Tag: mobile wallet

  • Best Wallet Apps in India 2025: Top Mobile & Digital Wallets, UPI Payment Apps & Prepaid Wallets Reviewed

    The globe is slowly paving its way towards a cashless society. From invoices to cards and now to mobile wallets, this significant transformation has reduced the weight of bulky wallets. We can pay for any product, transfer money, make bill payments, and almost everything to do with money from the comfort of our home. Payment wallets in India have made online transactions of money easy and fast, with their one-tap feature and quick processing, all at one go.

    What is a Mobile Wallet?
    How Does A Mobile Wallet Work?
    Types Of Mobile Wallets In India
    Are Mobile Wallets Secure?
    Top 15 Mobile Wallets In India
    Advantages Of Mobile Wallets
    Mobile Wallet vs Digital Wallet
    Limitations Of Mobile Wallets In India

    What is a Mobile Wallet?

    A mobile wallet is a digital wallet that uses a bank account or credit/debit card to make payments seamlessly while securing the data of the user. They are designed to enable secured transactions with a hassle-free process, with reduced fraud. This method of online payment has proved to be more economical as compared to other physical wallets. These wallets are easily accessible as well from the play-store or app store.

    India ranks 2nd highest in the Asia Pacific for digital payment adoption.

    Digital payments in India are set to account for 71.7% of the total payments volume by 2025, leaving cash and cheque transactions at 28.3%, according to a report by a US-based payment systems company.

    Since Demonetization hit the Indian Economy harshly, the Government promoted the use of these wallets and since then the user base of these e-wallets has been increasing significantly. Many digital wallets by the Indian Government has been given to citizens like UPI, BHIM, Aadhaar Pay and Payment Banks.

    How Does A Mobile Wallet Work?

    Start by downloading the mobile app of your choice onto your smartphone. Then, load the card information you want to store, from debit, and credit cards to loyalty cards and even coupons.

    When you want to make a purchase with your mobile wallet, you can either:

    • Choose your app and select a card at the checkout screen when you’re shopping online with your smartphone.
    • Tap your phone to a digital payment-enabled terminal at participating merchants when checking out. Mobile wallets use what is called a Near-Field Communication (NFC) chip that lets you use contactless payment with a physical card.

    Types Of Mobile Wallets In India

    Closed PPI Semi-Closed PPI Open PPI
    Definition Issued by a company to buy goods and services only from that company; it does not permit cash withdrawals or redemptions. Can be used to buy goods and services from merchants that have a contract with the Issuer to accept the payment instrument; it does not permit cash withdrawals or redemptions. Allows a user to buy goods and services, withdraw cash at ATMs or banks, and transfer funds.
    KYC Requirement No KYC required No As Such compulsion for KYC KYC is Required
    Examples Makemytrip Wallet Mobikwik PayTM Payment bank

    Are Mobile Wallets Secure?

    One security concern when using a mobile wallet is losing your phone or having it stolen. That’s why it’s smart to use something like two-factor authentication, which could include setting up a personal identification number or a fingerprint requirement to unlock your phone.

    You can also protect your data by installing apps that will help you locate your phone if you lose it or remotely wipe the data so a thief can’t reach the sensitive information in your phone. If you see any suspicious or unauthorized charges on your account(s), it’s a good idea to immediately change your password and call your bank to let them know.

    Payment Wallets in India

    Top 15 Mobile Wallets In India

    S.No. Mobile Wallet Why Users Like It Key Features
    1 Paytm Wide acceptance across merchants and services Recharge, bill payments, UPI, wallet, shopping, FASTag
    2 Google Pay Fast UPI payments, no wallet required Direct bank transfers, rewards, bill payments
    3 BHIM Axis Pay Simple and secure for Axis Bank customers UPI-enabled app with direct bank linking
    4 PhonePe All-in-one UPI app with cashback and offers UPI, recharges, bill pay, gold purchase, mutual funds
    5 Mobikwik Good for wallet-based payments and BNPL Wallet, ZIP Pay Later, bill pay, credit card bill
    6 Yono (SBI) Trusted for SBI users with integrated banking UPI, wallet, account services, investments
    7 Citi MasterPass Secure checkout for Citi card users MasterPass integration, card-based payments
    8 ICICI Pockets Handy digital wallet for ICICI Bank users UPI, virtual card, recharges, send/request money
    9 HDFC PayZapp Linked with HDFC cards and bank accounts Bill payments, recharges, shopping offers
    10 Amazon Pay Integrated with Amazon for fast checkouts UPI, cashback, wallet, bill pay, shopping
    11 Samsung Pay Great for Samsung device users Tap & pay, UPI, debit/credit card support
    12 Apple Pay Secure and convenient for Apple users Face ID/Touch ID payments, NFC tap-to-pay
    13 WhatsApp Pay UPI payments via familiar chat interface Simple peer-to-peer payments in chat
    14 Freecharge Basic wallet with bill pay and recharges UPI, wallet, recharges, offers
    15 Airtel Money Useful for Airtel users and bill pay Wallet, UPI, utility payments, insurance

