.png "BharatPe posts its first profit in FY25 under CEO Nalin Negi, with revenue growth and stronger lending services. A sign of Indian fintechs shifting from growth at all costs to sustainable expansion.")
BharatPe posts its first profit in FY25 under CEO Nalin Negi, with revenue growth and stronger lending services. A sign of Indian fintechs shifting from growth at all costs to sustainable expansion.
I’m Aadi. I have an MBA in marketing and finance and have spent years working with fintechs, helping them figure out the growth balance between ambition and sustainability. When a company like BharatPe turns a profit after years of burning cash it’s worth pausing and digging into what that might mean for the broader ecosystem.
Summary:
Ever wondered what happens when a fintech that once chased growth at all costs finally prints a profit It turns out the moment is less about a number and more about a shift in mindset. Here’s why that matters to founders, investors, business students, and market watchers.
1. BharatPe posted a ₹6 crore adjusted pre-tax profit in FY25 after a ₹342 crore loss in FY24.
2. EBITDA (excluding ESOP expenses) jumped to a ₹141 crore profit from a ₹209 crore loss.
3. Revenue climbed to around ₹1,700 crore, up sharply from ₹457 crore in FY22.
4. The lending arm, merchant services, and new verticals like consumer payments and invest services are all fueling the rebound.
5. The CEO is hinting at expansion plans and a pre-IPO funding to prepare for a potential listing once market conditions feel right.
I’ll be real this felt like a fintech plot twist. One minute BharatPe is spending big on QR codes and merchant loans. The next it quietly flips to profit. That feels like fintech maturity showing up. Profit is not flashy but it carries weight.
Seeing revenue shoot from ₹457 crore in FY22 to north of ₹1,600 crore in FY25 is a reminder that scaling still works in India when done with discipline. And when EBITDA goes from deep negative to positive, that is not luck. That is a business finding its groove.
What strikes me is how BharatPe diversified. It’s not just UPI payments. It now controls 74 per cent of its lending arm and is pushing into consumer fintech with an app, credit cards, wealth products. That breadth lets them shift gears rather than relying on one trick.
The talk of a pre-IPO funding round and aiming for full net profit before listing is reassuring. Especially for stock market watchers and traders. It is a sign that they want discipline and credibility before stepping onto bigger stages.
This also feels like a signal to other fintechs. Crazy growth stunts are less impressive if they’re not profitable. Investors now want stories you can bank on. That's a shift worth noticing.
5 Do’s and Don’ts for Founders, Investors, Entrepreneurs, Students:
1. Do focus on a real path to profitability even when growth is exciting.
2. Do build diverse revenue engines instead of putting all your chips on one.
3. Do use profits to fuel expansion not just marketing noise.
4. Don’t think rapid growth excuses poor financial discipline.
5. Don’t overlook the value of credibility among merchants and investors.