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Prime Minister Narendra <keyword id="19899684" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Modi" source="keywords">Modi</keyword> on Friday said the government is making necessary <keyword id="20861068" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="policy-changes" source="keywords">policy changes</keyword>, like removal of <keyword id="20279287" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Angel-Tax" source="keywords">Angel Tax</keyword>, to promote the <keyword id="19945816" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="fintech" source="keywords">fintech</keyword> sector, even as he asked the <keyword id="19962476" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="regulators" source="keywords">regulators</keyword> to take additional measures to check cyber frauds which can have a crippling impact on startups. Lauding the fintechs for democratising <keyword id="19976433" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="financial-services" source="keywords">financial services</keyword>, Modi said the sector, which has attracted USD 31-billion investment in the last 10 years, has played a key role in denting the parallel economy. The Prime Minister was addressing the Global Fintech Fest (GFF) 2024, jointly organised by the Payments Council of India, the National Payments Corporation of India and the Fintech Convergence Council. He said the domestic economy and the capital market are in a celebratory mood at a time when the nation is also going through a festive period. Modi underlined that the government is making all necessary changes on the policy level to assist the fintech sector and gave examples of doing away with Angel Tax, allocating Rs 1 lakh crore to encourage research and innovation in the country and implementing the Digital Personal Data Protection Act. Broadly, fintech refers to entities utilising technologies for providing financial services. Expressing the need to put an end to <keyword id="19901142" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="cyber-fraud" source="keywords">cyber fraud</keyword>, he urged the regulators to take major initiatives to boost digital literacy. It is equally important to ensure cyber fraud does not come in the way of the growth of fintech and startups in the country, Modi said. In his speech, the Prime Minister also cautioned about the dangers of a parallel economy for the world. Fintech, he said, has played an impactful role in denting such a system and credited the emergence of transparency. He said that digital technology has introduced transparency in India and gave the example of the implementation of Direct Benefit Transfer used in hundreds of government schemes that has prevented leakages in the system. "Today, people can see the benefits of aligning with the formal banking system," he said. Modi further said the trinity of Jan Dhan, Aadhaar and Mobile have broken down the mentality of 'Cash is King' and made way for approximately half of the <keyword id="20004116" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="digital-transactions" source="keywords">digital transactions</keyword> in the world taking place in India. "India's <keyword id="19900911" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="upi" source="keywords">UPI</keyword> has become a major example of fintech in the world," he said, adding that it has enabled 24X7 banking services in every village and city in all weather conditions. Underlining the role of fintech in democratising financial services, the Prime Minister gave examples of readily available loans, credit cards, investments and insurance. He said that fintech has made access to credit easy and inclusive, and gave the example of PM SVANidhi scheme that has enabled street vendors to avail collateral-free loans and further expand their business with the help of digital transactions. "Sustainable <keyword id="19900794" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="economic-growth" source="keywords">economic growth</keyword> is India's priority today," he said and emphasised that the government is creating robust, transparent and efficient systems to strengthen financial markets with advanced technologies and regulatory frameworks. About 800 speakers, including policymakers, regulators, senior bankers, industry captains, and academicians, from India and other countries are participating in the fest.

