MAM
Star India invests into Zapr Media Labs
MUMBAI: According to a report by Brand Equity, media company Star India has made investment of Rs 55 crore in media-tech start-up Zapr Media Labs.
As per filings with the Registrar of Companies (RoC) which were sourced by a data analytics platform, Paper.vc, the funds have been added by the broadcaster via its holding firm – Star India US Holdings Subsidiary LLC.
Previously in March 2017, Star India picked up a minority stake in the Bengaluru based media tech start-up Zapr Media Labs. The investment was made for a strategic partnership between Hotstar and Zapr.
Zapr was founded in February 2012 by IIM Ahmedabad batch mates Deepak Baid, Sandipan Mondal and Sajo Mathews. Zapr provides television viewership, which it analyses with the help of audio recognition tool.
Brands
Ezeepay’s Banking Mitras fuel rural jobs and digital reach
Fintech network widens access, backs women entrepreneurs
MUMBAI: Ezeepay is taking banking to the back roads and bylanes, turning small shops into digital lifelines for communities that often sit outside the formal financial grid. Through its expanding Banking Mitra network, the fintech platform is not only delivering essential services to rural and semi urban pockets, it is also quietly stitching together new livelihoods along the way.
At the heart of the push is a simple idea. Equip local retailers with digital tools, and they become the neighbourhood’s go to counter for banking, payments, and insurance. From Aadhaar enabled withdrawals and domestic money transfers to bill payments and micro insurance, these outlets now offer a mini bank experience where traditional branches are few and far between.
The ripple effect is visible in the form of self employment. As the network grows across tier 2, tier 3, and rural India, it is opening doors for thousands of small entrepreneurs. Women, in particular, are stepping into the role of Banking Mitras, turning kirana counters and small retail points into hubs of financial activity.
Ezeepay co-founder and chief executive Shams Tabrej, said the network is designed to do more than just process transactions. He noted that the initiative is helping women entrepreneurs gain confidence in fintech tools, strengthen their businesses, and create sustainable sources of income in their communities.
The effort also aligns with the government’s She Mart announcement in the Union Budget 2026, which aims to promote women led enterprises and self help group businesses. Ezeepay’s approach combines digital infrastructure, financial literacy training, and income opportunities, giving local retailers the tools to grow while bringing more people into the formal financial system.
With its last mile model, the company is betting that the next wave of digital adoption will not come from big cities, but from the country’s smaller towns and villages. And if its Banking Mitras have their way, the future of finance may arrive not through a bank branch, but across the counter of the local shop.
