Nishant Kumar leads the Financial Inclusion Lab in India under the umbrella of the Bharat Inclusion Initiative. A part of CIIE.CO’s Bharat Inclusion Initiative, the Financial Inclusion Lab supports startups in the areas of Fintech, Skilling, and Livelihood working in the Bharat Segment. To date, more than 50 startups have been supported under the FI lab.

Nishant Kumar leads the Startup Innovation and Acceleration practice at MSC, bringing 14 years of experience in driving innovation for social and economic inclusion. A former FinTech founder, Nishant has also led product development for a venture builder, specializing in business model development, product-market fit, and go-to-market strategies for startups serving low- and moderate-income (LMI) segments.

He also leads the Financial Inclusion Lab in India, under the Bharat Inclusion Initiative at IIMA Ventures, supporting FinTech, skilling, and livelihood startups working in the Bharat segment. To date, the Lab has supported over 50 startups, helping them scale impactful financial solutions.

Prior to MSC, Nishant was the Founder and CEO of Lakshya, a FinTech focused on improving financial health for underserved communities through flexible financial products and digital literacy. Lakshya primarily served artisans, drivers, farmers, and contractual factory workers, with a strong emphasis on micro-savings and insurance.

With extensive experience in financial inclusion and FinTech, Nishant has worked with top consulting firms, microfinance institutions (MFIs), and investor groups, driving innovation and financial empowerment for underserved populations.