• Bhavesh will advise on Strategy, Growth, Product & Technology and User Experience

• From 200,000 users today, SaveSage is on track to serve 1 million by March 2026

SaveSage, India’s leading AI-driven platform for credit card and loyalty programs optimisation, today announced the appointment of Bhavesh Gupta as Senior Advisor and Anchor Investor.

SaveSage Welcomes Paytm Ex-COO Bhavesh Gupta as Senior Advisor and Anchor Investor

Bhavesh previously was President & COO at Paytm helping it scale financial services and payments to dominant position. Before that, he led Clix Capital (a leading NBFC) as its founding CEO and had senior roles at IDFC First Bank and ICICI Bank in areas of retail banking in a career spanning over 27 years.

His appointment comes at a critical moment for India’s credit card market. The country has over 112 million^ credit cards across 75 million* unique users, yet more than 50%** of reward points go unredeemed each year due to low awareness or complicated redemption processes.  SaveSage is tackling this challenge through its AI-driven platform that helps users seamlessly track, manage, and maximise rewards.

Bhavesh Gupta said, “The credit card and loyalty rewards space in India is at an inflection point. With increased rewards awareness, evolving customer preferences, and digital adoption, SaveSage is poised for exponential growth. The opportunity to help users derive maximum value from their credit cards and loyalty programs is massive, and I’m excited to partner with the team to shape this journey.”

Ashish Lath, Founder & CEO of SaveSage, said, “We are thrilled to have Bhavesh Sir guide us as we scale our efforts to empower users across India. His experience and strategic insights will help us deepen our impact and ensure that users are not just using their credit cards for expenses, but optimising them intelligently. With over 200,000 users already leveraging our platform, his guidance will enable us to hyperscale and bring even more value to our community.”

Since launching in October 2024, the SaveSage app has already grown to 200,000 users, ranging from students to professionals to UHNIs, and is on track to reach 1 million users by March 2026. With Bhavesh’s guidance, SaveSage is doubling down on its mission to make every credit card in India work harder for its users.

About SaveSage

SaveSage is a mobile application that empowers users to track, manage, and maximize the value of their credit cards and loyalty program reward points. Launched in October 2024, SaveSage has quickly scaled to over 200,000 users and is on track to reach one million by March 2026. With a 4.8 rating on the Google Play Store, SaveSage is trusted by a fast-growing community of savvy consumers. The company is backed by leading investors including DSP Family Office, iSeed, Atrium Ventures, LV Fund, and prominent angels such as Bhavesh Gupta, Dr. Shriram Nene, Ravi Narayanan amongst others.

To know more, visit www.savesage.club

^As per RBI monthly data release for July 2025

*SaveSage internal estimates

**SaveSage Credit Card Survey 2025

Xflow today announced the launch of Compliance Desk, a managed service that allows Indian exporters to outsource the complex compliance requirements tied to cross-border payments. With every foreign inward remittance involving bank-specific paperwork and regulatory steps, Compliance Desk centralizes and automates these workflows so exporters can focus on business growth instead of administrative overhead.

Anand Balaji, Co-Founder and CEO, Xflow

For Indian exporters, ensuring compliance with foreign inward remittances is time-consuming, fragmented across banks, and prone to errors. Compliance Desk standardizes the process across purpose codes, bank templates, and document formats, significantly reducing delays and back-and-forth with financial institutions.

The payment service operates through regulatorily compliant payment rails. Once the transaction is concluded, Xflow’s partner bank (an authorised dealer 1 bank) issues an official payment advice. This document, available on the exporter’s Xflow dashboard, supports the issuance of e-FIRCs, BRCs, or IRMs by the merchants’ respective banks. Where additional paperwork is required, Xflow automatically provides bank-specific forms to streamline processing and proactively assists the exporters.

“Managing compliance is essential, but it often takes time and energy away from growth,” said Anand Balaji, Co-Founder and CEO of Xflow. “Every international payment comes with its own set of bank requirements, paperwork, and follow-ups. For exporters, this creates unnecessary delays and frustration, when their focus should be on building markets and serving customers. With Xflow’s Compliance Desk, we bring together our technology platform, regulatory expertise, and hands-on support to make the entire process seamless. Our goal is to give exporters the confidence that compliance is taken care of, while they concentrate on expanding their business globally.”

