Tata Steel’s B2MSME E--Commerce Platform, DigECA, Crosses ₹1,000 Crore GMV

Tata Steel today announced a significant milestone for its B2MSME e-commerce platform, DigECA, which has surpassed ₹1,000 crore in Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) in the current financial year (FY26). The platform has also recorded over 160 kilo tonnes (KT) in sales and onboarded more than 3,500 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) customers, underscoring its growing role as a catalyst in the digital transformation journey of India’s MSMEs, known as Emerging Corporate Accounts (ECAs) within Tata Steel.

Designed to make steel buying simple, transparent and efficient, DigECA offers ECAs an integrated, omni-channel experience with features such as embedded financing options, real-time order visibility, and dedicated technical support. The platform primarily focuses on flat steel products including Tata Astrum, Tata Steelium, and Galvano, bringing together quality assurance and digital convenience under one ecosystem.

Prabhat Kumar, Vice President - Marketing & Sales (Flat Products), Tata Steel, said: “Surpassing ₹1,000 crore GMV and 160 KT in sales is a testament to the trust our ECA customers place in DigECA. This platform is not just about transactions - it’s about building meaningful relationships, enhancing customer experience through seamless integration of MSME value chain, and aligning our services with their evolving business needs.”

Since its pilot launch in fourth quarter of Financial Year 2024-25, DigECA has registered a 30x growth, driven by Tata Steel’s relentless focus on innovation, customer-centricity, and digital enablement. The platform’s growth mirrors Tata Steel’s broader vision to digitalise the steel supply chain and promote inclusive growth across India’s industrial ecosystem.

With DigECA, Tata Steel continues to lead the way in digital transformation, equipping ECAs with the right tools, services, and support to achieve their business aspirations and contribute to India’s industrial progress.

Godrej Finance Partners Muthoot FinCorp to Expand MSME Lending via Property-Backed Loans

• Aims to achieve disbursals of INR 250 crore in FY26.

Godrej Capital, is the financial services arm of Godrej Industries Group. Godrej Capital’s subsidiary, Godrej Finance (GFL), has entered a co-lending partnership with Muthoot FinCorp to enhance credit access for MSMEs in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, building on Muthoot FinCorp’s strong presence and deep market reach in these regions.

L to R: Vinod Reddy, CBO – Secured & Unsecured Lending Business, Muthoot FinCorp, Manish Shah, MD & CEO, Godrej Capital, Shaji Varghese, CEO, Muthoot FinCorp, Pankaj Gupta, MD & CEO, Godrej Finance – a subsidiary of Godrej Capital, Shalinee Mimani, CRO, Godrej Capital

The co-lending partnership will offer loan against property ranging from INR 10 lakh to INR 75 lakh, with an average ticket size of INR 15 lakh. With operations spanning pan-India, this offering is well-positioned to tap into markets with strong demand for accessible and timely credit. The partnership will soon be expanded to include other products such as gold loans and housing loans.

Through a seamless digital integration, this partnership will ensure faster approvals, greater transparency, and compliance with RBI’s co-lending framework. Under the terms of the agreement, the company will assume 80% of the risk, with Muthoot FinCorp covering the remaining 20%. Muthoot FinCorp will oversee underwriting, collections, and the customer journey, while the company will ensure regulatory compliance through a jointly defined policy framework.

Manish Shah, MD & CEO of Godrej Capital stated, “Access to timely credit can make all the difference for a growing business, especially in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities where it is needed the most. With our partnership with Muthoot FinCorp, we aim to bridge this gap for MSMEs by offering simpler, transparent, and faster lending solutions. Our endeavour is to help businesses grow with confidence while contributing to a stronger and more inclusive financial system.”

Shaji Varghese, CEO of Muthoot FinCorp added, “MSMEs are the largest contributor of employment in the country after agriculture but access to credit is a pertinent challenge faced by the sector. With our 3700+ branches and Muthoot FinCorp ONE app, we have expanded our reach to the hinterlands ensuring accessibility to these MSMEs. With our new partnership with Godrej Capital for Loan Against Property offering to the sector, I am sure we will further contribute to the growth of MSMEs by meeting their financial requirements timely and effectively”.

Through its subsidiary GFL, the company offers a diverse range of loan products to meet the varying needs of MSMEs and individual borrowers. These include offers such as Loan Against Property, Udyog Loan Against Property for smaller-ticket requirements, and unsecured Business Loans.

The alliance is targeting disbursals of INR 250 crore in this fiscal year, with a strong focus on high-potential markets across North, South, and Western India. As one of the few co-lending partnerships between NBFCs, it reflects a robust digital-first approach and sets the stage for broader participation in the fast-growing MSME lending space.

SBI Launches MSME CoE in Gurugram to Drive Capacity Building and National Development Goals

State Bank of India (SBI), the country’s largest bank, inaugurated its Centre of Excellence (CoE) for MSMEs at the State Bank Academy (SBA), Gurugram. The Centre has been established with an objective of strengthening the MSME ecosystem through capacity building, research, and industry collaboration, thereby contributing to India’s vision of becoming a developed nation.

The Centre was inaugurated by Shri M. Nagaraju, Secretary, Department of Financial Services (DFS) and Shri C.S. Setty, Chairman, in the presence of Shri Vinay M. Tonse, MD (RB&O), Shri Surender Rana, DMD (Retail-Agri, SME & FI), Shri Anindya Sunder Paul, DMD (SME & SCF) and Smt. Suranjana Dutta, CGM STU. SBA is an institute imparting specialized training in Credit, International Banking, Risk & Compliance and carrying out Research & Development in various spheres of banking.

State Bank Academy Gurukul, Gurgaon, Haryana

Shri M. Nagaraju, Secretary, Department of Financial Services, said, “MSMEs are the true engines of growth, creating widespread employment and driving prosperity in rural India, which is critical for our journey towards becoming a developed nation. I urge this SBI Centre of Excellence to benchmark itself against the best MSME institutions in the country. My expectation is that the CoE will engage in making case studies and undertaking research, creating a rich repository of knowledge and sharing it online for the benefit of all, especially those in remote areas. Continuous innovation and deep engagement with entrepreneurs, fintechs, and startups will be the key to its success.”

Speaking on the occasion, Shri C.S. Setty, Chairman, SBI, stated, “As the largest lender to MSMEs, with the widest network of SME branches, SBI is responsible to build capacity and the Centre of Excellence will serve as a hub of ideas and innovation, supporting the development of new SME-focused products and processes that can benefit the entire banking sector.”

Shri C.B.K. Singh, GM & Director, State Bank Academy, said, “The Centre has been established based on the vision articulated by the Chairman and would play a significant role in supporting the growth and development of the MSME sector.”

The CoE has been designed with an inclusive approach, engaging with MSME promoters, startups, industry associations, academia, government, regulators, and banking professionals. This collaborative model will ensure that the Centre’s initiatives remain relevant, impactful, and aligned with the needs of the sector.

UGRO Capital Reports ₹421.8 Cr Income in Q1 FY26; PAT Up 12%, AUM Crosses ₹12,000 Cr

• AUM of INR 12,081 Cr, up 31% YoY
• Total Income stood at INR 421.8 Cr in Q1’FY26, up 40% YoY
• Net Total Income at INR 216.5 Cr, up 31% YoY
• GNPA/NNPA at 2.5%/1.7% on total AUM
• Embedded Finance Growth: Reached INR 1,011 Cr AUM with INR 582 Cr disbursed in Q1’FY26 through MSL platform
• Emerging Market Business Growth: Reached INR 2,772 Cr AUM with 309 branches operational; ~346 branches to be operational by Sep’25
• CRAR at 22.4%, provides strong capital headroom above the regulatory minimum, supporting calibrated growth
• Strategic actions: Profectus Capital acquisition (INR 1,400 Cr, all-cash) advancing; INR 381 Cr rights issue completed and INR 911 Cr preferential issue in process

UGRO Capital Limited (“UGRO” or “the Company”), a DataTech NBFC focused on MSME lending, announced its financial performance for the quarter ended June 30, 2025 (Q1’FY26). The Company sustained healthy year-on-year growth and a stable risk profile, while reinforcing structural growth engines of branch expansion in Emerging Markets, scale in Embedded Finance, and progress on the Profectus Capital acquisition and ongoing equity raise. Continuing its journey toward becoming the largest small business financing institution driven by data and technology, the Company reported Assets Under Management (AUM) of INR 12,081 crore as of June 30, 2025, reflecting a 31% YoY growth.

The Emerging Market Business continued to scale with 309 operational branches and a path to ~346 branches by September 2025, supported by improving branch-vintage profitability. The Embedded Finance platform crossed INR 1,000 Cr AUM; Q1 disbursements were INR 582 Cr, with strong contributions from partners such as PhonePe and BharatPe. In parallel, the Company advanced the INR 1,400 Cr all-cash acquisition of Profectus Capital (shareholder approval received; change-of-control and allied approvals in process) and continued its capital raise programme (INR 381 Cr rights issue completed; INR 911 Cr preferential issue in progress), further strengthening the balance sheet for quality growth.

