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Former PayU’s exec startup Zinc raises $25.5 Mn in seed funding

Entrackr · 17d

Zinc, an edu-wealth startup founded by former PayU Finance India CEO Prashanth Ranganathan, has raised $25.5 million in its seed round, led by Nexus Venture Partners with participation from Quona Capital, EDBI, Global Ventures, and Credit Saison. According to the company, the funds will be used to drive product innovation and expand offerings, focusing on global investment tools, AI-powered university counseling, and cross-border payment solutions to help families secure their children’s futures. Zinc aims to address the rising costs of overseas education by building a financial foundation tailored specifically for this purpose. Its proprietary AI-powered edu-counselor platform, Ada, provides comprehensive support and guidance to young Indian aspirants. The company offers global investment tools that enable parents to expand their savings into international markets, helping them build financial plans for their children’s education while mitigating currency fluctuation risks. Zinc has also secured RIA (Registered Investment Advisor) license approval from SEBI and in-principle approval for the PSP (Payment Service Provider) license. The company has applied for a brokerage license from the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) in GIFT City. Ranganathan, previously the founder of Paysense, which was acquired by PayU in 2020, joins the ranks of several second or third time startup founders who raised more than $20 million in their seed rounds in 2024. According to startup data intelligence platform TheKredible, notable recent seed rounds include blockchain startup Avail ($27 million), Lyskraft, Mukesh Bansal’s new venture ($26 million), and generative AI startups EMA and Nesya, which raised $25 million and $20 million, respectively. Wealthtech startup Centricity and elder care startup Primus Senior Living also raised $20 million each, marking strong seed-stage funding activity.