This initiative builds on Xflow’s recent FX AI Analyst launch, which helps businesses optimize treasury functions. Together, these solutions position Xflow as one of India’s most comprehensive platforms for exporters navigating global payments.

One of Xflow’s clients shared, “The Xflow team provided exceptional support at every step of the process. Thanks to their guidance, we were able to get our eFIRC issued smoothly by our bank, without any confusion. Our experience with Xflow has been exceptional while moving funds from the US to India.”

About Xflow

Xflow – a leading fintech offering cross-border payments for SMEs (ITES & Funded Startups). Designed to eliminate inefficiencies in international transactions, Xflow offers a seamless, transparent, and fully compliant payment experience for businesses of all sizes – from freelancers and startups to large-scale enterprises. The company is currently servicing over 12,000 businesses & has processed hundreds of millions of dollars.

L&T Finance Ltd. (LTF), formerly known as L&T Finance Holdings Limited, one of the leading Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) in the country, is pleased to launch ‘Pitch Point,’ a competition for AI startups ahead of RAISE’ 25, India’s premier Artificial Intelligence (AI)-themed event in the BFSI (Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance) sector.
 

The application period for ‘Pitch Point’ is open till October 20, 2025
 

LTF is giving an opportunity to AI startups that are in their early to growth stage to present their solutions, applicable for any BFSI or Non-BFSI domains, to a panel of Venture Capitalist, LTF’s senior management, and industry experts at RAISE’ 25. Two winners will be eligible for prize money of Rs. 25 Lakhs each. In addition, winners will get an opportunity to engage in discussion with LTF, or with any of the L&T Group companies identified by LTF, to explore a PoC, as well as to engage in discussion with L&T Innovation Fund, the venture capital arm of Larsen & Toubro, regarding potential equity funding.

Mr. Sudipta Roy, Managing Director & CEO at LTF, said, “Given L&T Finance’s sharp focus on leveraging next-gen AI technologies to transform our lending business, this competition is a significant step towards identifying, mentoring, and investing in the next set of game-changing startups. The launch of ‘Pitch Point’ underscores our commitment to fostering innovation and exploring the broader applications of AI, discovering new solutions that can deliver value not only in the BFSI space but also across multiple industries.”
 

The product offering that will be evaluated at ‘Pitch Point’ must align with one of the domains that synergises with any of the LTF’s or L&T Group Company’s current and future offerings, namely, Cyber Security & Fraud Prevention, Rural & Agri Fintech, Gen AI Application, Embedded Finance Solutions, Smart Contract & Blockchain Solutions, Alternate Data Based Lending Solutions, AI-Driven Credit Scoring & Risk Assessment, Regulatory Technology & Compliance Tools, Digital Financial & Robo-Advisors, AI-Powered Collections & Recovery Solutions, Agentic AI for Enterprise, Image Processing and Recognition, and AI Geospatial and Remote Sensing.

LTF encourages eligible startups to apply online by submitting the registration form along with their pitch deck and product demo link. Shortlisted applicants will be invited for a virtual interaction round, and five finalists will then be selected to present live at RAISE’ 25.

The jury members for Pitch Point are Mr. Rajan Anandan, Managing Director, Peak XV Partners & Surge, Ms. Tanusree Deb Barma, IAS, Deputy Director General, UIDAI Technology Centre, Bengaluru, Mr. Piyush Shah, Co-founder, InMobi and President, Glance, Ms. Sushma Kaushik, Head, L&T Innovation Fund, Mr. Arpit Agarwal, Investment Partner, Blume Ventures, and Dr. Debarag Banerjee, Chief AI & Data Officer, LTF. 

The application period for this program is open till October 20, 2025. The final shortlist is set to be announced on November 1, 2025. The program culminates in a final event at RAISE’ 25 on November 7, 2025, which will be held at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai.

Link to the ‘Pitch Point’ page:

www.ltfraise.com/event/4d429b6b-d104-434b-a315-62437285911d/pitch-point

For any questions pertaining to the application process, eligible companies can contact the organising team at raise.pitchpoint2025@ltfs.com.

