Finance | Page 5

Due to the funding crisis, this year's startup pitching has undergone a major shift, with a stronger emphasis now being placed on cost structures, profitability, and unit economics.

The announcement of the discontinuation of INR 2000 currency note from the system by RBI on Friday reminds one of Narenda Modi-led government's decision of withdrawal of 86% of the economy's currency in circulation in 2013-2014.

The INR 2000 denomination banknote was introduced in November 2016 to meet the currency requirement of the economy in an expeditious manner after the withdrawal of legal tender status of all INR 500 and INR 1000 banknotes in circulation at that time.

Investors regularly monitor their portfolios in the erratic startup environment and adjust to shifting market conditions. Valuation reductions serve as a reminder of the value of thorough study, wise judgement, and the capacity to deal with uncertainty.

The startup environment has recently slowed down, which has resulted in fewer VC funding and slower growth, creating a vicious cycle. Unfortunately, the first casualties of this crisis have been layoffs across various sectors. However, it's important to keep in mind that a similar or worse situation existed at the height of the Covid-19 outbreak, and the resilient business models survived that time unharmed.

The era of easy and abundant capital is over so it is essential for startups to exhibit strong fundamentals and sound strategy during this funding winter.

In this current environment, traditional sources of financing are less willing to invest, leaving entrepreneurs in need of assistance. Venture debt provides a viable alternative that enables startups to receive finance without reducing their ownership equity.

Despite losing out on indexation benefit in the amended Finance Bill, debt funds still add value to the client and have advantages that other investment avenues may not, say industry experts

The funding winter has given domestic venture capital firms a rare chance to demonstrate their adaptability and resilience. During these difficult times, new strategies and crucial maxims have emerged, changing the financial landscape.

Due to the global liquidity crisis, the investment ecosystem has slowed down, but risk investors are still interested in India-focused funds.

Companies in the growth stage have already built a consumer base and validated their value proposition. As a result, investors' returns can be more guaranteed.

Cashfree Payments is India's leading API and banking solutions company in the digital payments ecosystem. It has solved problems pertinent to payments and their infrastructure for businesses, thus assisting in their digitisation bid.

In 2023, investments in early-stage businesses have increased significantly. This is a result of tier-I venture capitalists taking a more cautious approach in their search for businesses with good unit economics and the potential to become profitable in the upcoming years.

LenDenClub aimed to take credit and investment options to last-mile customers via peer-to-peer lending platforms in India. Their platform has enabled them to democratize debt and generate higher returns for investors.

SmartCoin is one of India's financial wellness platforms addressing credit requirements of the vastly underserved segments in India and partners with customers across their financial lifecycles.

India ranked in the top five regions in terms of total funding activity in Q1 2023 and was the second-highest funded territory globally for fintech funding.

Small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) constitute the backbone of the Indian economy, making a considerable contribution to job creation and economic expansion. The demand for accessible and affordable financing solutions for SMEs has increased as a result of the government's emphasis on advancing the industry through programmes like Make in India, Digital India, and Startup India

Given the bad environment, the majority of investors (57%) expect a further reduction in fundraising activities in 2023. Fintech, Enterprise SaaS, and Climate-tech are the top three industries on investors' radars this year.

There is still a need for further reforms to create a more supportive environment for startups and angel investors in India, even though the new exemption guidelines have given startups and angel investors some relief by allowing the startups to claim exemption if their total investment does not exceed Rs 25 crore

The year 2023 and late 2022 are completely different from what the markets were in 2021. A lot of founders are now raising money at reasonable valuations. There is increased focus on profitability, on what final product or utility one is building for. And this holds true for Web3 startups as well.

V. Raman Kumar, Founder Chairman, CASHe believes that key to retaining customers in the fintech space is to provide a seamless customer experience and also to provide industry first value-added services that help customers achieve their financial goals.

Kunal Varma is the CEO and co-founder of Freo, a digital banking platform for Indians, where they can easily spend, save and borrow for a better financial life.

The monthly average balance (MAB) is a crucial aspect of maintaining a healthy bank account. In this article, we'll define MAB, explain its importance, and provide valuable tips to help you maintain a healthy balance.

SVB's collapse didn't just affect American depositors, but also many Indian start-ups. Hundreds of Indian startups with millions of dollars in their accounts found themselves stuck.

Although the World Wide Web helped create a global village, the pandemic and its aftermath pushed us into an era where online scams multiplied and continue to do so.

Since most fintech companies in India offer a wide range of products and services across sub-categories of finance, the legal requirements and compliances automatically become complicated