Bengaluru, September 2, 2025 – Zeny, a fintech platform founded by Oxford University alumni and Skoll Scholars Nikhil Nair and Nikhil Saigal, has achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first startup to launch daily Mutual Fund SIPs on the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC). The innovative app specifically targets India’s vast informal workforce with accessible, sachet-sized investment opportunities.
Democratizing Mutual Fund Access
Zeny’s platform enables gig workers, drivers, plumbers, cooks, electricians, mechanics, and other informal sector employees to invest as little as ₹100 daily into Aditya Birla Sun Life’s low-risk liquid mutual funds. The service offers returns of 6-7% annually while maintaining the flexibility of daily deposits and withdrawals without lock-in periods.
The app leverages “digital sachet savings” through UPI auto-pay functionality, making investment as simple as depositing money into a digital piggy bank. This approach is designed to build sustainable financial habits among first-time investors in the informal economy.
Addressing Market Gap
Despite mutual fund Assets Under Management (AUM) growing at a 20% CAGR over the past decade, penetration among informal workers remains below 2%. Zeny aims to bridge this significant gap by extending financial services beyond traditional urban affluent segments.
Nikhil Nair, Co-founder & CEO of Zeny, explained the company’s mission:
“We want to change the investment landscape by enabling access to mutual funds beyond urban affluent segments. For first-time investors from the informal workforce, a low-volatility liquid fund acts as a safe entry point. Our service offers Fixed Deposit-style returns with complete flexibility – users can deposit and withdraw money daily without restrictions. Through this service, we’re building infrastructure for true financial inclusion, where small amounts can unlock significant opportunities using ONDC’s network.”
Leadership Experience
The founding team brings 30 years of combined experience in fintech, mobility, and product development specifically focused on informal worker solutions, positioning them uniquely to understand and serve this underserved market segment.
Future Innovation Roadmap
Zeny plans to integrate advanced AI capabilities including:
- Voice-enabled financial education and app navigation
- Personalized money management insights
- Innovative credit scoring using alternative data sources
- Enhanced financial access and inclusion tools
ONDC Partnership Impact
Vibhor Jain, Acting CEO & COO at ONDC, emphasized the strategic importance of the partnership:
“ONDC was built to democratize access, ensuring every Indian can participate in the formal economy regardless of income, geography, or digital literacy. Zeny’s sachet-sized mutual fund savings exemplify this mission by transforming everyday micro-savings into pathways for financial security. The network’s openness and interoperability enable innovative products like these, expanding possibilities and unlocking new financial inclusion pathways.”
About Zeny
Company Overview:
- Location: Bengaluru-based fintech startup
- Mission: Improve financial well-being of India’s 300 million informal, gig, and blue-collar workers
- Approach: Sachet-sized financial products designed for accessibility
- First Product: Daily savings app enabling SEBI-regulated liquid mutual fund investments starting at ₹100
Website: zeny.co.in
About ONDC
The Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) was incorporated on December 30, 2021, as a Section 8 company under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India.
ONDC Mission:
- Create transformative digital infrastructure for open, unbundled, and interoperable commerce networks
- Foster inclusive and collaborative digital ecosystems
- Enable democratized access to digital commerce across India
ONDC operates not as an application or platform, but as a comprehensive set of specifications designed to enable innovative digital commerce solutions.
Website: ondc.org
