Sachin Tendulkar-endorsed Kissht adds Policybazaar co-founder, AB Fashion CEO to board ahead of IPO

Sachin Tendulkar-endorsed digital lending platform Kissht has bolstered its board with the appointment of two seasoned professionals — Alok Bansal, co-founder of PB Fintech (Policybazaar), and Sangeeta Pendurkar, former CEO of Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail — as independent directors. 

The appointments come as the Mumbai-based firm prepares to file its draft red herring prospectus (DRHP) with the SEBI later this month for an upcoming initial public offering (IPO).

The addition of Bansal and Pendurkar is a calculated step toward enhancing corporate governance and signaling maturity to public market investors. It reflects Kissht’s intent to evolve from a fast-growing fintech to a responsibly governed public entity. Kissht recently received shareholder approval to transition from a private limited company to a public limited one.

Founded in 2015 by Ranvir Singh and Krishnan Vishwanathan, Kissht offers a range of secured and unsecured loans across three segments: consumption lending, purchase financing through partnerships, and credit for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). The company recently expanded into the secured credit space, launching a digital Loan Against Property (LAP) offering aimed at underserved customer segments.

According to company filings, the upcoming IPO will comprise both a fresh issue of equity shares and an offer for sale (OFS). In its last major funding round in 2022, Kissht raised $80 million from Vertex Growth and Brunei Investment Agency.

The fintech firm now claims to serve over 10 million customers across India. As of fiscal year 2025, it reported assets under management (AUM) exceeding Rs 4,200 crore ($502 million). Last year, the firm onboarded cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar as both a strategic investor and the its first-ever ambassador.