ASA International India Microfinance

What ASA International India Microfinance does

ASA International India Microfinance, doing business as ASA India, is an Indian microfinance institution founded in 2008 and headquartered in Kolkata. It is structured as a division of ASA International, a multi-country microfinance group, and operates as a for-profit private entity serving urban and rural populations with microfinance products. The entity reports a headcount in the 1001-5000 range, consistent with a labor-intensive field-based lending operation, and has built out a financial and technology leadership bench comprising a CFO, CIO, and CTO.

The company's business model centers on providing small-ticket credit to underserved urban and rural borrowers, a segment that depends on dense physical distribution, local field officers, and group-lending methodologies typical of the Indian microfinance industry. It has raised approximately $16.6 million in disclosed equity across two rounds — an approximately $11.17 million round led by Invest In Visions in December 2019 and an approximately $5.44 million round from British International Investment in March 2021 — suggesting reliance on development finance and impact-oriented capital rather than commercial venture or debt markets. No pricing, product detail, or branch network data is disclosed in the available sources.

Material gaps limit deeper analysis: the company website (asaindia.in) still displays a "Launching Soon" message despite the 2008 founding date, no revenue, AUM, or loan-book figures are disclosed, no partnerships, certifications, or regulatory actions are recorded, and no AI, technology stack, or proprietary platform details are available. The combination of a multi-year operating history with parent-group backing on one hand, and an apparently non-operational public web presence on the other, creates a notable diligence question for any prospective investor.

Name

ASA International India Microfinance

Legal name

ASA India

Website

https://asaindia.in

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

ASA International India Microfinance (ASA India) is a Kolkata-based microfinance institution founded in 2008 that provides small-ticket credit to urban and rural populations across South Asia, operating as a division of the multinational ASA International microfinance group.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Microfinance

SIC

Short-Term Business Credit Institutions (6153)

akta.pro primary industry

Microloans & Working Capital Loans (FSAKAGAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Microenterprise Group Lending (Joint Liability) (FSAKAGAH), Agricultural & Rural Microfinance (FSAKAGAG), Microfinance, Financial Inclusion & Inclusive Markets (BPAGABAM)

Keywords

• Microfinance lending
• Financial inclusion
• Rural microcredit
• Small business loans
• Micro enterprise financing

Headquarters

HQ city

Kolkata

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Core offering

ASA International India Microfinance is an India-based division of ASA International that provides microfinance services to underserved urban and rural populations. The company offers small-ticket loans to low-income individuals and micro-entrepreneurs to support income-generating activities and basic household needs. It operates as part of ASA International's global microfinance network, focused on financial inclusion across South Asia.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Microfinance loans for underserved urban and rural populations Small-ticket credit products extended by ASA International India Microfinance to low-income individuals and micro-entrepreneurs in urban and rural India, supporting income-generating activities and household financial needs as part of the company's financial inclusion mission.

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Recent moves3 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Satin Creditcare Network: Indian NBFC-MFI providing joint-liability group loans to underbanked women and small entrepreneurs. Directly comparable operating model and customer base to ASA India.
• Fusion Microfinance: NBFC-MFI serving rural and semi-urban borrowers via the group-lending model, with similar product, customer, and regulatory profile to ASA India.
• CreditAccess Grameen: One of India's largest NBFC-MFIs, focused on group lending to rural women. Highly comparable to ASA India in target customer, group/joint-liability methodology, and rural-urban mix.
• Muthoot Microfin: Part of the Muthoot Group, this NBFC-MFI targets women borrowers in rural India through joint-liability group lending. Comparable in customer, product, and methodology.
• IIFL Samasta Microfinance: NBFC-MFI backed by IIFL Group, providing microfinance loans primarily to women in rural and semi-urban India. Comparable target segment and group-lending approach to ASA India.
• Spandana Sphoorty Financial: Large Indian NBFC-MFI using a women-focused group-lending model in rural and semi-urban markets. Closely comparable to ASA India in borrower profile, methodology, and geographic footprint.

Broad incumbents

• Bandhan Bank: Originated as a microfinance institution and now a universal bank with a large microfinance and emerging-customers book. Competes with ASA India for the same underbanked borrower base but with a wider product suite and lower cost of funds.
• ASA International Group: Parent group of ASA India, operating microfinance across Asia and Africa. Comparable in mission, methodology, and borrower profile, and a structural peer because it sets the strategic and capital framework for ASA India.
• Ujjivan Small Finance Bank: Converted from an NBFC-MFI to a small finance bank, serving microfinance and small-business customers with deposit-taking capability. Directly comparable customer segments but broader financial product offering than ASA India.
• Equitas Small Finance Bank: Small finance bank serving microfinance and small-business customers in India, including through group lending. Competes with ASA India in the same borrower pool but offers a broader banking product set.

Market position

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/asaindia2008

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ASA International India Microfinance