Led · Debt Financing · Feb 2021

Kinara Capital is a digital lending fintech that offers business loans, unsecured working capital, and related financial products to MSMEs via its user-facing platform (the article names the marinara app). The company runs the HerVikas program targeting women entrepreneurs and has disbursed INR 700 Cr under that initiative to date. Overall it has disbursed over INR 4,000 Cr to more than 50,000 customers and operates a network of over 130 branches. Kinara was founded in 2011 and is headquartered in Bengaluru. The firm recently completed new debt financings and its board has authorized issuance of debentures and bonds up to INR 1,300 Cr, indicating plans to access more debt capital. The company has previously raised equity, including a $24M round in 2022 led by British International Investment. Kinara Capital offers collateral-free business loans to over 300 MSME sub-sectors via its myKinara App, with loan ticket sizes of INR 1–30 lakhs and AI/ML-enabled decision-to-disbursement within 24 hours. The company has disbursed INR 3,500 crores to date across 75,000+ collateral-free business loans and operates 125 branches serving MSMEs in 100+ cities with a workforce of 1,600+ employees. Kinara is qualified as a Systemically Important NBFC by the Reserve Bank of India and is a debt-listed entity on the Bombay Stock Exchange. It is woman-founded and women-led and runs gender-inclusive initiatives such as the HerVikas program that offers automatic discounts to women entrepreneurs. Kinara plans to grow 5x by 2025, reach an AUM of INR 6,000 crores, and serve 200,000 MSMEs across 100+ cities, a scale-up the company says will support over 1 million local jobs and generate significant incremental income for entrepreneurs. Kinara Capital offers collateral-free business loans to small business entrepreneurs in India via its vernacular-friendly myKinara app and 110+ branches across 90+ cities, combining digital decisioning with doorstep customer service. The company uses AI/ML to deliver loan decision-to-disbursement within 24 hours and serves more than 300 sub-sectors with loans ranging from USD $1,000–$30,000. Product offerings include Asset Purchase Loans, Long‑Term and Short‑Term Working Capital Loans, Bill Discounting, and Loan Against Property, alongside the HerVikas program which gives women entrepreneurs an automatic discount. Kinara also runs free multilingual workshops through its Grow With Kinara series and highlights a women-majority management team. To date it has disbursed USD $400 million across 75,000+ collateral-free loans. The company is qualified as a Systemically Important NBFC by the Reserve Bank of India and is debt-listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange. Kinara says the new capital will fund product and service expansion to meet rising MSME credit demand and support its growth targets. Kinara Capital provides collateral-free business loans to small business entrepreneurs in India, offering fast 24-hour direct disbursements and flexible payment options via 400+ apps. The firm uses AI/ML-based automated credit decisioning to lend without relying on property collateral or credit scores. Kinara has disbursed USD $271 million across 56,000+ loans, with about 90% of its customer base receiving their first-ever business loan. The company reports an incremental income generation of USD $100 million for entrepreneurs and more than 250,000 jobs created or sustained across 90+ urban, peri-urban and rural locations, operating 110 branches in 90+ cities. Headquartered in Bangalore and launched in 2011, Kinara is recognized as a Systemically Important NBFC and is a debt-listed entity on the Bombay Stock Exchange. The recent financing will be used to stimulate small business growth across the manufacturing, trading, and services sectors in India.

Led · Debt Financing · Jun 2020

Founded in 2015 and based in Chennai, WayCool operates a full-stack agritech platform that sources, distributes and processes food products while connecting more than 85,000 farmers through its engagement platform Outgrow. It sells fresh produce, staples and dairy under consumer brands including Madhuram, KitchenJi, L’exotique and Freshey’s. The company has raised significant funding prior to the rights issue—about $183 million from investors such as Lightrock, IFC, FMO and 57 Stars—and recently secured venture debt of Rs 110 crore. WayCool's operations span sourcing, distribution and food processing aimed at improving agricultural supply chains between farmers and institutional buyers. In recent months the company has taken steps toward profitability, including workforce reductions of over 200 employees in July 2024, and has experienced several senior leadership departures.