Kunal Shah

• Kunal Shah is a renowned Indian entrepreneur and angel investor best known for founding CRED, a fintech platform that rewards users for timely credit card bill payments. His sharp business acumen and innovative approach have positioned him as one of India's most influential figures in the startup ecosystem.
  
  
• Born on May 20, 1983, Kunal Shah grew up in Mumbai, India. He pursued a degree in Philosophy from Wilson College but later dropped out of Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS) before completing his MBA. Despite not having a formal business degree, his deep understanding of consumer behavior and finance helped him build groundbreaking companies.
  
  
• Shah started his career in the tech space by launching Freecharge in 2010, a digital payments platform that gained massive popularity in India. In 2015, Snapdeal acquired Freecharge for $450 million, making it one of the largest startup acquisitions in the country at the time.
  
  
• After the sale of Freecharge, Shah took a brief hiatus before returning with an even bigger vision—CRED. Founded in 2018, CRED revolutionized credit card bill payments by rewarding users for timely payments and offering premium financial services.
  
  
• By 2025, CRED has emerged as a fintech powerhouse, expanding beyond credit card rewards into lending, wealth management, and stock brokerage. Here are some key milestones:
• Valuation: CRED's valuation has soared to $6.4 billion, making it one of India's most valuable fintech startups.
• Loan Book Size: As of February 2025, CRED’s total loan book has exceeded ₹19,000 crore, reinforcing its leadership in digital lending.
• Stock Broking Expansion: In December 2024, CRED applied for a stock broking license to compete with platforms like Zerodha and Groww.
• Revenue Growth: In the fiscal year 2024-25, CRED reported revenues of ₹2,500 crore, with a 41% reduction in operating losses.
  
  
• Besides building CRED, Shah is an active angel investor, supporting over 200 startups across various sectors. His portfolio includes leading Indian unicorns like Razorpay, Unacademy, and BharatPe. As of December 31, 2024, he holds shares in five publicly listed companies and has a personal net worth exceeding ₹647.2 crore.
  
  
• CRED has strengthened its market presence through key acquisitions, including:
• Happay – Focused on expense management.
• HipBar – Specialized in liquor delivery.
• CreditVidya – Providing lending insights.
• Spenny – A micro-investing platform.
• Kuvera – Enhancing wealth management services.
  
  
• These acquisitions have helped CRED expand its financial ecosystem, offering a seamless experience to premium users.
  
  
• Shah continues to push the boundaries of fintech innovation. In 2025, CRED is expected to introduce AI-driven financial planning tools, global credit solutions, and deeper integration with investment platforms. With India’s digital economy booming, CRED’s potential remains limitless.

​Kunal Shah has participated in 5 events. They most recently attended, or will attend, 16th NASSCOM Product Conclave 2019 on Nov 5, 2019.

• 16th NASSCOM Product Conclave 2019
  • Bangalore, Karnataka, India, Asia
  • Nov 5, 2019

• ad: tech New Delhi 2019
  • New Delhi, Delhi, India, Asia
  • Mar 14, 2019

• MobileSparks 2016
  • New Delhi, Delhi, India, Asia
  • Nov 18, 2016

• GMIC Bangalore 2016
  • Bangalore, Karnataka, India, Asia
  • Nov 16, 2016

• SURGE 2016
  • Bengaluru, Karnataka, India, Asia
  • Feb 23, 2016