UGRO Capital continued to diversify liabilities and improve the cost of funds during the quarter. Total debt stood at INR 7,586 Cr as of June 30, 2025, with CRAR at 22.4%, and the off-book share at 42% supported by co-lending and direct assignment flows. The partner ecosystem remains deep and data linked with 17 Co-lending partners, 50+ lenders and 770+ GRO partners and Green anchor partners, enabling tailored credit for over 2 lakh MSMEs across India.

In terms of financials, Total Income for Q1’FY26 stood at INR 421.8 Cr, up 40% YoY and 2% QoQ; Net Total Income was INR 216.5 Cr, up 31% YoY and PAT was INR 34.1 Cr, up 12% (YoY). Portfolio quality remained stable with GNPA/NNPA at 2.5%/1.7% on total AUM.

UGRO reported Disbursement of INR 1,599 Cr in Q1’FY26. First Quarter of any Financial Year is seasonally softer, and by design, the Company prioritized discipline over pace. Underwriting filters were tightened particularly on borrower leverage resulting in calibrated originations. Draft co-lending guidelines issued in April weighed on volumes temporarily; the effect was cushioned by higher direct assignments and continued liability diversification. With the Emerging Market network nearing full rollout and embedded-finance funnels strengthening, momentum is expected to improve from Q2 while keeping asset quality at the center.

Speaking on the performance, Mr. Shachindra Nath, Founder and Managing Director of UGRO Capital, said, “Q1 was a quarter of discipline. In line with our risk guardrails, we tightened underwriting and moderated originations wherever borrower leverage was elevated. Even so, the portfolio remained resilient across our nine focus sectors, and we delivered 31% YoY AUM growth with stable asset quality. We stayed focused on building our next engines of Emerging Market distribution, Embedded Finance partnerships and the Profectus acquisition. With capital actions underway and approvals progressing, we are well placed for the next phase of high-quality growth. While the industry is seeing relatively higher stress in unsecured segments, UGRO’s exposure there is limited and ring-fenced; our book is predominantly secured, and our filters are sharper than before. As seasonal effects fade and partner funnels ramp up, we expect growth to pick up while staying firmly disciplined on unit economics."

About UGRO Capital Ltd (NSE: UGROCAP I BSE: 511742)

UGRO Capital Limited is a DataTech Lending platform, listed on NSE and BSE, pursuing its mission of “Solving the Unsolved” for the small business credit gap in India, on the back of its formidable distribution reach and its Data-tech approach.

The Company’s prowess in Data Analytics and strong Technology architecture allows for customized sourcing platforms for each sourcing channel. GRO Plus module which has uberized intermediated sourcing, GRO Chain, a supply chain financing platform with automated end-to-end approval and flow of invoices, GRO Xstream platform for co-lending, an upstream and downstream integration with fintechs and liability providers, and GRO X application to deliver embedded financing option to MSMEs.

The credit scoring model GRO Score (3.0) a statistical framework using AI / ML driven statistical model to risk rank customers is revolutionizing the MSME credit by providing on-tap financing like consumer financing in India.

UGRO has executed Co-lending model in India which is prevalent in the West through Co-Lending relationships with total of 17 Banks and NBFCs and built a sizeable off-balance sheet asset of 42% of its AUM through its Co-lending and Co-originating partners and GRO Xstream platform.

The Company is backed by marquee institutional investors (raised INR 900+ Cr of equity capital in 2018, INR ~340 Cr in 2023, INR ~258 Cr in 2024 and INR ~1300 in 2025). For more information, please visit: http://www.ugrocapital.com

Over 81% of 9000+ Surveyed MSMEs Expect Revenue Increase in Next 1-2 Yrs: Kinara Capital MSME Insights

Kinara Capital, a leading fintech driving MSME financial inclusion, today released its fourth edition of MSME Insights, signaling strong optimism and increased formalization in the MSME sector. MSME entrepreneurs are confident about their near-term business growth prospects.

According to the latest MSME Insights, 81% of the surveyed MSMEs expect their business revenue to increase within the next 1-2 years. Of these, 34% anticipate a revenue growth of more than 15% in their businesses. Additionally, MSMEs are embracing formalization, with 51.7% of the surveyed reporting that they are now GST-registered.

The fourth edition of MSME Insights is based on an extensive multilingual survey of 9,314 MSMEs from Manufacturing, Trading, and Services sectors conducted across Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and the Union Territory of Puducherry.

The MSME Insights is a comprehensive data analysis of current trends of micro-small-medium enterprises (MSMEs) based on firsthand input from business owners. MSME Insights also delved into the behavioral patterns within the MSME sector and the analysis uncovered a striking pattern across all sectors. MSMEs still depend significantly on cash transactions, even when not accounting for UPI usage. Over 84.3% of the surveyed MSMEs stated that between 25%-100% of their business transactions are conducted with actual cash—underscoring the need for deeper digitization efforts across the sector.

Sharing her perspective, Hardika Shah, Founder & CEO, Kinara Capital, said,
“On the occasion of World MSME Day, it is encouraging to witness the strong optimism shared by India’s MSMEs. The fact that 81% of respondents in our recent MSME Insights survey expressed confidence in their growth prospects speaks volumes about the sector’s resilience and ambition. This optimism is rooted in improved access to formal credit, which enables entrepreneurs to focus on expansion. However, the sector’s continued reliance on cash transactions highlights the need to accelerate digitization. Embracing digital payments can enhance financial transparency and significantly boost access to formal credit. Ultimately, digitization holds the key to reaching underserved MSMEs and closing India’s ₹30 lakh crore credit gap.”

Key Findings From Kinara Capital’s Msme Insights, Fourth Edition

MSMEs are upbeat about their business growth: More than 81% of the respondents have indicated that they are expecting varying degrees of growth in their revenue. Of these, 47% of the respondents expect their revenue to witness a 5%-15% growth, 26.1% anticipate a growth of 15%-25% and 7.9% are optimistic of more than 25% growth in revenue. Only a small proportion, i.e., 1.1% foresee no growth.

Cash is King for MSMEs: Overall, 84.3% of the surveyed MSMEs reported relying on cash (excluding UPI) for 25%-to-100% of their business transactions. While only 7.4% of the MSME respondents relied on cash for more than 75% of their business transactions, 30.5% depended on cash for 50%-to-75% of their business transactions. This outcome indicates that a shift to digital payments, though underway, is far from reaching its full potential.

Formalization is on an Upswing: MSMEs are increasingly recognizing the benefits of Goods and Services Tax (GST) compliance. According to the survey, 51.7% of respondents are GST-registered and file returns regularly. Of these, 29.4% expressed interest in GST-linked loan products that offer better interest rates or flexible tenures. Regular GST filings not only reflect consistent business activity but also provide a verifiable financial history that enhances credit eligibility. Additionally, GST registration reduces the overall tax burden through input tax credits and offers MSMEs the ease of doing business across state lines with a unified tax structure.

Tata Steel Unveils DigECA, a one-stop digital steel Buying Platform, for MSME customers

Tata Steel today launched a new version of DigECA, expanding access beyond channel partners to include Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), broadly classified as Emerging Corporate Accounts (ECA) by Tata Steel. DigECA is a groundbreaking B2MSME e-commerce platform specifically designed to meet the needs of ECA customers, enabling them to transact directly with ease and convenience while accessing the highest quality products and services.

Building on the success of Tata Steel’s B2C e-commerce portal, Aashiyana, DigECA envisions a revolution in the customer journey for ECAs. The platform focuses on flat products such as Tata Astrum, Tata Steelium, and Galvano, providing MSMEs with hassle-free purchase experience with Tata Steel and its channel partners.

Since the pilot launch in Q4 FY25, DigECA has experienced impressive growth, onboarding over 2,000 ECA customers and achieving significant milestones in its Gross Merchandise Value (GMV). This growth reflects our commitment to empowering customers with complete transparency regarding material availability and order fulfillment, ensuring a seamless process from enquiry to delivery, further augmented with post-supply services.

Prabhat Kumar, Vice President, Marketing & Sales (Flat Products), Tata Steel, said: “At Tata Steel, we are committed to enhancing customer satisfaction through digital innovation. With the launch of DigECA for our ECA customers, we are simplifying the steel buying experience and strengthening their direct engagement with Tata Steel. The platform is designed to enable a more connected and efficient relationship between customers and our distribution network, helping us better align our offerings with evolving market needs.”

With DigECA, Tata Steel reinforces its expertise in technology and innovation to deliver an unparalleled experience for customers, setting the stage for a thriving future. The Company is dedicated to ensuring that its ECAs feel supported and valued in the collective pursuit of meeting the business aspirations.

Over 1 Lakh Micro Food Processing Enterprises Funded Under PMFME Scheme, in Last 5 Years

Under central government-sponsored PM Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) Scheme across the country, a total of 1,08,580 micro food processing enterprises have been approved for assistance under PMFME Scheme till 31st October, 2024. The scheme is operational from 2020-21 to 2025-26 with total outlay of Rs. 10,000 crores.

