Where AI Meets Human Connection

Driving Change in FinTech Through Inclusivity: A Conversation with Ninika Nanda

In the latest episode of FinTech's DEI Discussions, hosted by Nadia, the spotlight is on Ninika Nanda, Founder & Chief Product Officer at Invest Connect Marketplace. In this insightful discussion, Ninika shares her experiences, challenges, and vision for transforming the FinTech landscape by building a more inclusive ecosystem. As the founder of Invest Connect Marketplace, Ninika is not only addressing the significant gaps that exist in the startup world but also working towards ensuring that inclusivity and innovation go hand-in-hand in the financial technology sector. This episode explores her journey, the lessons she’s learned along the way, and how her platform is fostering meaningful change in FinTech.

The Birth of Invest Connect Marketplace

Ninika Nanda’s career in FinTech spans more than two decades, during which she has gained experience in various roles, from product development to strategy and growth. Throughout her extensive career, Ninika noticed a troubling pattern: many innovative ideas failed to gain traction, not because of the quality of the ideas themselves but because of a lack of access to the right support, mentorship, and funding. The gaps in the ecosystem were especially pronounced in emerging tech, such as AI, cloud computing, and machine learning. These observations led her to found Invest Connect Marketplace.

Invest Connect Marketplace, Ninika explains, is more than just a platform to connect investors with startups. It is an inclusive, holistic ecosystem that facilitates connections not only between investors and innovators but also between business service providers and experts. The marketplace seeks to bring together all the elements needed to support early-stage startups: funding, mentorship, and business services. Ninika’s goal was to create a platform where emerging technologies and new ideas could thrive, supported by the right resources and a network of experienced professionals.

Her decision to create Invest Connect Marketplace was born from a clear vision: to tackle the disconnect between the people who have innovative ideas and those who have the resources to help make those ideas a reality. The platform leverages emerging technologies, particularly AI, to match investors with the right startups and business service providers. It’s about more than just matching ideas with money; it’s about building a community that supports innovation from all sides.

The Importance of Connecting Stakeholders in the Innovation Ecosystem

One of the central tenets of Invest Connect Marketplace is its focus on creating meaningful connections within the innovation ecosystem. Ninika’s research revealed a significant problem: many investors were struggling to find projects they were confident in funding. This wasn’t because there was a lack of potential in the market, but rather because many startups lacked the right support to turn their ideas into businesses that were ready for investment. Conversely, many startups were failing within their first five years due to a lack of access to funding, mentorship, and business services. This disconnect between investors, innovators, and service providers was the key problem Ninika set out to solve.

Invest Connect Marketplace aims to address this issue by providing a platform that connects all these different stakeholders in a meaningful and productive way. In Ninika’s view, the real challenge lies in creating an ecosystem where each player—investors, startups, and service providers—can collaborate and add value to one another. She believes that a lack of collaboration between these groups is a major barrier to startup success. By creating a space where these players can come together and interact, Ninika aims to break down these barriers and allow innovation to flourish.

The platform uses AI to facilitate these connections, ensuring that investors can find the right startups to back, and that startups can easily find the expertise and resources they need. For Ninika, the ultimate goal is to create a truly interconnected ecosystem that supports the growth of startups, not just through funding, but through mentorship, business services, and guidance from experienced professionals.

Inclusivity: The Core Value of Invest Connect Marketplace

At the heart of Invest Connect Marketplace is the value of inclusivity. Ninika is deeply passionate about creating opportunities for underrepresented groups, particularly female founders, in the tech and innovation space. As a female entrepreneur herself, Ninika has encountered many challenges breaking into the tech industry and has seen firsthand the barriers that women and other underrepresented groups face. This personal experience has fuelled her commitment to ensuring that Invest Connect Marketplace is an inclusive platform that gives everyone equal access to the resources they need to succeed.

Inclusivity, for Ninika, goes beyond gender equality. While she is particularly focused on empowering female founders, she is equally passionate about creating a platform that welcomes innovators from all backgrounds, regardless of their gender, race, or socio-economic status. Her mission is to create an environment where diverse voices are heard, and where all entrepreneurs, regardless of their background, have access to the funding, mentorship, and support they need to bring their ideas to life.

One of Ninika’s key goals is to support a minimum of 100 innovations by 2025, with at least 51% of those innovations being led by female founders. This goal isn’t just about statistics; it’s about changing the way the industry views female entrepreneurs and ensuring that women have equal access to the same resources as their male counterparts. In Ninika’s view, the success of FinTech depends on the inclusion of diverse voices and perspectives. Without this inclusivity, the industry risks missing out on game-changing innovations that could transform the sector.

