The World Fintech Summit 2025 commenced with a high-impact Day 1 on 5th May 2025 in Bengaluru, setting the stage for a global dialogue on the future of fintech. The summit featured a dynamic mix of keynote addresses, expert talks, fireside chats, and panel discussions, bringing together policy-makers, fintech innovators, and thought leaders from across the globe.
Organized by Elets Technomedia, in collaboration with the Department of Electronics, IT, Biotechnology, and Science & Technology, Government of Karnataka as Host State Partner, and the Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM) as Strategic Partner, the summit was further supported by TiE Bangalore. This collective effort aims to propel transformative conversations and industry breakthroughs in fintech and beyond.
Day 1 – Key Highlights
A key moment of Day 1 was the launch of a Special Souvenir Edition of The Banking & Finance Post Magazine at the summit. This commemorative issue celebrates India’s evolving financial ecosystem and Karnataka’s leadership in fintech innovation—featuring game-changing ideas and the changemakers driving transformation.
The day was graced by Shri Priyank Kharge, Hon’ble Minister for Electronics, IT & Biotechnology, Rural Development & Panchayat Raj, Government of Karnataka, who joined as Chief Guest. He hosted an exclusive stakeholder meet with top minds from fintech, BFSI, and the startup ecosystem, focussed on shaping the future of financial innovation in India.
Inaugural Session
The summit was inaugurated by Dr. Ravi Gupta, Founder, CEO & Editor-in-Chief of Elets Technomedia Pvt. Ltd., who set the tone for the event with a warm welcome to all participants.
Keynote Address
Sanjeev Kumar Gupta, Chief Executive Officer of Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM), delivered an inspiring keynote on the role of digital economy in transforming India’s fintech landscape. He emphasized the importance of collaboration and innovation in making Karnataka a fintech hub.
“While Mumbai is widely recognised as India’s financial capital, Bengaluru has emerged as the country’s fintech capital, driving innovation and growth across the digital financial landscape,” he said, adding that Karnataka is proud to be home to over 1,700 fintech startups, including 12+ unicorns out of India’s 26. Bengaluru, in particular, stands as the true powerhouse of fintech innovation in the country.
Opening Address
Rahul Sharanappa Sankanur, IAS, Director of Electronics, IT & BT, and Managing Director of Karnataka Innovation and Technology Society, Government of Karnataka, provided a comprehensive opening address, highlighting the state’s strategic vision to position itself as a global leader in technology-driven growth. “Karnataka’s fintech vision is built on three core priorities: democratizing innovation access in underserved regions, strengthening public-private fintech partnerships, and expanding global fintech outreach through regulatory sandboxes,” he said.
Exclusive Session with Priyank Kharge, Minister for Electronics, IT & Biotechnology, Rural Development & Panchayat Raj, Government of Karnataka
In an exclusive session, Priyank Kharge, Minister for Electronics, IT & Biotechnology, Rural Development & Panchayat Raj, Government of Karnataka engaged in a thought-provoking conversation with Harshil Mathur, CEO & Co-Founder of Razorpay, and Prashanth Prakash, Partner at Accel. The conversation focussed on fintech innovation, inclusion, and the role of new-age tech in the sector’s evolution.
The minister said, Karnataka’s fintech industry is growing at an exceptional pace. In 2024, the sector was valued at nearly $100 billion, and as of 2025, it has surged to $145 billion—an impressive growth of 45%. Looking ahead, we expect this number to reach around $550 billion by 2030, representing a remarkable projected CAGR of 30.55%. The further said, “ If we are to unlock the full potential of fintech—be it in payments, insurance, lending, or other areas—it must reach the bottom of the pyramid. In this regard, the government is building a massive digital infrastructure that will serve as the backbone for Tier 2 cities and rural areas.”
Harshil Mathur, CEO, Co-Founder, Razorpa, highlighted that in fintech, regulation isn’t a hurdle—it’s a foundation for trust, stability, and innovation. “If you’re operating in the fintech space, regulation should not come as a surprise. In fact, it’s something you must embrace proactively. At our company, we don’t just comply with regulations—we actively try to anticipate them. We constantly ask ourselves: Where might concerns arise? Which innovations might require regulatory frameworks?,” he said.