Removed Angel Tax, taking policy measures to promote fintech sector: PM Modi

New Delhi: The <keyword id="21833060" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Fintech-ecosystem" source="keywords">Fintech ecosystem</keyword> of the country now cumulatively valued at over USD 100 billion, is at a pivotal stage of evolution, with the potential to create two to three times its current value over the next decade, as per a report by <keyword id="20058186" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="BCG" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="BCG" meta.hostid="269" meta.entityid="BCG">BCG</keyword> and Z47. The report highlighted that India remains one of the top three global Fintech destinations, with the ecosystem witnessing exponential growth across all levels. It added that over the past four years, the number of <keyword id="22974213" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Minicorns" source="keywords">Minicorns</keyword> (valuation at least USD 1 million but less than USD 1 billion) in the country has increased by 3.5 times, while the number of <keyword id="19944451" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Unicorns" source="keywords">Unicorns</keyword> and Soonicorns (startup that is growing quickly and has the potential to become a "unicorn" valued at USD 1 billion) has tripled. The report noted that in 2023, the country's Fintech market achieved a revenue size of USD 25 billion, marking a 56 per cent year-on-year growth which is a remarkable contrast to the global Fintech growth rate of just 13 per cent during the same period. However, the report also added that despite generating over USD 100 billion in value within the last decade, Indian Fintechs are still considered to be in the "middle" phase of their development, especially when compared to traditional incumbents who have created USD 600 billion+ in value over 30 to 50 years. The report mentioned that now the growth and the further expansion of the fintech ecosystem in the country is expected to come from the Tier 2 cities where majority of the Indian population resides. "With 63 per cent of the Indian population outside the top cities, huge opportunity exists to serve Bharat with next wave of penetration expected to come from Tier 2 cities" the report added. As Fintechs mature, profitability has become a central focus across the sector, with over 40 per cent of founders and CXOs (Chief Experience Officers) prioritizing unit economics alongside market expansion. Those preparing for or currently undergoing the IPO process are increasingly emphasizing governance, investment in infrastructure, and security. The report noted that in a recent survey of over 60 executives from top Fintechs, the majority cited market share expansion and growth as key priorities, especially for early and growth-stage companies. Post-IPO stage Fintechs, however, are placing greater emphasis on profitability and investments in technology, infrastructure, and security. "Mature Fintechs preparing for or in the IPO journey are emphasizing governance, investment in infrastructure, security Across survey of 60+ Executives of top Fintechs, market share expansion &amp; growth emerged as priorities for early and growth stage" added the report. Notably, the report stated that the profitability outlooks are improving year-on-year across all segments, with Neobank and InsurTech showing the most significant positive shifts since 2022. However, the industry is not without its challenges, particularly in the realm of cybersecurity. Over the past two decades, more than USD 20 billion has been lost to cyber and digital attacks.

Minicorns, Unicorns tripled in USD 100 billion Indian fintech ecosystem: BCG, Z47