    Paytm

    Mobile Wallet Paytm
    Founded 2010
    Total Downloads 500M+ (on Google Play Store)
    Paytm - Mobile Wallet in India
    Paytm – Best Wallet Apps in India

    Paytm is one of the largest online commerce platforms in India offering its customers a mobile wallet to store money and make quick transactions. It is considered by many the best mobile app in India. Paytm was launched in 2010 and basically works on a semi-closed model. Users can load money and make payments to merchants. E-Commerce is an added benefit of it, but despite that, you can make bill payments, transfer money, and avail yourself of services of entertainment, travel, and cashback. Payments through Paytm are accepted almost everywhere.

    Google Pay

    Mobile Wallet Google Pay
    Founded 2017 (India launch)
    Total Downloads 1B+ (on Google Play Store)
    Google Pay - Mobile Wallet in India
    Google Pay – Best Wallet Apps in India

    It was formerly known as Tez and for obvious reasons, it gained its user base really quick, in spite of being a late entrant in the mobile wallet industry. It is the best online payment app or best money transfer app with cashback. Google Pay works with your existing bank account, which already means that your money is safe with the bank and no issues with recharging your wallet every month. Send or receive money from your friend directly to your bank account. There is also no such issue regarding KYC making it all the more popular.


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    BHIM Axis Pay

    Mobile Wallet BHIM Axis Pay
    Founded 2016 (as part of UPI launch)
    Total Downloads 10M+ (on Google Play Store)
    BHIM Axis Pay - Mobile Wallet in India
    BHIM Axis Pay – Top Wallet Apps in India

    BHIM (Bharat Interface for Money) is another best mobile wallet in India. It is a mobile wallet app developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), based on the Unified Payment Interface (UPI). Launched in December 2016, it is intended to facilitate e-payments directly through banks. Users register their bank account with BHIM and set a UPI PIN for the bank account. It can be used by both Axis Bank users as well as other bank users. The Mobile Number is then the permanent address and they can start transacting. User can pay their friends, family and merchants with the tap of a button.

    PhonePe

    Mobile Wallet PhonePe
    Founded 2015
    Total Downloads 500M+ (on Google Play Store)
    PhonePe - Mobile Wallet in India
    PhonePe – Best Payment Wallet in India

    PhonePe was launched in 2015 and is now a part of Flipkart. From UPI Payments to mobile recharges, and money transfers to online bill payments, this can be done easily on PhonePe. With a good user interface, PhonePe has offered the safest and fastest online transaction experience in India.

    Mobikwik

    Mobile Wallet Mobikwik
    Founded 2009
    Total Downloads 50M+ (on Google Play Store)
    MobiKwik - Mobile Wallet in India
    MobiKwik – Mobile Wallet in India

    Mobikwik was launched in 2009 with its key proposition in Recharge and Bill payments. Mobikwik is one of the independent mobile payment networks that has a user base of 32 million. This e-wallet lets its users add money using debit cards, credit cards, net banking, and even doorstep cash services. One of the unique features Mobikwik has offered its users is ‘expense tracker’, basically which allows users to set a budget for expenses via SMS data to analyze and control the expenditure.


    MobiKwik Business Model Explained: How MobiKwik Earns Money, Makes Revenue, and Powers Peer-to-Peer Transfers in India
    Discover the MobiKwik business model and learn how MobiKwik earns money through loans, partnerships, and premium services. Explore its revenue model and how it enables peer-to-peer money transfers online in India.


