• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

Philanthropy leader at Warren Buffett and Bill Gates’ Giving Pledge says children of billionaires are pushing them to give their wealth away faster

2

MacKenzie Scott alone accounted for one-third of America's $19.2 billion in megagifts last year

3

Ex-Google engineer says Larry Page, Sergey Brin and Sundar Pichai share the same trait—it's the lesson he swears by as a $7.2 billion AI CEO

1

Philanthropy leader at Warren Buffett and Bill Gates’ Giving Pledge says children of billionaires are pushing them to give their wealth away faster

2

MacKenzie Scott alone accounted for one-third of America's $19.2 billion in megagifts last year

3

Ex-Google engineer says Larry Page, Sergey Brin and Sundar Pichai share the same trait—it's the lesson he swears by as a $7.2 billion AI CEO
TechIndia

Why Social Capital’s CEO Is Betting Big on India’s Cashless Economy

By
Polina Marinova
Polina Marinova
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Polina Marinova
Polina Marinova
Down Arrow Button Icon
August 24, 2017, 12:29 PM ET
Video Poster
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

The fintech revolution in India is in full force.

When India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi decided to ban 85% of the country’s currency, the majority of cash became effectively worthless. As the country grapples with how to turn a mostly informal $2.2 trillion economy into a digital one, a number of startups are popping up to make the transition slightly less painful.

“Your mobile phone can be turned into your bank and wallet,” Modi said in November, urging people to download e-payment options. “Today’s tech can help you use it for purchasing things, making payments.”

At the center of some of this fintech is Ezetap, a Bangalore-based mobile payments startup that just raised $16 million in funding from investors including JS Capital Management, Social Capital, and Horizons Ventures. In total, the company has raised more than $51 million in venture capital.

“Demonetization was only one step in a multi-step government program to digitize the Indian economy,” said Ezetap CEO Bobby Bose. “It woke people and businesses up and made digitization a must-do instead of a nice-to-have. Hence, the macro trend that we all knew was going to happen over a decade is now happening in two to three years.”

Get Data Sheet, Fortune’s technology newsletter.

Ezetap created a universal payments platform in 2015, allowing merchants to accept any digital transaction including physical cards, online payments, mobile wallets, or one-click payments via India’s new UPI system that allows any device or interface to use biometric data, SMS, or digital QR codes.

India expects a six-fold growth in digital transactions to 25 billion by March 2018, and the six-year-old startup hopes to be the one to lay the groundwork for India’s payment infrastructure.

The company is currently working with small businesses and merchants across the country, but some of India’s larger corporations and government agencies are also integrating their software systems with Ezetap.

Social Capital CEO Chamath Palihapitiya describes Ezetap as “a combination of Stripe, AWS, and Android.”

“When demonetization happened in India, [Ezetap’s] business exploded,” Palihapitiya says. “Now, you can’t rely on the shadow payment system of using the high-value currency notes because they were rendered useless. You have to rely on cards, wallets, and more traditional financial infrastructure.”

This is not Social Capital’s only investment in India, but it is its most significant. Palihapitiya believes the country is on the brink of a massive surge in consumer consumption, but says it won’t happen until the underlying payments infrastructure is securely in place.

“At the end of the day, you have 1.2 billion people who will be earning more, and they will want to buy stuff,” Palihapitiya says. “The future for fintech in India is bright for companies that figure out ways to get consumption power in the hands of Indians.”

About the Author
By Polina Marinova
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Latest in Tech

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Tech

Samsung, SK reportedly to invest $1.3 trillion over 10 years
AIChips
Samsung, SK reportedly to invest $1.3 trillion over 10 years
By Shinhye Kang, Seyoon Kim and BloombergJune 28, 2026
3 hours ago
Big-budget ‘Supergirl’ is among DC Studios’ worst flops for an opening weekend and was reportedly trimmed significantly after test screenings
Arts & EntertainmentMovies
Big-budget ‘Supergirl’ is among DC Studios’ worst flops for an opening weekend and was reportedly trimmed significantly after test screenings
By Jake Coyle and The Associated PressJune 28, 2026
5 hours ago
green
RetailWorld Cup
France wearing green for the Statue of Liberty: inside the unusual interpretation of ‘national pride’ that makes World Cup jerseys
By Claire Rush and The Associated PressJune 28, 2026
10 hours ago
One in three Gen Zers is letting AI do their homebuying homework, but they still trust realtors with the closing process
AIhomebuying
One in three Gen Zers is letting AI do their homebuying homework, but they still trust realtors with the closing process
By Marco Quiroz-GutierrezJune 28, 2026
10 hours ago
NASA plans daring robotic rescue mission to prevent an aging space telescope from falling back to Earth, and the legendary Hubble could be next
InnovationNASA
NASA plans daring robotic rescue mission to prevent an aging space telescope from falling back to Earth, and the legendary Hubble could be next
By Marcia Dunn and The Associated PressJune 28, 2026
12 hours ago
Sofia
CommentaryLeadership
This CEO became 3x more productive with AI. Then she read what her daughter wrote about it at Dartmouth
By Maria Colacurcio and Sofia FreiJune 28, 2026
15 hours ago

Most Popular

Philanthropy leader at Warren Buffett and Bill Gates’ Giving Pledge says children of billionaires are pushing them to give their wealth away faster
Success
Philanthropy leader at Warren Buffett and Bill Gates’ Giving Pledge says children of billionaires are pushing them to give their wealth away faster
By Preston ForeJune 27, 2026
2 days ago
MacKenzie Scott alone accounted for one-third of America's $19.2 billion in megagifts last year
Success
MacKenzie Scott alone accounted for one-third of America's $19.2 billion in megagifts last year
By Sydney LakeJune 25, 2026
4 days ago
Ex-Google engineer says Larry Page, Sergey Brin and Sundar Pichai share the same trait—it's the lesson he swears by as a $7.2 billion AI CEO
Success
Ex-Google engineer says Larry Page, Sergey Brin and Sundar Pichai share the same trait—it's the lesson he swears by as a $7.2 billion AI CEO
By Orianna Rosa RoyleJune 28, 2026
16 hours ago
The retired college professor fighting a $313 trespassing ticket in Wisconsin thinks he's part of a national struggle
Environment
The retired college professor fighting a $313 trespassing ticket in Wisconsin thinks he's part of a national struggle
By Catherina GioinoJune 28, 2026
20 hours ago
Cristiano Ronaldo is soccer's first-ever billionaire: He went from begging for burgers outside McDonald's to landing a $400 million contract
Success
Cristiano Ronaldo is soccer's first-ever billionaire: He went from begging for burgers outside McDonald's to landing a $400 million contract
By Preston ForeJune 28, 2026
15 hours ago
Iran is forcing the U.S. into an escalation trap as a 'shadow war' over the Strait of Hormuz heats up that could kill the tenuous ceasefire
Politics
Iran is forcing the U.S. into an escalation trap as a 'shadow war' over the Strait of Hormuz heats up that could kill the tenuous ceasefire
By Jason MaJune 28, 2026
9 hours ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.