Team Startupcity

• DPDzero raised $7 million led by GMO Venture Partners.
• Funds will build ethical field collection agent network starting in Bengaluru.
• The startup uses AI and human agents for debt collection, serving over 1 crore borrowers.

Bengaluru-based fintech startup DPDzero has raised $7 million in a funding round led by Japan-based GMO Venture Partners, a venture capital firm focused on fintech. The round also saw participation from SMBC Asia, Blume Ventures which increased their stake from the previous round and other investors. This latest infusion will enable DPDzero to scale its operations by building its own network of field collection agents.

Founded in 2022 by Ananth Shroff and Ranjith Ramchandra, DPDzero provides AI-driven debt collection solutions for fintech companies, banks, non-banking financial companies (NBFCs), and microfinance institutions (MFIs). Its client base includes prominent players such as RBL Bank, IndusInd Bank, L&T Finance, and Manappuram Finance.

Speaking to ET, founder Ananth Shroff highlighted the company’s plans, “With this new capital raise, we aim to build our own field agent network to introduce ethical collection practices. We want to manage end-to-end collections for banks and NBFCs across India”. The startup intends to launch field operations starting in Bengaluru and expand to other key lending states such as Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh over the next few years.

Also Read: How India's Startup Ecosystem Is Turning Hustlers into Industry Disruptors

DPDzero currently manages collections for unsecured borrowings and personal loans and is planning to extend its services to credit card lending. The company has already handled collections from over 1 crore borrowers and continues to work with approximately 18 lakh borrowers every month.

Prior to this round, DPDzero had raised $4.7 million from investors including Better Capital, Anmol Maini Ventures, and India Quotient, according to Tracxn data.

Ryu Muramatsu, founding partner of GMO Venture Partners, expressed confidence in the startup, stating, “Collections remain one of the most under-served areas in India’s maturing credit landscape. We are proud to support DPDzero as they reimagine debt collections for the country’s fintech ecosystem”.