<ul><li>In 2022, there were a record-breaking 74 billion <keyword id="6358921" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="upi" source="Orion">UPI</keyword> transactions, the highest in <keyword id="1399736" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="digital-payment" source="Orion">digital payment</keyword> volumes.</li><li>There has been a huge rise in digital payments with 9.3 billion transactions in June 2023, with a total transaction value of ₹1,475 lakh crore.</li><li>Fintechs disbursed 10 times higher consumption loans in FY 2022-23 as compared to FY 2018-19.</li></ul> India has cemented its position as a pioneer in developing and integrating digital infrastructure. Stats show that 1.3 billion individuals have enrolled in Aadhaar, which stands as the world's largest and most expansive unique digital identity program in the world. According to a research report by TransUnion CIBIL there is more. In 2022, there were a record-breaking 74 billion UPI transactions, the highest in digital payment volumes in the world. The Indian smartphone usage for financial services has increased. Data shows that there were 28 billion app downloads in 2022 in the country which accounted for 5% of total global app downloads. One in three Indians own a smartphone – over 667 million smartphone owners in 2022 in India, as per the data. India also had 531 million net-commerce users and out of this almost half shopped online in the reported year, thus making it a sheer volume attraction for the <keyword id="35621" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="e-commerce" source="Orion">e-commerce</keyword> industry. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Digital adoption has led to an e-commerce boom" comment="Subhead" text="Digital adoption has led to an e-commerce boom">Digital adoption has led to an e-commerce boom</cmsannotation> A rise in digital penetration, rise in the young population and increase in per capita income are mega trends which have accelerated the transition to digital. Digital adoption has led to a boom in e-commerce, because India has the lowest cost per GB of mobile Internet data in the world at only ₹13, 531 million social media users. 77 million Indians shop through social media platforms with users shopping through social media platforms having gone up 36% since last year. Active Internet users largely spend their time on a few activities- entertainment (85%), communication (77%), social media (70%), net commerce (52%) and online shopping (34%). Simultaneously there has been a huge rise in digital payments with 9.3 billion transactions in June 2023, with a total transaction value of ₹1,475 lakh crore. What is more, 36% of digital payment users are from rural India. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Fintechs fuel consumption through personal and consumer loans" comment="Subhead" text="Fintechs fuel consumption through personal and consumer loans">Fintechs fuel consumption through personal and consumer loans</cmsannotation> Another prominent trend is the rise of <keyword id="5565417" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="fintech-lending" source="Orion">Fintech lending</keyword> which has fuelled consumption through personal and consumer loans. As of March 2023, personal loans (54.2%), business loans (24.3%), consumer loans (6.5%) and other loans (15.8%) constituted the Fintech lending portfolio. A strong focus on personal lending has thus helped fintechs to scale faster than any other lender in this segment. Fintechs disbursed 10 times higher consumption loans in FY 2022-23 as compared to FY 2018-19. Number of fintechs has grown from 33 in 2018-19 to 70 in 2022-23. Fintech NBFCs (non-banking financial companies) are also able to provide loans in a faster and more efficient manner due to higher digitisation, KYC check and risk checks with automated scoreboards. 57% of personal loans and 70% of consumer durable loans are processed on the same day in FY 2022-2023. Also younger borrowers are taking more loans from fintech lenders with the percentage of population taking loans from fintech lenders who are below the age of 25 going up to 52% in FY 2022-FY 2023 from 21% in FY 2018- FY 2019.

The Indian e-commerce market is growing at the rate of knots courtesy rapid digital transformation

Global mobility fintech startup <keyword id="20582833" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="moove" source="keywords">Moove</keyword> on Wednesday said it has raised $10 million in new debt funding from leading venture debt fund <keyword id="19952355" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="stride-ventures" source="keywords">Stride Ventures</keyword> to expand its <keyword id="19895063" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="india" source="keywords">India</keyword> footprint. The fresh capital will be utilised to scale the Indian fleet to over 5,000 and expand into new markets including Delhi, Pune and Kolkata, the startup said in a statement. "Our vehicles have completed over 4.2 million trips, significantly impacting India's mobility sector. With the robust support of Stride Ventures, we stand on the cusp of transforming vehicle ownership nationwide, propelling our mission forward," said <keyword id="20582834" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="binod-mishra" source="keywords">Binod Mishra</keyword>, Regional Managing Director, India and South Asia, Moove. Gurugram-headquartered Moove has established its presence in Bengaluru, Mumbai and Hyderabad. "Our alliance with Moove is set to transform vehicle ownership accessibility throughout India, marking a significant leap towards social and economic advancement," said <keyword id="20582835" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="apoorva-sharma" source="keywords">Apoorva Sharma</keyword>, Managing Partner at Stride Ventures. Operating in nine markets across Africa, the Middle East, Europe and Asia, Moove has emerged as Uber's top vehicle supply partner in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) and its largest global fleet partner. Currently, over 30 million trips have been completed in Moove-financed vehicles globally, said the startup. The company uses technology and productivity data to build an integrated, revenue-based vehicle financing platform for mobility entrepreneurs in emerging markets around the world who have limited or no access to a vehicle or vehicle financing. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/poco-oneplus-top-indian-smartphone-shipment-growth-but-overall-reading-flat/articleshow/107681294.cms">Poco, OnePlus top Indian smartphone shipment growth but overall reading flat</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/seven-out-of-top-10-smartphones-sold-worldwide-in-2023-were-iphones/articleshow/107617907.cms">Apple domination: Seven out of top 10 smartphones sold worldwide are iPhones</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/webstories/upcoming-smartphones-launching-in-india-in-february-2024/slidelist/107220575.cms">Samsung to Nothing – The upcoming smartphones hitting Indian market in February</a>