Union Minister of State for Food Processing Industries, Shri Ravneet Singh Bhittu, shared this information in a written reply to Loksabha.

He informed that the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) in India has been actively supporting small and medium-scale food processing entrepreneurs through various schemes. Here are some key initiatives:

Central Sector Pradhan Mantri Kisan SAMPADA Yojana (PMKSY) Scheme

• Objective: To incentivize food processing entrepreneurs for setting up or expanding related industries.
• Financial Assistance: Provides mostly credit-linked financial assistance (capital subsidy) to entrepreneurs.
• Projects: Includes 41 Mega Food Parks, 399 Cold Chain projects, 76 Agro-Processing Clusters, 559 Food Processing Units, and more.

Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Food Processing Industry (PLISFPI)

• Objective: To support the creation of global food manufacturing champions and promote Indian brands in international markets.
• Implementation Period: From 2021-22 to 2026-27.
• Outlay: Rs. 10,900 crores.

Centrally Sponsored PM Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) Scheme

• Objective: To provide financial, technical, and business support for setting up or upgrading micro food processing enterprises.
• Operational Period: From 2020-21 to 2025-26.
• Outlay: Rs. 10,000 crores.
• Approved Enterprises: Over 1,08,580 micro food processing enterprises have been approved for assistance under this scheme.

These schemes, which are not region or state specific but demand driven, aim to boost the food processing industry, enhance operational efficiency, and support the transition to sustainable and modernized food processing practices.

Meta Partners ONDC To Enable Small Businesses Build Conversational Buyer-Seller Experiences on WhatsApp

• Meta will enable and educate small businesses, through an ecosystem of our business and technical solution providers capable of building seamless conversational buyer and seller experiences on WhatsApp.
• With you ONDC partnership, Meta will digitally upskill five lakh MSMEs through the Meta Small Business Academy.

Meta, the parent of social media giant Facebook, today announced its partnership with Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) to enable and educate small businesses in building seamless conversational buyer and seller experiences on WhatsApp through an ecosystem of Meta's business and technical solution providers. As part of this collaboration, ONDC will help these business solution providers become seller apps, bringing the businesses they service onto the ONDC network and helping them drive commerce.

To kick-off the partnership, over the next two years, Meta will also digitally upskill 5 lakh MSMEs through the Meta Small Business Academy. Born out of Meta's commitment to up-skill 10 million small businesses across the country, Meta Small Business Academy offers a certification to empower entrepreneurs and marketers to gain critical digital marketing skills to grow on our apps.

“At ONDC, we are committed to accelerating and democratizing the digital landscape and towards that, we aim to empower MSMEs, help them build digital visibility, and boost their businesses. Today, for any business to grow, it is critical for them to market themselves and reach a wider audience. Our partnership with Meta will not only digitally upskill these businesses but will also enable them to connect with a customer base far and wide. I am confident that our collaborative efforts will pave the way for millions of small businesses by providing them with the right impetus for growth.” – T Koshy, MD & CEO of ONDC. 

“India’s digital transformation story is unfolding at a revolutionary pace, and for this growth to continue, we need the right ecosystem and partnerships that enable millions of small businesses to build and deepen their digital presence. Meta has been a frontrunner in partnering with the government and the industry to advance digital inclusion, especially for MSMEs across India. Our partnership with ONDC builds on supporting the government’s vision for Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and furthering our ongoing commitment to skilling small businesses and aiding this rapid digital transformation and growth story in the country.” – Sandhya Devanathan, Vice President, Meta in India. 

As part of the partnership, Meta will also support Sahayak, ONDC’s WhatApp chatbot, in enhancing the services offered on the bot as the single point of seller communication and customer communication for ONDC.

Earlier this year, Meta launched ‘WhatsApp Se Wyapaar’ program to upskill 10 million traders across 29 states in 11 Indian languages on the WhatsApp Business app. Today, there are more than 200 million users of the WhatsApp Business app across the world, and more than 60% of people on WhatsApp in India message a business account.

In April this year, Meta partnered with NIESBUD, AICTE and CBSE, to train students, Entrepreneurs, Startups and small-businesses in Digital Marketing. The partnership agreement was inked through Ministry of Education, Ministry Skill Development & Entrepreneurship.

Kinara Capital Commits ₹ 575+ Cr in Business Loans Disbursement for MSMEs in Karnataka by FY24

myKinara App, available in Kannada, simplifies process for MSMEs to avail Business Loan

Kinara Capital, a fast-growing fintech driving MSME financial inclusion, today reiterated its commitment to fostering MSMEs in Karnataka. It aims to disburse over INR 575+ crores in business loans in FY24 and support the growth of MSMEs in the state.

Elaborating about the plan, Thirunavukkarasu R (Thiru R), Chief Operating Officer (COO), Kinara Capital, said, “Karnataka is a vibrant, growing region with a diverse MSME sector. Kinara Capital is proud to be headquartered in Karnataka and for over a decade, we have supported thousands of small business entrepreneurs in this state. Our commitment to disburse over INR 575+ crores in FY24 to MSMEs in Karnataka will boost business growth and lead to the creation of 6000+ new jobs in local economies.”

MSME business owners can start the process at their convenience with our easy to use myKinara App, available in Kannada. In FY23, Kinara Capital had disbursed over INR 341 crores, 141% higher than FY22 in the state.

The ambitious disbursement plan for this fiscal (FY24) will be supported by operational enhancement. Recently, Kinara Capital has opened 3 new branches in Haveri, Humnabad and Ramanagara and expanded its geographical presence to over 28 branches and 658 pincodes. Furthermore, the company plans to increase its employee strength in Karnataka to 930 employees, with over 300 new hires across Kinara Capital’s Offices in this fiscal .

Headquartered in Bengaluru, Karnataka, Kinara Capital Capital provides MSMEs with collateral-free loans in the range of INR 1 lakh to INR 30 lakhs through its various products such as Long-term Working Capital and Short-term Working Capital, Machinery Purchase, Bill Discounting and HerVikas loans to across 300 sub sectors.

Till date Kinara has disbursed more than INR 1,089 crores across 20,717 business loans in Karnataka. The support from Kinara has led to over INR 79 crores in incremental income generation for the small business entrepreneurs, and created over 21,437 new jobs in the local economies. Food Products , Construction Material, Machine Components, Textiles, Fabrication, Auto Components, Automobiles etc are some of the leading sub-sectors for Kinara Capital in the state.

Kinara Capital has also been working towards empowering MSME women entrepreneurs through its focused program HerVikas. Under the program, women entrepreneurs are supported with an upfront automatic discount on their business loans. Through HerVikas program, Kinara Capital has disbursed more than INR 87 crores across 956+ business loans to women entrepreneurs in Karnataka. The company is looking at scaling up its commitment and extending its support to more women-owned MSMEs in the state.

Kinara Capital is a fast-growing fintech company and is globally recognized for disrupting the small business lending model in India by democratising access to collateral-free business credit in India. Kinara Capital has disbursed over INR 5,000+ crores to date across 90,000+ collateral-free business loans thereby propelling vast financial inclusion of India’s MSME sector. Leading with a women- majority management team, Kinara Capital has raised the bar for gender inclusivity internally as an organisation and externally with its HerVikas program for women entrepreneurs. The company is qualified as a Systemically Important NBFC by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and is a debt-listed entity on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE). Founded in 2011, and headquartered in Bengaluru, Kinara Capital has 133 branches serving MSMEs across 100+ cities in India with a workforce of 1,600+ employees. Visit kinaracapital.com for more information and follow us on Twitter @KinaraCapital.

Scheme To Extend MSME Loans/Credits To Artisans, Craftspeople Launching on Vishwakarma Jayanti

Now Artisans too can avail MSME loans: D. Chandrasekhar, ADC, Ministry of MSME, Govt of India.

PM Vishwakarma Kaushal Samman Scheme will be launched in Hyderabad and Warangal on 17th Sept: MSME Ministry Official

The PM Vishwakarma Kaushal Samman Scheme is expected to revive the rich Indian craft traditions and encourage the artisans to enrich the heritage, said – D. Chandrasekhar, Addl Development Commissioner, Ministry of MSME, Govt of India.

He was the chief guest at the Inauguration of the three-day Industrial & Engg Expo (Indexpo), supported by the MSME Ministry, Government of India with a focus on the future of manufacturing. The expo is currently underway till this Sunday.

Organised by Indore Infoline, it is their 7th edition.

It is supported by the MSME Ministry, NSIC Cherlapally Industries Association and other trade associations.

D. Chandrashekar ADC of MSME (Extreme Ieft in Jacket) Ministry Seen Inaugurating Indexpo

Speaking further the official said the PM Vishwakarma scheme aimed to provide credit to artisans and craftspeople is set to be launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi on the occasion of Vishwakarma Jayanti on September 17. It will be launched in Hyderabad and Warangal in Telangana by various Ministers and officials, he said. 

