Raising a toast to the inaugural ‘FinTech Happy Hour’

By Puja Sharma

Mumbai, 16 October 2023–Cedar-IBSi Fintech Lab and Cedar Capital recently hosted their inaugural FinTech Happy Hour in Mumbai on Oct 6, 2023. Powered by Cedar Management Consulting and IBS Intelligence, the networking event was attended by more than 70 industry leaders. These included FinTech & BankTech Founders, VC & PE Investors, CXO Executives at BFSI institutions and Cedar-IBSi FinTech Lab Members.

In a world where technology is reshaping finance at warp speed, this event was the bridge we’ve all been waiting for, bringing together the best of FinTech minds. This event is now a game-changer for the entire FinTech ecosystem.

Speaking about the event, Founder & Managing Partner of Cedar Capital (Owned in India by SEBI-registered trust, Cedar-IBSi Capital. Registration No. IN/AIF2/22-23/1185), Sahil Anand, said, “This event marks a significant milestone for our Fintech fund, representing the first of many to come. Our main goal is to create a platform for Fintech founders to connect and collaborate with one another. What sets us apart as a venture capital fund is the strength of our community, made possible through the Cedar-IBSi platform.

We bring years of experience from our consulting division, Cedar, and our research arm, IBS Intelligence. Our in-house lab has been supporting Fintech firms all along, but what was missing was the ability to invest in emerging companies.”

The FinTech Happy Hour was also a soft-launch event for Cedar Capital, Cedar-IBSi’s FinTech venture capital. Talking about his vision for Cedar Capital, Sahil shared, “As a $30 million fund, our primary mission is to invest in early-stage B2B Fintech companies, with a special emphasis on those dedicated to solving the challenges within the banking industry. The enthusiasm we feel for the burgeoning growth of this community is palpable, and we are eagerly looking forward to witnessing its continued expansion.”

Exchange of Ideas, Networking, and Everything In Between

There was more to the Fintech Happy Hour than just a few drinks. It was also about fostering connections and making deals. With an atmosphere abuzz with intellect and entrepreneurial zeal, each conversation was a goldmine of knowledge leading to at least 10 new collaborations during the course of the event.

Dharmarajan Sankara Subrahmanian, Founder & CEO, ImpactSure Technologies said, “It’s truly been a fantastic event – a wonderful opportunity to connect with fellow members of the Fintech community. In this age where technology is no longer just an enabler but an integral part of our business, we’re thrilled to be part of this movement. Events like these, which bring our community together, foster active engagement and promote the invaluable exchange of knowledge and expertise. This collective experience not only invigorates Fintechs but also propels the entire industry forward.”

So, what’s next…

The call to action is clear: it’s a movement. A movement that beckons all industry experts to join in the chorus of innovation, collaborations, and transformation. The overwhelming response to this inaugural Fintech Happy Hour is encouraging enough to plan many such events in various formats across cities.

The Cedar-IBSi global group has come a long way, from management consulting to financial advisory and research, to establishing an incubation and acceleration platform, and now, an opportunity to raise capital – creating a powerful Fintech ecosystem. The Happy Hour is indeed poised to be a glorious prelude to the future of finance.