Editor's Letter: The Fintech Trailblazers

At a juncture when financial inclusion is pivotal to a nation’s growth, India’s transformation into a fintech powerhouse is a giant leap toward a progress that includes all. The fintech revolution is not confined to urban markets or affluent sectors but cuts across all socioeconomic strata and geographies, demonstrating the inclusivity that is at the heart of it. India’s pioneering efforts, notably with the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and subsequent initiatives such as the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), highlight the country’s commitment to large-scale digitisation and innovation. The future will unfold many more wonders.

In this edition of BW Businessworld, we celebrate the trailblazers in the fintech industry. Our cover story features some of the brightest minds and companies driving this sector forward. These entities are focusing beyond the mainstream and looking at micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and rural India. They are empowering nanopreneurs, encouraging entrepreneurship among women, modernising the insurance landscape and ensuring that access to capital is both fair and flexible. These fintech companies are the enablers, providing the tools and platforms that other businesses thrive on.

This issue also looks at India’s premier engineering schools. These institutions are tasked with the critical role of nurturing the next generation of technology leaders. These schools face unique challenges, as they attempt to fill the boots of the tech giants who have already propelled India into the global arena. These institutions must build on this formidable legacy and drive India towards the ambitious $30 trillion economy dream by 2047. The future tech leaders trained here will be instrumental in realising this vision and pushing the boundaries of innovation and development.

We continue to bring you insights from global industry leaders. This issue features exclusive interviews with the global chief of Havas Yannick Bolloré, and the APAC chief of Snap Inc., Ajit Mohan who is credited with growing Disney Hotstar and Meta in India, as they discuss the evolving landscape of marketing, digital media and the future trajectory for India.

Of course, we also bring to you all our regular columns and features.  As always, we aim to provide you with comprehensive, insightful, and forward-thinking content. We hope this edition inspires you, informs you and equips you with the knowledge to navigate and contribute to India's dynamic business environment. Happy reading!