Former BharatPe Co-founder Ashneer Grover Ventures Into Fintech Again With ZeroPe App; Reports

Ashneer Grover, the co-founder and former managing director of BharatPe, is gearing up for a second stint with the launch of ZeroPe, an innovative app catering specifically to medical loans.

ZeroPe, presently in its testing phase, emerges from the stable of Third Unicorn, a venture founded by Grover following his departure from BharatPe. Third Unicorn initially gained traction with the introduction of CrickPe, a fantasy gaming platform, in 2023.

According to its listing on the Google Play Store, ZeroPe aims to provide instant pre-approved medical loans of up to Rs 5 lakhs, in collaboration with Delhi-based Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC) Mukut Finvest. However, the service will only be accessible at partnered hospitals, as stated on the ZeroPe app website.

The entry of Grover into the medical financing sector adds to the momentum of businesses like SaveIn, Qube Health, Arogya Finance, Neodocs, Fibe, Kenko, and Mykare Health, all offering prompt financing solutions for medical expenses and elective treatments.

Grover, along with his wife Madhuri Jain Grover and Chandigarh-based entrepreneur Aseem Ghavri, established Third Unicorn in January 2023. Despite repeated attempts, they remained tight-lipped about their latest endeavour.

Third Unicorn commenced its journey with CrickPe, aimed at competing with industry giants such as Dream11, Mobile Premier League (MPL), and Games24x7's My11Circle. The company secured $3.5 million in a seed funding round led by ZNL Growth Fund, with Vevek Ventures Investments and Rishaayu LLP also participating.

A wave of digital-first startups is now venturing into data-driven medical loans, catering to various healthcare needs including hospitalization, home care, and chronic care management. These startups are integrating hospital networks, health insurance providers, and government healthcare schemes to offer comprehensive solutions.

A joint report by Boston Consulting Group and B Capital projects India's digital healthcare market to potentially generate $37 billion in revenue by 2030. Notably, healthcare financing alone is expected to contribute $5 billion to this figure, indicating a vast untapped market ripe for innovative solutions.

*Inputs from Moneycontrol*