The scheme will extend loans of up to Rs 1 lakh to artisans at an incredibly low interest rate of 5%. This interest rate is significantly lower than prevailing market rates, enabling artisans to access credit without the burden of exorbitant interest charges.

Nearly three lakh artisans are said to be benefitted across India. In Telangana, a significant number of artisans are said to benefit in Telangana.

MSME has financed 57 exhibitors out of 100 to exhibit their products in the IndExpo. We plan to support 17 exhibitions every year, D. Chandrasekhar said.

Mr Raj Kumar Agrawal, MD of Indore Infoline, the organizer of the expo said IndExpo allows industry professionals and enthusiasts to explore the latest advancements and trends in the manufacturing industry.

The future of industrial engineering is designing and manufacturing more flexible, connected, and adaptable machines, said Mr Raj Kumar Agrawal.

The Indexpo aims to bring together leading players, manufacturers, suppliers’ experts, and innovators from the industrial manufacturing and service sector under one roof.

Industrial Safety Equipment Seen at INDEXPO at Hitex

The event is set to be a hub of knowledge-sharing, networking, and business growth.

100 Exhibitors are showcasing 20,000+ Products like Hand Tools, Machine Tools, Robotics, industrial automation, solar power plants, electricals and electronics, safety products and many other industry-specific products said Rajkumar Agrawal, Managing Director, Indore Infoline Pvt Ltd.

IIMA’s CIIE.CO Partners Reserve Bank Innovation Hub (RBIH) To Launches Swanari Techsprint 2023 Supporting Financial Solutions for Women-owned MSMEs

Launches Swanari Techsprint 2023

The initiative Swanari Techsprint aims to support SMEs/MSMEs building gender transformative financial solutions, and making a positive impact on the financial inclusion landscape

IIMA’s CIIE.CO has joined hands with the Reserve Bank Innovation Hub (RBIH) to launch Swanari Techsprint 2023 - an initiative of RBIH - focuses on advancing ‘End to End Digital Straight Through Process (STP) Lending Solutions for Micro to Medium-sized Women-owned Enterprises’, empowering them to access the financial resources they need to flourish. This edition of Swanari Techsprint will aim to address the large credit gap faced by women owned MSMEs.

The Swanari Techsprint 2023 winners will have an opportunity to do a paid Proof of Concept (POC) with one of India’s leading financial institutions HDFC Bank, and pitch for fast track pre-seed investment at CIIE.CO. Selected startups will also gain access to CIIE.CO's extensive mentoring and networking opportunities, providing them with a strong foundation for growth and success.

Commenting on the partnership, Supriya Sharma from CIIE.CO expressed, "Swanari Techsprint 2023 aligns with our focus on financial inclusion, especially women’s financial inclusion. Women entrepreneurs own and lead less than 20% of the MSMEs in India. Among several other factors, access to capital is a huge barrier for women looking to set up and grow their businesses. We are thrilled to collaborate with RBIH to help address this massive need. We are sure that this will go a long way in supporting early stage startups that are committed to making a meaningful difference in the lives of women entrepreneurs."

The Reserve Bank Innovation Hub recognises the significance of ensuring women's financial inclusion as a driving force behind economic growth. RBIH's Swanari Program taps into technology and innovation to enable 'Frictionless Finance for Every Woman in India.' RBIH works closely with the ecosystem through its various programs to help build solutions to specific problem statements. The current edition of TechSprint focuses on narrowing the gender gap by fostering innovative digital STP lending solutions tailored for women entrepreneurs. By extending chosen startups the opportunity to tap into its extensive resources and networks, RBIH aspires to drive impactful change in the financial ecosystem.

Applications for Swanari Techsprint 2023 are now open, and interested startups are invited to apply by 11th September 2023. More about this initiative here.

Built at IIM Ahmedabad, CIIE.CO is the country’s leading entrepreneurship centre and early stage technology investing platform. CIIE.CO backs fearless entrepreneurs building disruptive solutions and stands with the startups at their risky early stages, when they need most support while there is hardly any available. Through the continuum of incubation, acceleration, capital and insights – CIIE.CO offers everything it takes for these driven entrepreneurs to make a superlative impact. CIIE.CO is a Centre of Excellence backed by the Government of India’s DST. Over the last 20 years, CIIE.CO has made equity investments in more than 350 startups, accelerated over 1500 and mentored over 5000 startups over the last 20 years.

The Reserve Bank Innovation Hub (RBIH) – a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) – is an organisation that enables frictionless finance to a billion Indians. RBIH functions as a focal platform, bringing together members of financial, technological and academic institutions, to promote and accelerate innovation across the financial sector. With a robust ecosystem that enables the exchange of ideas, research and development of prototypes, RBIH aims to not only strengthen the Indian financial system but also keep India at the forefront of global financial innovation.

Godrej Capital Launches NIRMAAN, a Digital Platform to Help MSMEs Grow their Businesses to their Potential

• Curated platform to provide MSME owners an all-inclusive opportunity to grow their businesses to their potential. 
• Godrej Capital has partnered with trusted brands like Amazon Global Selling, Onsurity, Zolvit, and MSMEx to provide solutions around core challenges faced by MSMEs and will look to enhance its partner network in the near future. 

Godrej Capital, the financial services arm of the Godrej Group, today announced its new digital platform, Nirmaan, to provide MSME owners an all-inclusive opportunity to grow their businesses. Carefully curated, Godrej Capital Nirmaan packs a range of partners that provide services critical to the growth of MSMEs.

The MSMEs in the country today face challenges like limited access to the market and the ability to expand beyond their regional reach, lack of know-how about legal and regulatory compliance requirements, Limited access to technology, hiring and retaining a skilled workforce, and limitation of access to credit. Godrej Capital Nirmaan aims to solve these challenges and provide services under the categories of ''Grow the Business,'' ''Ease Business Operations,'' and ''Transformation through upskilling.''

The company has initially partnered with Amazon Global Selling, Onsurity, Zolvit, and MSMEx to help increase the potential market reach, simplify legal and compliance, enhance employee health and welfare, and provide business coaching for small businesses. In addition, while Godrej Capital Nirmaan users get product & pricing offerings at a discounted price point, Godrej Capital customers will be entitled to additional and exclusive pricing benefits.

Furthermore, the flagship platform is the first in the BFSI industry in India. It goes beyond its core lending offering and provides value-added services encompassing business growth opportunities, ease of business, and knowledge and network avenues.

Speaking on the launch, Manish Shah, MD & CEO at Godrej Capital, said, "The Godrej Group has a longstanding commitment to contributing to the growth of the Indian economy, and through Godrej Capital, we are proud to launch Nirmaan, which will enable MSMEs to grow their fullest potential and thus drive economic growth of the country. We have closely studied the growth challenges of MSMEs in the country, and along with the lending services we already provide, with Nirmaan, we can help solve some of those challenges and support the sector's growth."

Godrej Capital is focused on bringing more value-adding services to the platform through strategic partnerships and keeping updated with the challenges that must be solved.

In this initial launch phase, services will be promoted in 30 key markets across India but available in all corners of India.

Godrej Capital has, so far, has disbursed over INR 5300 crores since inception in November 2020 across housing, SME, and MSME loans. In addition, it has expanded its presence across 13 cities in India.

DMI Finance Announces the Closure of a $400 Mn Equity Investment Round Led by Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc. With Participation From Existing Investors Including Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank Limited

DMI Finance Private Limited (“DMI Finance”) today announced the closure of a USD 400 million equity investment round led by Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc. through its consolidated subsidiary MUFG Bank, Ltd (“MUFG”), with participation from existing investor Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank Limited (“SuMi TRUST Bank”). This round includes primary and secondary transactions.

DMI Finance is a pure-play digital lender with products including consumption, personal and MSME loans. It leverages technology to optimize every step in the lending stack, from sales and underwriting through to customer service and collections.

DMI Finance sources and services customers through multiple digital channels – in particular it is an embedded digital finance partner of choice for leading businesses including Samsung, Google Pay and Airtel which work with DMI Finance to provide diverse financial products to their customers across India.

DMI Finance covers 95% of India's pincodes and has an accessible customer base of 25 million which is expected to grow to 40 million+ in FY24. It is projected to disburse over USD 2.5 billion in FY24 across products.

DMI Finance is AA- rated by ICRA and supported by leading Indian and international banks.

Shivashish Chatterjee, Co-Founder and Joint Managing Director of DMI Finance said: “Powered by world-leading digital infrastructure, India is in the midst of an unprecedented transformation. DMI Finance aims to be the trusted partner for Indian households and small businesses in addressing their rapidly growing financial needs. We are delighted to welcome MUFG and SuMi TRUST Bank on this pioneering mission, on which we embarked in 2016, of providing credit in real time to our clients. We are grateful to them for this display of confidence in the ability of our team to deliver superior results, both for our clients and our investors.”

