Fintech’s IPL Playbook Fintech giants are reclaiming the IPL ad space in 2026. Unlike the growth-at-all-costs frenzy of 2021-22, fintech advertisers are swapping cashbacks for a disciplined, RoI-centric playbook. So, how are brands leveraging the tournament to build a strategy for full-funnel marketing?

The New Playbook: The 2026 IPL season no longer appears to be just a top-of-the-funnel splash for fintech giants. With UPI penetration already deep, the challenge has pivoted from acquiring users to activating and monetising them through high-value products like credit and insurance. Fintechs are using the league to compress months of brand building into weeks, while treating the tournament as a force multiplier for their organic funnels.

Success is no longer measured by simple app installs, but by blended CAC and downstream outcomes like KYC completions and policy purchases. Calibrated Positioning: The fintech messaging has evolved from offering rewards to building long-term trust. Here is how brands are playing out their pitch: Navi’s ‘Hurrypur’ campaign focuses on speed and relatability.

MobiKwik is leveraging its partnership with the Rajasthan Royals to roll out features that spur active participation. super.money is deploying strategic cashback, designed to drive repeat behaviour rather than one-time spikes. Rethinking Returns: In the ongoing tournament, fintechs are evaluating investments via a layered RoI model, which looks at the entire consumer lifecycle – awareness, engagement, repeat usage, and eventual movement into higher-LTV products. On top of this, brands are integrating creator-led content and real-time match moments to create a transactional ecosystem that leads to credit and wealth management adoption.

So, as fintechs move from seasonal spikes to sustained bets, can this mature IPL playbook consistently turn cricket attention into lasting fintech value? Let’s find out… From The Editor’s Desk TraqCheck Bags $8 Mn The enterprise tech startup has raised nearly ₹75 Cr in its Series A round led by IvyCap Ventures to accelerate its expansion across Europe and scale its AI capabilities. Founded in 2020, TraqCheck is an AI-driven platform that helps enterprises conduct background checks of their employees.

It is also building an AI agent for talent acquisition. It claims to cater to 300 clients across India and the EU. With its AI-powered solutions, TraqCheck is eyeing a piece of the homegrown HR tech market, which is projected to become a $2.3 Bn opportunity by 2034.

NODWIN Rejigs Board Ahead of its IPO, the esports giant has appointed former Nazara CEO Manish Agarwal as a non-executive director on its board. Agarwal served as the CEO of Nazara from 2015 to 2022. During this period, the listed gaming major acquired a 55% stake in NODWIN.

In addition, he also cofounded physical AI startup Humyn Labs in January. The development comes as NODWIN is gearing up to list on the bourses. The startup is also looking to raise $100 Mn in its pre-IPO round and transition to a youth media brand.

Sharon Pais To Now Helm Myntra Ecommerce major Flipkart has elevated senior vice president Sharon Pais to the role of Myntra head. She will report directly to Flipkart group CEO Kalyan Krishnamurthy. Pais will replace Nandita Sinha, who will “move on” from the company.

Meanwhile, Kapil Thirani will succeed Pais as the lead of Flipkart Fashion. Founded in 2007, Myntra is an online marketplace that allows sellers to sell fashion products. It was acquired by Flipkart for $240 Mn in 2014.

The marketplace’s net profit zoomed about 18X YoY to ₹548 Cr in FY25, while the top line rose 18% YoY to ₹6,043 Cr. India’s Listed Startup Tracker From Ather Energy to Lenskart, more than 60 Indian startups have gone on to list on the D-Street so far. Together, these listed new-age tech companies boast a combined market capitalisation of $142 Bn.

While 13 startups went public in 2024, another 18 companies made their market debut in the previous year. The list is only expected to grow further this year as five new-age companies have already made their public market debut in 2026. Fintech has emerged as the sector with the most listed startups, while Delhi NCR is home to the biggest chunk of listed new-age tech companies.

Practo Gets A New CPTO The healthtech startup has roped in former Salesforce executive Srijesh Kumar as its new global chief product and technology officer (CPTO). With over two decades of experience under his belt, Kumar previously also held various roles at companies like Expedia Group, Punchh, Adobe and Microsoft. This comes after the company appointed Cijo George as vice president of AI last month.

Founded in 2008, Practo helps users find doctors, book consultations and order medicines. It also offers SaaS tools for clinics. The startup is in talks to raise $100 Mn to $125 Mn in a pre-IPO funding round at a reported valuation of around $700 Mn. Inc42 Markets Inc42 Startup Spotlight How InsituMicron Is Making Material T