Stride Ventures Leads INR 10 Cr Debt Round In Sequoia-backed Progcap The startup will utilize these funds to increase its AUM and further consolidate its presence amongst retailers across the country

By Debarghya Sil

You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media.

Stride Ventures
Ishpreet Singh, founder and managing director of Stride Ventures

Venture debt firm, Stride Ventures, on Tuesday announced that it has led a debt round of INR 10 crore in Progcap, a financing technology firm.

This investment marks Stride Ventures' fourteenth investment from its maiden fund and second investment in the fintech space.

Founded in 2017 by Pallavi Shrivastava and Himanshu Chandra, Progcap claims to have scaled up over 5X post COVID with best-in-class asset quality. The company has over 2 lakh retailers on its platform and has partnered with some of the largest brands in the country.

The startup provides access to fast and flexible collateral-free working capital to retailers in Tier-II, III, and IV areas, where retailers typically face challenges in accessing capital for their businesses.

The startup will utilize these funds to increase its AUM and further consolidate its presence amongst retailers across the country. The startup will also look to strengthen its ties with banks and corporates by leveraging Stride's network.

Pallavi and Himanshu, Co-Founders, Progcap, said, "We are excited to partner with Stride Ventures as we continue to scale the business. While Progcap is well capitalized, it is Stride team's deep expertise in the banking ecosystem that we are looking forward to tap into to help accelerate our growth. We have just crossed $100 Million in disbursals and expect to reach US$1B GMV by March "22."

On the funding, Ishpreet Gandhi, Founder and Managing Partner, Stride Ventures, said "India has a complex supply chain. However, the solutions for small dealers and retailers are limited. Accessibility to credit will enable them to be at the forefront of India's consumption story and Progcap is well positioned to drive this change. We are witnessing strong momentum in FinTech and acknowledge the size of the opportunity in India. Given our banking vintage and relationships across banks and corporates, we are excited to partner with Progcap in their journey."

Debarghya Sil

Entrepreneur Staff

Former Correspondent

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

Starting a Business

Stop Searching for Your Purpose — It's Delaying Your Success. Here's What to Focus on Instead.

Many entrepreneurs wait to "find" their purpose before acting — but purpose isn't found; it's built.

News and Trends

The Ceiling Breaker: Nandini Piramal, Chairperson, Piramal Pharma Limited (PPL)

Her goals are to make Piramal Pharma a $2 billion company by 2030 while achieving a 25 per cent EBITDA margin—an aim that requires a strong focus on innovation, operational excellence, and financial discipline

Business News

Uber Released Its Annual List of Things People Leave in Backseats — and It Is Wild

The rideshare giant's annual list of items that passengers left in cars will make you shake your head — and double-check the seat before you get out.

Marketing

5 Ways ChatGPT Will Impact Digital Marketing

ChatGPT is creating ripples across the digital landscape right now. Here are five ways it can benefit your ads, campaigns and marketing strategies.

Growing a Business

How I Replaced a $2,000-a-Month SEO Agency and Built My Own Growth System as a Solo Founder

15 proven tactics I used to grow my startup's visibility and backlinks — without writing a single cold email.