Yuvraja C. Singh, Co-Founder and Joint Managing Director of DMI Finance said “We feel that the Indian financial market has huge potential for growth over the next decade (or two) and are fortunate to have the strategic investors that we do, who share our values and long-term vision. There is a large underserved population when it comes to financial services in India, and it is our goal to promote financial inclusion and support this market. It is very important to us that all stakeholders have a positive experience working with DMI, and this requires us and our investors to have philosophical and strategic alignment. With their patience and deep experience in the financial markets, we feel that MUFG and SuMi TRUST Bank, are the perfect investors for us. We look forward to working together.”

Masashige Nakazono, Managing Director, Head of Global Commercial Banking Planning Division of MUFG Bank said: “For MUFG, Asia is a significantly important and second home market, and India is one of our most expected growing markets with the rapid population growth and foundation of digital infrastructure, showing a strong trend and potential of expansion on digital financial services to the unbanked customers. We strongly believe that DMI Finance has been building up a robust and distinguished business model with external partnership based on the power of its cutting-edge technologies. We’re excited to support DMI Finance’s growth through our investment as a strategic partner and to contribute to the financial inclusion in India. We are looking forward to accompanying DMI Finance’s promising voyage in the digital financial market.”

Masaya Noda, Managing Executive Officer of SuMi TRUST Bank said: “We feel honoured to participate in this equity investment round and contribute to DMI’s growth as a “Strategic Investor”, following our initial investment that was also the first by a Japanese company in December 2021. We are confident that DMI’s digital financial services, which organically combine fintech and last-mile reach capabilities, will continue to contribute significantly to India’s growth, and that DMI itself will achieve further growth. We also look forward to creating business opportunities to collaborate with DMI as its business partner, and to growing together with DMI through India-related business.”

About the DMI Group

DMI Finance is a Systemically Important Non-Banking Financial Company and part of the DMI Group. For more information, please visit: https://www.dmifinance.in.

Founded in 2008 and supported by a deeply experienced team across 40+ offices in India, the DMI Group is a pan-India financial services platform with core businesses in digital finance, housing finance and asset management. It has raised over USD 1.5 billion of equity investment and is supported by global institutional investors, strategic family offices and leading Indian and international banks.

Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc. (MUFG) is one of the world’s leading financial groups. Headquartered in Tokyo and with over 360 years of history, MUFG has a global network with approximately 2,100 locations in more than 50 countries. The Group has about 160,000 employees and offers services including commercial banking, trust banking, securities, credit cards, consumer finance, asset management, and leasing. The Group aims to “be the world’s most trusted financial group” through close collaboration among our operating companies and flexibly respond to all of the financial needs of our clients, serving society, and fostering shared and sustainable growth for a better world. MUFG’s shares trade on the Tokyo, Nagoya, and New York stock exchanges. For more information, visit https://www.mufg.jp/english.

About Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank, Limited (SuMi TRUST Bank)

Established in 1925, SuMi TRUST Bank is Japan's largest trust bank with JPY 224 trillion (~USD 1.95 trillion) of custody assets and JPY 87 trillion (~USD 760 billion) of assets under management. SuMi TRUST Bank provides a wide range of services concerning commercial bank business, asset management and administration, and disposal of assets, with trustee business such as pension trusts and investment trusts, and complementary businesses such as real estate brokerage and stock transfer agency services. SuMi TRUST Group's purpose is "Creating new value with the power of trusts and let prosperous future for our clients and society bloom" and is promoting initiatives to achieve both social value creation and economic value creation. For more details, please visit www.smtb.jp/english.

Tide and WE Hub Launch ‘Sarthika’ to Operationalise Government Schemes for Women MSMEs

Aims to bridge the information and last mile delivery gap in public schemes and initiatives

Targets ease of doing business for 500,000 women entrepreneurs across India by 2027

Tide, the UK’s leading SME-focused business financial platform, that recently launched in India, and WE Hub, Telangana’s state-led incubator for women entrepreneurs have launched the ‘Sarthika’ programme, to bridge the information and last mile delivery gaps in state and central government schemes for women-led micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).

Through this initiative, Tide aims to reach women entrepreneurs across India and enhance the ease of doing business by improving access to information and uptake of public schemes and initiatives.

The Sarthika web portal (https://www.tide.co/en-in/wehub-tide/) will work with the cohort at the grassroots level to help them navigate through the application process, eligibility criteria, and other important aspects of the schemes. After the completion of full KYC process, Tide India and WE Hub will work with relevant government departments to quicken operationalisation of the schemes.

The programme’s first phase consists of three schemes

1. Prime Minister's Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP): The scheme focuses on credit subsidy for self-employment.
2. Raw Material Assistance Scheme: This scheme offers access to higher quality raw materials.
3. Barcode Registration Subsidy: This scheme enables businesses to conform to global standards of trade and commerce.

The Government of India has rolled out a series of measures to boost growth and opportunities for women in business. However, lack of information about eligibility and availability of schemes, poor allocation of resources, and complex processes have led to weak demand from the people these schemes could best serve.

The Sarthika programme comes at a time when W20, under India’s G20 presidency, is focused on realising the vision of women-led development, with women as active change agents of India’s growth story rather than passive recipients of development. The W20 is an official G20 engagement group focused on gender equity.

WE Hub CEO, Deepthi Ravula said, “Enabling access and opportunity for women to partake in the economic workforce of the nation is of pivotal importance to the growth of the nation. While there have been efforts to ease this process, awareness and handholding support is often amiss. In our collaboration with Tide, we are looking at addressing this problem statement and are positive that this will lead to a monumental change!”

This move also elevates Tide’s India Chapter of ‘Women in Business’ and the company’s plan to work as an incubator to digitally transform women-led SMEs beyond Tier 2 and 3 regions of India.

Kumar Shekhar, Deputy Country Manager, Tide India said, “As India presides over G20, there is an increased need to focus on the inclusion of women in finance and creating an enabling and non-discriminatory ecosystem. Last mile delivery of schemes and incentives is a common challenge faced by governments across the globe. While there is no magic bullet to bridge this gap, we are proud to launch a programme that will not just remove barriers to women-led development but help them realise their full potential.”

Earlier this year, Tide also conducted a mentorship programme for women entrepreneurs to decode the Union Budget 2023 and help them understand how new government policies, tax laws, and funding opportunities may affect their businesses.

About Tide:

Founded in 2015 and launched in 2017, London-based Tide is now the leading business financial platform in the UK. Tide helps SMEs save time (and money) in the running of their businesses by not only offering business accounts and related banking services, but also a comprehensive set of highly usable administrative and connected solutions. Tide has nearly 500,000 SME members in the UK (around 9% market share) and has recently launched in India.

Tide has been funded by Apax Digital, Anthemis, Augmentum, Creandum, Goodwater, Jigsaw, Latitude, LocalGlobe, Passion Capital, SpeedInvest, SBI Group and Tencent, amongst others. It employs 1250 professionals worldwide, was awarded the ‘New Market Entrant of the Year’ at the UK-India Awards 2022 and is among the Sunday Times Fast Track Disruptors to Watch. Tide has a long-term ambition to be the leading business financial platform globally.

Tide selected India as its first international market in 2020. With over 500 highly skilled employees in India, most based in its Hyderabad technology centre, Tide has launched two business financial solutions for SMEs in India – a Business Account and a RuPay-powered Expense Card and is working to introduce a host of other features to the Tide app in the next few months.

https://www.tide.co/en-in/

WE HUB is the first-of-its-kind and only state-run platform for women entrepreneurs by the Government of Telangana. WE HUB supports women entrepreneurs with innovative ideas, solutions, and entities focusing on emerging areas in technology and allied sectors. WE HUB also supports under-explored/unexplored sectors, such as FMCG, retail, and e-commerce, including the service sector. The mandate and goal of WE HUB are to eliminate financial and societal barriers for women and help them succeed in their enterprises. WE HUB aims to create a supportive community for aspiring and existing women entrepreneurs where they can interact with VCs for funding, connect with corporates for scaling up their business, get advice from mentors to fine-tune ideas; and benefit from technical mentoring.

http://wehub.telangana.gov.in/

96% of MSMEs Expect Profits to Rise in 2023, Says NeoGrowth’s MSME Business Confidence Study

• 3 out of 4 MSME owners confident of India's economic growth in 2023
• 75% MSMEs expect consumer demand to surge
• 71% MSME owners plan to include sustainable business practices
• 60% MSME owners plan to step up Technology/Digital Investments in 2023
• Chennai outperforms other cities in business optimism parameters

Ninety-six per cent of MSMEs expect profits to increase in 2023, an MSME Business Confidence Study released today by NeoGrowth, an MSME-focused digital lender in India, indicates.

The MSME Business Confidence Study was conducted nationwide with responses from close to 3,000 MSME owners. The study covered the expectations of India's MSME owners across 25+ cities and 70+ business segments, as they step into 2023 amidst global volatility.