About RAISE’ 25
LTF’s RAISE’ 25 is an AI-focused event centered on the theme “Accelerating Financial Services with AI.” The conference offers a unique and comprehensive exploration of AI through its three-pronged approach: Accelerated, Applied, and Advanced. Attendees will unlock future trends with industry and tech leaders, get hands-on experience in the Generative and Predictive AI zones, and track real-time case studies on custom AI solutions. Building on the success of the inaugural RAISE’ 24, which convened over 4,500 virtual and in-person participants – including regulatory leaders, unicorn startups, deep tech firms, and representatives from media, the second edition is set to provide even more invaluable insights from the AI pioneers.

Find more information at www.ltfraise.com.

About L&T Finance Ltd. (LTF)
L&T Finance Ltd. (LTF) (www.LTFINANCE.com) formerly known as L&T Finance Holdings Ltd., (LTFH) is a leading Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC), offering a range of financial products and services. Headquartered in Mumbai, the Company has been rated ‘AAA’ – the highest credit rating – by four leading domestic rating agencies. S&P Global Ratings has recently upgraded LTF long-term Issuer Credit Rating to “BBB/Stable” from “BBB-/Positive” and short-term issuer credit rating to “A-2” from “A-3”. Fitch Ratings has assigned LTF Long-Term Foreign and Local-Currency Issuer Default Ratings of “BBB-” with a Stable outlook. It has also received leadership scores and ratings by global and national Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) rating providers for its sustainability performance. The Company has been certified as a Great Place To Work® and has also won many prestigious awards for its flagship CSR project – “Digital Sakhi”- which focuses on women’s empowerment and digital and financial inclusion. Under Right to Win, being in the ‘right businesses’ has helped the Company become one of the leading financiers in key Retail products. The Company is focused on creating a top-class, digitally enabled, Retail finance company as part of the Lakshya 2026 plan. The goal is to move the emphasis from product focus to customer focus and establish a robust Retail portfolio with quality assets, thus creating a Fintech@Scale while keeping ESG at the core. Fintech@Scale is one of the pillars of the Company’s strategic roadmap – Lakshya 2026. The Company has over 2.6 Crore customer database, which is being leveraged to cross-sell, up-sell, and identify new customers.
 

X: x.com/LnTFinance

Facebook: www.facebook.com/LnTFS

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/company/lntfinance

Instagram: www.instagram.com/lntfinance

YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/ltfinance

India’s vibrant cafe scene is undergoing a thrilling transformation with the rise of Breakin’ Brew, the country’s first-ever cafe inspired by the global television phenomenon Breaking Bad. Founded by Harsh Gupta — an actor, writer, director, and entrepreneur — Breakin’ Brew is a bold new chapter in the evolution of experiential dining.

Breakin’ Brew

What started as a creative vision to merge pop culture with culinary innovation has now grown into a fast-expanding cafe chain with three operational outlets located at Ambience Mall in Gurugram, Karkardooma in Anand Vihar and M3M IFC in Manesar, while a fourth outlet launching soon.

At Breakin’ Brew, the boundaries between science and food blur — just like Walter White in the show turned high school chemistry into an empire, Breakin’ Brew turns the art of coffee into an immersive, high-concept experience. The cafe invites patrons into a world where brewing is theatrical, coffee is experimental, and every sip tells a story.

Harsh Gupta – Founder of Breakin’ Brew

Shares Harsh Gupta, “We didn’t just want to open another coffee shop. We wanted to create an environment that transports people into a universe they know and love, while offering world-class coffee and comfort food. Every detail — from the beaker-shaped glasses to the lab-inspired interiors — is meant to thrill, surprise, and connect.”

More than just a cafe, Breakin’ Brew is a destination — one that has quickly become a favourite for fans of the show as well as food enthusiasts. The interiors are a visual tribute to the Breaking Bad universe — think chemistry lab aesthetics, themed artwork, and a colour palette inspired by the show’s most iconic moments.

The menu is just as diverse and daring: from handcrafted coffees and molecular drinks to a robust food selection featuring pizzas, burgers, pastas, platters and decadent desserts.

Each beverage and dish is crafted with scientific precision and a creative edge, delivering both flavour and flair.

The cafe is also known for its Instagrammable moments – from smoky drinks served in lab equipment to neon signs quoting legendary lines from the show. It’s a perfect blend of drama and dining, where nostalgia meets novelty.