    Yono (SBI)

    Mobile Wallet YONO (SBI)
    Founded 2017
    Total Downloads 100M+ (on Google Play Store)
    Yono SBI - Mobile Wallet in India
    Yono SBI – Mobile Wallet in India

    This application was launched by the State Bank of India to let users transfer money to other users, pay bills, recharge, book tickets, shop, and travel. This is one of the top mobile wallets in India and has offered its mobile wallet services in 13 languages the best part is, that it is also available to non-SBI customers. It taps into the special feature where-in it allows its users to set reminders for dues, and money transfers, and view mini-statement for the transactions done already.


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    Citi MasterPass

    Mobile Wallet Citi MasterPass
    Founded 2013 (India launch by Citi)
    Total Downloads Not publicly listed separately
    Citi MasterPass - Mobile Wallet in India
    Citi MasterPass – Mobile Wallet in India

    Citi MasterPass was launched recently by Citi Bank India and MasterCard. This is one of India’s first global outreach in terms of digital wallets for faster and more secure shopping. Citi Bank debit and Master card customers become the first in this country to shop at more than 250,000 e-commerce merchants. It has ensured fast checkout with a single tap and stores all credit, debit, prepaid, and shipping details.

    ICICI Pockets

    Mobile Wallet ICICI Pockets (ICICI Bank)
    Founded 2016
    Total Downloads 5 M+ (on Google Play Store)
    ICICI Pockets - Mobile Wallet in India
    ICICI Pockets – Mobile Wallet in India

    It’s one of the best mobile wallets in India. It has provided the convenience of using any bank account in India to fund your mobile wallet and pay for transactions. It basically uses a virtual VISA card that enables its users to transact on any website or mobile application in India and provides exclusive deals or packages from associated brands.

    HDFC PayZapp

    Mobile Wallet HDFC PayZapp
    Founded June 2015
    Total Downloads 10M+ (on Google Play Store)
    HDFC PayZapp - Mobile Wallet in India
    HDFC PayZapp – Best Wallet in India

    PayZapp is a complete payment solution by HDFC Bank which has a one-tap feature for easy payment. Not only does it let you recharge your phone or send money but also your DTH and data cards, pay utility bills, and compare and book flight tickets, trains, hotels and shops.

    Amazon Pay

    Mobile Wallet Amazon Pay
    Founded 2007 (Global), 2011 (India)
    Total Downloads 500M+ (on Google Play Store)
    Amazon Pay - Mobile Wallet in India
    Amazon Pay – Mobile Wallet in India

    Owned by Amazon, this online payment processing service was launched in 2017 in India (globally- 2007). Amazon Pay has focused its customers more on Amazon and so it gives its users the option to pay with their Amazon accounts on external merchant websites, including apps like BigBazaar etc. With Amazon Pay, you get to shop on Amazon with a number of cashback and discounts with fast shipping services. Recently, Amazon Pay got tied up with fintech companies, such as Zest Money to enable no-cost EMI payment options. The application has also made it easier for buyers to buy products on Amazon and pay later via affordable monthly instalments.

    Samsung Pay

    Mobile Wallet Samsung Pay
    Founded August 20, 2015
    Total Downloads 100M+ (on Google Play Store)
    Samsung Pay - Mobile Wallet in India
    Samsung Pay – Mobile Wallet in India

    Samsung Pay is a digital wallet service owned by Samsung, it was launched on the year 2015. It is considered one of the best payment processing services for contactless payments. Samsung is accepted in almost every store, wherever credit and debit cards can be used it also offers Cashback. With the help of Samsung pay, the transaction between merchants and payers are possible without the exchange of bank and card information. Samsung Pay accepts all kinds of card readers like magnetic stripes, EMV and others,

    Apple Pay

    Mobile Wallet Apple Pay
    Founded October 20, 2014
    Total Downloads Not publicly disclosed
    Apple Pay - Mobile Wallet in India
    Apple Pay – Mobile Wallet in India

    Owned by Apple Inc., Apple Pay is a digital wallet service, which was launched in the year 2014. Major credit and debit cards are supported in Apple Pay, it also provides extreme security through touch and face id. Anyone owning an apple device can use Apple Pay on them for making payments. The card information is kept confidential while making payments. Apple Pay currently is available in more than 60 countries.

    WhatsApp Pay

    Mobile Wallet WhatsApp Pay
    Founded February 2018 (India pilot)
    Total Downloads Over 1 billion (WhatsApp Messenger)
    WhatsApp Pay - Mobile Wallet in India
    WhatsApp Pay – Best Wallet App in India

    Launched in the year 2018, WhatsApp launched the chat payment service to allow users to complete any kind of transaction through WhatsApp. The secure way of the transaction enables people to make payments easy just like sending a message on WhatsApp. WhatsApp Pay has also been providing some great features like Cashback to attract more customers. This UPI-based payment service provides the option of sending and receiving money.

