Svatantra Microfin Pvt. Ltd. is a leading microfinance institution in India, founded by Ananya Birla in 2012. It began operations in March 2013 and has since emerged as a prominent player in the microfinance sector, particularly known for its focus on women entrepreneurs in rural areas. ## Key Features and Achievements - Microfinance Products: Svatantra offers microfinance loans, including the Svatantra Income Generation Loan and the Svatantra Home Improvement Loan, primarily to rural women. These loans are disbursed through a Joint Group Liability model, where groups of women guarantee each other's loans[1][3]. - Cashless Disbursement: Svatantra was the first microfinance institution to implement 100% cashless disbursement, ensuring that loans are directly credited into customers' bank accounts. This approach has helped increase confidence in banking among rural women[1][3]. - Technology Integration: The company uses technology to enhance customer experience and operational efficiency. It has developed mobile apps like Saathi for internal operations and SAKSHAM for customer engagement[1]. - Recent Developments: Svatantra has acquired Chaitanya India Fin Credit, making it one of the largest non-banking microfinance companies in India. It has also received a significant investment of $230 million from Advent International and Multiples Private Equity, marking the largest private equity investment in India's microfinance sector[4][5]. ## Leadership and Operations - Leadership Team: The company is led by Ananya Birla as Chairperson and Vineet as Managing Director. Vineet has extensive experience in operations and management consulting and is committed to creating sustainable growth[2][5]. - Operational Reach: Svatantra operates in over 20 states across India, serving more than 4.2 million customers with a team of over 17,000 employees[5]. ## Awards and Ratings - Skoch Achiever Award: Svatantra has been honored with the Skoch Achiever Award for financial inclusion[3]. - Credit Rating: The company has been rated A- by ICRA for its bank term loan rating and holds an AA- grade, the highest in the microfinance sector[3][5].