Startup
Maldives Welcomes UPI: A New Era of Digital Payments Begins
In an exciting development for both residents and tourists, the Maldives has officially embraced India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI), marking a significant leap toward digitising its economy. This move comes after a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between India and the Maldives, with the aim of boosting financial inclusion and streamlining payment processes across the island nation. With UPI integration, the Maldives is set to join a growing list of countries leveraging this secure and efficient payment system, bringing about both economic benefits and enhanced bilateral relations with India.
Why UPI in the Maldives?
For a country like the Maldives, where tourism is the lifeblood of the economy, the introduction of UPI is a game-changer. Indian tourists, who make up a substantial portion of the visitors to the Maldives, will now be able to make payments seamlessly using UPI apps from their home country. No more foreign exchange hassles or international transaction fees—just a quick scan and payment, whether it’s for a diving trip or a coconut on the beach. This convenience is expected to bolster tourism revenue and improve the overall tourist experience.
But the benefits go beyond just tourism. UPI’s integration is also set to revolutionise cross-border transactions and foster greater financial inclusion among Maldivian residents, particularly those in remote areas who may not have easy access to traditional banking services. The move towards a cashless economy aligns with President Mohamed Muizzu’s vision to modernise the nation’s financial infrastructure and expand digital services.
Reactions and Global Context
The introduction of UPI in the Maldives has been met with enthusiasm from both financial experts and the general public. Many see this as a step toward creating a more inclusive financial system, while others are excited about the ease of transactions. “This will make payments smoother, especially for tourists like us,” commented an Indian tourist during a visit to the Maldives, highlighting the practical impact.
On the global stage, India has been actively promoting UPI as part of its digital diplomacy. UPI’s global footprint is expanding rapidly, with several countries already on board. As of 2024, UPI is being used in Singapore, UAE, France, Bhutan, Nepal, and Mauritius, with more nations like Japan, Australia, and the UK considering its adoption. Each of these countries has seen the transformative effects of adopting UPI, from reduced transaction costs to increased financial accessibility.
Countries Using UPI
The Maldives now joins an impressive list of countries that have integrated UPI technology into their payment systems. Here’s a quick snapshot of some nations that are currently using UPI:
- Singapore: A major hub for Indian expatriates, UPI enables cross-border payments and remittances here.
- United Arab Emirates (UAE): UPI is widely accepted across merchant outlets, simplifying transactions for Indian tourists and residents.
- France: You can now pay for your Eiffel Tower tickets using UPI!
- Bhutan: One of the earliest adopters of UPI, making payments simple for Indian visitors.
- Nepal: The first country outside India to fully deploy UPI for its domestic payment systems.
- Mauritius: A growing user of UPI to foster better trade and tourism with India.
A New Digital Frontier
The Maldives’ adoption of UPI signals its commitment to embracing the future of digital finance. By improving financial inclusion, simplifying transactions for tourists, and deepening ties with India, the island nation is on the fast track to a more connected and digital economy. It’s a win-win for everyone involved: residents gain better access to banking services, tourists enjoy hassle-free payments, and businesses tap into new opportunities.
Startup
Juspay cuts losses by 7.7% as revenue surges 49.6% in FY24
Payments startup Juspay Technologies saw its losses narrowing in FY24 as revenue growth outpaced expenditure. It narrowed its total loss for the period to Rs 97.54 crore, down 7.76% from Rs 105.75 crore in FY23.
According to the consolidated financial statements accessed from the Registrar of Companies, the SoftBank-backed fintech firm’s revenue from operations surged 49.64% to Rs 319.32 crore, up from Rs 213.39 crore in FY23.
Juspay’s primary revenue source—payment platform integration fees—brought in Rs 286.52 crore. Additional operating revenue from services like product implementation and support added Rs 32.80 crore.
Total expenses rose by 29.52% to Rs 443.74 crore in FY24, compared to Rs 342.59 crore in the previous year. This increase was largely driven by employee benefit expenses, which saw a 41.73% jump to Rs 303.36 crore, while other expenses increased slightly over 3.56% to Rs 123.76 crore.
Juspay, founded in 2012 by Vimal Kumar and Ramanathan RV in Bengaluru, specialises in developing payment orchestration solutions that act as a technology layer over traditional payment gateways.
