Credit Wise Capital raises ₹200 crore—yes, you read that right—in a decisive, first-ever institutional funding round that puts this Mumbai-based NBFC on a fast lane toward the future. Leading the charge is Trident Growth Partners, which came in strong with ₹120 crore, clearly betting big on India’s underserved financial terrain.
This isn’t just another capital injection. It’s a loud statement. Founded in 2018 by Aalesh Avlani and Gurpreet Singh Sodhi, Credit Wise Capital has emerged as a significant player in two-wheeler and MSME lending. From dusty tier IV towns to growing tier II hubs, they’ve built a real presence—215 cities and counting. Over 2,00,000 two-wheelers financed? That’s not a stat; that’s a movement.
As of March 2025, their AUM reached ₹645 crore, up from ₹489 crore the previous year—a 32% increase. Their hybrid “phygital” approach (yes, physical plus digital) isn’t just catchy, it’s effective. With a strong capital adequacy ratio of 31.2% and gearing of 2.3x, Credit Wise isn’t stumbling forward. They’re marching, deliberately.
This report dives into how they’ve managed that, why this funding matters, and what this means for India’s financial landscape. More than numbers, this is about the grit, growth, and game-changing vision behind a startup rewriting Bharat’s credit narrative.
1. Credit Wise Capital Raises ₹200 Crore: A Strategic Move
1.1 A Transformational Fundraise
In July 2025, Credit Wise Capital threw down the gauntlet: ₹200 crore raised in their first-ever institutional funding round. Trident Growth Partners led the push with a massive ₹120 crore investment. It’s not just money—it’s validation. This round marks a bold pivot in their growth story, aimed squarely at deepening financial access in India’s non-metro markets.
1.2 Utilization of Funds
Where’s all this money headed? Straight into the engine room:
- Aiming to triple AUM in three years
- Broadening secured lending offerings
- Reinventing their proprietary SaaS lending infrastructure
This isn’t a spray-and-pray strategy. It’s a laser-focused mission to bring affordable credit to where it’s long been denied.
2. How Credit Wise Capital Operates
2.1 Business Model and Services
What do they do? Two main things:
- Finance for two-wheelers
- Loans against property (LAP)
And here’s the twist—they also rent out their homegrown SaaS platform to other NBFCs. Think of it as arming the competition, but getting paid for it.
Operating through a “phygital” setup—offline presence in 215 cities meets smart digital underwriting—Credit Wise Capital manages to reach the India that banks often overlook. It’s not about urban gloss; it’s about rural grit.
2.2 Revenue Model
So how do they make money?
- Interest on loans (classic NBFC stuff)
- Licensing fees from their tech platform
- Charges for processing and documentation
What sets them apart? Their lean, hybrid model doesn’t just scale, it sustains—low defaults, and high satisfaction.
3. Founders Behind the Vision
3.1 Aalesh Avlani
Meet the tech whisperer. Aalesh Avlani blends finance with tech instinctively. He doesn’t just want to make credit easier—he wants it human. Simple. Fast. Relatable.
3.2 Gurpreet Singh Sodhi
Gurpreet is the guy on the ground, the realist. He’s the strategist who ensures all that digital idealism translates in the real world—across small-town India.
Together, they’re not building a company. They’re trying to restructure India’s broken credit ladder, one step at a time.
4. The Growth Journey So Far
4.1 Early Days to Expansion
They launched in 2018 with modest ambitions. But ambition, when backed by intent, rarely stays modest. Adopting their phygital model wasn’t a gimmick—it was a survival strategy. And it paid off.
4.2 Scale and Reach
Here’s what five years of hustle looks like:
- ₹645 crore in AUM (vs ₹489 crore last year)
- Over 2,00,000 two-wheelers financed
- Operations across 10 states and 215 cities
Their financial discipline isn’t fluff either. With a 31.2% capital adequacy ratio, they’re staying robust as they scale.
5. Industry Context and Market Trends
5.1 Growth of Two-Wheeler Financing
Two-wheelers in India aren’t luxury—they’re livelihood. Especially outside metros, bikes mean jobs, schools, and daily survival. With credit still elusive for millions, financing these vehicles is more than business—it’s socio-economic empowerment.
5.2 MSME Credit Landscape
MSMEs account for nearly a third of India’s GDP. Yet, getting formal credit is like pulling teeth. This is where NBFCs step up. They don’t just lend—they listen, understand, and enable.
5.3 Phygital Lending: The Future
The future isn’t digital-only. It’s phygital—where real-world trust meets algorithmic speed. Credit Wise Capital didn’t invent this hybrid—but they’re acing it.
6. Competitive Landscape
6.1 Direct Competitors
Muthoot Finance, Shriram Transport Finance, and Hero FinCorp are in the same playground. But none combine boots-on-ground with platform-as-a-service quite like CWC.
6.2 Indirect Competitors
Apps like Paytm Postpaid, Bajaj Finserv, and MoneyTap chase similar consumers digitally. But CWC’s half-digital, half-human approach gives them the edge where trust is still earned face-to-face.
7. Role of Trident Growth Partners
7.1 Strategic Investment Philosophy
Trident doesn’t scatter money. They aim it. Their ₹1,000 crore debut fund focuses on founder-led disruptors that fix structural gaps in India. Credit Wise fit that bill perfectly.
7.2 Value Beyond Capital
It’s not just about the cheque. Trident brings:
- Strategic mentorship
- Governance muscle
- Access to founders, advisors, and ecosystem insiders
They’re in this to shape—not just support—the next phase of Credit Wise’s journey.
8. A Milestone for the Indian Startup Ecosystem
8.1 Symbol of Financial Innovation
This fundraiser isn’t just another big number. It’s proof that doing good and doing well aren’t mutually exclusive. CWC is putting Bharat on the balance sheet.
8.2 The Rise of Bharat-Focused Startups
India’s startup scene is finally waking up to its real audience—tier II-IV towns. Whether it’s mobility, credit, or healthcare, Bharat-first isn’t a buzzword anymore. It’s the battleground.
Learning for Startups and Entrepreneurs
- Don’t chase shiny tech. Solve hard, rooted problems.
- Metros are saturated. Bharat is just getting started.
- Marry digital scale with physical trust.
- Your investor isn’t just a wallet. Pick a partner.
- Build slow, build strong. Unit economics matters more than pitch decks.
About Foundlanes
At foundlanes.com, we aren’t chasing headlines—we’re chasing substance. “Credit Wise Capital raises ₹200 crore” isn’t just funding chatter. It’s a case study of how grit, tech, and empathy can change the game.
As more startups emerge from India’s heartland, we’ll be there—documenting, analysing, and amplifying the stories that matter. The future isn’t built in boardrooms alone. It’s shaped on the streets, in tier IV towns, and inside founders who dare.
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