shaping banking that not only powers India but globalises Bharat.”

CEOs and MDs of over 15 leading Indian banks and financial institutions participated in the summit, engaging in a series of panel discussions on key issues shaping the sector. The discussions kicked off with “Navigating Slower Credit Growth: How Banks Can Boost Lending and Build Bharat”, Dr. Debadatta Chand, MD & CEO, Bank of Baroda; Ashok Chandra, MD & CEO, PNB; Amara Ram Mohan Rao, MD, SBI; Rajiv Anand, MD & CEO, IndusInd Bank; K.V.S. Manian, MD & CEO, Federal Bank and Rajneesh Karnatak, MD & CEO, Bank of India deliberated in conversation with Latha Venkatesh of CNBC-TV18 on strategies to accelerate credit flow, strengthen lending frameworks, and support productive sectors across India.

Next up, the Fintech panel, “Fintech 3.0: Improving Scale & Sustainability”, brought together Anubrata Biswas, MD & CEO, Airtel Payments Bank; Sohini Rajola, ED-Growth, NPCI; Upasana Taku, Co-Founder & CFO, MobiKwik; Santosh Aggarwal, CEO, Paisabazaar; Amrita Sirohia, Co-Founder, INDMoney; and Rishi A. Chhabra, Country Manager, India, Visa, moderated by Ritu Singh of CNBC-TV18. The conversation explored how next-generation fintech solutions, AI-driven analytics, and digital platforms can help banks scale efficiently without compromising on long-term sustainability – a masterclass in growing smart, not just big.

The NBFC panel, “Credit for the Next Billion”, featuring Raul Rebello, MD & CEO, Mahindra Finance; Jairam Sridharan, MD, Piramal Finance; Sudipta Roy, MD & CEO, L&T Finance; and Aseem Dhru, MD & CEO, SBFC, in conversation with Prashant Nair of CNBC-TV18. The panelists explored strategies to extend credit to underserved segments, innovate financing models, and bring the next billion consumers into India’s formal financial ecosystem – proving that when it comes to inclusive finance, the next billion isn’t just a number; it’s an opportunity waiting to be seized.

Adding further industry perspective, Vishnu R. Dusad, Managing Director & Co-founder, Nucleus Software, highlighted India’s position as a global leader in digital banking: “India’s contribution to global real-time payments is a testament to our leadership in digital banking. With UPI processing over 2,000 crore transactions worth Rs. 24.85 lakh crore in August 2025, India is not just adopting technology – we are driving the future of global finance. Our journey is about more than growth; it’s about reshaping banking for both urban and rural India, making financial services truly inclusive and accessible for all,” Dusad said.

Shereen Bhan, Managing Editor, CNBC-TV18, reflected on the summit’s role in shaping critical dialogue. “The summit has become a critical platform for discussing how India can harness technology, credit, and innovation to drive inclusive growth. With banks playing an increasingly central role in the economy, dialogues like these are essential to shaping policies and strategies for a Viksit Bharat,” Bhan said.

The summit also felicitated Zarin Daruwala, Former CEO, Standard Chartered Bank, and Shanti Ekambaram, Deputy Managing Director, Kotak Mahindra Bank, honouring their long-standing contributions to India’s banking sector.

The 3rd Banking Transformation Summit concluded with a shared view: India’s banks are not just growing—they are growing smart, secure, and inclusive, poised to power Bharat’s economic ascent while staking a claim among the world’s top economies.

The world’s first AI-powered Business-to-Talent platform from India, Impacteers, today announced that it is preparing and shaping the careers of over 2.1 million individuals nationwide. Dedicated to helping individuals find their true calling, Impacteers is building talent across experience levels, from recent graduates to senior professionals, spanning both the formal and organized sectors. Of the 2.1 million, more than 1.5 million are job-seekers and 6,00,000 are students poised to enter the workforce soon.

Mr Krishna Javvaji, Chairman & Founder, Impacteers

While many job seekers are still exploring their career pathways, over 50,000 have already identified their employment gaps and are working to bridge them. These interventions range from resume building aligned with career aspirations, interview preparation, mentorship, and skill enhancement, among others. To support this, Impacteers has already onboarded over 300 mentors, while 2,500 mentor profiles from diverse fields are currently under review and selection.

In addition, Impacteers has also partnered with more than 100 colleges across Tamil Nadu following a rigorous evaluation and compliance process. This partnership brings over 6,00,000 students into the platform’s career-shaping ecosystem through a combination of digital and on-campus modules. The network includes government and private institutions across arts, science, and engineering disciplines. Additionally, Impacteers is in the process of onboarding other colleges within the state, while institutions in neighboring Andhra Pradesh are currently under review. The Phase-I expansion, covering the entire South India, is targeted for completion by December 2025.

