1 October, 2026, Bengaluru: A total of 380 learners graduated from Batch 1 of the ‘FinTech Certificate Programme for Young Professionals’ at a valedictory ceremony hosted by IIM Bangalore’s digital learning initiative IIMBx. The inaugural cohort had enrolled 518 learners, with 363 graduating with the Advanced Certificate after clearing proctored, in-person examinations and 17 with the Foundation Certificate, giving the programme a completion rate of over 73%.
Around 300 participants received their Certificates of Completion during today’s ceremony, which also included participants sharing highlights from the programme as well as their IIMB learning experience.
At the valedictory ceremony, Chief Guest Sanjeev Kumar Gupta, CEO, Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM), delivered an inspiring address celebrating the successful completion of Batch 1 of the programme. He said, “The IIMBx FinTech programme is more than a learning initiative. It is an investment in the talent that will shape tomorrow’s digital economy. Our collaboration with IIMBx and the Government of Karnataka reflects KDEM’s commitment to strengthening Karnataka’s digital ecosystem through industry-relevant education. To the graduating learners, my message is simple: technology will continue to evolve, but your ability to learn, adapt and innovate will define your journey”.
The FinTech programme was launched in August 2025 in Bengaluru by Shri Priyank Kharge, Hon’ble Minister for Electronics, IT & BT, and Rural Development & Panchayat Raj, Government of Karnataka. Supported by the Government of Karnataka under the Centre of Excellence in FinTech, the IIMBx programme has equipped young professionals with skills in payments, lending, insurance and wealth tech.
Celebrating milestones
On the occasion, Prof. U Dinesh Kumar, Director-in-charge, IIMB, said, “With the FinTech programme, which was designed and delivered with the generous support of the Government of Karnataka, we aimed to prepare young professionals for the breadth and pace of India’s FinTech ecosystem. Today’s valedictory marks an important milestone for our learners, who have navigated a curriculum that strategically pairs academic rigour with industry insight. We hope that they carry this foundation into the sector, having the knowledge and adaptability to contribute across its many facets”.
Wishing the participants every success, Prof. G Shainesh, Chairperson, Digital Learning and faculty of the Marketing area, IIMB, said, “The successful graduation of the pioneer cohort of IIM Bangalore’s FinTech Programme marks an important milestone in India’s journey toward digital empowerment. By blending world-class academic rigor with a localized, highly affordable skilling model supported by the Government of Karnataka, the online programme offered by IIMBx successfully equips a new generation of professionals and entrepreneurs with technical as well as strategic acumen required to lead the next wave of global financial innovation”.
Highlighting that it was a privilege to work with the Government of Karnataka on this project, Sitaraman Shankar, CEO, IIMBx Digital Learning Foundation, added, “We are gratified to see the early results in the shape of the cohort graduating today and are hopeful this first batch will work towards enhancing the state’s reputation as a FinTech powerhouse.”
Panel on Fintech Playbook
A panel discussion on, ‘India’s FinTech Playbook: Payments, Lending, Insurance and Wealth Tech – What’s Next?’ saw industry leaders discussing the future of the Indian FinTech space. They included Dr. Balakrishnan Mahadevan, Former COO, National Payments Corporation of India and author of, ‘Designing Change: My Journey through Digital Payments Transformation’; Tim Mathews, Co-founder and CEO, Finsall; Apurva Singh, Public Policy and Government Affairs, Razorpay; Dr. L. Ravindran, MD and CEO, Wealthmax Enterprises Management; Chetan Dixit, Vice President – Beyond Bengaluru at the Karnataka Digital Economy Mission, and Rangaraj Sriramulu, Business Transformation and Digital Leader, Saint-Gobain Group in India.
FinTech Programme
Supported by the Government of Karnataka, the courses led by faculty from IIM Bangalore and industry experts cover essential managements concepts relating to strategy, people management, finance, product management and regulation, apart from providing a basic exposure to the business of key verticals such as lending, payments, insurance and wealth tech. Batch 1 was offered in two tiers: a six-month Foundation Certificate followed by a three-month Advanced Certificate. Every course included live online sessions, and course transcripts were provided in both Kannada and English to make the programme accessible to learners across the state. The curriculum has been designed to empower learners to pursue roles including that of product managers, strategists or fintech entrepreneurs in one of India’s fastest-growing sectors. Alongside continuous assessments on the IIMBx Direct platform, learners had to clear Foundation, Intermediate and Advanced level examinations. All three were conducted in person, as proctored exams at physical test centres.
FinTech Batch 2
Building on the success of its inaugural cohort, FinTech Batch 2 will commence in November 2026, offering a refined, six-month programme. Applications are open till 25th October 2026. Please visit: https://iimbx.iimb.ac.in/