The Accel-backed startup has also developed Namma Yatri, a mobility app focusing on ride-hailing services, leveraging Juspay’s strengths in payments and open-source protocols. Namma Yatri is built on the Beckn Protocol and aligns with the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), aiming to provide low-cost ride-hailing options and open access to digital mobility services.
Recently, Juspay decided to spin off Namma Yatri as an independent entity to attract separate investors and scale further. In February, the company said it acquired LotusPay in an all-cash deal to strengthen its offerings to the BFSI segment and merchants.
LotusPay, founded in 2016, pioneered NACH Debit technology with cloud-based software for merchants and banks. Using NPCI’s NACH Debit, it facilitates recurring payments for loans, insurance, and subscriptions.
Startup
Flipkart selects five startups for third cohort of Flipkart Leap Innovation Network
Flipkart Leap Innovation Network (FLIN).
has selected five innovative startups for the third cohort of its flagship startup accelerator programme,The cohort is introducing startups that are driving advancements across GenAI, omnichannel, analytics, and video commerce, the company said in a statement.
The selected startups— Intelligence Node, Invenzo Labs, StoryBrain, Phyllo, and D-ID— are set to run pilot programs with Flipkart to develop solutions.
“The selected startups get access to mentorship, resources, and the opportunity to execute pilot projects within the Flipkart ecosystem, scaling their solutions to meet the demands of India’s digital economy and e-commerce growth,” the company said.
Since its launch in 2022, the accelerator programme aims to accelerate the growth of the startup ecosystem in India, driving collaboration, and championing cutting-edge retail innovations.
“Through the FLIN programme, Flipkart continues to expand its role as a catalyst for innovation within India’s startup ecosystem, providing a collaborative platform for startups to test, refine, and deploy solutions that can shape the future of e-commerce in India,” said Naren Ravula, Vice President and Head – Product Strategy and Flipkart Labs.
The programme is designed to engage with startups through commercial partnerships in Flipkart’s areas of interest. Successful startups get the opportunity to scale up to a business partnership.
Over 20 startups from the initial two cohorts have concluded pilots working closely with the Flipkart Product and Engineering teams.
The company added that four startups from the previous cohort— Anagog, Speedsize, Sangti, and Vtion— have recently concluded successful pilot projects with Flipkart.
Startup
Thesys secures $4M funding led by Together Fund
AI startup Thesys bags $4 million funding in a round led by Together Fund. The round also saw participation from 8VC, the company said in a statement.
The startup will use the funding to bridge the gap of user experience with AI agents. As a visual collaboration tool, the company will also provide a platform that will enable businesses to ideate, visualise, and ship intelligent experiences at scale.
“The way we engage with technology is changing faster than ever. Static interfaces simply don’t meet the demands of today’s AI-capabilities…At Thesys, we’re building tools that make it possible for businesses to adapt and thrive in this new era,” said Parikshit Deshmukh, Co-founder, Thesys.
This evolution is about unlocking the full potential of AI-driven interactions and delivering unparalleled user experiences, he added.
“The future of AI relies as much on intuitive, adaptive interfaces as it does on backend capabilities. Thesys’ vision for Generative UI aligns perfectly with Together Fund’s commitment to enabling founders who are redefining the user experience,” said Manav Garg, Co-founder and managing partner of Together Fund.
“By empowering teams to create real-time, personalized interactions, Thesys is setting a new standard for AI-driven interfaces. We’re excited to support their journey in transforming the role of design and development tools for the next generation of AI applications,” he added.
The company, founded by Rabi Shanker Guha and Parikshit Deshmukh this year, emerged from the understanding of the need to provide support in the shift towards AI-driven interfaces, it said.
“Thesys envisions a future where all interfaces dynamically adjust to each user’s behavior, preferences, and needs—driven by what the company calls “Generative UI”. Unlike traditional static interfaces that rely on predefined paths, Generative UI uses AI to create unique, adaptive user interfaces on-the-fly, allowing businesses to provide truly personalized digital experiences,” the company added.
The company plans to launch a UI SDK that is set to enable developers to seamlessly integrate Generative UI into their applications. Additionally, post its closed beta launch, the company plans a general availability (GA) with its product within the next quarter positioning itself as the go-to product toolkit for businesses looking to stay ahead in the AI revolution.
“Thesys is pioneering a transformative shift in UI design workflows by integrating AI-driven adaptability… Their Generative UI approach aligns with our commitment to investing in technologies that drive innovation in user experiences,” said Bhaskar Ghosh, partner at 8VC.
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