A decade ago, the process of investing was burdened with extensive paperwork, frequent visits to banks, long queues, and protracted application processing periods, often taking days to complete. Coupled with a lack of comprehensive knowledge about financial products and prevalent misguidance by agents, the overall experience was nothing short of a daunting ordeal.
In contemporary times, the landscape of investing has undergone a transformative shift. All that is required is a bank account, disposable income, and a smartphone to initiate, enhance, and oversee your investment portfolio. While some new investors are opting for mutual funds, equities, and diverse investment platforms, a noticeable shift has been observed among those previously averse to investment, who are now embracing these opportunities.
Groww : About
Groww is a web-based investment platform designed to facilitate direct investment in mutual funds and equities. As the creator of a mutual fund direct access platform, Groww is committed to leveraging technology to simplify, enhance accessibility, ensure transparency, and enable fully paperless transactions for its users, thereby facilitating seamless investment experiences in mutual funds.
The platform caters to the diverse needs of its user base, offering investment options in mutual funds through Systematic Investment Plans (SIPs) and equity-linked savings. Boasting a user base of over 20 million registered individuals, with a majority under the age of 40 who predominantly engage through mobile devices, Groww stands as a preferred choice for modern investors.
Groww provides a comprehensive selection of over 5,000 mutual funds that users can directly invest in through its user-friendly website and application, available on both iOS and Android platforms. The platform distinguishes itself with a transparent pricing structure that includes cost-effective trading fees. Notably, users can invest in mutual funds with Groww without incurring any hidden fees, account opening charges, or monthly maintenance costs.
Groww : Company Highlights
| Attribute | Details |
| Startup Name | Groww |
| Owner | Nextbillion Technology |
| Headquarters | Bangalore, Karnataka, India |
| Industry | Financial technology, Investment, Mutual Funds |
| Founders | Lalit Keshre (CEO), Harsh Jain, Neeraj Singh, Ishan Bansal |
| Founded | April 2016 |
| Valuation | $3 billion |
| Website | www.groww.com |
Groww : Evolution of a Visionary Startup
The inception of Groww was inspired by a profound observation made by its founders, who had previously navigated the dynamic landscape of the e-commerce market at Flipkart. Recognizing the transformative potential of investments, the founders discerned a burgeoning opportunity as the e-commerce surge indicated a rise in average income and technological acumen among the populace.
It became evident that individuals possessed discretionary cash and sought guidance to judiciously deploy these resources.
Embarking on a thorough exploration of the Indian financial landscape for prospective consumers, the founding team meticulously delved into market intricacies while empathetically identifying the fundamental concerns of users. In ensuring the optimal user experience, extensive testing was imperative, given the critical nature of handling users’ hard-earned money. The commitment to delivering a secure and reliable solution necessitated a meticulous development process.
Established in 2016 as a direct mutual fund distribution platform, Groww has evolved into one of India’s premier mutual fund investing platforms. Responding to customer demands, the platform expanded its offerings to include equities in early 2020, followed by a rapid succession of digital gold, ETFs, intraday trading, and IPOs in the subsequent year.
Situated in Bangalore, Groww operates as a brokerage firm providing online discount brokerage services for a single charge. Facilitating direct investments in stocks, IPOs, and mutual funds, Groww operates under the banner of Nextbillion Technology Private Limited (NTPL), a SEBI-registered brokerage. Notably, NTPL holds membership with both NSE and BSE.
In a nation where approximately 200 million individuals possess disposable income, a mere 20 million actively engage in investments. Groww’s overarching objective is to empower consumers with the information, resources, and engaging customer experiences essential for expeditious initiation into the realm of investing.
Groww – Comprehensive Financial Offerings
Groww stands as a prominent financial platform offering a diverse range of investment products to empower its users in making informed financial decisions. The array of products provided by Groww encompasses:
1.Stocks
2.Mutual Funds
3.Digital Gold
4.US Stocks
Groww – Innovative Business Model
In its commitment to financial inclusivity, Groww has devised a business model that prioritizes user accessibility and minimizes barriers to entry. Groww imposes a nominal fee, which is borne by the mutual fund firm rather than the end-user. The revenue generation for Groww primarily hinges on the funds it facilitates, constituting a nuanced and intricate process.
Distinguishing between regular and direct mutual fund investments, Groww excels in providing a direct investment avenue. By consolidating diverse funds and companies into a singular platform, Groww offers users a streamlined and comprehensive investment experience.
For traditional mutual fund investments that involve intermediaries, a distributor is typically involved, necessitating a commission payment from the investor. In contrast, platforms like Groww eliminate this intermediary, allowing investors direct access to a plethora of investment options without incurring additional commissions.
Strategic Focus on Customer Base Expansion
As a fintech entity, Groww strategically prioritizes customer base expansion. Leveraging cutting-edge technology, the platform efficiently identifies and reaches its target audience, thereby minimizing operational costs. The retention of users is a key focus, as the intuitive platform design and comprehensive offerings make switching to alternative applications less likely once the desired user base is established.
Groww – Financial Performance and Strategic Expansion
Groww, a noteworthy player that has garnered substantial investor interest, demonstrated remarkable financial growth in FY20. The company’s earnings surged by 4.7 times, surpassing INR 1 crore, compared to INR 20.14 lakhs in FY19. Operating revenue exhibited an impressive increase, reaching INR 52.05 lakhs, with financial assets contributing an additional INR 48.24 lakhs.