    Freecharge

    Mobile Wallet Freecharge
    Founded August 2010
    Total Downloads 50M+ (on Google Play Store)
    Freecharge - Mobile Wallet in India
    Freecharge – Mobile Wallet App in India | Digital Wallets in India

    Freecharge is a wallet app that is easy and fast to use for payments. You can recharge your phone, pay bills, and send money to friends. It also works with UPI payments and is popular for online shopping.

    Freecharge gives good cashback offers and discounts, which users like. It lets you split bills, so sharing expenses with friends or family is simple. Many stores accept Freecharge for payments both online and in shops.

    Airtel Money

    Mobile Wallet Airtel Money
    Founded 2012 (initial launch)
    Total Downloads 50M+ (on Google Play Store)
    Airtel Money - Mobile Wallet in India
    Airtel Money – Best Digital Wallets in India

    Airtel Payments Bank Wallet is a special service that mixes a mobile wallet with digital banking. You can pay bills, recharge your phone, or send money using UPI. It gives you more interest on your balance than regular savings accounts.

    The wallet works well with Airtel services and gives special discounts to Airtel users. You can also withdraw cash from ATMs without a card, using QR codes. It is safe and trusted for your digital banking needs.

    best mobile wallets in India
    Mobile Wallets’ Usage in India

    Advantages Of Mobile Wallets

    Mobile wallets got popular due to the advantages it offers. Here are listed some of the advantages of using mobile wallets in India

    1. One-Click Pay

    This is one of the most convenient ways to make payments since the user can pay via such wallets. The mobile wallet takes the information from your card (credit/debit) and makes payments directly or adds money to your wallet. This has offered easy accessibility to users.

    2. Multiple Features and Uses

    With easy accessibility, it can be used anytime, anywhere. These mobile wallets can be used in a jiffy, it’s just that you need a proper internet connection for your device. Also, your single mobile wallet account can be accessed on any of your devices like laptops, PC, or smartphones with authenticated verification.

    3. Robust Security Features

    Mobile wallets have tried hard to provide extensive safety and security. Almost more than half of the population has shifted from leather wallets to e-wallets for the protection of their money. Mobile wallets have also reduced the chance of daily theft or losing cash.

    4. Several Benefits

    They come up with several other benefits like loyalty programs, cashback, rewards, shopping benefits, and many more so that their customers stay happy. Simultaneously, users can also save money through heavy discounts and offers.

    best mobile wallets in India
    How funds in a Mobile Wallet are spent in India

    Mobile Wallet vs Digital Wallet

    Mobile Wallet Digital Wallet
    Definition Mobile wallets are payment apps housed on mobile devices, like smartphones and wearables. Consumers using digital wallets, may or may not interact with them on their smartphones.
    Uses Consumers mostly use a mobile wallet for in-person transactions. Consumers mostly use a digital wallet for online shopping or purchases.
    Examples Some of the most popular mobile wallets are Apple pay, Samsung pay, etc. Some of the most popular digital wallets are Paytm, Paypal, etc.

    Limitations Of Mobile Wallets In India

    Besides the advantages Mobile wallets in India offer in the payment service industry, it has some limitations which are listed below.

    • A limit is set on the amount that you can deposit in your mobile wallet. For instance, Paytm allows the amount of ₹20,000 in its wallet.
    • The number of merchants listed or having a tie-up with these wallets is limited. In that case, you would always need to carry some cash in urgency.
    • Sometimes, Infrastructure issues stand for a lot of lost transactions or common ‘server down’ problems.
    • Few times, some fraud calls can also cause a possibility of a mobile theft where your personal information is compromised.
    • One of the major concerns is that a person needs a smartphone to make online transactions possible and that too, with good internet connectivity. This alone has stood a major limit to many poor families, who still carry cash in their pockets.

    More than 40% of respondents used a smartphone in India.

    While these large numbers and large user bases indicate the growing need for secure, faster, and efficient transaction methods for the online marketplace. Regardless of what we’ve seen and read, top e-wallets in India have outweighed its concerns. The use of e-wallets has constantly increased due to obvious reasons and its surprising offers. Mobile wallets continue to gain prominence in smartphones and laptops across the globe and have dominated the discussions of new ways to pay.