With its growing footprint and buzz-worthy concept, Breakin’ Brew is setting a new benchmark for themed cafes in India. It’s not just about fandom — it’s about creating a multi-sensory coffeehouse experience that is as engaging as it is delicious. Whether you’re a loyal follower of the Breaking Bad series or someone simply seeking a one-of-a-kind cafe experience, Breakin’ Brew offers something truly original — an escape from the ordinary, brewed with imagination.

For more details, visit www.breakinbrew.com/

Follow Breakin’ Brew on Instagram – www.instagram.com/breakinbrew/?hl=en

• Invest in Denmark and Copenhagen Fintech host thematic interaction on sustainable finance in partnership with Startup Réseau

• Launched a report titled ‘Green Fintech – Denmark: Digital Solutions for a Sustainable Future’

At the 6th edition of the Global Fintech Fest (GFF) 2025 in Mumbai, Invest in Denmark and Copenhagen Fintech, in partnership with Startup Réseau, hosted a thematic interaction on “Green Fintech,” bringing together Danish and Indian stakeholders committed to driving sustainable innovation in financial services.

Launch of the report titled ‘Green Fintech – Denmark: Digital Solutions for a Sustainable Future’

The closed-door session convened policymakers, industry leaders, investors, ecosystem enablers, and high-growth ventures, all working at the intersection of sustainability and finance, to explore collaborative pathways that accelerate climate-aligned financial innovation.

The program began with an opening address by H.E. Rasmus Abildgaard Kristensen, Ambassador of Denmark to India, who spoke about Denmark’s commitment to driving global sustainability through collaboration. This was followed by Ulrik Nødgaard, Governor, Danmarks Nationalbank, who shared his perspectives on Denmark’s leadership in integrating climate considerations into financial regulation and policy.

A Special Address was delivered by Shri K. Rajaraman, Chairperson, International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA), on “India’s Global Financial Gateway: IFSCA’s Vision for Green and Innovative Finance.”

During the Global Fintech Fest 2025, Invest in Denmark and Copenhagen Fintech hosted a Climate FinTech Roundtable followed by the launch of a report titled ‘Green Fintech – Denmark: Digital Solutions for a Sustainable Future’. The report features several innovative startups and cluster organizations in both Denmark and India, with the aim of triggering conversations around collaboration between the two countries. It explores the convergence of technology and sustainability within the banking and financial services sector, aligning perfectly with the platform of Global Fintech Fest 2025, where Denmark was one of the Country Partners. 

The interactive discussion brought together participants across five clusters – Policy & Framework, Industry, Investors, Startups, and Ecosystem Enablers to capture diverse insights and recommendations.

Participants collectively agreed that regulatory alignment and clear policy signals are essential to mobilize private capital at scale and strengthen investor confidence in climate-aligned financial instruments. The dialogue emphasised that partnerships among banks, corporates, and Fintechs will be crucial in accelerating the transition to low-carbon business models, facilitating new forms of blended finance, and driving innovation throughout the global financial ecosystem.

Through its participation at the Global Fintech Fest 2025, Denmark aimed to position Nordic region as a strong and stable economic region, showcasing global leadership in Ethical AI and Quantum, cybersecurity, and growing capabilities in sustainability-driven Green Fintech and Climate Fintech. Denmark offers a strong, stable, investor friendly business environment making it an ideal launchpad into the Nordics. Recently enhanced air connectivity from both Delhi and Mumbai to Copenhagen augurs well for stronger collaboration.

About Copenhagen Fintech
Copenhagen Fintech is the leading innovation hub for financial technology in the Nordic region. Founded to accelerate the growth of fintech startups and foster collaboration between financial institutions, academia, and entrepreneurs, it supports companies driving innovation in areas such as ethical AI, green finance, digital inclusion, and climate-focused solutions. By bridging global fintech ecosystems, Copenhagen Fintech plays a pivotal role in positioning Denmark as a world leader in sustainable and technology-driven financial innovation.

