Latest news with #Belong
Mid East Info
18-07-2025
- Business
- Mid East Info
Belong: New fintech platform offers NRIs safe & easy investment options in India
USD-based FDs with higher returns, shorter tenures, no Rupee depreciation risks, doorstep KYC, 100% repatriation and no tax on the returns. Belong also launches a transparent and seamless Indian tax filing service for NRIs. Dubai, UAE; Wednesday, 16 July 2025: Belong, a new fintech platform for global Indians to invest safely and easily in India, is now available for non-resident Indians (NRI) in the UAE. Licensed by IFSCA – regulator of GIFT City, India, Belong offers a US Dollar-based Fixed Deposit (FD) starting at just USD 5,000 (AED 18,365), with high returns. Ankur Choudhary, CEO and Co-Founder, Belong, said: ' Our vision is simple: to make it easier for Indians to thrive globally while staying connected to Ind ia. Every NRI has built a global identity through hard work and ambition, but financial and non-financial services in India haven't kept up. At Belong , with GIFT City FDs, NRIs get more flexibility in choosing shorter tenures and they are also protected against Rupee depreciation while enjoying tax free returns in dollars .' Belong users in the UAE do not need to route funds through their NRE or NRO accounts, and the earnings are fully repatriable to UAE with minimal paperwork. As these FDs are in USD, investors are also protected from INR value fluctuations against the US Dollar. GIFT City is not under Indian tax jurisdiction, and all earnings on Belong are fully tax-free in India. The deposits also offer flexible lock-in periods of 3-months and 6-months, compared to a minimum 1-year lock-in for FCNR deposits. ' NRIs experience challenges when investing in India, such as complex and in-country KYC, high currency conversion charges, taxation on all Indian earnings, difficulty in repatriation of funds, and more. Belong set out to tackle these on behalf of NRIs, and GIFT City regulations work perfectly for the NRIs who still want to contribute and benefit from the India growth story ', added Choudhary. Belong is offering these FDs in partnership with reputed Indian banks located in the Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City), India's up-and-coming global financial services hub, similar to Singapore. Offered to NRIs mostly via Indian banks until now, FDs have long been a popular investment option in India. The Reserve Bank of India has recorded INR 103 trillion (approximately US$ 1.2 trillion) held in FDs as of 2024. While Belong offers USD Fixed Deposits at launch, the platform will soon add other financial products such as mutual funds, stocks, insurance, cards and more, which will offer NRIs more rewarding investment and transaction options in India. Alongside the USD-based FD service, Belong has also launched a dedicated India tax filing service for NRIs without the typical 'NRI markup' pricing. NRIs are usually charged higher, non-standardised rates for most services in India. Belong aims to change that by offering transparent and cost-effective NRI taxation services 'NRIs have long been underserved when it comes to modern, digital-first financial solutions tailored to their unique needs,' said Vaas Bhaskar, Partner, Elevation Capital. 'Belong is uniquely positioned to serve this massive, underserved market by combining deep fintech expertise with GIFT City's regulatory framework. We're excited to back this exceptional team as they scale across key markets and build the go-to platform for everything India that global Indians need.' Belong aims to become the financial and lifestyle bridge for global Indians – helping NRIs stay connected, invested, and rooted in India, no matter where life takes them. Belong already has a suite of NRI-specific digital tools to help NRIs make informed financial decisions. -x-
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Finneas and Ashe Announce ‘An Evening With the Favors' Tour
Ashe and Finneas are bringing their collaborative project on the road. This fall, the pair will embark on the An Evening With the Favors Tour. Their debut album as a band, The Dream, set for release on Sept. 19, will arrive just in time for the live run, which kicks off Sept. 18 at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles. The Favors will hit the stage at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, Colorado, and Central Park Summerstage in New York. The pair will also perform during both weekends of the Austin City Limits Music Festival. More from Rolling Stone Blackpink's Deadline World Tour Is a High-Voltage Homecoming Paul McCartney Reveals Got Back 2025 North American Tour Dates Jay Som Cracks Open Comeback Album 'Belong' With Two New Singles and 2025 Tour Dates Tickets for Los Angeles, New York, and Morrison will be available beginning Friday, July 18 at 10 a.m. local time. Ashe and Finneas will be joined on the road by their collaborators Marinelli and Ricky 'Rat' Gourmet. 'I cannot tell you how highly I recommend starting a band with 3 of your best friends,' Finneas wrote on Instagram last month. So far, the Favors have previewed The Dream with singles 'The Hudson' and 'The Little Mess You Made.' 'This is the way every artist dreams of making an album,' Ashe shared in a statement. 'I want you to feel simultaneously warm, fuzzy, and heartbroken at the same time.' Finneas added, 'People don't sing together anymore when they're recording, but it was so romantic and fun. It's a true 'long-play album' in its real intended meaning. Hopefully, you can have friends over, cook a meal, and play this on vinyl front-to-back.' The Favors Tour DatesSept. 18 — Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Forever CemeterySept. 26 — Morrison, CO @ Red Rocks AmphitheatreOct. 1 — New York City, NY @ Central Park SummerstageOct. 3 — Austin, TX @ Austin City Limits Music FestivalOct. 10 — Austin, TX @ Austin City Limits Music Festival Best of Rolling Stone Sly and the Family Stone: 20 Essential Songs The 50 Greatest Eminem Songs All 274 of Taylor Swift's Songs, Ranked Solve the daily Crossword
Zawya
16-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Belong: New fintech platform offers NRIs safe & easy investment options in India
