OpenTap, a Chennai-headquartered start-up that focusses on the alternative lending segment, has entered into a tie-up with ITI EdVest, an education-focussed initiative of the Investment Trust of India (erstwhile Fortune Financial Services India).

The partnership expects to conservatively add loans worth ₹25 crore over the next six months.

Educational expenses

To begin with, the partnership will focus on lending to parents for payment of their children’s education and related fees.

“EdVest’s focus on delivering customised financial solutions to catalyse growth for students and educational institutions will greatly help. We’re excited about what we can achieve together,” said Senthil Natarajan, CEO, OpenTap.

Open Tap and ITI will then foray into other segments to infuse liquidity for blue-collared workers.

The partnership is looking at building a portfolio of ₹150 crore over the next 24 months.

Hersh Shah, Founder, ITI EdVest, said there was a paradigm shift in the demand for school, graduate and vocational education, especially on account of the private sector’s contribution through investment in infrastructure, experiential learning and industry and research partnerships.

As affordability for such education still remains a challenge, the partnership with OpenTap would come up with easy financing options to support.

Target

OpenTap aims to reach ₹100 crore by the year-end, adding 40,000 customers by March 2019. It currently has an active borrower base of over 1,200 individuals and a loan book size of over ₹3 crore.

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