For more information, visit- www.copenhagenfintech.dk

About the Consulate General of Denmark in Bangalore
The Consulate General of Denmark in Bangalore works to strengthen ties between Denmark and India by fostering impactful opportunities across industry, academia, and innovation. With a focus on green transition, life sciences, technology, and sustainable growth, the Consulate drives long-term partnerships and mutual success. Its three key teams—The Trade Council, Innovation Centre Denmark, and Invest in Denmark—collaborate to support Danish companies in India, connect industries and startups for cutting-edge innovation, and assist Indian companies in expanding into Denmark and the Nordic region. Together, they build a future of shared progress, driving economic diplomacy, innovation, and sustainability between the two nations.

For more information, visit- indien.um.dk/en/about-us 

About the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark promotes Denmark’s interests abroad by fostering international cooperation, trade, and investment. Through a global network of embassies, consulates, and trade offices, the Ministry supports Danish companies in building partnerships and expanding internationally, while also strengthening bilateral and multilateral relationships. Its efforts are closely aligned with Denmark’s commitment to sustainability, innovation, and global collaboration.

For more information, visit- um.dk/en 

 Aurigo Software, North America’s leading capital planning software provider, today announced a fully integrated solution that brings together Aurigo’s capital planning product with Autodesk Construction Cloud^®, a comprehensive construction management solution that connects workflows, teams, and data across every stage of a project, from design and planning through building and operations. The new integration enables Autodesk’s facility owner and operator customers to seamlessly connect long-range strategy and funding decisions with downstream project execution.

Aurigo Primus Plan and Autodesk Construction Cloud

Project teams can now integrate Projects, Budgets, Commitments, Change Orders, and Expenses between Autodesk^® Build Cost Management and Aurigo Primus Plan for planned vs. actual performance updates.

Recent data from the U.S. Census Bureau indicate that construction across multiple sectors of the economy is on the rise, including data centers, manufacturing, and healthcare. Planning and finance teams need modern tools to address the complexity of these capital programs. Capital owners who are already utilizing Autodesk’s best-in-class construction solutions will now be able to collect, prioritize, program, and track performance of their projects from their very inception, before any asset is designed or built. By moving the management of capital programs upstream, risks can be identified early, and returns on investments can be calculated more easily.

“With the integration, we are creating a single, connected loop for capital assets, starting in planning and moving to design, construction, and maintenance,” said Balaji Sreenivasan, CEO and Founder of Aurigo Software. “By connecting Aurigo’s capital planning expertise to the breadth of execution offered by Autodesk Construction Cloud, every investment decision carries through to delivery, allowing owner-operators to make the right decisions faster.”

Today, Aurigo manages more than $450 billion in capital programs across 40,000 projects, making it an ideal planning solution for North America’s largest capital owners. Building on this expertise, the company introduced Aurigo Primus, the industry’s first AI-powered capital planning system purpose-built for facility owners.

With Primus, users can define project charters, model funding scenarios, and forecast outcomes. The platform goes beyond traditional approaches to include predictive analytics and generative modeling to enable smarter portfolio optimization, risk assessment, and cost control. When paired with Autodesk Construction Cloud, owners can publish approved projects and budgets into downstream workflows, while instantly synchronizing commitments and actuals from the field to understand their portfolio performance in real time.

“Autodesk and Aurigo share a commitment to helping owners deliver smarter, more sustainable assets,” said Sidharth Haksar, Vice President, construction strategy & industry partnerships at Autodesk. “By integrating Aurigo’s capital planning platform with Autodesk Construction Cloud, we are connecting the why, what, and how of every program, helping our customers deliver with greater accountability and transparency at every stage of the lifecycle.”

To learn more, visit www.aurigo.com/autodesk.

About Aurigo Software

Aurigo builds software that helps build the world. Aurigo provides modern, cloud-based solutions for capital infrastructure and private owners to help plan with confidence, build with quality, and maintain their assets efficiently. With more than $450 billion of capital programs under management, Aurigo’s solutions are trusted by over 300 customers in transportation, water and utilities, healthcare, higher education, and government on over 40,000 projects across North America. Aurigo helps capital program executives make better decisions based on proprietary artificial intelligence and machine learning technology. Aurigo is a privately held U.S. corporation headquartered in Austin, Texas, with global offices in Canada and India. Learn more at www.aurigo.com.

Autodesk and Autodesk Construction Cloud are registered trademarks or trademarks of Autodesk, Inc., and/or its subsidiaries and/or affiliates in the USA and/or other countries. All other brand names, product names, or trademarks belong to their respective holders.

• 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.