Mobility fintech startup Moove raises $10 mn to expand India footprint

New Delhi [India], February 23 (ANI): The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has greenlit a USD 23 million loan to foster the growth of fintech education, research, and innovation at the <keyword id="19906863" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="gujarat" source="keywords">Gujarat</keyword> International Finance Tec-City (GIFT) in <keyword id="19895063" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="india" source="keywords">India</keyword>. According to ADB, Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT), a state-owned enterprise, serves as a cornerstone for nurturing fintech ecosystems and financial services within India. Positioned as the country's premier international financial services center, GIFT has emerged as a burgeoning hub for fostering and nurturing local startups, catalyzing innovation, and propelling economic growth. ADB Economist <keyword id="20688619" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="kanupriya-gupta" source="keywords">Kanupriya Gupta</keyword> emphasized the transformative impact of India's fintech industry on business operations, economic prosperity, and future readiness. <keyword id="19983550" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="gupta" source="keywords">Gupta</keyword> underscored ADB's commitment to strengthening fintech education to enhance the efficiency and accessibility of digital and financial services across India. Gupta said, "The development of India's fintech industry has transformed how people do business, contributed to economic growth, and prepared the country for the future. ADB's assistance will help strengthen the country's fintech education to ensure that digital and financial services become more efficient and accessible in the future." The ambitious project spearheaded by ADB will see the establishment of an inclusive, sustainable, and climate-resilient International Fintech Institute (<keyword id="20688621" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ifi" source="keywords">IFI</keyword>) within GIFT's premises. The IFI, in collaboration with renowned global institutes and universities, will offer cutting-edge fintech training programs aligned with industry standards and international best practices. A key focus of the institute will be on nurturing innovation and entrepreneurship, with a particular emphasis on supporting women-led startups through tailored incubation and acceleration services. Additionally, the IFI will forge strategic partnerships with industry stakeholders and venture capital funds to facilitate the growth and scalability of fintech startups. In line with ADB's commitment to fostering research and innovation, the program will channel resources towards exploring innovative solutions and technologies in various domains, including climate fintech, regulatory technology, social inclusion, and gender equality in finance. The initiative will also entail the development of a state fintech readiness index to gauge the ecosystem's preparedness and identify areas for improvement. ADB's unwavering dedication to promoting prosperity, inclusivity, resilience, and sustainability in the Asia-Pacific region underscores its broader mission to eradicate extreme poverty and foster sustainable development. With a membership comprising 68 nations, 49 of which are from the region, ADB remains steadfast in its pursuit of catalyzing positive change and driving economic progress across the region. As the fintech ecosystem continues to evolve and expand, ADB's intervention is poised to serve as a catalyst for driving innovation, fostering entrepreneurship, and unlocking new avenues for economic growth and financial inclusion in Gujarat and beyond. (ANI)