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    FAQs

    What is a digital wallet and how does it work?

    A digital wallet sometimes called an e-wallet, is a service that allows you to pay for things, usually through a mobile phone app. It also stores a number of other items a traditional wallet would hold, such as a driver’s license, gift cards, tickets for entertainment events, and transportation passes.

    What is a digital wallet used for?

    A digital wallet (or e-wallet) is a software-based system that securely stores users’ payment information and passwords for numerous payment methods and websites. By using a digital wallet, users can complete purchases easily and quickly with near-field communications technology.

    Which is better PhonePe or Google pay or Paytm?

    Experts suggest that all three digital transaction apps, more or less, are equally secure. While Google’s brand image definitely does some good to Google Pay. Paytm, and PhonePe continue to be easy picks for others due to their many features.

    How to get PhonePe cashback?

    Steps to get PhonePe cashback:

    • Download PhonePe App.
    • Do the needful for PhonePe Login / Signup.
    • Set Your Virtual Payment Address (VPA)
    • Click On Bank Accounts From Menu &Link Your Bank Account.
    • Recharge Your Mobile.

    Which Mobile wallet has highest market share in India?

    Paytm has the largest market share in India followed by PhonePe and GooglePay.

    What is the difference between Paytm vs PhonePe?

    Paytm Allows transactions across multiple modes like wallets, UPI, and payment gateway. PhonePe has started its wallet service but it is widely used for its UPI-based transaction which doesn’t charge you for any transaction.

    Which wallet app is best in India or write a few Mobile wallet examples?

    The best mobile wallets in India are:

    • Paytm
    • Google Pay
    • BHIM Axis Pay
    • PhonePe
    • Mobikwik
    • Yono (SBI)
    • Citi MasterPass
    • ICICI Pockets
    • HDFC PayZapp
    • Amazon Pay
  • MobiKwik Co-Founder Upasana Taku Success Story: India’s First Female Fintech Leader

    With the rise of technology, it was just a matter of time before people shifted to online transactions. While this mode of payment became popular, many companies introduced the idea of e-wallets. One company that stands out in this space is MobiKwik. It is an Indian fintech unicorn that has made digital payments simpler and more accessible for users.

    Behind the success of MobiKwik is a determined leader, Upasana Taku. The company was founded in 2009 by Upasana Taku and Bipin Preet Singh. Taku has played an important role in building the company and taking it to greater heights. Under their leadership, MobiKwik became a prominent player in the fintech industry. In December 2024, the company went public with its IPO opening for public subscription.

    In this article, learn more about MobiKwik’s co-founder Upasana Taku, her education, her career, the challenges faced, and more.

    Upasana Taku – Biography

    Name Upasana Taku
    Birthplace Gandhinagar, Gujarat
    Born 1980
    Nationality Indian
    Education B.Tech in Industrial Engineering (NIT Jalandhar), MS (Stanford University)
    Profession Entrepreneur
    Position Co-Founder, Executive Director & CFO of MobiKwik, Co-Founder of Zaakpay
    Spouse Bipin Preet Singh
    Company One Mobikwik Systems Ltd (MobiKwik)

    Upasana Taku – Early Life and Education
    Upasana Taku – Career
    Upasana Taku – MobiKwik
    Upasana Taku – Coming Out of The Comfort Zone
    Upasana Taku – The Journey of MobiKwik’s Growth and Milestones
    Upasana Taku – Challenges Faced
    Upasana Taku – Success Mantra
    Upasana Taku – Awards & Recognition

    Upasana Taku – Early Life and Education

    Upasana Taku was born into a Kashmiri family in Gandhinagar and grew up in a family of academicians. She completed her schooling in Surat and went on to pursue engineering at the prestigious Dr B.R. Ambedkar National Institute of Technology, Jalandhar. Taku holds a B.Tech degree in Industrial Engineering from that institute. She did her MS in Management Science and Engineering from Stanford University, USA.

    Upasana Taku – Career

    After completing her Master’s, Upasana Taku’s career began in 2004 at HSBC Auto Finance in San Diego. She worked as a Business analyst in product management, where she was successful in many areas, like marketing and outreach, forecasting, and market research. She then joined PayPal in 2006. There, she worked as a Senior Product Manager. During her tenure at PayPal, she learned about payment systems in the Americas, Europe, and Asia. Apart from that, she also gained knowledge about risk detection and fraud management, user experience, and design at PayPal.

