Name

CDFI

Legal name

Centre for Digital Financial Inclusion

Website

https://cdfi.in

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

New Delhi

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Project Funding: CDFI operates as a non-profit innovation and research centre that secures project funding from government ministries and state governments to design, develop, and implement digital infrastructure solutions for rural development and financial inclusion.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

CDFI designs, develops, and implements proprietary digital platforms and management information systems that enable Indian central and state governments and international development organisations to deliver financial inclusion, health, agriculture, and rural development programmes at scale. Its work spans mini core-banking for Self-Help Groups, direct benefit transfer systems, maternal health tracking, agricultural value chain digitisation, crowdfunding-based disaster recovery monitoring, and nutrition delivery tracking.

Product overview

CDFI operates as a platform-plus-modules organization offering digital infrastructure solutions for rural development, financial inclusion, and government program delivery. The core products include LokOS (mini core-banking for SHG ecosystems), the MOTHER Platform (maternal health tracking), ASHA First (health worker payment digitization), KANCHI (agricultural FPO enablement with Milk Aggregation Portal), Sunidhi (crowdfunding and project monitoring), BETS (nutrition delivery tracking), DigiVAARTA (citizen engagement), and various MIS platforms for state government programs. These products share common technology foundations including mobile data collection, real-time dashboards, PFMS integration for government payments, and GPS-enabled tracking. The portfolio serves government agencies, rural cooperatives (PACS, FPOs, SHGs), and frontline health workers across India.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• LokOS: API-driven mini core-banking platform built for the Self Help Group ecosystem under India's National Rural Livelihoods Mission
• Sunidhi
• MOTHER Platform
• BETS
• ASHA First
• KANCHI

Products and services

• LokOS Platform API-driven mini core-banking platform for India's Self-Help Group ecosystem, capturing all SHG transactions at source with eKYC via DigiLocker and real-time visibility into financial activity of 82 million+ members.
• MOTHER Platform Digital system for tracking maternal and child health outcomes across Meghalaya, digitising pregnancy registration, vaccination tracking, and field reporting for real-time visibility into public health systems.
• ASHA First Mobile and web-based payment platform integrated with PFMS for digitising ASHA worker incentive claim and approval processes, used by National Health Mission Meghalaya.
• KANCHI Platform Comprehensive digital platform for Farmer Producer Organisations enabling access to technology, cheaper inputs, warehousing, markets, and formal credit through cashless transactions, including integrated modules such as the Milk Aggregation Portal and Loan and Recovery System.
• Sunidhi Platform Crowdfunding and project monitoring platform adapted for disaster recovery and development initiatives, featuring GPS-enabled mobile data collection, transparent tracking, and multi-payment gateway integration.
• BETS (Benefit Entitlement Tracking Solution) Mobile-based application for improving efficiency and transparency of nutrition delivery through Anganwadi centres, digitising beneficiary enrolment, attendance marking, and nutrition tracking for mothers and children.
• Meghalaya COVID Tracking System Digital solution integrating mobile apps, IVR calls, and real-time dashboards for COVID-19 monitoring across Meghalaya, enabling real-time monitoring, early detection, and effective intervention.
• Meg-LIFE MIS Platform Customised Management Information System for the JICA-funded Meg-LIFE project, combining mobile data collection with integrated analytics engine for real-time tracking of forest management, livelihoods, and infrastructure projects across 500+ villages in Meghalaya.
• Megha-LAMP MIS Platform Customised Management Information System for the IFAD-funded Megha-LAMP rural transformation initiative, enabling real-time progress tracking across integrated natural resource management, rural finance, supply chains, and enterprise development programmes.
• PMMVY DBT System End-to-end Direct Benefit Transfer system for Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana, ensuring ₹5,000 maternity benefits reach pregnant and lactating women in three instalments via direct bank transfers based on health milestone achievements.
• DigiVAARTA Multi-channel citizen engagement application for promoting awareness and adoption of digital payments across India as part of the Digidhan Mission.
• Social Audit Platform Digital tools for assessing reach and effectiveness of government welfare programmes using mobile-based survey systems and analytics dashboards to identify inclusion and exclusion errors in real time.
• SAGY Digital Framework Outcome-oriented digital framework for planning, execution, and monitoring of rural transformation programmes under the Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana, with mobile and web platforms for data collection and progress tracking.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduced ASHA claim processing time from 120 days to 4-5 days
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature9 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM), Ministry of Rural DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCDFI redesigned and scaled the core data architecture of India's National Rural Livelihoods Mission through LokOS, a mini core-banking platform for the Self-Help Group ecosystem. The platform captures all SHG transactions at source and is now live across India supporting 82 million+ members across 28 states and 8 UTs. Project started October 2019.
• Ministry of Women & Child Development (MoWCD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCDFI partnered with MoWCD to design, develop, and implement a DBT-based system for PMMVY, India's flagship maternity benefit programme. The system ensures pregnant and lactating women receive ₹5,000 in three instalments directly in their bank accounts. Project started March 2019, disbursing ₹140 billion to 34.8 million beneficiaries.
• Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCDFI provides strategic advisory and research support to MeitY under the Digidhan Mission, an initiative to make India a less-cash, digitally empowered economy. Support includes designing and evaluating digital payment schemes, enabling infrastructure across ministries and states, and creating awareness programmes. Partnership ongoing since February 2022.
• National Health Mission (NHM) MeghalayacoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCDFI collaborated with NHM Meghalaya to implement multiple digital solutions including MOTHER platform for maternal health tracking, ASHA First for ASHA worker payments, NHM Pay for health staff disbursements, and COVID Tracking System. Projects started from December 2020 onwards.
• Meghalaya Basin Development Authority (MBDA)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCDFI developed a customised MIS for MBDA under the JICA-funded Meg-LIFE project. The platform tracks progress under community-based forest management and rural livelihood projects across 500+ villages in Meghalaya. Project started August 2022.
• Meghalaya Basin Management Agency (MBMA)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCDFI partnered with MBMA to develop MIS for Megha-LAMP, an IFAD-funded rural transformation initiative. The platform enables real-time progress tracking across 1,350 villages in Meghalaya. Project started February 2024.
• Government of KeralaflagshipImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCDFI customised its Sunidhi platform for Rebuild Kerala Initiative, enabling transparent, data-driven rebuilding through digital crowdfunding and project monitoring following the 2018 floods. Platform covered 14 districts with 17,045 active projects and 20+ payment gateways integrated. Project started 2018.
• National Agro Foundation (NAF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCDFI partnered with NAF for the PACS Growth Framework research study examining 221+ Primary Agricultural Credit Societies across 5 states. Also partnered for KANCHI platform deployment enabling small and marginal farmers' access to technology, credit, and markets.
• Mahabubnagar District Administration and Aga Khan AcademycoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCDFI developed and deployed BETS (Benefit Entitlement Tracking Solution) for digitising nutrition delivery and beneficiary tracking for mothers and children in Telangana's Mahabubnagar district. Platform enrolled 1,672 beneficiaries across 44 Anganwadi centres.
• Digital India CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCDFI worked in partnership with Digital India Corporation for redesigning NRLM's core data architecture through LokOS platform.
• WHO (World Health Organization)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCDFI developed a dynamic web portal for WHO to present survey data on Non-Communicable Diseases in South-East Asia region. Quarterly Progress Report published in 2021.
• NPCI (National Payments Corporation of India)coreTechnology or IntegrationCDFI developed NPCI's E-Learning Platform educating citizens, merchants, and partners to accelerate India's digital payment adoption.