Arun Nayyar, Managing Director and CEO, NeoGrowth, said, “It is heartening that MSMEs are confident about their growth, profitability and other business indicator. We believe that the strong digital ecosystem in India will be a catalyst for MSME lending in the coming year. MSMEs are capitalising on new credit options to build and scale their businesses easily, unimpeded by traditional methods of credit underwriting. 2023 will be a crucial year for MSMEs, which will play a pivotal role as India moves a step closer to realising its vision of a $5-trillion economy.”

Sentiment of optimism among MSMEs

The optimism among MSMEs, India's economic backbone, is an encouraging sign in these uncertain times. Three out of four MSMEs, who were a part of the study, were confident of economic growth in 2023, 20% were neutral and only 5% were negative. Among the respondents, 80% of women MSMEs from the manufacturing and services sector said they were optimistic about India's economic growth.

MSME consumer demand

Seventy-five percent of MSME owners expected an increase in consumer demand in 2023, 21% of MSME owners felt it would remain the same and only 4% of MSME owners anticipated that it would decrease. MSMEs from Chennai recorded the highest optimism with around 86% expecting growth, followed by 83% in Hyderabad and 81% in Mumbai.

In terms of industry segment, MSME owners in the retail and trading segment said they were positive about witnessing a strong consumer demand in 2023. Women-led MSMEs from the trading and wholesale industry anticipated a healthy consumer demand in the coming year compared to other respondents.

Expectations for business profitability

Ninety-six percent of MSMEs expected their profits to increase in 2023; out of these, 66% anticipated profits to rise by over 30%, while 30% of MSMEs felt that it would increase by less than 30%. Only 4% of MSMEs expected business profitability to decrease.

MSMEs in Chennai were most confident about profitability in 2023 with 80% expecting an over 30% increase in profits. In contrast, the profit expectations of MSME owners in Mumbai and Pune were more conservative.

Non-metro MSME credit demand

Eighty-four percent of MSMEs in non-metros, largely bucketed under ‘others’ in the study, said they planned to opt for business loans in 2023. The accelerated demand for credit from smaller cities signalled MSMEs’ business recovery, as they require funds for their working capital needs, growth and expansion.

The manufacturing and services industry segments anticipated higher credit demand. Over 80% of women MSME owners expected to opt for a business loan in 2023. Given the expectations of a strong consumer demand, the repo rate increase by 225 basis points since early 2022 was unlikely to impact the MSME credit demand in 2023.

Openness to digital adoption

Sixty percent of MSME owners said they planned to step up technology or digital investments in 2023. The willingness for digital adoption was clearly evident with 38% of MSMEs saying they would focus on online selling, 23% planning to build a social media presence, and 24% of MSMEs desiring to digitise their accounts and payments to track cash flows in 2023.

Employment generation

Sixty-one percent MSME owners said they intended to expand their workforce in 2023 with higher hiring expected in the services and manufacturing industry segments. Three out of four Chennai-based MSMEs planned to hire more employees in 2023, the highest in the country.

Focus on sustainability

Seventy-one percent of MSME owners hoped to include Sustainable Business Practices in 2023. The topmost sustainable business practice favoured by MSMEs was to eliminate plastic usage. Sustainable business practices include initiatives around energy conservation/ renewable energy, tree plantation, reducing carbon emissions, reducing plastic and paper usage & controlling/ reducing air/ water pollution

Report: https://www.neogrowth.in/neoinsights/

About NeoGrowth:

NeoGrowth was founded by Dhruv Khaitan and Piyush Khaitan a decade ago. NeoGrowth is a new-age lender, with a focus on Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). It is a Systemically Important, Non-Deposit taking Non- Banking Financial Company (NBFC-ND-SI), offering a wide range of products tailored to the dynamic needs of small businesses. Its data science and technology-led approach enable it to offer quick and hassle-free loans to MSMEs across 70+ segments across 25+ locations in India. NeoGrowth offers a unique daily repayment option to its customers with multi-channel repayment modes. It has served and engaged with 1,50,000+ businesses and supported them with their growth ambitions. It not only helps small businesses grow but also drives financial inclusion making a positive social impact.

Founded by industry veterans, its Board of Directors comprises experts, who guide the leadership team toward its strategic goals. NeoGrowth is also backed by renowned investors, namely Omidyar Network, Lightrock, Khosla Impact, Accion Frontier Inclusion Fund – Quona Capital, IIFL Seed Ventures Fund, WestBridge, FMO, and Leapfrog Investments.

For more details, https://www.neogrowth.in/

MSME-focussed NBFC TruCap Finance Raising Rs. 105 Cr. from Zeal Global Opportunities Fund

TruCap Finance Limited announces Rs. 105Cr. Capital Infusion from Zeal Global Opportunities Fund; also proposes integration of EZ Capital's Retail MSME Business

TruCap Finance Limited (TRU) has announced a binding agreement to raise up to Rs. 105 Cr (nearly US$13.1 million) in a combination of equity shares, convertible warrants, and non-convertible debentures from Zeal Global Opportunities Fund. The fund raise would comprise of Rs. 80 Cr of equity and convertible warrants, while up to Rs. 25 Cr. would be infused through NCDs in the company.

Mr. Rakesh Sethi, Chairperson of the Board of TruCap commented, “We are delighted to bring on-board Zeal Global Opportunities Fund and appreciate their belief in TRU’s potential to tap the unmet MSME credit demand in India. The current funding round once completed will enhance the Company’s equity base to approximately Rs. 325 Cr. This will invigorate TRU’s efforts to build business at a greater scale with speed, while we continue what we do best, which is to empower small business owners by enabling credit inclusion through Lending-as-a-Service (L-a-a-S), with a robust risk management framework.”

“Focusing on an omni-channel approach and prioritizing customer centricity, TRU has evolved its ability to address multiple pain areas faced by underserved borrowers to access growth capital. It has managed to bridge the credit gap left unaddressed by traditional lenders in the MSME clusters of India. Having proprietary data acquired via disbursement of more than 100,000 loans, TRU has significantly reduced turnaround time, scaled sourcing capabilities, refined the qualification processes, and collections strategies for small businesses lending. We are impressed by TRU’s impact-led inclusion metrics demonstrated by serving new-to -credit borrowers and small entrepreneurs in tier 2 and 3 cities resonating with its motto of building lives and livelihoods,” said Mr. Ritesh Abbi, CEO, Zeal Global Opportunities Fund.

In conjunction with this funding round, TRU proposes to integrate the retail MSME lending vertical of Exclusive Leasing & Finance Pvt. Ltd. (EZ Capital) with itself. EZ Capital is a well-capitalised, North India headquartered NBFC, focused on providing secured and affordable finance to the MSME sector in India. It currently operates across 10 branches with 109 team members in Delhi NCR and Punjab. The Chairman of EZ Capital, Mr. V.K. Bhandari is a veteran banker, having retired in October 2003 as General Manager in-charge of Treasury, International Division at Central Bank of India after over 3 decades of distinguished public service. He currently serves as an Independent Director on the Board of 8 other companies. With the addition of EZ Capital’s retail MSME operations, TRU will gain a deeper presence in the Delhi-NCR region and enter Punjab to offer gold and secured MSME loans.

Speaking on this development, Mr. V.K. Bhandari, Chairman of EZ Capital remarked, “The combined expertise will foster deep sourcing, distribution, and servicing capabilities to build a pristine quality loan book, via L-a-a-S partnerships with banks and financial institutions to support inclusive economic outcomes for all. We look forward to leverage on each other’s strengths to build customer centric solutions and accomplish our resolve to promote financial inclusion. I am particularly excited about utilizing and building on each other’s internal domain knowledge and processes to create more resilient systems while harnessing growth, sustainability and keeping portfolio quality robust. This is an opportunity to offer wings to aspirations of countless micro, small and medium entrepreneurs in non-metros to herald a new chapter in the country’s growth story at a global stage, riding on tailwinds of improving economic activity."

“We are very excited to partner with Zeal Global and EZ Capital in our mission to make a deep societal impact by providing access to timely and affordable finance to MSMEs in semi-urban and rural areas. This development will fortify TRU’s AUM, net-worth, and profitability. An enhanced equity base will further bolster our mission to address the rapidly increasing credit demand at the grassroots, especially with our recent expansion in Gujarat, which increases our presence to 7 States,” said Rohan Juneja, MD & CEO at TruCap Finance Limited.

TRU provides MSME business loans and MSME gold loans through a growing network of more than 67 branches in 6 key states, Maharashtra, Delhi-NCR, Madhya Pradesh, Goa, Gujarat, and Rajasthan. The Company plans to grow its branch network to 75+ by March’23. Till date, it has disbursed a total of Rs. 1,132 Cr across more than 121,000 loans to underserved businesses in India.

