Bhubaneswar / New Delhi, India — In a major move to stimulate fintech and digital innovation, the Startup Policy Forum (SPF) and the Global Finance & Technology Network (GFTN) have announced a strategic partnership designed to strengthen policy engagement, foster ecosystem development and support cross‑border growth of high‑growth startups. The collaboration was unveiled at the Black Swan Summit India 2026 in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
Driving Global‑India Innovation Collaboration
Under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by GFTN’s James Boey and SPF’s President & CEO Shweta Rajpal Kohli, the two organisations aim to:
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Strengthen innovation corridors between India and global fintech ecosystems.
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Enable structured policy dialogue between regulators and industry leaders to support responsible innovation.
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Facilitate international expansion of Indian startups through coordinated support programmes.
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Promote knowledge exchange on priorities like digital finance infrastructure, responsible AI, digital assets, cross‑border payments, and regulatory innovation.
GFTN — a Singapore‑based platform established by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) — connects policymakers, financial institutions, technology firms and investors across more than 130 countries to build more resilient and inclusive financial systems.
What the Partnership Means for Fintech
The SPF‑GFTN collaboration is expected to amplify India’s presence in the global digital economy by aligning local innovation efforts with international frameworks that support fintech, digital finance, and startup growth. SPF represents over 60 high‑growth Indian startups worth more than USD 100 billion collectively, giving the partnership a strong foundation in both indigenous entrepreneurial strength and global connectivity.
Shweta Rajpal Kohli said the alliance will help drive regulatory coherence, cross‑border growth and long‑term innovation that benefits entrepreneurs and consumers alike, while GFTN’s mandate focuses on expanding global financial technology collaboration.
Broader Ecosystem Impact
By facilitating structured policy engagement and ecosystem development, the partnership seeks to build a collaborative environment where Indian fintech startups can scale internationally, navigate regulatory landscapes, and access broader capital and technology networks. Policy alignment and knowledge sharing are seen as crucial steps toward building trust, resilience and innovation capacity in digital finance across markets.
This collaboration comes at a time when fintech innovation is increasingly shaped by digital payments, AI‑driven services and cross‑border financial flows — sectors where both India and global partners are seeking leadership roles.