    All these experiences laid a solid foundation for the founding of MobiKwik in 2009. In 2012, Upasana Taku launched Zaakpay, a payment service by MobiKwik. It offers mobile and online payment solutions to eCommerce companies in India, staying true to the values of its parent company.

    Currently, Upasana Taku serves as the Co-founder, Executive Director, and CFO of MobiKwik, where she continues to work on the company’s financial strategies and growth.


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    Upasana Taku – Coming Out of The Comfort Zone

    Bipin Preet Singh and Upasana Taku - MobiKwiki Co-Founders | Upasana Taku MobiKwik
    Bipin Preet Singh and Upasana Taku – MobiKwiki Co-Founders

    In 2008, although she had a comfortable life with her corporate job, she realized that she no longer wanted to be a corporate drone. According to her, work was becoming too easy, even though she worked on some high-impact projects and accumulated millions of dollars. But she wanted to come back to India and contribute to the Indian startup ecosystem. Well, this was the turning point of Taku’s career!

    Her family didn’t support her decision to return to India, as they saw it as a big risk. At PayPal, she had a successful career, and she enjoyed a comfortable life. Despite all this, she was back in India in 2008.

    While she was figuring out her next steps, she worked with Drishtee, a rural microfinance NGO, in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, helping to empower local communities while gaining a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities in rural India.

    In the subcontinent, she met a lot of people and extracted ideas about the buzzing sectors and unsolved gaps in the business and startup ecosystem. According to her, a wallet like PayPal was not popular in India. Therefore, users could never imagine a cashless world. Well, the example of India gave the idea to resolve this gap and work for the advancement of technology in the country.

    While working on her ideas and project, she happened to meet Bipin Preet Singh in India through a common friend. Together, they started their fintech venture with a shared vision of disrupting the payments industry in India.

    “It was a time when our parents would go to a nearby shop to recharge phones and that is when the idea of a mobile wallet business struck us which could pave a way to make consumer payments simpler. Fast forward to now, India is at the cusp of a digital revolution and the payments industry is witnessing a disruption like never before. We kind of saw this coming almost a decade ago,” said Taku in an interview.


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    Upasana Taku – MobiKwik

    Upasana Taku MobiKwik | MobiKwik Owner
    Upasana Taku MobiKwik

    Upasana Taku co-founded MobiKwik in 2009 with Bipin Preet Singh, who serves as the CEO and is also her husband. MobiKwik is one of India’s leading mobile wallets and financial services platforms. The app allows users to make payments like mobile recharges, bill payments, and bank transfers. It also offers services like instant digital loans, investment options in digital gold, mutual funds, fixed deposits, and credit card bill settlements.

    A key feature of MobiKwik is Pocket UPI. This allows users to make UPI payments without linking their bank accounts. Under Upasana’s leadership, MobiKwik has expanded its services, making it one of the most trusted and widely used platforms in India.

    Upasana Taku – The Journey of MobiKwik’s Growth and Milestones

    Upasana Taku’s Mobikwik is very simple and need-based. Initially, they launched the company as a recharge platform, and soon, within a few years, it became the face of mobile wallets in the country. At a time when people were dependent on physical cash for a trivial amount like INR 10, Taku revolutionized the sector by bringing the concept of a physical wallet onto the big stage. Presently, a millennial or Gen Z cannot imagine going to a shop for small recharges; all he/she need is to use an app to cover all the recharges. Now, Mobikwik has grown exceptionally as a company. In 2010, the company hired its first employee, and it was somehow very difficult for the team to find someone with the same mindset to serve the community.

    In 2011, the team grew very slowly, with a team member count of six! They were dependent on the home-office sector. Even on their wedding day, Taku and Bipin Preet had to work for the company! Later in 2011, they rented their first office which had five rooms. Within a short period, they were growing at an exceptional pace and were a team of 35 people by June 2012. In September 2012, the team applied for RBI’s PPI license, and they received it in July 2013.

    This was a milestone for the team as it was a symbol of their growth. The first round of the company’s funding was $5 million, which enabled them to shift to a larger office in Udyog Vihar, Gurugram, with 50 employees. The second round of funding came in 2015, they were able to draw funding of $25 million from Sequoia Capital, American Express, Tree Line Asia, and Cisco Investment.

    Under her leadership, MobiKwik achieved major milestones, becoming a unicorn startup in October 2021 and launching its IPO in December 2024.