About TruCap Finance Limited (TRU)

TRU is a Mumbai-headquartered, omni-channel and MSME focused NBFC with presence in 6 states (Maharashtra, Goa, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi NCR, Gujarat, and Rajasthan) spanning more than 67 branches, operating under the brand name ‘Dhanvarsha’. Guided by a mission to promote financial inclusion TRU enables access to formal growth capital for small businesses, through relevant products via, MSME Business Loans and Gold Loans, empowering underserved borrowers largely located in non-metro geographies. With strong and evolving sourcing and distribution channels, the company has onboarded and partnered with banks and other financial institutions to scale efficient capital distribution through its flagship program of offering Lending-as-a-Service (L-a-a-S) to facilitate credit inclusion for small businesses in India and promote sustainable growth. The company has built lending relationship with more than 30 lenders including the marquee names such as, SBI, HDFC Ltd, Central Bank of India, Bank of India, Northern ARC, Caspian Impact, Credit Saison, NABARD and Maanveeya, among others.

TRU is headed by Mr. Rohan Juneja (MD & CEO), Mr. Juneja is a former investment banker and hedge fund manager with over 17 years of experience in research, strategy, portfolio management, financial analysis, and mergers & acquisitions. He started his career in 2002 as Equity Research Associate with Keefe Bruyette & Woods and was elevated to the position of Assistant Vice President. He subsequently worked with FrontPoint Partners, L.P. as Financial Analyst and Vice President from 2007 to 2011 were he extensively worked on analysis, research and investment in financial services and real estate companies in India, USA, and China. He was associated with Seawolf Capital LLC from 2011 to 2017 as Vice President, responsible for investing and managing a portfolio of listed equities within financial services companies in India and USA.

About Exclusive Leasing & Finance Pvt. Ltd. (“EZ Capital”)

EZ Capital is a well-capitalised, North India headquartered NBFC, focused on providing secured and affordable finance to the productive MSME sector in India. Having started as a wholesale lender, the company offers PSL focused, secured Micro LAP and Small Commercial Vehicle Finance loans for productive business purposes to MSME clients across Punjab, Delhi NCR (Ghaziabad & Faridabad). EZ Capital aims to make a deep societal impact by providing MSMEs in semi-urban and rural areas access to timely and affordable finance.

The Chairman of EZ Capital, Mr. V.K. Bhandari is a veteran banker, having retired in October 2003 as General Manager in-charge of Treasury, International Division at Central Bank of India after over 3 decades of distinguished public service. He currently serves as Independent Director on the Board of 8 other companies.

Mr. Ashish Bhandari, a prolific international investor and lender in the BFSI sector is one of the largest shareholders in EZ Capital.

About Zeal Global Opportunity Fund (ZGOF)

Zeal Global Opportunities Fund managed by Zinnia Group that has an AUM of over $300 Mn and more than 150 Portfolio Investments through various funds. With a cumulative experience of over 100 years spanning Banking & Finance, Wealth Management, Hedge Funds and Financial Services. It is headed by Mr. Ritesh Abbi, CEO and Executive Director for Zinnia, he has over 20 years of rich global experience covering India, Middle East and Mauritius. Mr. Abbi has served as a Director for various funds focusing on India as well as global investments.

SIDBI Partners With SVC Bank for Empowering MSMEs

The MoU signed will enable SVC Bank to tap into SIDBI’s Refinance facility to facilitate credit flow to MSME clients

SVC Bank becomes the first Urban Co-operative Bank to initiate a unique refinancing partnership with SIDBI

SVC Co-operative Bank Ltd. (SVC Bank), one of India’s leading co-operative bank and Small Industries Development Bank in India (SIDBI), country’s apex financial institution for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), today announced entering into a partnership through an Agreement.

The Agreement was signed by Shri Ashish Singhal, MD, SVC Bank and Shri Sanjeev Gupta, GM, SIDBI in Mumbai on July 28, 2022. As per the agreement, SIDBI will extend Refinance facility to SVC Bank to facilitate an improved flow of credit to MSMEs.

Commenting on the occasion, Mr. Ashish Singhal, Managing Director, SVC Bank, said, “MSME sector is the backbone of the Indian economy in terms of exports, employment creation and revenue to exchequers. SVC Bank has been supporting the MSMEs as a trusted partner for more than 115 years. We believe that access to affordable capital will prove to be a shot in the arm for the sector. In line with the Government of India’s vision of an Aatmanirbhar Bharat, SIDBI has proven to be the driving force for resolving the issues relating to MSMEs. We are proud to partner with SIDBI as the first UCB to participate in their vision of empowering the MSMEs.”

SIDBI is the Principal Financial Institution for Promotion, Financing and Development of the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise (MSME) sector as well as for coordination of functions of institutions engaged in similar activities, has recently decided to extend refinance assistance to eligible scheduled Urban Co-operative Banks (UCBs) and Regional Rural Banks (RRBs). This is the first such agreement executed with a UCB. SIDBI will sign more such Agreements with other UCBs and RRBs across various States.

Speaking on the agreement, Shri Sanjeev Gupta, General Manager, SIDBI, said, “We consistently work towards offering an empowered ecosystem to the Indian MSMEs. Towards this, we have now extended our partnership with various Scheduled Commercial Banks, SFBs and NBFCs to an urban co-operative bank. The focus is on aligning with the leaders across all segments, which can boost economic participation and upscale of India’s most promising aspirational powerhouses termed as MSMEs. We are elated to partner with SVC Bank. Being a century-plus young bank, SVC has demonstrated success in empowering communities. We will, in time, expand our refinance services to other banks as well.”

Set up in 1906, SVC Bank has contributed significantly to the development of the cooperative movement in India for over a century. Today, the Bank is one of the oldest and most recognized names in the country’s co-operative Banking space and remains the country’s only multi-state scheduled Bank with a presence across 11 states – Maharashtra, Karnataka, Goa, Gujrat, Rajasthan, Delhi, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu. With a total business of INR 29,659.53 crore and a Net Profit of INR 150.21 crore (FY 20-21), it has proven its robust and strong fundamentals. Headquartered in Mumbai, the Bank has a vast spread of 198 branches, 214 ATMs and has an employee strength of over 2300. The Bank offers the entire gamut of services across Retail Banking, Corporate Banking and International Banking. SVC Bank was recently awarded for its 100+ years of service at the hands of Hon’ble Union Minister of Home Affairs and Cooperation – Shri Amitbhai Shah. It has also been acknowledged with many prestigious awards, like ‘Data Centers Award’ & ‘Enterprise Security Award’ at Express BFSI Technology Awards 2022, Award for Outstanding Response to Covid-19 at Co-operative Banks Ingenious Leadership Summit and Technology Awards 2022, and Best BFSI Brand Award 2021 at The Economic Times Best BFSI Brands. The Bank was among the first few co-operative banks in the country to get the Authorized Dealer Category I License (Independent Forex Operations) from RBI, in December 2007. In July 2008, it launched its International Banking Division, which today handles more than Rs. 3,000 crore forex business.

Since its formation in 1990, SIDBI has been impacting the lives of citizens across various strata of society through its integrated, innovative and inclusive approach. Be it traditional, domestic small entrepreneurs, bottom-of-the-pyramid entrepreneurs, to high-end knowledge-based entrepreneurs, SIDBI has directly or indirectly touched the lives of Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) through various credit and developmental engagements. SIDBI 2.0 carries the vision of inclusive, innovative and impact-oriented engagements.

To know more, check out: https://www.sidbi.in

MSME Business Forum Hosted MSME Banking Conclave 2022 and Received An Overwhelming Response

The conclave outlined the role of banking institutions in boosting MSME sectors

MSME Business Forum India, a subject matter expert ecosystem assisting MSMEs in Ease of Doing Business, celebrated the inauguration of its first edition of 'MSME Banking Conclave' on July 8th, 2022, Holiday Inn, Mayur Vihar, New Delhi. The event discussed the significant role of banking institutions in MSME growth and understanding the right financial solution to drive business development.

MSME Banking Conclave was a highly successful event that attracted interest and participation from financial policy influencers, distinguished personalities from diverse industries background and top management personnel from corporates and financial institutions to exchange ideas and share their insights as part of the speaker sessions and panel discussions.

A day-long conclave aimed on understanding the schemes and scope through GOI's vision, addressing critical banking challenges and learning the various innovative financial solutions suiting business expansion goals and promising opportunities for MSMEs. Some notable speakers at the event included Dr Bhagwat Kishanrao Karad - Minister of State for Finance, Pradip Das - CMD, IREDA, Vijay Singh DGM -SME, SBI Bank, Kuldeep Chand - DGM, NABARD and Gaurav Kapoor, Head Capital, British High Commission.

Dr. Sindhu Bhaskar, Joint President - MSME Business Forum India and Founder, EST Global Inc, Cambridge Innovation Centre, said "Liquidity crunch, availability of credit, Poor finance management are the major issues with MSMEs in India. The MSME sector in India is considered the backbone of the nation's economy and vital fuel for economic growth. Embracing technology advancement, strategically investments in the business alliance and partnership, understanding existing industry problems and interpretation of the solution are the roadmap to empower banking ecosystem".

