SERV’D, a fin-tech platform, which seeks to bring the unorganised workforce in the ambit of the organised sector and financially empower them, has received funding worth USD 1 lakh from the Digital Financial Service Lab (DFS Lab), a fintech incubator fully backed by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
SERV’D had participated in a boot camp organised by the DFS Lab, a global initiative that seeks to bring together promising entrepreneurs working towards digital inclusion of the least served communities among developing economies.
The 7-day boot camp, attended by 20 organisations from 10 countries, provided them an opportunity to benefit from hands-on advice, mentorship and strategic counsel from industry stalwarts, as well as the chance to be awarded a share of USD $2 million of total investment and a further six months of intensive mentorship.
The DFS Lab did an extensive search for startups around the world. Out of the 700 applicants, 225 were evaluated and SERV’D is among four organisations that have received a grant from DFS labs.
Jatin Agarwal, Co-founder, SERV’D said
We are honoured to be among the four organisations chosen by DFS to receive this grant of USD 100000. The funds will be utilized to develop tech for new roles as well as drive activation for the existing product.
DFS Lab Director, Dr Jake Kendall said
Digital financial services have the power to transform developing country economies, profitably and at scale. We are looking for breakthrough ideas with the potential to bring low income households from the cash economy into the digital financial realm and give them tools to improve their lives.
The entrepreneurs were a very diverse and talented group from all over the world. Their different skills, perspectives and levels of experience produced valuable insights and led to dynamic, highly productive collaborations. We are very proud to be able to play a part in helping them reach their full potential. We are looking at funding the next multi-million dollar and potentially the next billion dollar startup in this space.
About SERV’D
SERV’D Tech Pvt. Ltd (SERV’D) is a fin-tech platform that aims at ‘organizing’ the unorganized workforce, which includes millions of ‘unregistered’ workers in a typical household-maids/ housekeepers, cooks, nannies, drivers and more. This service aims to bring accountability, professionalism and discipline to this sector by ensuring the service providers are registered and documented; and therefore over time, creating a legitimate legal work history for them that enables them to assimilate into the mainstream via financial inclusion. In the long turn, this initiative will enable them access to financial loans thus removing the need for Service Consumers to be the Service Provider’s personal banker. For more information, please visit SERV’D