Bengaluru-based startup Nivasa Finance has successfully raised $3 million in seed funding to address the credit gap for underserved borrowers in India’s non-metro areas. The funding round was spearheaded by Prime Venture Partners, with contributions from Blume Ventures, Whiteboard Capital, and notable angel investors. This new capital will be utilized to expand Nivasa’s geographical reach, enhance its distribution network, and strengthen partnerships with institutional lenders. The company is also exploring the possibility of obtaining a Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC) license to further scale its operations.
Founded in 2025 by Samit Shetty and Hitesh Saraf, Nivasa Finance specializes in affordable housing loans and loans against property, targeting self-employed individuals, gig workers, and micro-business owners in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities. These segments often face challenges in accessing traditional banking services due to informal income documentation. Nivasa employs a hybrid “phygital” model, combining technology-driven risk assessment and lender matching with field operations for documentation and verification.
The startup, headquartered in Bengaluru, has already partnered with over 10 institutional lenders, including commercial banks and housing finance companies. Despite being in the early stages of growth, Nivasa has facilitated loans exceeding ₹20 crore in the Mysore and Mandya regions of Karnataka. With the new funding, the company plans to expand into additional areas in Southern India in the near future.