Scale indicators19 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Digital Green: Non-profit that builds digital tools and video-mediated extension for smallholder farmers and rural communities, partnering with governments and donors across South Asia and Africa — closely comparable mission, B2G/development model, and tech-for-rural-impact orientation to CDFI.
• Grameen Foundation: Non-profit focused on financial inclusion and digital services for the rural poor, partnering with MFIs, governments, and donors. Directly comparable in mission (digital financial inclusion for SHG/cooperative ecosystems) and development-funder revenue model.
• MicroSave Consulting (MSC): Development consulting firm providing research, advisory, and digital solutions to governments, donors, and financial institutions on financial inclusion, payments, and livelihoods — closely comparable B2G development consultancy model with India and SE Asia focus.
• EkStep Foundation: Non-profit building open-source digital public infrastructure (Sunbird, ONDC) for education and commerce in India, partnering with government — comparable as an India-based non-profit building government-facing digital platforms with open-source foundations.
• TARA (Technology and Action for Rural Advancement): Indian non-profit working on rural livelihoods, FPOs, and sustainable agriculture with government and donor partnerships — comparable mission, geography, and rural-development operating model.
• Samagra (Governance Consulting): India-based consulting firm partnering with state governments on digital governance, DBT systems, and reform programmes — directly comparable B2G consulting + digital implementation model targeting Indian state governments.

Broad incumbents

• Piramal Foundation: Larger philanthropic/development institution running health, education, and rural livelihood programmes across India with government and donor partnerships — broader portfolio with deeper pockets, comparable programme footprint and government-relations depth.

Others

• iSPIRT: Indian product-as-think-tank foundation catalyzing public digital infrastructure (Account Aggregator, ONDC) — not direct competition but adjacent ecosystem participant shaping the regulatory and technical backdrop in which CDFI operates.

Regional players

• IT for Change: India-based non-profit working at the intersection of digital rights, governance, and development with government and multilateral partners — adjacent in domain and operating model (research + intervention in Indian government digital ecosystems).

Emerging players

• Gram Vaani: Social enterprise building IVR/mobile platforms for community media and governance in rural India — overlaps in the mobile/IVR data-collection and rural technology-deployment niche CDFI has used in MOTHER and COVID tracking.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInin.linkedin.com/company/centre-for-digital-financial-inclusion
• Xx.com/IndiaCDFI

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about CDFI