BillDesk - Indian Online Payment Gateway Company

BillDesk - Indian Online Payment Gateway Company
Indian Online Payment Gateway Company

The payment gateway allows the merchants to process credit, debit, and other alternative online payments. Using a payment gateway can help to lessen the frequency and severity of credit card fraud within e-commerce or any other kind of business. This gateway for payments acts as the go-between to make sure that customer data is encrypted and secure.

BillDesk is an Indian online payment gateway company based in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. The company provides payment solutions for customers in e-commerce, financial services, retail, and other sectors. BillDesk is one of the oldest payment gateways in India and is responsible for powering 50%–60% of the online bill payments in the country as of August 2021.

Know the BillDesk Success Story, Founders, Business Model, Funding, and more here with StartupTalky.

BillDesk - Company Highlights

STARTUP NAME BILLDESK
Headquarters Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Sector Finance
Founders M.N. Srinivasu, Ajay Kaushal and Karthik Ganapathy
Founded 2000
Website billdesk.com

BillDesk - About
BillDesk - Industry
BillDesk - Founders and Team
BillDesk - Startup Story
BillDesk - Mission and Vision
BillDesk - Name and Logo
BillDesk - Business Model
BillDesk - Revenue Model
BillDesk - Challenges Faced
BillDesk - Funding and Investors
BillDesk - Growth
BillDesk - Awards
BillDesk - Competitors
BillDesk - Future Plans

BillDesk - About

Founded in 2000 by a team of ex-Arthur Andersen professionals, BillDesk, an Indian online payment gateway company, continues to be at the forefront of digital payments' evolution in India, creating Internet-based payment products that enable consumers to make payments online in a frictionless manner.

BillDesk, a product and service with about 20 years of market leadership, provides a reliable payment platform for enterprise-wide electronic payments and collections, related reconciliation and settlement operations, across multiple delivery channels, and using a wide range of payment methods.

BillDesk - Industry

The India Payment Gateway Market is anticipated to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17.16% from USD 1.21 billion in 2024 to USD 2.66 billion by 2029, according to Mordor Intelligence. Factors like rising internet penetration and growing e-commerce in India are driving this growth.

BillDesk - Founders and Team

BillDesk was founded in 2000 by M.N. Srinivasu (Co-Founder and Director), Ajay Kaushal (Co-Founder and Director), and Karthik Ganapathy (C0-Founder).

M.N. Srinivasu (Co-Founder and Director), Ajay Kaushal (Co-Founder and Director), and Karthik Ganapathy (Left to Right) are the Co-Founders of BillDesk
M.N. Srinivasu (Co-Founder and Director), Ajay Kaushal (Co-Founder and Director), and Karthik Ganapathy (Left to Right) are the Co-Founders of BillDesk

M.N. Srinivasu

Srinivasu, the Co-Founder and Director of BillDesk, is a BCom Economics graduate who later completed a PGDM from IIM Ahmedabad. MN Srinivasu first started his professional career as the Manager of the Agri Business Group of ITC Limited. He then switched to ITC Zeneca Limited, where he served the role of Financial Controller, but it continued only for a year, after which he again switched to the Treasury (Financial Services) of ITC Limited, where he worked for a span of 4 years.

He then went on to manage Business Consulting at Andersen. This continued for another year, after which he co-founded BillDesk.

Ajay Kaushal

Ajay Kaushal is a Co-Founder and Director of BillDesk. who started as the Head of Securities Research at SBI Capital Markets Limited. He then became the Manager at Arthur Andersen, after which Kaushal served as the Trustee at CAF India. He managed this job role for around 6 years before he decided to co-found BillDesk. Ajay Kaushal has a BTech in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, and he topped it off with a PGDBM, MBA from IIM Lucknow. 

Karthik Ganapathy

Karthik Ganapathy is the Co-Founder and VP of BillDesk. He is an IIT Bombay and IIM Bangalore alumnus who is regarded as the Chief Architect of the technology and operations that currently power BillDesk. Before founding BillDesk, Ganapathy worked with Arthur Andersen.

The BillDesk team operates with an employee strength of somewhere between 501 and 1000 employees.

BillDesk - Startup Story

The story of BillDesk's founding is a classic example of creative problem-solving and entrepreneurial vision. The trip began when three people who had previously worked for the prestigious American accounting firm Arthur Andersen decided to leave their secure positions in order to follow their entrepreneurial dreams.

The daily inconvenience of consumers having to wait in line to pay for different bills—such as those for energy or phone services—was the source of their inspiration. The creators recognized a chance to completely change the payment environment by offering a more straightforward and simplified solution after realizing how painful this problem was.

BillDesk - Mission and Vision

The company's mission on its websites states, "To make payments accessible and easy for all through market-leading solutions."

BillDesk's vision is to create a one-stop destination to make all payments.

"At BillDesk we are committed to this vision of implementing innovative solutions for simplifying payments and collections and translating the opportunities offered by the Internet into actual customer delight through efficient payment and collection services."
BillDesk Logo
BillDesk Logo

BillDesk parent company is "IndiaIdeas.com Ltd."