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    Upasana Taku – Challenges Faced

    Upasana Taku’s journey has not been easy. When she was starting MobiKwik, she faced some tough challenges, especially because she was a woman in a male-dominated field. During investor meetings, she was often asked personal questions like why she wasn’t married by 30 or how many children she had. People even mistook her for her husband’s assistant instead of recognising her as a co-founder. New employees at the company would also question whether they should report to her or a male manager.

    Taku faced gender bias in the investor meetings as well. She shared that some financiers told her they preferred male founders. In response, she would confidently say that her male counterparts might not be able to answer their questions as well as she could. She made it clear that she would never work with such people.

    Despite these challenges, she remained focused, communicated clearly, and continued working towards the success of her company. Even when she was pregnant, she didn’t slow down. Upasana continued working and even attended a board meeting just a day before her cesarean surgery. Coming from a lower-middle-class background, she worked hard to earn a scholarship to study at Stanford University in the US. 

    While things are slowly getting better for women in business, Upasana acknowledges that there is still progress to be made. Her story is a great example of how, with hard work, determination, and courage, women can overcome any challenge.

    Upasana Taku – Success Mantra

    Taku’s mantra “Kick up a storm or die trying” has helped her to stay focused in difficult times. According to her, Tenacity is the key. Hence, her hard work and desire to serve the startup community have made her an inspirational figure for many aspiring entrepreneurs.


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    Upasana Taku – Awards & Recognition

    Upasana Taku - Awards and Recognitions | First Woman to Lead a Payments Company in India
    Upasana Taku – Awards and Recognitions | First Woman to Lead a Payments Company in India
    • Forbes “Asia’s Women to Watch (2016)”
    • Best Woman Entrepreneur Award 2017 by Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM)
    • In 2018, she received an award from the President of India for being the First Woman to lead a Payment Gateway Startup in India.
    • Forbes Asia’s Power 25 Businesswomen (2019)
    • In 2024, she was honoured with the ‘Unstoppable Icon’ award and recognised as India’s Leading Tech Founder & one of the Top 15 Richest Self-made Women in India.
    • In April 2025, Taku was recognized in Fortune India’s “100 Most Powerful Women in Business 2025” list, celebrating her impactful leadership and achievements in fintech.
    • Taku has been appointed as the Vice-President of the Executive Committee at the Unified Fintech Forum (formerly DLAI).

    How MobiKwik Outsmarted Bigger Rivals: The Psychology Behind MobiKwik’s Marketing Success
    In the high-stakes world of digital payments, where Paytm, PhonePe, and Google Pay battle fiercely for the top spot, MobiKwik has set its benchmark. It was founded in 2009 by Bipin Preet Singh and Upasana Taku. MobiKwik began with a simple mission: to build a digital wallet that made storing


    FAQs

    Who is Upasana Taku?

    Upasana Taku is the co-founder and CFO of Mobikwik, India’s leading mobile wallets and financial services company.

    What is Upasana Taku age?

    Upasana Taku was born in 1980 into a Kashmiri family in Gandhinagar and grew up in a family of academicians.

    What is Upasana Taku education?

    Upasana Taku’s education includes a B.Tech in Industrial Engineering from NIT Jalandhar and an MS from Stanford University.

    What is Upasana Taku net worth?

    While the exact net worth of Upasana Taku is not publicly available, in 2024, she was recognised as India’s Leading Tech Founder and one of the Top 15 Richest Self-made Women in India by CNBC-TV18.

    What is Upasana Taku’s MobiKwik net worth?

    As of May 12, 2025, MobiKwik’s market capitalisation stands at approximately INR 1,925 crore (around $232 million), based on its current share price of INR 247.80. This reflects a significant decline from its peak valuation of INR 4,102 crore (approximately $494 million) during its IPO debut in December 2024.

    Who is Zaakpay founder?

    Zaakpay, co-founded by Upasana Taku and Bipin Preet Singh (also MobiKwik co-founders), is a payment gateway service provided by MobiKwik. It focuses on fast, innovative digital payment solutions, tackling challenges in payments, reconciliations, and user experience. Recently, Zaakpay received RBI approval to operate as an online payment aggregator, further enhancing its capabilities.

  • Mastercard to invest $100 million in Airtel Africa’s Mobile Money

    The global payments giant Mastercard has announced that it will invest $100 million in Airtel Africa’s mobile money business which runs under Airtel Mobile Commerce BV (AMC BV). Let’s look at the information regarding the deal and the future plans of the company.