Nirbhay Kant Gargya, CEO, NCG Corporate said "There is immediate requirement for MSMEs to embrace technological advancements to empower their business operations multifaceted, as they employ over 120 million people and embrace an immense contribution to the socio-economic development of the country. The advent of technology has significantly transformed the banking business front over the last decade and with the introduction of a pandemic, it has emerged as an ideal path for sustainable growth".

Shri Ravi Nandan Sinha, Director of Development, MSME Business Forum India, said, "The MSME's contribution can't be excluded and empowering it leads to creating India as a global business leader. India, a developing nation, highly relies on MSME for its sustainable economic growth. More than 7.9 MSMEs are marking their contribution towards poverty alleviation, employment generation and rural development. Still, the sector is depressed with low productivity, lack of efficiency and limited means, which lead to poor competitiveness in the global sphere.To stay competitive in the ever-changing business climate, MSMEs owners need to take more strategic initiatives to be updated with the changing market dynamics and outfitted with the most recent technology".

Rachana Chowdhary, CEO-MVW-MSME Development Centre, said, "The proliferating MSME sector is very well known globally and has created numerous opportunities across sectors. The right set of strategic movements to support the SMBs leads India to emerge as a global business leader. Exploring the various innovative financial solutions suiting business expansion goals and promising opportunities. Attending industry conclaves, training programmes, seminars and interaction with delegates leads to a legacy mindset and adopt an entrepreneurial approach to tap on new opportunities".

About MSME Business Forum:

MSME Business Forum is a network hub of erstwhile corporate executives, investors, and industry experts striving to enhance the MSME and SME profitability by ensuring ease of doing Business thru interventions of Subject Matter Experts. At MSME Business Forum, we go beyond just advising MSMEs to handholding enterprise in executing task/assignment/project(s) through single window support (acting as a one-stop solution). Support range from assisting in Fund Raising to IT Solutions, Compliance's, Audit, Valuations, Certifications, Human Resource & Training, Legal assistance, Marketing, Branding, Exhibition Support, JV/Tie-Ups/ Export Promotions, Tender advisory & virtual assistant and more recently Travel planning and Health care support has also been added in support systems.

About MVW-MSME Development Centre: 

The Development Centre was established in 2021 to empower small and mid-sized MSMEs to unlock their potential, scale faster and explore newer opportunities in the post-pandemic era. The DC (development centre) vision was set to be a nurturer of Indian MSMEs to help incorporate global best practices, execute efficient workflows, deploy effective marketing strategies, go digital, and be investment ready. The Development centre aims to redefine and reinvent the MSMEs of India. It plays a vital role in influencing, handholding, and upskilling the entrepreneurs through timely interventions with need-of-the-hour support on resources, guidance and timely mentoring.

NeoGrowth Launches Accelerator Business Loans Up to ₹ 20 Lakhs for Immediate Dissemination

Mr.Arun Nayyar,Whole-Time Director & CEO, NeoGrowth 

Neogrowth Launches Accelerator Business Loan; Fast-tracks Loans Up to INR 20 Lakhs - for Immediate Dissemination

Integrates Account Aggregator-based Digital lending across its portfolio

NeoGrowth, the MSME-focused FinTech lender leveraging the digital payments ecosystem, has announced the launch of its new business loan offering, NeoGrowth Accelerator, on the occasion of World MSME Day. The company recently kickstarted its MSME festival and will be undertaking multiple activities to celebrate the spirit of India’s small business owners. The company is now live on the Account Aggregator framework to further strengthen digital lending for MSME borrowers.

NeoGrowth Accelerator is a collateral-free term loan of up to INR 20 lakhs for the underserved MSME segment comprising Manufacturers, Distributors, Traders, Dealers, and Service Providers. The product is designed to fulfill the working capital requirements of GST-registered MSMEs based on their cash flows. This new launch is in tune with NeoGrowth’s ‘Keeping It Simple’ philosophy. NeoGrowth follows data-based decision-making and leverages scorecards and algorithms for customer assessment.

Through the Account Aggregator (AA) ecosystem, NeoGrowth aims to address the MSME credit gap in India and is among the early adopters in the NBFC sector to embed it into its processes. The company integrates account aggregator information, credit bureau scores, proprietary data, and other internal metrics to thoroughly assess potential borrowers and provide hassle-free loans that leverage the digital payments ecosystem. MSME customers will now be able to share all their banking information in a consolidated dashboard and avail credit in a seamless manner.

Arun Nayyar, Whole-time Director & CEO, NeoGrowth, said, “Our objective has been to enhance credit penetration among small businesses with seamless access to loans. Getting loans has always been a challenge for small retailers in India due to complex documentation, time-consuming procedures, and the traditional approach to underwriting. The Accelerator loans offer two convenient and quick options for businesses, with minimal paperwork to help our borrowers scale up their business easily. To make the loan journey simpler for our MSME customers, we have integrated the Account Aggregator framework across our processes.”

With close to a decade’s experience in serving the credit needs of India’s MSMEs, NeoGrowth has a finger on the pulse of small business owners and is constantly innovating to provide the best-in-class credit offerings to its customers. NeoGrowth leverages the latest developments in technology and data science to strengthen its unique product offerings.

NeoGrowth is a new-age digital lender, with a focus on Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). We are a Systemically Important, Non-Deposit taking Non- Banking Financial Company (NBFC-ND-SI), offering a wide range of products tailored to the dynamic needs of small businesses. Our data science and technology-led approach enable us to offer quick and hassle-free loans to MSMEs across 70+ segments across 25+ cities in India. We offer a unique daily repayment option to our customers with multi-channel repayment modes. We have served and engaged with 1,00,000+ businesses and supported them with their growth ambitions. We not only help small businesses grow but also drive financial inclusion making a positive social impact.

Founded by industry veterans, our Board of Directors comprises experts, who guide the leadership team toward our strategic goals. NeoGrowth is backed by renowned investors, namely Omidyar Network, Lightrock, Khosla Impact, Accion Frontier Inclusion Fund – Quona Capital, IIFL Seed Ventures Fund, WestBridge, and Leapfrog Investments.

For more details, https://www.neogrowth.in/

MSME Technology Centre to Be Set Up in Sindhudurg, Maharashtra

Union Minister for MSME, Shri Narayan Rane, has announced the establishment of MSME-Technology Centre with an outlay of Rs.200 Crore, in Sindhudurg, Maharashtra. 

The Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME) -Technology Centre will provide the best of technology, incubation as well as advisory support to the industry, especially MSMEs, to enhance their competitiveness and provide skilling services for the employed and unemployed youth of the area to enhance their employability.

The Minister made this announcement at the inauguration of the two-day MSME Conclave (25 and 26 February) being organized in Sindhudurg by the Ministry of MSME. The Conclave aims to promote entrepreneurship and trade opportunities for MSMEs in the Konkan region by handholding them in use of technology, product development and skilling.

Speaking about the significance of the conclave, the Union Minister said, “such conclaves serve as an important platform for entrepreneurs, policy makers and other key stakeholders to engage in an open dialogue to exchange information, innovative ideas and explore mutual business opportunities.”

“The objective behind this conclave is to make Sindhudurg region – the top most in industrial sector,” said Shri Rane. He pointed out how most of the residents of Sindhudurg had to leave the city in search of job opportunities and to earn a living. He insisted that we have to bring change in the current scenario where income is generated in Sindhudurg and where our future generation can benefit from it.

MSME Ministry has set up nearly 2000+ new manufacturing units in Konkan; huge scope of employment creation in Maharashtra

The Minister lauded the MSME Ministry's initiatives in the Konkan region and said that there is huge scope of employment creation in Maharashtra, particularly in the Konkan region. The Minister added that the government is committed to promote entrepreneurship and employment creation in the region by rigorous implementation of flagship programs like PMEGP (Prime Minister Employment Generation Programme) , SFURTI (Scheme of Fund for Regeneration of Traditional Industries), Honey Mission and Kumhar Sashaktikaran Yojana for empowerment of potters.

Shri Rane said the Ministry has given a big thrust to entrepreneurship by setting up nearly 2,000+ new manufacturing units in the Konkan region since 2016, resulting in creation of 16,400 direct employment. To support these projects, Ministry has disbursed subsidy amount of Rs 71.65 crore.

The Minister also distributed electric potter wheels, bee boxes and Agarbatti making machines to rural artisans of Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg District and adjoining areas. He also felicitated 25 Khadi artisans and handed over certificates on completion of training. Further, sanction letters were handed over to 10 PMEGP beneficiaries who will take stride towards self-reliance by associating with self-employment activities of Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC).

Presentation on various schemes being implemented by the Ministry was also made by the senior officials of the Ministry during the Conclave, which was attended by entrepreneurs and youth from rural and semi-urban areas.

Additional Secretary & Development Commissioner, MSME, Shri Shailesh Kumar Singh emphasized on the importance and relevance of various schemes like Udyam Registration and Champions Portal for the MSME sector that had a positive impact during the COVID-19 pandemic.