By Gurjodhpal Singh, CEO, Tide in India

“2025 marked a clear inflection point for India’s fintech ecosystem. Despite global volatility, capital continued to flow into credit-led, SME-focused and infrastructure fintechs. Investor confidence is increasingly aligned with models that address everyday business needs such as access to credit, simplified compliance and integrated financial tools that deepen financial inclusion for small businesses. The sector is moving from experimentation to disciplined, sustainable scale.

The rollout of GST 2.0 has accelerated formalisation, particularly for micro and small enterprises. Simpler and more automated compliance is empowering entrepreneurs with real-time financial visibility, smoother filings, and stronger credit readiness. When compliance, payments and banking come together on a single platform, small businesses are able to operate with greater confidence and control.

Looking ahead to 2026, the convergence of digital-first business banking, smarter compliance systems and inclusive financial rails will define the next phase of MSME growth, enabling entrepreneurs to formalise faster, scale sustainably and compete more effectively.”