Gandhinagar, June 10 : Gujarat International Finance Tec-City has launched the second cohort of its Fintech Residential Programme, aimed at supporting early-stage startups developing solutions in areas such as cross-border finance, security, risk and compliance, Web3 and blockchain infrastructure, and GovTech and RegTech. The application for eligible startups opened on Wednesday and the last date for applying is July 05.
The six-month programme, being delivered through the GIFT International Fintech Innovation Hub is designed for idea-stage, pre-product, minimum viable product-stage and early-validation startups. It combines three months of in-person residency at GIFT City with three months of virtual support focused on product development, market validation and ecosystem engagement.
Participating startups will receive mentorship from industry experts, access to ecosystem stakeholders, regulatory exposure, and opportunities to engage with investors and strategic partners. The programme seeks to help founders build, validate and scale solutions relevant to the evolving financial services landscape.
The second cohort builds on the success of the inaugural Residential Programme, which supported 11 startups with structured mentorship, product development assistance, ecosystem access, and investor engagement.
Established by GIFT City in January 2025, GIFT IFIH serves as a platform to support fintech startups through incubation, acceleration and access to the broader financial services ecosystem operating within India’s International Financial Services Centre . Over the next four years, the Hub aims to support 250 fintech startups and contribute to the development of a globally competitive innovation ecosystem anchored in GIFT City.
Since commencing operations, GIFT IFIH has engaged with startups across areas including cross-border payments, regulatory technology, digital assets, compliance solutions and financial infrastructure. Several portfolio startups have leveraged innovation and regulatory frameworks available within the IFSC ecosystem, including participation in the IFSCA FinTech Innovation Sandbox and obtaining Payment Service Provider licences under the IFSCA regulatory framework.
Commenting on the launch, Mr Sanjay Kaul, Managing Director and Group CEO, GIFT City, said,
“The convergence of finance, technology and regulation is creating new opportunities for innovation across the financial services sector. Through the Fintech Residential Programme, we aim to support founders developing solutions for domestic and global markets while leveraging the unique ecosystem available at GIFT City. By bringing together startups, regulators, financial institutions, investors and industry experts, we are creating an environment that enables innovation, collaboration and responsible growth.”
As GIFT City continues to expand its role as an international financial centre, initiatives such as the Fintech Residential Programme are expected to strengthen the startup ecosystem, promote entrepreneurship and support the development of next-generation financial services.