Mr. Krishna Javvaji, Chairman & Founder, Impacteers, said, “Impacteers is the result of over two years of research and technological innovation, and I am proud to see it in action since our launch announcement last month in August. At its core, Impacteers is a solution to the aspirations that exist in the market, where every employer aspires to grow just as every employee aspires to grow. Employers must deepen their human connections within their teams, while employees must discover their true career paths and build the necessary skills. By enabling this balance, Impacteers helps both job seekers and recruiters find their true calling.”

About Impacteers

Impacteers, a product of Genrichers Innovations headquartered in Chennai, India, is a dynamic ecosystem designed to bridge the gap between learning and professional success. With a strong focus on mentorship, skill-building, and career guidance, it connects individuals in India and Germany with the right opportunities, resources, and experts, empowering them to grow, thrive, and achieve their goals. Backed by cutting-edge AI and a team of over 250 professionals across India, the US, Singapore and Germany, Impacteers connects not just businesses and talent but purpose-driven individuals – including students, solopreneurs, professionals, and mentors – fostering co-creation and meaningful career growth beyond traditional employment.

PowerSchool, a global leader in cloud-based software for K-12 education, today announced the opening of its new Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Chennai, further strengthening its India operations and reaffirming its long-term commitment to the region. The new 300-seater facility marks a key milestone in PowerSchool’s growth journey, tapping into India’s thriving talent pool to accelerate innovation and global collaboration. With a focus on building advanced AI and machine learning capabilities, the Chennai CoE will play a pivotal role in driving PowerSchool’s global and India-focussed technology strategy.

L to R: Grayson Williams – Chief Information Officer PowerSchool, Apoorav Nischal – Managing Director and Country Head PowerSchool, Devendra Singh – Chief Technology Officer PowerSchool

PowerSchool currently employs approximately more than 1,450 people in India (~175 in Chennai and ~1,300 in Bengaluru) and with this workforce, the organisation continues to serve both global and India markets while expanding its capabilities in line with its growth strategy. The Chennai CoE will bring multiple teams under one roof, enabling closer collaboration, innovation, and knowledge-sharing. It will serve as a hub for building integrated solutions that combine regional and global expertise, strengthen customer services across India, and support international markets, while offering employees access to world-class resources and career growth opportunities.

Mr. Apoorav Nischal, Managing Director and Country Head, PowerSchool India, added, “India is central to PowerSchool’s global vision of transforming education through technology. With the launch of our Chennai Centre of Excellence, we are deepening our investment in one of the world’s most dynamic talent ecosystems while reinforcing our commitment to innovation and customer success. This expansion not only strengthens our ability to deliver world-class solutions that empower educators and students everywhere but also positions India as a strategic hub supporting growth across South Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.”

With its expanding footprint in India, PowerSchool is deepening investments in talent, technology, and innovation. The Chennai CoE is a testament to India’s growing role as a strategic hub for global operations, supporting marketings across the globe. This expansion reinforces PowerSchool’s vision of delivering integrated solutions that transform education universally.

About PowerSchool

PowerSchool is a leading provider of cloud-based software for K-12 education supporting 60 million students in more than 90 countries and over 18,000 customers, including more than 90 of the top 100 districts by student enrollment in the United States. Headquartered in Folsom, California, PowerSchool has a strong presence with offices across the United States, India, and the UAE. In India, Bangalore serves as a Center of Excellence, housing over 1,300 employees for more than seven years, dedicated to delivering world-class solutions & supporting clients worldwide. Its mission is to empower educators, administrators, and families to ensure personalized education for every student journey. We bring the best of K-12 educational and operational technology together to make it easier to create and deliver an experience designed for each student. ​​​PowerSchool offers a comprehensive suite of products designed to meet regional needs while delivering globally integrated solutions. Its offerings support schools in every aspect, from administration and learning management to data analytics, empowering institutions to achieve both operational efficiency and academic excellence. PowerSchool continues to drive innovation in education technology while being previously recognized as a Great Place to Work® in India in 2023.

Jana Small Finance Bank (Jana SFB) and Hotfoot Technology Solutions today announced the successful launch of Jana SFB’s Used Car Loan Origination System, powered by Hotfoot’s flagship Rapid.ai LOS Platform. This important milestone marks a new era in Jana SFB’s digital transformation, delivering a seamless, end-to-end digital journey for customers seeking affordable pre-owned vehicle financing.