ADB approves $23 million loan to catalyze fintech development in Gujarat

<ul><li>According to <keyword id="19899808" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="rbi" source="keywords">RBI</keyword>, the <keyword id="19945816" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="fintech" source="keywords">Fintech</keyword> <keyword id="881153" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="self-regulatory-organisation" source="Orion">self regulatory organisation</keyword> (SRO-FT) would derive its strength from its membership, ensuring that it is truly representative of the <keyword id="6133582" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="fintech-sector" source="Orion">fintech sector</keyword>. </li><li>The <keyword id="19901291" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sro" source="keywords">SRO</keyword> model enables a balance between regulation and innovation, which is especially critical in fast-evolving sectors such as fintech. </li><li>The SRO-FT is anticipated to function impartially, with credibility and responsibility under the supervision of the regulator. </li></ul>The Reserve Bank(RBI) of India has released a preliminary framework outlining general functions, governance standards, and eligibility requirements for the establishment of a self-regulatory organisation for FinTech firms (SRO-FT). The recognition of SRO-FTs would be determined by the quantity and characteristics of the applications received. According to the RBI, “The SRO-FT would derive its strength from its membership, ensuring that it is truly representative of the fintech sector. Through comprehensive membership agreements that encompass a broad spectrum of industry players, the SRO-FT should gain the legitimacy and credibility to not only frame baseline standards and rules of conduct codes, but also to effectively monitor and enforce them.” Keeping up with technological progress “The RBI's move to establish an SRO framework is a game-changer in financial regulations, especially for digital lending and AI-driven innovation. This is a strong shift towards a collaborative, adaptive ecosystem. By integrating industry insights into regulation, we're ensuring that rules are practical and keep up with technological progress, fostering innovation and growth,” says <keyword id="20212226" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="adhil-shetty" source="keywords">Adhil Shetty</keyword>, CEO, BankBazaar, a financial marketplace. He adds that the SRO model enables a balance between regulation and innovation, which is especially critical in fast-evolving sectors such as fintech. This is not just about ensuring compliance; it's about creating a culture of integrity and ethical practices that are ingrained in the industry's DNA. The RBI's commitment to this collaborative approach is thus a significant step in developing a resilient financial ecosystem. Healthy and sustainable growth of the fintech sector “The creation of an SRO is seen as crucial in combating the influence of unscrupulous lenders, promoting ethical conduct, strengthening lending infrastructure, and formulating adaptable regulatory strategies,” says <keyword id="20212225" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="madhusudan-ekambaram" source="keywords">Madhusudan Ekambaram</keyword>, Co-founder and CEO, KreditBee, a personal loan app. The SRO-FT is anticipated to function impartially, with credibility and responsibility under the supervision of the regulator. Its primary goal is to contribute to the healthy and sustainable growth of the fintech sector, while also charting a smooth path to phased regulatory compliance when necessary. “This collaborative and participatory approach aligns with the RBI's overarching objective of fostering a resilient and sustainable financial ecosystem, emphasising ethical behaviour and transparency,” says Ekambaram. The SRO-FT is thus expected to play a pivotal role in shaping the course of digital lending in India by ensuring the adoption of responsible practices and maintaining integrity within the industry.

