Bridging The MSME Credit Gap
Business Today|March 22, 2020
With an innovative credit check and flexible repayment model, NeoGrowth has built a profitable business in digital lending to MSMEs
Aprajita Sharma
Bridging The MSME Credit Gap

Mumbai-based brothers, Dhruv and Piyush Khaitan, founded a digital payments venture in the 1990s. To leverage the experience in payments business, Piyush Khaitan established NeoGrowth in FY13 to lend to small businesses. He understood the problems that retailers faced in raising growth capital, and created an underwriting method based on card swipe data along with flexible repayment options.

“We decided to lend to consumer-facing small businesses and leveraged their PoS (point of sale) swipe data for credit assessment. We knew digital payments would continue to grow at a rapid pace over the next few years. We resolved to participate in that growth,” says Khaitan, Founder and MD, NeoGrowth.

The fintech firm recorded profits of ₹4 crore on revenues of ₹300 crore in FY19. Even during the NBFC crisis that shook the backbone of the financial system, NeoGrowth managed to stay afloat. It crossed ₹1,000 crore as asset under management (AUM) in FY19 and has grown 60 per cent since then. With an average loan ticket size of ₹12 lakh, the company has disbursed over ₹5,500 crore since inception. Its loan amount ranges from a minimum of ₹1 lakh to a maximum of ₹70 lakh at interest rates of 20-24 per cent.

It has raised ₹500 crore till date from investors including Omidyar Network, Aspada Investment Company, Khosla Impact, Accion Frontier Inclusion Fund managed by Quona Capital, IIFL Seed Ventures Fund and Leapfrog Investments. It has also raised funding from a mix of overseas and domestic lenders and borrowings from banks. “Till now, we have raised close to ₹1,600 crore of debt capital. Some of our debt investors are Blue Orchard, FMO (Dutch Sovereign Entity), Symbiotics, responsAbility, SIDBI and RBL,” says Khaitan.

Creditworthy

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM BUSINESS TODAYView all
"Moving to cloud helped us grow❞
Business Today India

"Moving to cloud helped us grow❞

What was the problem you were grappling with?

time-read
1 min  |
November 24, 2024
She's Got Time
Business Today India

She's Got Time

MORE WOMEN ARE BECOMING WATCH CONNOISSEURS, SEEKING OUT BOTH JEWELLED AND TECHNICAL WATCHES FOR THEIR STYLE AND CRAFTSMANSHIP

time-read
3 mins  |
November 24, 2024
RISING STAR
Business Today India

RISING STAR

PARUL GULATI IS a name that's been steadily gaining prominence in the Indian entertainment industry after she appeared on season 2 of Shark Tank in 2023. She has become a multifaceted personality who effortlessly transitions between acting and entrepreneurship.

time-read
1 min  |
November 24, 2024
Building on a Legacy
Business Today India

Building on a Legacy

WHEN ZAHABIYA KHORAKIWALA stepped into her role as Managing Director of Wockhardt Hospitals over a decade ago, she confronted formidable challenges that have since turned into achievements.

time-read
1 min  |
November 24, 2024
LEADER IN INNOVATION
Business Today India

LEADER IN INNOVATION

AS FEDEX'S PRESIDENT (Middle East, Indian subcontinent and Africa), Kami Viswanathan has a lot on her plate.

time-read
1 min  |
November 24, 2024
WAITING IN THE WINGS
Business Today India

WAITING IN THE WINGS

Here are those who missed out as they have not yet completed a year in office; they'll be strong contenders in 2025

time-read
1 min  |
November 24, 2024
A DECENT PROPOSAL
Business Today India

A DECENT PROPOSAL

IN TODAY'S WORLD OF TRYING TO CREATE AN EQUITABLE SPACE, BOTH MEN AND WOMEN CONTRIBUTE TO THEIR HOUSEHOLDS. WOMEN ARE ENCOURAGED TO HAVE THEIR OWN SAVINGS POOL AND INVESTMENT ROUTINE. GIVEN THIS, HOW SHOULD FUTURE BRIDES APPROACH FINANCIAL PLANNING?

time-read
5 mins  |
November 24, 2024
Women and the STEM Bias
Business Today India

Women and the STEM Bias

EMPOWERING WOMEN IN STEM WILL NOT ONLY BENEFIT INDIVIDUALS, BUT ALSO STRENGTHEN THE ENTIRE INDUSTRY, DRIVING INNOVATION AND PROGRESS.

time-read
3 mins  |
November 24, 2024
ROCKET WOMEN
Business Today India

ROCKET WOMEN

WOMEN IN INDIA ARE NOT ONLY VENTURING INTO SPACE BUT ARE ALSO STARTING TO SPEARHEAD THE COUNTRY'S EFFORTS IN THE GLOBAL SPACE RACE.

time-read
6 mins  |
November 24, 2024
ONE STEP FORWARD
Business Today India

ONE STEP FORWARD

THE NUMBER OF WOMEN INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS IS GROWING STEADILY, BUT IT'S A LONG WAY FROM GENDER PARITY. MUCH MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE TO BREAK THE GLASS CEILING IN BOARDROOMS.

time-read
6 mins  |
November 24, 2024