Moderating this session, Prashanth Prakash, Partner, Accel, said, “Karnataka is already the fintech capital of India. The aspiration now is to capture a lion’s share of the entire fintech space in India.”
Expert Talk
Anil Kumar Nayak, Presales Engineering Leader at IBM Storage, India & South Asia, delivered an insightful talk on “AI and Hybrid Cloud: The Scalable Backbone of Fintech Innovation”, outlining how emerging tech is redefining financial services.
Key Panel Discussions:
A series of engaging panel discussions followed, featuring thought leaders from across the fintech landscape.
Global Financial Services & BFSI GCCs: This panel, moderated by Supria Dhanda, Co-Founder & Managing Partner at WYSER, explored the growing role of BFSI GCCs in fostering innovation and co-creation in the financial services sector. Speakers included M. Balasubramaniam, CEO of Stratinfinity Inc., Titir Pal, Managing Director, Citi Bank, and Seetharaman Venkatraman, Executive Director, Nomura.
Agentic AI and Data, Risks & Opportunities: A session delving into the risks and opportunities of Agentic AI in financial services, featuring Srivatsa S., Head of Intelligent Automation & AI at Axis Bank, and Vineet Jain, Chief Business and Digital Officer at Anand Rathi Share and Stock Brokers Ltd., moderated by Gejoy Kuriakose, Partner at KPMG.
Agri-Fintech: The summit also featured a spotlight on Agri-Fintech, with key insights shared by leaders such as Nipun Mehrotra, Founder & CEO of The Agri Collaboratory, and industry stalwarts like Ajay Vir Jakhar, Chairman of Bharat Krishak Samaj, and Bheemashankar, PS to IT/BT Minister, Government of Karnataka. They discussed how AgriTechs, government policies, and ecosystem enablers are driving innovation and growth in Agri-Fintech in India.
Fireside Chats
At the World Fintech Summit 2025, thought leaders engaged in dynamic discussions on the intersection of fintech, agriculture, and inclusive development, highlighting pathways for innovation and empowerment. Ramalakshmi Penugonda, GM, NABARD, highlighted NABARD’s critical role in shaping India’s ₹27 lakh crore agriculture credit target for 2024-25, supporting 16 crore microfinance success stories, and pioneering data partnerships—including a potential collaboration with Google for agri-landscape development.
Sandhya Vasudevan, Board Member & Fintech Chair, TiE Bangalore, moderated the session, emphasizing grassroots financial empowerment, especially among women through initiatives like Mahua Learning.
Ajay Vir Jakhar, Chairman, Bharat Krishak Samaj, raised crucial concerns about wealth concentration through fintech, mandatory crop insurance policies, and the need for data governance in platforms like Agristack and DPI.
The session spotlighted the urgent need for balanced, transparent, and farmer-centric digital finance policies.
Continuing the theme of innovation, another fireside chat titled “GCCs in India – Catalyzing Fintech Innovation” featured Sanjeev Kumar Gupta from KDEM and Paroma Chatterjee, CEO of Revolut India. They discussed the global journey of Revolut and its strategic role in positioning Karnataka as a thriving hub for fintech excellence, showcasing how Global Capability Centers are accelerating innovation and shaping the future of finance.
The first day of the summit closed with an exciting range of discussions on the future of banking, scaling fintech innovation, and building the financial ecosystem of tomorrow. As the day concluded, attendees left with new insights into the transformative potential of fintech and the role of innovation in creating an inclusive, digital-first financial landscape.
Stay tuned for more updates on Day 2 of the World Fintech Summit, where we continue to explore the future of fintech with industry leaders, innovators, and policymakers.
Elets The Banking and Finance Post Magazine has carved out a niche for itself in the crowded market with exclusive & unique content. Get in-depth insights on trend-setting innovations & transformation in the BFSI sector. Best offers for Print + Digital issues! Subscribe here➔ www.eletsonline.com/subscription/