Fintech SRO aims to enhance credibility of sector, promote ethical conduct

<keyword id="19947542" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="One-97-Communications" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="One 97 Communications" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="One 97 Communications">One 97 Communications</keyword>, that operates popular fintech brand <keyword id="19898109" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Paytm" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Paytm" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Paytm">Paytm</keyword>, reported a 25 per cent rise in revenue at Rs 9,978 crore in the just concluded financial year 2023-24. The company attributed the growth to GMV growth, device additions, and growth in the financial services distribution business. Since its IPO, when the company went public, it for the first full year EBITDA before ESOP profitability of Rs 559 crore, its earnings results released Wednesday showed. In the January-March quarter, however, Paytm reported a revenue of Rs 2,267 crore, a modest decline of 3 per cent year-on-year. "In Q4 FY 2024, we had lower marketing spends, as we paused most of the user growth spending in the month of February and March. We expect to reinvest in these areas in the coming financial year," Paytm informed stock exchanges. "While we experienced a financial impact in Q4 due to the above disruptions, the full financial impact will be seen in Q1 FY 2025." Paytm says it is confident of seeing meaningful improvement starting from Q2 2024-25, based on restarting certain paused products and achieving steady growth in operating metrics. In Q1 of the current fiscal, its focus will be on acquiring new merchants, reactivation of inactive merchants, and redeployment of devices from inactive merchants to new merchants. "While there will be a smaller net addition of device merchants in Q1 FY 2025, we expect net additions to improve from thereon and recover to past trendlines by Q3 FY 2025." Its revenue from payment services were up 26 per cent to Rs 6,235 crore; net payment margin was up 50 per cent to Rs 2,955 crore; gross merchandise value (GMV) up 39 per cent to Rs 18.3 lakh crore. Merchant paying subscriptions for devices have reached 1.07 crore as of March 2024, an increase of 39 lakh. Revenue from financial services and others up 30 per cent to Rs 2,004 crore; value of loans distributed was up 48 per cent to Rs 52,390 crore. Further, Paytm said that the active rate and per device subscription revenue has been impacted. Merchant subscription revenue in Q4 was Rs 90 per device per month and it expects it to bottom out at Rs 80 in Q1, post which it should increase towards Rs 100 by Q4 of the current fiscal. "We continue to address our merchants' needs through innovative product launches and are backed by a large distribution and service network. We recently launched two more "Made in India" soundboxes which are customized to the needs of our merchants, with louder speakers and longer battery life." SEE ALSO:<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/webstories/awfis-space-solutions-ipo-price-band-to-risk-factors-all-you-need-to-know/slidelist/110305597.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/webstories/awfis-space-solutions-ipo-price-band-to-risk-factors-all-you-need-to-know/slidelist/110305597.cms" target="_blank">Awfis Space Solutions IPO – Price band to risk factors, all you need to know</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/sports/webstories/rajasthan-royals-vs-royal-challengers-bengaluru-head-to-head-record-key-players-and-more/slidelist/110298325.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/sports/webstories/rajasthan-royals-vs-royal-challengers-bengaluru-head-to-head-record-key-players-and-more/slidelist/110298325.cms" target="_blank">Rajasthan Royals vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru: head-to-head record, key players and more</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/indias-pc-market-grows-by-2-6-in-q1-2024-recording-third-consecutive-quarter-with-growth/articleshow/110292150.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/indias-pc-market-grows-by-2-6-in-q1-2024-recording-third-consecutive-quarter-with-growth/articleshow/110292150.cms" target="_blank">India's PC market grows by 2.6% in Q1 2024, recording third consecutive quarter with growth</a>