Through this partnership, Jana SFB is now able to provide customers’ a fully-digitized, automated loan origination experience that brings together all stakeholders on a unified platform. The system eliminates manual dependencies and introduces industry-leading turnaround times in processing and disbursement. Enhanced by Hotfoot’s proprietary “WiseEngine” Business Rule Engine and 50 ecosystem integrations, the platform automates decision-making steps and embeds robust risk validations at every stage, ensuring transparency, compliance, and customer trust across the loan lifecycle.

Jana SFB can now automate valuation, documentation, collateral creation, and post-disbursement management, delivering a frictionless and scalable solution. This advanced foundation was delivered in record time—just 12 weeks from project kickoff to go-live—demonstrating both organizations’ commitment to swift, impactful innovation.

Ashish Saxena, Chief Information and Digital Officer at Jana Small Finance Bank, said, “The launch of this platform is a key step in Jana SFB’s vision to expand affordable credit access for families and small businesses, enabling smart mobility choices responsibly and compliantly. With Hotfoot Technologies as our partner, we have enabled both straight-through and assisted journeys, making the solution future-ready and adaptable to evolving customer needs. This collaboration strengthens our commitment to delivering faster, smarter, and customer-centric loan experiences at scale.”

According to Vivek Naidu, Founder & CEO, “The used car financing market is growing rapidly, and digital-first journeys are critical to meeting customer expectations. Through this partnership with Jana SFB, we are delivering not only speed and efficiency but also setting new benchmarks in transparency, compliance, and customer trust. This go-live is a clear example of how technology can drive meaningful impact in financial services—creating journeys that are efficient, agile, inclusive, and future-ready.”

About Hotfoot Technology Solutions

Hotfoot is an enterprise-fintech that leverages domain expertise, technology, machine learning, classical & generative AI, to deliver highly efficient processes for the BFSI industry. Founded in 2016, the company has a blend of bankers and technology experts offering solution-excellence in the lending domain. Its flagship product – Rapid.ai, incorporates workflow and decision automation, and also incorporates AI/ML models for risk management & fraud control, while incorporating paper-less journeys for all kinds of retail and MSME loans.

For more details, please visit – www.hotfoot.co.in

Increff today announced the availability of Increff Merchandising Software in Microsoft AppSource, an online cloud marketplace providing tailored line-of-business solutions.

L to R: Rajul Jain- Co-Founder & CEO, Anshuman Agarwal-Co-Founder & COO, Vishal Raj- Co-Founder & CTO, Kanika Bhalla-CRO, Vaibhav Shukla- VP & Global Head, Merchandising & Planning

Increff, a leading retail technology company specializing in inventory management and supply chain solutions, empowers 700+ global brands with AI-powered software for merchandising, omnichannel fulfillment, and warehouse optimization. These solutions enable data-driven decision-making, increased efficiency, and sustainable growth for businesses across various industries, including fashion, electronics, and consumer packaged goods. Partnering with Increff will optimize your operations, reduce costs, and enhance customer satisfaction.

“For a startup like ours, Azure has been a game-changer,” said Rajul Jain, CEO & Co-Founder, Increff. “Our merchandising software as a product crunches huge volumes of retail data to help businesses manage their inventory better and drive more sales. Azure provides the backbone for all of this, handling everything seamlessly so we can quickly deliver powerful insights and dashboards to our clients. It frees up our team to innovate and grow, knowing we have enterprise-level performance without the enterprise-level cost. Listing on Microsoft AppSource and Azure Marketplace means businesses can now easily discover and seamlessly integrate Increff’s powerful merchandising software into their existing Azure environment, accelerating their journey to smarter inventory and increased sales.”

“Microsoft AppSource welcomes Increff Merchandising Software, which joins a cloud marketplace landscape offering flexibility and economic value while transacting tens of billions of dollars a year in revenues,” said Jason Graefe, CVP, WW ISV and Digital Natives team at Microsoft. “Thanks to AppSource and line-of-business solutions from trusted partners like Increff, customers can do more with less by increasing efficiency, buying confidently, and spending smarter.”

About Increff
Increff is a leading retail technology company on a mission to become the most admired retail technology company. Our cloud-based solutions, including our innovative Merchandising Software and comprehensive Omni Solutions, empower warehouse and merchandising teams to make data-driven decisions, increase efficiency, and drive sustainable growth. With a global presence in New York, Bengaluru, London, Dubai, and Singapore, Increff serves 700+ brands, helping them streamline operations, reduce costs, and enhance customer satisfaction.

The TechBharat Research Foundation – a social enterprise advancing real-world AI solutions for public governance and citizen-centric innovation; has unveiled a trailblazing collaboration with Google Cloud as India’s first AI Center of Excellence (CoE) for Public Good. The CoE will function from Visakhapatnam.