Lessons Learned and Advice for Other FinTech Founders

Throughout the podcast, Ninika shares valuable insights and lessons she has learned throughout her entrepreneurial journey. One of the most important lessons she learned was the importance of starting early. Ninika acknowledges that many founders wait until they have a perfect product before launching their business, but she believes this can be a mistake. Instead, she advises entrepreneurs to start as soon as they have a clear vision and to be open to feedback. Ninika herself entered the market without a fully developed product, but she was driven by her belief that there was a market gap that needed to be filled.

She believes that starting early allows founders to learn quickly, adapt to changing market conditions, and refine their ideas over time. For Ninika, waiting for perfection can be a hindrance to progress. The sooner a founder can get their idea into the market, the sooner they can start receiving valuable feedback and making improvements. Her advice is to embrace uncertainty and focus on building a community of supporters and mentors who can help refine the product and business model.

Ninika also stresses the importance of building an inclusive team. She believes that diversity within a team is essential for fostering creativity and ensuring that different perspectives are considered when solving problems. By building a diverse and inclusive team, founders can tap into a wealth of ideas and experiences that can lead to more innovative solutions. Ninika encourages other founders to seek out mentors and advisors from diverse backgrounds and to remain open to learning from others, even when their ideas may seem unconventional.

How Inclusivity Can Transform the FinTech Industry

For Ninika, inclusivity is not just a buzzword; it is a core principle that should underpin every aspect of the FinTech industry. She believes that by embracing inclusivity, the industry can unlock untapped potential and drive more innovative solutions. Inclusivity, however, doesn’t just mean giving underrepresented groups a seat at the table. It means actively seeking out diverse voices, supporting diverse founders, and creating an environment where everyone feels empowered to contribute.

Ninika argues that inclusivity can only be achieved when there is an active effort to break down the barriers that prevent underrepresented groups from entering the FinTech ecosystem. Investors, she says, need to expand their networks and actively seek out diverse founders who may not have the same access to capital or mentorship as others. Similarly, founders need to ensure that their teams are diverse and inclusive, drawing on a wide range of experiences and perspectives to solve problems and create new solutions.

For Ninika, inclusivity in FinTech is about accessibility. Many talented founders are excluded from the traditional funding ecosystem because they don’t have the right connections or background. Invest Connect Marketplace aims to change this by creating a space where all entrepreneurs, regardless of their background, can access the resources they need to succeed. By providing a platform that fosters inclusivity, Ninika hopes to level the playing field and ensure that everyone has an equal opportunity to succeed.

The Future of Invest Connect Marketplace and Its Impact on the FinTech Industry

Looking to the future, Ninika is excited about the potential impact of Invest Connect Marketplace on the FinTech industry. While the platform is still in its early stages, it has already seen significant success in connecting investors with founders and facilitating meaningful collaborations. In the coming years, Ninika plans to expand the platform’s reach, with a focus on increasing the number of diverse innovations supported by the platform.

Ninika’s vision for 2025 includes supporting 100 innovations, 51% of which will be led by female founders. She also aims to grow the platform’s network and expand its reach beyond the UK and India. Her goal is to eventually host global events that bring together innovators, investors, and business experts from all over the world. Through these efforts, she hopes to create a truly global ecosystem that supports the growth of diverse, innovative startups.

Key Takeaways from the Podcast

Ninika’s insights into building an inclusive ecosystem for startups are invaluable, particularly for those looking to navigate the challenges of the FinTech industry. Through Invest Connect Marketplace, she is creating a platform that connects investors with the right startups, provides mentorship, and offers essential business services to ensure that startups have the best chance of success. Her commitment to inclusivity, particularly towards female founders, is transforming the FinTech space, ensuring that diverse voices have equal access to the resources they need to succeed.

For anyone looking to make a difference in the FinTech industry, Ninika’s advice is clear: start early, build an inclusive team, and embrace feedback from diverse sources. By fostering inclusivity and breaking down the barriers that prevent diverse voices from being heard, we can unlock a wealth of untapped potential and drive innovation in the FinTech sector.

This episode of FinTech's DEI Discussions is a must-listen for anyone interested in the intersection of innovation, technology, and inclusivity in the FinTech industry. Tune in to hear how Invest Connect Marketplace is reshaping the startup ecosystem and driving meaningful change in the sector.