Paytm registers 25% growth in revenue at ₹9,978 crore in 2023-24

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Some expat Indians are moving back home to launch companies of their own.</li><li>India's booming market size, internet growth, and post-pandemic spending is driving their decision.</li></ul>Nithin Hassan, 41, has always been fascinated with building something of his own.As a child in India, he would get in trouble for dismantling electronics around the house just so he could peek inside.In college, in true <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/startups-to-bet-your-career-on-in-2024-2024-2">startup</a> fashion, he started working on a small business out of his parent's garage in Bengaluru, assembling computers for friends and family.It was the early 2000s and the internet was not the trove of knowledge it is today — Hassan was relying on books to learn. Finding mentorship and the right guidance was a challenge, too.Everyone around Hassan told him that going to the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/resume-tips-google-software-engineer-skills-experience-careers-software-tech-2024-3">US for a master's degree</a> was the next big opportunity. So he did.Over the next 16 years, he put his startup plans on hold and worked at some of the world's biggest companies, including Amazon, Microsoft, and Meta.<div type="image" title="Nithin Hassan" height="2450" width="3266" msid="113831978" hostid="261" sizebytes="215682"></div>But the pandemic felt like a turning point. And its aftermath made India look like a lab-designed business environment: It had just become the world's most populous country, the pandemic had created <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/indicators/private-consumption-continues-to-be-supported-by-pent-up-demand-finance-ministry/articleshow/99069973.cms?from=mdr">pent-up demand</a> for consumer products, and growing internet adoption made commerce more scalable, he said.So Hassan left behind about $500,000 in annual pay at Meta to move back to Bengaluru in December 2023 with his wife and two children. He has since launched two startups.Hassan is part of a group of <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/i-moved-back-to-india-after-living-abroad-for-decade-2024-9">expat Indians moving back</a> home to venture out on their own. As such, he's also part of a decades-long trend of reverse migration back to India.The trend began in the 1990s and picked up at the turn of the century, driven by the economic collapse in 2008, said Binod Khadria, the president of Global Research Forum on Diaspora and Transnationalism. Many of those who returned to India for work were largely working for multinational companies.Today, the impetus for the move often looks a bit different: It's driven by factors like unstable visa policies and economic recessions, which lead to uncertainty when it comes to jobs and duration of stay in these destinations.Many returnees find work in tech, but the finance, retail, and climate sectors also absorb a large number of expat Indians, Khadia said. And some of the returnees are heading back to India to start companies of their own.India is undergoing a startup explosion. The country reported over<a target="_blank" href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=2043805"> 140,800 recognized startups</a> at the end of June — nearly 50,000 more than last year — and credited them with creating 1.6 million direct jobs.To be sure, not all of these companies will make it big — and some do still stumble, like <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://inc42.com/features/what-are-the-current-problems-being-faced-by-oyo/">Oyo </a>and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/blackrock-hsbc-funds-byjus-startup-valuation-zero-edtech-india-raveendran-2024-6">Byju's</a>. But the chaos, where even established startups are trying and failing, makes India a fair playing field for new entrants, Hassan said.Business Insider spoke to six <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/india-vc-wants-see-5-traits-new-founders-fundraising-antler-2024-8">first-time founders </a>about why they have recently returned to India after spending several years, or even an adult life, abroad.<h2 id="0e4a3c47-ba19-4690-8b52-c6bfece1c81d">Fastest-growing economy</h2>The health of the economy and interest from investors are fueling the entrepreneurship boom.<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/india-billionaire-karan-adani-plans-challenge-china-dominance-seaports-2024-8">India's economic growth</a> in 2023 — 8.2% — was the fastest of all large economies worldwide. That's led to greater purchasing power, which lets companies, including startups, sell more.India's inflation rate of about 3.5% is well below its annual wage growth of 9.6%. This makes inflation less of a challenge than it is for slower-growing peers, where consumer-focused businesses have been <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/economy-jobs-report-sentiment-consumers-elections-recession-inflation-mortgage-rates-2024-9">hurt by high prices</a>.Investors are getting in on the action.From 2015 to 2021, the number of <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/sequoia-capital-vc-firm-split-china-india-2023-6">unique investors in India</a> nearly quadrupled, though the number is tracking much lower this year, per PitchBook."Other than a slight downturn in 2022 and 2023 due to global macroeconomic factors, VC funding has been consistently growing in India," said Ben Mathias, a managing partner at Vertex Ventures Southeast Asia &amp; India.Besides funding, domestic developments have encouraged founders and VCs too, Mathias said.The Indian government's Universal Payment Interface system has spurred consumers and businesses to pay online, and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.bcg.com/press/2june2022-digital-payments-in-india-projected-to-reach-10-trillion-by-2026">40% of