Builder · Fintech · India
Timeline
Taking time to figure out what interests me enough to become my next long-term commitment. Having (often agenda-less) conversations with founders and operators, diving into problem spaces. Advising startups on fintech and lending in the meantime.
After evaluating ideas across capital markets, wealth, and education, was drawn back to fintech — this time to build a credit-on-UPI product for Middle India.
The Thesis: Credit cards have become dark-pattern-laden consumption engines. Credit is a strong enough value prop on its own. The right product can make money simply by delivering that value, and Credit-on-UPI is a chance to deliver that value realtime at the point of sale.
But UPI is built for payments, not credit. It carries some context, but not enough to enable realtime, context-driven lending. Rupio aimed to solve this at scale and rethink point-of-sale credit as we know it.
Still believe in the thesis, but decided not to pursue the idea.
Travelled for 2 months across Europe with my wife and 1-year-old before jumping into the next thing. The longest (duh!), and the best trip of my life. Came back rejuvenated.
Let go of the ISB admit (and a then sizeable deferral deposit — ouch) to join Propelld as a founding member at seed. One of the better decisions of my life.
Worked across functions, with most bandwidth going to Product, Business Strategy, and Lender partnerships, and some going to Risk, Operations, and Engineering Management.
Saw monthly disbursals go from ₹25L to ₹250Cr and AUM from near-zero to ₹1,200Cr over five years. Set up and operationalized the NBFC subsidiary from scratch.
Having trod the ~0.1→1 journey of Propelld, decided to move on and scratch my startup itch again.
Deferred ISB to take a shot at entrepreneurship. Tried developing an air-conditioned smart helmet for Indian two-wheeler users using Peltier modules. Realised at POC stage that the battery life on a single charge wouldn't cool the helmet long enough to be meaningfully useful. Pulled the plug.
Had a dynamic role leading various product and process initiatives across disciplines. Published 3 papers. Left to pursue MBA and entrepreneurship.
Propelld — A closer look
Was a founding member turned functional co-founder at Propelld: had a seat at the founders' table, was seen internally and introduced externally as the fourth founder. My work evolved with evolving needs of the company, in three broad phases over five years:
In the pre-PMF days, worked across functions to get the product off the ground.
As we scaled and opened up offline acquisition, my focus shifted from building to strengthening.
How I work / My strengths
Where I might be incompatible / Potential weaknesses
What I want to do next
I've decided to put a pin in starting up again (for now). But I don't want to just go with the flow — I want to do something meaningful/ impact-creating.
Having spent 7 years in the thick of fintech and watched the ecosystem evolve, I appreciate the value of India's open, interoperable public rails. I think it's one of the most effective ways to harness capitalism: push companies to win by serving customers better rather than by building walled gardens that make it harder for customers to leave.
I've spent enough time in that outer capitalist layer. I now want to go a level deeper — working on the rails that shape the ecosystem and the kind of innovations that matter, with an impact larger than any single startup.
Education