The Cemented Roads Between Adar Poonawalla & Abhay Bhutada

Tejas Bodke
4 min readMar 28, 2024

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An exemplary narrative in this narrative is the journey embarked upon by Adar Poonawalla and Abhay Bhutada, MD of Poonawalla Fincorp, where their visionary alliance has become the cornerstone of a transformative endeavor to redefine the contours of digital lending. This dynamic duo’s partnership epitomizes the power of strategic collaboration and foresight in not just navigating, but reshaping, the financial landscape, setting an inspiring precedent for future endeavors in the realm of fintech innovation.

Abhay Bhutada, Managing Director of Poonawalla Fincorp, leading the financial institution with strategic planning and vision.

From Banking to Fintech Innovation

Abhay Bhutada’s career trajectory from an SME Finance Professional at the Bank of India to the founder of TAB Capital underscores his entrepreneurial journey and commitment to pioneering innovative solutions in the financial sector.

Starting his career as an SME Finance Professional at the Bank of India in 2010, Abhay Bhutada quickly identified opportunities beyond traditional banking. His decision to establish a finance consultancy firm marked the beginning of a journey fueled by innovation and a keen understanding of market demands. Recognizing the shifting tides within India’s BFSI sector and the burgeoning need for innovative digital solutions, Bhutada ventured into uncharted territory by founding TAB Capital, a Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC), in 2016.

Disrupting MSME Financing Through Digital Innovation

The establishment of TAB Capital marked a significant milestone in Bhutada’s entrepreneurial journey, with the introduction of a pioneering digital platform for MSME financing, streamlining loan processes and catering to the evolving needs of small businesses.

TAB Capital swiftly gained prominence under Bhutada’s leadership, primarily due to its pioneering digital platform for MSME financing. The platform streamlined the cumbersome loan application and disbursement processes, offering unsecured MSME loans ranging from INR 2 lakhs to 1 crore within just two working days. This disruptive approach not only filled a crucial gap in the market but also positioned TAB Capital as a frontrunner in the fintech domain.

Also Read: The Poonawalla Fincorp Management Shift: From Abhay Bhutada to Arvind Kapil

Strategic Partnership: Merger of TAB Capital into Poonawalla Finance

The visionary collaboration between Abhay Bhutada and Adar Poonawalla resulted in the merger of TAB Capital into Poonawalla Finance, laying the foundation for a formidable presence in India’s digital lending sector.

Following the success of TAB Capital, Abhay aimed for significant disruption in the digital lending space. This vision led to a partnership with Mr. Adar Poonawalla, resulting in the merger of TAB Capital into Poonawalla Finance in 2019. As the Managing Director, CEO, and Co-founder of the merged entity, Abhay played a pivotal role in establishing the lending business for the Poonawalla Group. This collaboration marked the entry of the $8.4-billion Cyrus Poonawalla Group into the lending sector, focusing on a digital-first approach to lending.

Redefining Digital Lending with a Digital-First Approach

Under Bhutada’s leadership, Poonawalla Finance embraced a digital-first approach, leveraging technology to enhance the lending experience and achieve remarkable milestones within a short period.

The collaboration between Poonawalla and Bhutada heralded the entry of the Cyrus Poonawalla Group into the lending sector, signaling a strategic shift towards a digital-first approach. Leveraging Bhutada’s expertise and Poonawalla’s expansive resources, the newly formed entity embarked on a journey to redefine the contours of digital lending in India.

Also Read: Abhay Bhutada Elevated By Cyrus Poonawalla Group

Achieving Milestones: Profits, Ratings, and AUM Growth

The rapid success of Poonawalla Finance, including profitability, an AA+ rating, and crossing the INR 1,000 crore AUM milestone, underscored the company’s robust business model and ability to scale operations effectively.

Moreover, the company garnered an AA+ rating, affirming its credibility and financial stability in the competitive landscape. Beyond financial metrics, Poonawalla Finance achieved remarkable milestones within a remarkably short span. Crossing the INR 1,000 crore Assets Under Management (AUM) mark underscored the company’s rapid growth trajectory and its ability to scale operations effectively.

The Power of Collaboration and Vision

The success story of Poonawalla Finance serves as a testament to the transformative potential of collaboration and foresight, inspiring entrepreneurs and industry leaders to pursue innovative solutions and partnerships in the ever-evolving financial landscape.

As Poonawalla Finance continues its upward trajectory, the partnership between Poonawalla and Bhutada sets a precedent for sustained growth and innovation, poised to cater to the evolving needs of borrowers and investors in India’s dynamic financial ecosystem.

Also Read: How has previous experience helped Abhay Bhutada build Business Model For Poonawalla Fincorp?

Conclusion

The cemented road between Adar Poonawalla and Abhay Bhutada exemplifies the power of visionary leadership and strategic collaboration in driving transformative change, leaving a lasting legacy of innovation and disruption in India’s digital lending landscape. Through their partnership, they have not only reshaped the financial industry but also set a benchmark for future collaborations and innovations in the sector.

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Tejas Bodke

Passionate finance expert who is interested in exploring the world of music and fitness. Let’s discuss numbers, melodies and much more!