Chit funds a.k.a ROSCAs (Rotating Savings & Credit Associations) are among the most popular form of savings in not just India, but in most emerging markets globally. They present an opportunity to save and borrow simultaneously among trusted social circles and enable low-income people to convert small savings into lump sums.
In India, formal and registered chit funds date back 120 years. The industry however, is plagued with manual processes and cash transactions. Unlike popular perception, chit funds are a fairly regulated industry in India. However, formal or informal, most chits are highly fragmented, transact manually and often lack transparency.
Solution
KyePot, a digital platform launched in 2018 for savings, has the first mover advantage in digitizing and disrupting this massive market.
The company offers monthly savings of INR 2,000 to 20,000 to individuals and small businesses acquired through online and offline channels.
The KyePot platform uses technology to make savings more convenient and efficient by learning people’s behaviors. Algorithms are used to match borrowers and lenders based on investing patterns, backgrounds, demographic and risk profiles.
Impact
As per various researches it is estimated that the vast majority of the chit fund subscribers in India are the low-income masses. Most of them possess a mobile phone yet transact (pay, bid etc.) manually.
KyePot’s helps them access data real time and invest in the right and most importantly verified chit funds.
Sidd Gandhi, Founder & CEO
Sidd has over 15 years of experience in banking and finance, with special focus in the area of technology and payments. After working in the UK for many years with Visa (Europe) and Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Sidd chose to return to India and start a company focused on financial inclusion.
Sidd an engineering graduate from Nagpur and has an executive MBA from London.
Kiran Lakhotia, co-founder & CTO
Kiran has over 13 years of experience across various industries and a deep understanding of software and app functions. He previously has worked with Microsoft and Rivendell Europe.
He has a PhD in computing from King’s College in London.
Shradha Kampani, co-founder and Head, Product
Shradha has over 14 years of experience in technology and applications. She has worked across various sectors and lead technology initiatives for building world-class products, in global organizations including Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Visa (Europe) and Tata Consultancy Services.
Shradha has a B. E. in Electronics Engineering from Nagpur.