all digital payments</a> globally happen in India today, the partner said.Programs like Startup India, which provides founders benefits like tax exemption, easier compliance, and funding support, have made creating a company smoother.Devyani Parameshwar worked in the microfinance and fintech space in India in the 2010s before heading to the UK and Africa. She returned to India in 2022 to launch a financial management venture."It's changed dramatically. I remember standing in line at various ministries in Delhi trying to get meetings and then trying to get answers and it wasn't easy in the past," she said of her memories of India.Now, she can use an online platform to ask the country's central bank and banking regulator questions.It's easier than ever for foreign companies to invest in India, which means startups have a clearer exit path through acquisition — something VCs think hard about before entering new markets or writing checks.<h2 id="e5dd7b6f-a09f-4ff2-84c1-5907de96dc5e">Market ripe for the taking</h2>For Rohan Bhide, who spent most of his college and professional life <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/worked-in-big-tech-before-launching-my-own-startup-engineer-2024-9">preparing to launch something of his own</a>, a trip home in 2017 while he was studying in the US was a turning point.Indian telecom giant Reliance had recently launched a cheap unlimited data plan, which spiked Indian internet adoption. India was charting among the countries with the highest online transactions."That really, really drew my attention," said Bhide, who worked at Meta after graduation. "It was my dream come true — a huge market, a huge user base, and at the same time, the ability to adopt technology was incredible."Bhide returned to India in January, leaving behind about $580,000 in total compensation at ticketing platform StubHub. He and a cofounder are working on launching a consumer tech product later this year.<div type="image" title="Rohan Bhide" height="2304" width="3072" msid="113831979" hostid="261" sizebytes="218468"></div>Most Indians grew up wanting to work at a multinational company — but that's changing, Bhide said.Freelancing, running your own business, or working for a startup is much more socially acceptable now, because people see the success of other Indian startups. The country has the third-largest number of "unicorns" — companies worth $1 billion or more — with 64, per PitchBook.<h2 id="7f423804-745b-4e04-a250-839e01663f09">Boom in entrepreneurship culture</h2>A lot has changed since Hassan first wanted to launch his hardware startup in the early 2000s.Tech hot spots like Bengaluru and Gurugram have seen a boom in entrepreneurship culture in the last few years, with meet-ups, networking mixers, and even morning walks with like-minded builders.<div type="image" title="man standing in front of mountains in USA" height="2268" width="3024" msid="113831980" hostid="261" sizebytes="141132"></div>Dhruv Anand, who left Google in the US to move back to India in 2021 to launch an <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ai-startups-most-promising-2024-9">AI startup</a>, said that there were lots of other founders and mentors to help guide him."If you want to figure out who's the right chartered accountant to talk to, who's the right lawyer to help you draft agreements, all of that stuff is very easy," Anand said."It's been a really, really supportive community," Bhide said. There are people "telling you about their entire lives just because they want to help you and they're hoping that you pass the favor onto the next person who moves to India and wants to start their own company."<h2 id="3c8bff36-e855-4530-9b44-bcc7f36b0825">Not everything is perfect</h2>Although these founders made the decision to return to India, that doesn't mean they no longer see the benefits of operating in the US.Ruchit Garg founded an agriculture startup in Silicon Valley in 2016, with a focus on supporting farmers around the globe. In 2019, he returned to India, where his late grandfather worked as a farmer.Garg has been building in India ever since, but he says its startup ecosystem cannot yet compete with the Valley's decades of experience."The overall ecosystem was more mature back in Silicon Valley. It's still one of the best places for entrepreneurs. India isn't there yet, although it's growing pretty drastically," he said.Despite efforts to digitalize key processes, many bureaucratic challenges persist.For most founders, after living in US cities where populations are a fraction of those in Mumbai and Bangalore, congested roads and poorer air quality are also everyday annoyances.But India provides some big perks, including affordable domestic help and the appeal of building solutions for problems they witness firsthand."It's a different joy to be able to build for problems that you feel for very personally," Parameshwar, the fintech founder, said. When she worked in Africa, she needed translators. Now, she can speak with her users herself.Bhide said the general sentiment among local founders is shifting from "Build from India" to "Build for India."For some founders, being surrounded by family and the culture they grew up in was another selling point.Niranjan Vemulkar moved back to India in 2015 and later founded a digital legacy planning platform.He said that he never fully felt at home in the US, where he lived for over a decade."For us, it was the fact that we wanted to raise a family in an environment where the children would have access to the grandparents and Indian culture," Vemulkar said. "The fact that you could come back to India, start something of your own and figure things out in an ecosystem which was potentially booming for startups, was just a cherry on the cake."Are you in India and have a story to share about the tech and entrepreneurship landscape? Please reach out at shubhangigoel@insider.com

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