Ashneer Grover Launches Healthtech Startup ZeroPe to Solve Medical Loan Gap

ZeroPe lists Delhi-based Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC) Mukut Finvest as their lending partner.

Ashneer Grover, cofounder and former MD of BharatPe has begun his new innings with the launch of the latest fintech app ZeroPe. The app has been built to facilitate medical loans.

Developed by Third Unicorn, a company floated by Ashneer, his wife Madhuri Grover, and Aseem Ghavri after his exit from BharatPe, the healthcare billing app promises to provide loans up to INR 5 Lakh for user’s medical needs.

Grover became a household name in India after his debut in the startup funding reality show Shark Tank India. However, the serial entrepreneur was embroiled in several controversies, including his ouster from BharatPe.

Since then, he floated Third Unicorn, under which he launched CrickPe, a fantasy gaming platform in 2023.

Third Unicorn has raised a seed round of $3.5 million led by the ZNL Growth Fund along with the participation of Vevek Ventures Investments and Rishaayu LLP.

ZeroPe’s Core Offerings

As per the information available on its website, a user can download the app from Google Play Store. To avail of the medical loans, the user has to first complete a KYC.

Individuals can then enter the required loan amount and choose from the various repayment options.

While the website doesn’t explicitly mention the duration for loan disbursement, it says ZeroPe directly pays the approved loan amount on behalf of the user to the chosen hospital.

The website lists Delhi-based Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC) Mukut Finvest as their lending partner. Currently, the service can only be availed at partnered hospitals.

Existing Market players

ZeroPe is not the first in the domain to offer simplified medical payment services through loans. There are a host of other startups that are offering instant finance solutions for medical payments or elective treatments.

For Example, SaveIn promises 0% EMI options for healthcare payments and covers 300+ treatments. However, the money is first credited to the user who can then transfer it to a partner healthcare provider.

Similarly, Navi offers medical loans or personal loans for medical emergencies up to INR 20 Lakh.

Qube Health, another startup in the domain, offers no-cost payback EMIs, instant money, and cashback on every payment, making it a valuable resource for managing medical expenses.

Apart from these, Arogya Finance, Credit Mantri, LazyPay, Fibe, and Kenko are some examples of startups providing medical loan facilities.

Healthtech Meets Fintech

The fintech market opportunity in India is estimated to be $2.1 trillion by 2030, whereas healthtech is expected to report $37 billion in revenue by 2030.

Although the trajectory of growth was slower, healthtech is now coming to age in India, following in the footsteps of fintech.

However, both sectors are moving towards a point of integration. This integration will reshape healthcare delivery in India by enhancing healthcare services, improving access to medical care, and streamlining payment processes.

By combining healthtech and fintech, innovative solutions are being developed to address various challenges in the healthcare industry, such as improving patient care, enhancing operational efficiency, and facilitating financial transactions related to healthcare services.

Apart from health financing, fintech tools are also being integrated into healthtech platforms to streamline claims management processes for health insurance.