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BillDesk - Business Model

BillDesk is a business-to-business (B2B) model that links banks with utilities and retailers to process payments without having to buy end users outright. Prepaid account sales (PINS and eTop up subscriptions) and transaction processing fees from electronic transactions on its network are the main sources of income.

The business also receives payment for additional supplementary and consultancy services as well as loyalty reward point management. BillDesk provides a platform for online and mobile payments through aggregator platforms in India, catering to telecom, insurance, e-commerce, financial services, charitable organizations, and entertainment providers, among other industries.

BillDesk - Revenue Model

The revenue model of BillDesk includes the following sources:

Fees for processing electronic transactions: BillDesk collects money by charging for the processing of electronic transactions conducted on its platform.

Sales of PINS (Personal Identification Numbers): PINS are used for a variety of digital transactions, including online bill payment, prepaid cellphone recharge, and other services. BillDesk makes money from the selling of PINS.

E-top subscriptions: In order to create recurring income, BillDesk provides consumers with access to premium features or expanded capability for electronic transactions through subscription-based services like e-top subscriptions.

BillDesk - Challenges Faced

BillDesk faced challenges in selling its business amid intense competition in the digital payments segment, where well-marketed startups like PayUmoney, Paytm, Citrus, and CC Avenue emerged. Utilizing its two-decade industry experience and devoted clients, BillDesk maintained its momentum and profitability despite challenges like the Reserve Bank of India's reduction of commission rates.

In the face of tighter laws and rising demand, the company realized it needed a fully integrated payment system. It adjusted to developments in the market while putting the needs of its customers first. In the future, BillDesk hopes to use its momentum and stability to overcome obstacles and spur further expansion.

BillDesk - Funding and Investors

BillDesk has raised a total of $241.4 million in funding over 4 rounds.

Here are the funding details:

Date Round Money Lead Investor
Nov 16, 2018 Corporate Round $82.27 million Visa
Mar 15, 2016 Secondary Market $150 million General Atlantic
Apr 4, 2012 Private Equity Round - TA Associates
Jun 22, 2006 Venture Round $7.5 million Clearstone Venture Partners, State Bank of India

BillDesk - Growth

BillDesk:growth highlights are:

  • It does 4 billion+ transactions per year as of March FY24
  • It has 150 million+ API calls per day as of March 2024
  • It is available in 20+ categories as of March 2024
  • The company has 70+ agents as of March 2024
  • It has 20,000+ billers as of March 2024
  • BillDesk has done Rs 10 trillion+ in payment volume in FY23

Financials

BillDesk Financials
BillDesk Financials
BillDesk Financials FY22 FY23
Operating Revenue Rs 2,443 crore Rs 2,678 crore
Total Expenses Rs 2,295 crore Rs 2,561 crore
Profit/Loss Profit of Rs 150 crore Profit of Rs 142 crore

EBITDA

BillDesk Financials FY22 FY23
EBITDA Margin 10.21% 9.23%
Expense/₹ of Op Revenue Rs 0.94 Rs 0.96
ROCE 8.81% 7.75%

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BillDesk - Awards

Reiterating its position as a leader in the digital payment sector, BillDesk was recognized in 2023 with the esteemed Pay Excellence Champions Awards for its exceptional performance as the Best Online Payment Platform. This honor highlights BillDesk's dedication to innovation and quality in offering its customers easy-to-use online payment alternatives.

BillDesk - Competitors

BillDesk's competitors include -


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BillDesk - Future Plans

BillDesk provides its service to almost all the cities in India. It plans on bringing in automation and artificial intelligence to have a further smother transactional experience for the customers and to go on to acquire bigger brands and more customers. Domestic payment gateway BillDesk is again on the market to sell off after it was unsuccessfully sold two years ago by its promoters.

However, the BillDesk promoters are trying to sell off the whole company this time around, following a rapidly rising rivalry in the country’s digital payment processing space and booming e-commerce industry.

This was confirmed by two people with direct knowledge of BillDesk‘s plans, adding that BillDesk promoters and the company’s single largest shareholder, General Atlantic, have called at least eight investment bankers for talks on shortlisting a suitor.

FAQs

What is BillDesk?

BillDesk is an Indian online payment gateway company based in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.

Is BillDesk an Indian company?

Yes, BillDesk is an Indian online payment gateway company.

How does BillDesk make money?

Processing electronic transactions, such as charging fees to process payments online, brings in money for BillDesk. Its revenue sources are further enhanced by the sales of PINS (Personal Identification Numbers) and E-top subscriptions.

How does BillDesk payment gateway work?

BillDesk is a one-stop online payment provider that helps customers organize, pay and manage their regular and ongoing bills. Customers can receive, review and pay all the bills they receive from different providers in one place with BillDesk.

Who is the CEO of BillDesk?

BillDesk doesn't have a CEO; now it has three Co-Founders.

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