    What is Airtel Mobile Commerce BV
    Recent Investments to Airtel Africa’s mobile money
    Future Plans of Mastercard in Africa
    FAQ

    What is Airtel Mobile Commerce BV

    Airtel Mobile Commerce BV is currently the company that undertakes and controls the major mobile money operations of Airtel Africa. The company also intends to operate and own all the mobile money business in 14 other countries of Africa which are operating under Airtel Africa.

    Airtel Mobile Commerce BV’s services are mainly focused on the unbanked market of the 14 countries of Airtel Africa. Their services include mobile wallet deposits, mobile wallet withdrawals, commercial payments, merchant payments, provision of loans, the opportunity for savings, benefit transfers, virtual credit cards, and international money transfers.

    Currently, the company has around 21 million users for its set of mobile payment services. The company had generated a revenue of $110 million in the recent quarter. They have an underlying EBITDA (Earnings before income, tax, depreciation, and amortization) of $54 million.

    Airtel Mobile Commerce BV operates one of the largest financial services in the continent. It has a valuation of around $2.65 billion.

    Number of customers of Bharti Airtel Limited
    Number of customers of Bharti Airtel Limited

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    Recent Investments to Airtel Africa’s mobile money

    Airtel Mobile Commerce BV received a recent investment of $200 million from TPG’s Rise Fund. The company will own a 7.55% stake in the Airtel Africa’s mobile money service company AMC BV.

    After closing the deal with TPG’s Rise Fund the company had plans to have a discussion on selling additional minority stakes of the company which will be around 25% of the issued share capital. They had plans to sell it to potential investors.

    Airtel Mobile Commerce BV had announced its most recent investor which is the global payments giant Mastercard. Mastercard has announced that it would invest an amount of $100 million in the company. The company will own a 3.775% stake in Airtel Africa’s mobile money business after the completion of the deal.

    The transaction of Mastercard is expected to close in two different portions. The first portion is expected to be closed at $75 million which will be finalized by the next 4 months and an amount of $50 million to be invested in the second phase.

    In addition to the investments, they received from TPG’s Rise Fund and the global payments giant Mastercard, Airtel’s Africa is raising funds by selling off some assets. It is reported that recently the company has sold around 1,400 telecommunication towers to Helios in Madagascar and Malawi. The transaction is expected to be $119 million.

    Both the companies Airtel Africa and Helios to trade tower assets in Chad and Gabon. The details regarding this transaction are not yet disclosed.


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    Future Plans of Mastercard in Africa

    Airtel Africa and Mastercard are two individual firms that are stronger to one another. Both the companies had already got into a deal in 2019. The deal provided an opportunity for Airtel Africa’s 100 million subscribers to receive access to the global network of Mastercard.

    There 2019 partnership did not have any money exchange. In the most recent deal of Airtel Africa and Mastercard has extended their commercial agreements and have signed a new commercial structure that is focused on improving their partnership in different countries around the globe.

    They are planning to concentrate on areas such as issuing of cards, payment processing, payment gateway, merchant acceptance, remittance solutions, etc. amongst the other services provided by the companies.

    The CEO of Airtel Africa Raghunath Mandava said, that they were pleased to welcome Mastercard as an investor in their mobile money business. He also added that, this partnership is a continuation of their strategy to increase the minority shareholding of the company’s mobile money business. He said that they have a further intention of listing the business in the next four years.

    The CEO also added that they are working towards strengthening their existing relationship with Mastercard which will help them realize the full potential of their considerable opportunity. This is to improve their financial inclusion in all the countries they are currently operating.

    Airtel Mobile Commerce BV’s plan of selling the minority stake of the company to Ride Fund, Mastercard, and other potential investors is based on the telecom operator Airtel Africa’s belief to raise enough funds to monetize its mobile money business.

    FAQ

    What is Airtel Mastercard?

    The Mastercard virtual card allows Airtel Money customers, to make payments to local and global online merchants that accept Mastercard cards.

    Is Airtel Money wallet safe?

    Airtel Money Wallet is an RBI approved payments wallet.

    Where is the headquarters of Airtel?

    The headquarters of Airtel is located in New Delhi, India.

    Conclusion

    The company’s efforts are to work towards the pursuit of investment opportunities, asset monetization, and ultimately reduction of debt in the company.