The Upasana Taku’s Story: Building Mobikwik

Upasana Taku's journey from an engineering student to a fintech pioneer exemplifies the power of vision and perseverance. After completing her engineering at NIT Jalandhar and earning a Master's in Management Science from Stanford University, she gained valuable experience at global giants HSBC and PayPal. However, her desire to contribute to India's growth brought her back home in 2008.

Upon returning to India, Upasana's work with NGOs revealed the challenges they faced in managing funds effectively. This experience, combined with meeting her future co-founder Bipin Preet Singh, led to the creation of Mobikwik in August 2009. The early days were marked by significant challenges, particularly in securing banking partnerships. It took nine months of persistent effort before they secured their first banking deal, a crucial breakthrough that set the stage for Mobikwik's future success.

Under Upasana's leadership, Mobikwik has grown into a leading fintech company with a turnover of INR 5.4 billion and a workforce of over 200 people. The company's innovative approach has earned recognition, including the AWS Mobility Award for the best mobile app in Financial Services. In 2012, she expanded the company's portfolio by launching Zaakpay, a digital payment gateway for e-commerce businesses. By 2021, Mobikwik achieved a valuation of $700 million.

As the first woman to lead a payments startup in India, Upasana has broken barriers and set new benchmarks in the industry. Her inclusion in Forbes Asia's Power Businesswomen list acknowledges her significant impact on the fintech landscape. Through Mobikwik, she has empowered millions of Indians with accessible digital payment solutions, contributing significantly to the country's digital transformation.

Upasana Taku's success story serves as an inspiration for aspiring entrepreneurs, particularly women, demonstrating that with determination and innovation, it's possible to create lasting change in India's economic landscape.