👢 Boots on the ground- Global Fintech Fest 2026

Glad to be back in action on LinkedIn, and no better way to get into the thick of things than attending the Global Fintech Fest (GFF) 2026 in Mumbai—the largest fintech gathering in the world.

Met with some very innovative companies and platforms and it was good to get a pulse on the sector after the much prophesised ‘SaaSpocalypse’ earlier in the year! Here are some of my key takeaways from the ground:

• UPI goes global: Companies innovating on top of India's ubiquitous UPI infrastructure still dominate the ecosystem. However, the narrative has shifted from domestic dominance to cross-border payments and direct integration with other countries’ domestic payment networks.

• Retail fixed income is having a moment: Beyond the expected focus on credit, lending and cybersecurity, the fixed-income professional in me was thrilled to see growing awareness around bond investing. Retail platforms are finally shining a light on this "unglamorous cousin" of stocks and derivatives!

• Enterprise AI is still finding its footing: While retail AI adoption in India is soaring, enterprise integration across banks, NBFCs, and insurance lags. Bridging the gap from pilot projects to full-scale deployment remains a significant hurdle.

• The "Human in the Loop": The consensus is that truly autonomous AI in finance is still 12–18 months away. Current enterprise use cases revolve around assistance and data gathering. Real adoption will hinge on regulatory accountability, data integrity, and clear P&L generation.

  
  

As for the ‘SaaSpocalypse’? It doesn’t look like it’s happening anytime soon. Valuations have corrected in the sector across public and private markets, but for enterprise consumers, solution providers and investors, the current playbook is "wait and watch—but be ready to sprint."

Ultimately, as compute costs drop and enterprises build confidence in AI control and profitability, we’ll hit an inflection point for rapid enterprise adoption.

It was fantastic getting a bird’s-eye view of the ecosystem while diving into the nitty-gritty with some fascinating startups. Plus, seeing actual hardware on the floor proved it’s not all just code and cloud. Hit me up if you want to chat about specific firms that caught my eye!