Coming soon
Our programme is now closed. A big thank you for everyone who participated and supported Astra 2024. Stay tuned for our next edition.
Our programme is now closed.
A big thank you to everyone who participated and supported Astra 2024.
Stay tuned for our next edition.
FAQs
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Get accelerated consideration for early stage funding
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In addition, startups will get fast-track consideration from Saison Capital, the corporate venture capital arm of the Credit Saison group, to access early stage funding.
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Receive insights and access to our leading initiative partners
Astra is supported by AWS, IIFL and more, who will provide valuable insights and feedback to startups on their growth journey on and form important networks and relationships for the future.
In partnership with
Astra is supported by AWS, IIFL and more, who will provide valuable insights and feedback to startups on their growth journey and help form important networks and relationships for the future.
Born from the Latin word astrum, Astra means star.
Astra is also steeped In Hindu mythology; "Astras" (अस्त्र) are supernatural weapons invoked by deities in their fight for good against evil. They are powerful and transformative.
Born from the Latin word astrum, Astra means star.
Astra is also steeped In Hindu mythology; "Astras" (अस्त्र) are supernatural weapons invoked by deities in their fight for good against evil. They are powerful and transformative.
Application
Startups building AI products and services for the financial sector are welcome to apply.
Evaluation
From the pool of applicants, the Astra team will select 8-10 startups that will enter into Proof of Concept (PoCs) stage with Credit Saison India.
PoC Stage
Shortlisted startups will receive mentorship from senior leaders at Credit Saison India and Saison Capital to refine their product use cases and investment pitch. Startups can also look forward to deploy their products and services in a live business and demonstrate potential benefits.
Demo Day
All startups will do a 20-30 min presentation on their product and the impact of the PoC to a panel of judges that will include people from Credit Saison India, Saison Capital and partner VCs. Demo Day will take place in-person in Bengaluru.
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Pilot your innovations with India's fastest growing NBFC
Through Astra, startups can pilot and explore use cases for their products and services, with the potential of having a deeper partnership with Credit Saison India, one of the country's fastest growing non-bank financial companies and part of Japan's Credit Saison Group.
Application
By 31 October 2024
Startups building AI products and services for the financial sector are welcome to apply.
Evaluation
By 30 November 2024
From the pool of applicants, the Astra team will select 8-10 startups that will enter into Proof of Concept (PoCs) stage with Credit Saison India.
PoC Stage
December/January 2025
Shortlisted startups will receive mentorship from senior leaders at Credit Saison India and Saison Capital to refine their product use cases and investment pitch. Startups can also look forward to deploy their products and services in a live business and demonstrate potential benefits.
Demo Day
January/ February 2025
All startups will do a 20-30 min presentation on their product and the impact of the PoC to a panel of judges that will include people from Credit Saison India, Saison Capital and partner VCs. Demo Day will take place in-person in Bengaluru.
Program Details
About us
Established in 2019, Credit Saison India is one of the country’s fastest growing Non-Bank Financial Company (NBFC) lenders, with verticals in wholesale, direct lending and tech-enabled partnerships with Non-Bank Financial Companies (NBFCs) and fintechs.
CS India is registered with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and has an AAA rating from CRISIL (a subsidiary of S&P Global) and CARE Ratings. Currently, CS India has a branch network of 45 physical offices, 1.3 million active loans, an AUM of over US$1.5B and an employee base of over 1,000 people.
Saison Capital is an early-stage venture capital fund (pre-seed to Series B) with a focus on emerging markets. The firm backs ambitious founders at the pre-seed or seed stage and focuses on web3, fintech and commerce.
Operating from the Asia Pacific region but deploying capital on a global scale, Saison Capital harnesses Credit Saison's extensive financial services operating background and resources, and is focused across the key markets of Indonesia, India and Brazil.
CS India and Saison Capital are members of Credit Saison Company Limited, founded in 1951 and one of Japan’s largest non-bank financial companies with over 70 years of history and listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. The Company has evolved from a credit-card issuer to a diversified financial services provider across payments, leasing, finance, real estate and entertainment.