The TechBharat Research Foundation is an initiative of Hyderabad based, ParadigmIT, a technology solutions leader empowering enterprises through digital transformation, and Quantela, a global smart technology company pioneering data-driven urban governance and sustainability solutions. The Foundation aims to harness the power of AI to address citizen challenges in governance aligned with India’s vision for responsible and inclusive AI.

Google Cloud will support the initiative by fortifying systems, capacity, and national-scale impact, ensuring the CoE becomes a hub of innovation and real-world applications in public sector.

“With TechBharat, we’re bringing our best technologies and talent to help solve real-world public sector challenges and opportunities for innovation. Google Cloud in collaboration with TechBharat will help shape scalable solutions built in India to create a powerful ecosystem that combines our cloud capabilities to deliver AI for Public Good at national scale,” said Ashish Wattal, Director, Public Sector, Google Cloud India.

“At ParadigmIT and Quantela, we are immensely proud to be part of this mission, shaping AI that matters not just for businesses, but for citizens, governance, and India’s AI future. Google’s collaboration provides tremendous impetus to create systems, partnerships, and national-scale solutions that will transform public services into citizen-friendly experiences,” says, Sridhar Gadhi, Founder, TechBharat Research Foundation.

The TechBharat AI Fellowship, a 120-day national program is nurturing India’s brightest young minds, to solve real-world public sector challenges using AI. Google Cloud’s support to TechBharat encompasses access to Google Cloud’s AI Development platforms, Gemini APIs, Cloud Credits, Mentorship support from Google’s teams and domain experts to build enterprise-grade AI solutions and help from Google’s GTM teams to take proven solutions to governments across India and the Global South.

About TechBharat Research Foundation

TechBharat Research Foundation is a not-for-profit building India’s first AI CoE for Public Good. It works with governments and institutions to turn AI into a force for equity, efficiency, and empowerment.

Learn More: www.techbharat.ai, partner@techbharat.ai 

About Google Cloud India

Google Cloud India helps build scalable, secure, and inclusive digital systems. It partners with public and private organizations to solve large-scale challenges through responsible AI and cloud technologies.

Wizz Financial, a first truly global Indian fintech group, proudly announces the launch of the AI-enabled “Wizz Voyager” multi-currency card, in direct partnership with Visa, a global leader in digital payments marking a groundbreaking milestone in India’s travel and fintech landscape.

Designed for today’s global citizens, the Wizz Voyager card allows seamless spending in 25 currencies, including 7 exclusive currencies – Chinese Yuan, Vietnamese Dong, Malaysian Ringgit, Philippine Peso, Indonesian Rupiah, Azerbaijani Manat, Georgian Lari – introduced for the first time in India, making it the most comprehensive multi-currency card in the country.

“The launch of Wizz Voyager, in direct partnership with Visa, marks a breakthrough in how Indian travellers spend abroad. As India’s first AI-powered multi-currency solution, it shows our commitment to practical, customer-first innovation with global impact and we’re proud to debut it here in India”, said Amir Nagammy, Founder & Group CEO – Wizz Financial.

With advanced AI features, the Wizz Voyager card delivers personalized user experiences, optimizes currency conversion, and enhances travel convenience across destinations worldwide. The Wizz Voyager card delivers unprecedented travel convenience with free ATM withdrawals worldwide, complimentary travel insurance, global SIM connectivity, premium airport lounge access, and AI-driven currency optimization that automatically secures the best exchange rates while rewarding loyal users with smart savings that grow over time.

With the Wizz Voyager card, Wizz Financial reinforces its position as a leading regional fintech, offering an integrated portfolio of cards & FX, cross-border payments, digital wallets, and secured lending solutions. The Group is focused on building an India-centric, seamless cross border ecosystem for today’s globally connected traveller with a specific focus on high growth markets including the GCC and Southeast Asia.

About Wizz Financial Group

Wizz Financial is India centric global fintech leader with 50+ licenses and operations across top corridors to India and South Asia, directly reaching 4.3 billion people – over 77% of global remittance volumes. Headquartered in India and UAE, Wizz Financial powers AI driven payments, lending, with a mission to reduce cost of remanences to high-growth markets. By delivering scale, coverage, and innovation, Wizz Financial connects millions to the world’s most important economic corridors.

As part of the group, Unimoni serves as Wizz Financial’s India-based brand, offering innovative foreign exchange, cross-border payments, travel, gold loan and digital financial services including a robust PPI with UPI wallet through a wide national network. Together, they deliver scale, innovation, and secure financial access across key global economic corridors empowering customers with instant gold-backed credit and seamless digital payments alongside their comprehensive suite of financial solutions.

For more information, email: contact@wizz.financial  or visit www.wizzfinancial.com.