Cashfree Payments Piyush Anchliya is the headline-making appointment in the Indian fintech sector this week. The leading payments and API banking platform has named seasoned finance leader Piyush Anchliya as its new Chief Financial Officer (CFO). This strategic leadership change arrives at a time when the Bengaluru-based startup is accelerating its expansion efforts following a $53 million funding round led by KRAFTON and Apis Growth Fund II.
Cashfree Payments names Piyush Anchliya chief financial officer. Anchliya’s appointment underlines Cashfree Payments’ focus on sustainable scaling, optimized operations, and stronger financial governance. Reporting directly to CEO and Co-founder Akash Sinha, Anchliya is expected to lead the charge in navigating the company’s next growth phase. With a professional track record spanning Barclays, Bandhan AMC, and IDFC, his 15+ years of diverse experience across investment banking, M&A, and corporate finance bring rich value to the fintech giant.
This leadership addition comes after Cashfree secured three critical RBI licenses—PA-PG (Payment Aggregator-Payment Gateway), PA-CB (Prepaid Card Business), and PPI (Prepaid Payment Instruments)—further cementing its status as a compliant and trusted player in India’s digital finance space. With over $80 billion in annual transaction volumes across 800,000+ businesses, the company is rapidly emerging as one of India’s most trusted payment processing platforms.
For Cashfree, which began with a simple mission of enabling seamless payment solutions, the addition of Anchliya indicates an intensified focus on financial stewardship. His leadership is expected to add strategic depth to an already robust tech infrastructure, thus ensuring Cashfree’s position at the forefront of fintech innovation in India. Let’s explore the company’s business model, strategic growth, and what this high-profile appointment means for the Indian startup ecosystem.
1. The Journey of Cashfree: Building India’s Fintech Backbone
1.1 Company Overview and Working Model
Cashfree Payments is a prominent Indian fintech company headquartered in Bengaluru. Launched in 2015 by Akash Sinha and Reeju Datta, it operates as a full-stack payments and API banking solutions provider. The platform enables businesses to collect and disburse payments using a range of APIs that seamlessly integrate into their systems. It offers solutions such as payment gateway services, payouts, bank account verification, card issuing, and API banking for businesses of all sizes.
What sets Cashfree apart is its technology-first approach. It facilitates bulk disbursals, automated reconciliation, and advanced data insights, catering to enterprises and startups alike. Its services support everything from e-commerce to lending, gaming, education, and financial services.
1.2 Revenue Model and Monetization
The company generates revenue via transaction-based fees. This includes fees charged to merchants for using its payment gateway, subscription-based APIs, and charges for value-added services like real-time KYC and compliance tools. With consistent transaction growth and a diversified client base, Cashfree’s revenue streams continue to expand across B2B and enterprise segments.
2. Funding and Financial Growth Milestones
2.1 Major Investments and Fundraising Highlights
Cashfree Payments has witnessed impressive investor trust since its inception. The latest boost came from a $53 million Series C funding round led by South Korean gaming firm KRAFTON. The round also saw the continued backing of Apis Growth Fund II, managed by Apis Partners. This funding is expected to accelerate product innovation, market expansion, and compliance readiness.
In earlier rounds, Cashfree attracted funding from marquee investors like Y Combinator and Smilegate. These strategic investors have not only provided capital but also mentorship and access to global fintech playbooks, aiding in robust organizational maturity.
3. The Founders: Visionaries Behind the Fintech Disruption
3.1 Akash Sinha and Reeju Datta
Akash Sinha, CEO and Co-founder, comes from a strong tech and product background. Before founding Cashfree, he worked with Amazon India, where he identified key gaps in the Indian payments landscape. Reeju Datta, the other Co-founder, brought complementary expertise in operations and market strategy. Their combined vision was simple yet powerful—to simplify digital payments in India and provide intelligent tools for businesses.
The leadership has helped Cashfree expand to serve over 800,000 businesses and manage more than $80 billion in annual payment volumes. Their customer-centric approach continues to define the brand’s innovation journey.
4. Strategic Appointment: Cashfree Payments Piyush Anchliya Joins as CFO
4.1 Anchliya’s Background and Career Journey
Piyush Anchliya, an alumnus of IIM Ahmedabad and IIT Kharagpur, carries over 15 years of experience in global finance. His career spans across top-tier institutions including Barclays and the IDFC/Bandhan Group. He most recently served as CFO at Bandhan AMC (formerly IDFC Asset Management Company).
Anchliya’s experience spans investment banking, corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, and strategic planning. He brings extensive experience in both public and private markets and leads with a data-driven, cross-functional approach.
4.2 His Role at Cashfree and Expectations Ahead
As the new CFO, Anchliya will take charge of Cashfree’s financial strategy. His focus will lie in optimizing operations, boosting financial health, and enabling sustainable scalability. He will work closely with CEO Akash Sinha to align financial planning with the company’s aggressive growth goals.
With regulatory compliance, international expansion, and advanced product rollouts on the agenda, Anchliya’s leadership is seen as a timely addition. His arrival comes when Cashfree is transitioning from high-growth to high-stability—requiring tight financial discipline.
5. Leadership Transition and Cultural Alignment
5.1 Outgoing CFO Vikas Guru’s Contribution
Akash Sinha extended heartfelt thanks to the outgoing CFO, Vikas Guru, whose financial stewardship played a key role in Cashfree’s growth so far. Guru will continue to support the team during the transition. His tenure saw the company scale its tech infrastructure and attain multiple RBI licenses.
Anchliya’s appointment is part of a larger talent strategy that reflects Cashfree’s readiness to compete at a global scale.
6. Industry Impact and Growth Outlook
6.1 Fintech Growth and Cashfree’s Market Position
India’s digital payments market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 20.2% to reach over $1 trillion by 2026. Cashfree, with its agile API infrastructure and product-first approach, is well-positioned to ride this wave. It is now among a handful of Indian companies to receive three crucial RBI licenses—a signal of its regulatory maturity.
With Anchliya at the financial helm, the company is poised to deepen its global partnerships, build new verticals, and introduce more compliance-ready offerings.
7. Learning for Startups and Entrepreneurs
7.1 Strategic Financial Hiring Can Define Your Growth Phase
Cashfree Payments Piyush Anchliya appointment underlines one key insight for founders—timing matters in leadership hiring. When startups grow past product-market fit and enter the scale-up phase, operational and financial clarity becomes non-negotiable. That’s where strategic hires make all the difference.
Anchliya brings cross-functional vision, international exposure, and structured thinking—critical for navigating regulatory complexities, scaling operations, and managing investor expectations.
Startups must recognize that finance is not just about accounting—it’s about data-driven decision-making, risk management, and future-proofing. Building a strong financial leadership layer early can save costly detours down the road.
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