In FY21, Groww sustained its upward trajectory, recording consolidated operating revenues of INR 30 crores. Notably, the company derived INR 13 crore in revenues from fees and commission income, followed by INR 15 crore and INR 2 crore from income generated through its tech platform and support charges, and other operational revenue, respectively. The total expenditure of the company reached INR 155.66 crore. On a unit level analysis, Groww achieved an operating revenue of Re 1 while spending INR 2.95 during FY21.
Despite commendable growth, Groww still trails behind industry leaders like Zerodha and Upstox, which reported earnings of INR 1,094 crore and INR 148 crore, respectively. In comparison, Groww’s FY20 earnings amounted to INR 1 crore, while ET Money generated INR 2.24 crore in the same period.
Groww, in its pursuit of expansion, attained unicorn status in April 2021 by securing $83 million in Series D funding led by Tiger Global Management. This strategic funding has propelled the company into the league of unicorn startups.
The company’s commitment to innovation is evident through the introduction of the ‘Pay’ feature in its Broking app. This feature facilitates peer-to-peer transactions and seamless payments to merchants through QR code scanning, enhancing user experience.
“Unlocking Investment Opportunities: Groww’s Intraday Trading & ETFs for 30M+ Users!”
Groww, trusted by over 30 million users, has evolved into a customer-first company offering a diverse range of investment options, including Mutual funds, FDs, Stocks, Futures and Options, IPOs, and more. The introduction of Intraday Trading and ETFs further expands its product suite, catering to different investment preferences. Groww’s Intraday Trading feature enables users to engage in short-selling, place stop-loss orders, and monitor price movements effortlessly on 350+ stocks and select ETFs.
The launch of Intraday Trading aligns with the growing popularity of stock trading in India, particularly among young millennials. Groww’s CEO, Lalit Kishore, emphasized the platform’s commitment to providing a comprehensive investing experience, with plans to introduce learning modules on intra-day trading and ETFs.
Groww’s impressive growth metrics include boasting 30+ million registered users, managing nearly $400 million in investments, and achieving a valuation jump from $250-300 million to $3 billion in just over a year. It positions itself as a formidable competitor, outpacing Zerodha in active clients, with plans to foray into the neobanking segment, reinforcing its commitment to becoming a one-stop solution for banking and investment.
Groww Announces Launch of Lending Division
In a significant strategic move, Groww is poised to diversify its portfolio by venturing into the realm of lending, as indicated by reports dated January 14, 2021. The company is currently in advanced discussions regarding the imminent launch of this new vertical, which is set to offer credit lines to select users. The selection process will be based on a thorough analysis of users’ transaction histories and mobile app usage patterns, a practice that Groww has already commenced. This strategic expansion into lending is anticipated to play a pivotal role in bolstering Groww’s revenue streams, particularly in light of its current financial standing.
Groww Unveils “Ab Karega Invest” Initiative
Recognizing the burgeoning interest in online investing, particularly from investors in tier-II cities, Groww, a prominent investment platform, has introduced a groundbreaking initiative called “Ab Karega Invest.” With 60% of their registered users hailing from tier 2 and tier 3 cities, Groww is committed to simplifying and democratizing the investment landscape. The initiative involves hosting conferences in selected Indian cities to bridge the knowledge gap among investors.
Under the “Ab India Karega Invest” initiative, the Groww team plans to tour 52 select cities in 52 weeks, conducting conferences to elucidate the intricacies of investing. These city meets are designed to foster a knowledge-sharing platform for industry stakeholders and aspiring investors, while also nurturing local investor communities.
Following a successful pilot campaign with meets held in Lucknow, Jaipur, and Patna, the overwhelming response has prompted Groww to extend the initiative nationwide. Speaking at the launch, Lalit Keshre, Co-founder and CEO of Groww, emphasized the company’s commitment to making investing accessible beyond metropolitan areas. He stated, “The penetration of financial services in India is really low beyond metros. Groww is making investing accessible to millions of people in India with a sharp focus on customer experience. For us, there are no boundaries. This program helps us in multiple ways, but the biggest one is to closely engage with aspiring investors spread across these cities in India.”
Groww Attains SEBI Approval for the Groww Nifty Total Market Index Fund
Groww is pleased to announce that it has received regulatory approval from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) for the launch of the Groww Nifty Total Market Index Fund. This milestone follows a strategic move earlier in the year when Groww acquired the mutual fund business of Indiabulls Housing Finance, positioning itself for entry into the mutual fund market. Against the backdrop of an increasingly competitive mutual fund landscape in India, with notable players such as Zerodha and Jio Financial Services preparing to enter the sector, Groww’s expansion marks a significant development.
Groww : Financial Performance
In the fiscal year 2021-2022, Groww demonstrated remarkable financial growth. The company’s revenue surged from Rs 30 crore in FY21 to Rs 351 crore in FY22, primarily fueled by a substantial increase in fees and commission income, which escalated from Rs 13 crore to Rs 326 crore during the same period. Additionally, revenue from tech platform and support charges rose from Rs 15 crore to Rs 2 crore, while revenue from other operating systems experienced growth from Rs 2 crore to Rs 23 crore between FY21 and FY22.
Groww : Competitors
| Company Name | Competitor Rank |
| Upstox | 1 |
| Angel Broking | 2 |
| Zerodha | 3 |
| IIFL | 4 |
| Finvasia | 5 |
| SAS Online | 6 |
| Sharekhan | 7 |
| Edelweiss | 8 |
| Karvy Stock Broking | 9 |
Conclusion
In conclusion, Groww has emerged as a transformative force in the investment landscape, providing a seamless and user-friendly platform that has significantly simplified the investment process. The company, founded in 2016, has evolved from being a mutual fund direct access platform to a comprehensive financial platform offering a range of investment products, including mutual funds, stocks, digital gold, US stocks, and more.