USD-based FDs with higher returns, shorter tenures, no Rupee depreciation risks, doorstep KYC, 100% repatriation and no tax on the returns. Belong also launches a transparent and seamless Indian tax filing service for NRIs. Dubai, UAE: Belong, a new fintech platform for global Indians to invest safely and easily in India, is now available for non-resident Indians (NRI) in the UAE. Licensed by IFSCA - regulator of GIFT City, India, Belong offers a US Dollar-based Fixed Deposit (FD) starting at just USD 5,000 (AED 18,365), with high returns. Ankur Choudhary, CEO and Co-Founder, Belong, said: 'Our vision is simple: to make it easier for Indians to thrive globally while staying connected to India. Every NRI has built a global identity through hard work and ambition, but financial and non-financial services in India haven't kept up. At Belong, with GIFT City FDs, NRIs get more flexibility in choosing shorter tenures and they are also protected against Rupee depreciation while enjoying tax free returns in dollars.' Belong users in the UAE do not need to route funds through their NRE or NRO accounts, and the earnings are fully repatriable to UAE with minimal paperwork. As these FDs are in USD, investors are also protected from INR value fluctuations against the US Dollar. GIFT City is not under Indian tax jurisdiction, and all earnings on Belong are fully tax-free in India. The deposits also offer flexible lock-in periods of 3-months and 6-months, compared to a minimum 1-year lock-in for FCNR deposits. 'NRIs experience challenges when investing in India, such as complex and in-country KYC, high currency conversion charges, taxation on all Indian earnings, difficulty in repatriation of funds, and more. Belong set out to tackle these on behalf of NRIs, and GIFT City regulations work perfectly for the NRIs who still want to contribute and benefit from the India growth story', added Choudhary. Belong is offering these FDs in partnership with reputed Indian banks located in the Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City), India's up-and-coming global financial services hub, similar to Singapore. Offered to NRIs mostly via Indian banks until now, FDs have long been a popular investment option in India. The Reserve Bank of India has recorded INR 103 trillion (approximately US$ 1.2 trillion) held in FDs as of 2024. While Belong offers USD Fixed Deposits at launch, the platform will soon add other financial products such as mutual funds, stocks, insurance, cards and more, which will offer NRIs more rewarding investment and transaction options in India. Alongside the USD-based FD service, Belong has also launched a dedicated India tax filing service for NRIs without the typical 'NRI markup' pricing. NRIs are usually charged higher, non-standardised rates for most services in India. Belong aims to change that by offering transparent and cost-effective NRI taxation services 'NRIs have long been underserved when it comes to modern, digital-first financial solutions tailored to their unique needs," said Vaas Bhaskar, Partner, Elevation Capital. "Belong is uniquely positioned to serve this massive, underserved market by combining deep fintech expertise with GIFT City's regulatory framework. We're excited to back this exceptional team as they scale across key markets and build the go-to platform for everything India that global Indians need.' Belong aims to become the financial and lifestyle bridge for global Indians - helping NRIs stay connected, invested, and rooted in India, no matter where life takes them. Belong already has a suite of NRI-specific digital tools to help NRIs make informed financial decisions. About Belong Founded in 2024, Belong is India's first fintech app designed exclusively for NRIs. Built to simplify cross-border investing and financial management, Belong operates through GIFT City, India's International Financial services centre. Belong is powered by Betafront Technologies Pvt Ltd and its subsidiaries, Betafront Financial Services (IFSC) Private Limited, which holds a Payment Services Provider (PSP) license and Betafront Securities(IFSC) Private Limited, which holds the Broker Dealer license issued by the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA). The company is the brainchild of fintech veterans Ankur Choudhary, Sai Sankar M, Ayush Singh and Savitri Bobde, committed to building trusted, transparent financial solutions for the Indian diaspora worldwide.
Zawya
09-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Belong: Fintech platform offers NRIs safe & easy investment options in India
USD-based FDs with higher returns, shorter tenures, no Rupee depreciation risks, doorstep KYC, 100% repatriation and no tax on the returns. Belong also launches a transparent and seamless Indian tax filing service for NRIs. Dubai, UAE: Belong, a new fintech platform for global Indians to invest safely and easily in India, is now available for non-resident Indians (NRI) in the UAE. Licensed by IFSCA - regulator of GIFT City, India, Belong offers a US Dollar-based Fixed Deposit (FD) starting at just USD 5,000 (AED 18,365), with high returns. Ankur Choudhary, CEO and Co-Founder, Belong, said: 'Our vision is simple: to make it easier for Indians to thrive globally while staying connected to India. Every NRI has built a global identity through hard work and ambition, but financial and non-financial services in India haven't kept up. At Belong, with GIFT City FDs, NRIs get more flexibility in choosing shorter tenures and they are also protected against Rupee depreciation while enjoying tax free returns in dollars.' Belong users in the UAE do not need to route funds through their NRE or NRO accounts, and the earnings are fully repatriable to UAE with minimal paperwork. As these FDs are in USD, investors are also protected from INR value fluctuations against the US Dollar. GIFT City is not under Indian tax jurisdiction, and all earnings on Belong are fully tax-free in India. The deposits also offer flexible lock-in periods of 3-months and 6-months, compared to a minimum 1-year lock-in for FCNR deposits. 'NRIs experience challenges when investing in India, such as complex and in-country KYC, high currency conversion charges, taxation on all Indian earnings, difficulty in repatriation of funds, and more. Belong set out to tackle these on behalf of NRIs, and GIFT City regulations work perfectly for the NRIs who still want to contribute and benefit from the India growth story', added Choudhary. Belong is offering these FDs in partnership with reputed Indian banks located in the Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City), India's up-and-coming global financial services hub, similar to Singapore. Offered to NRIs mostly via Indian banks until now, FDs have long been a popular investment option in India. The Reserve Bank of India has recorded INR 103 trillion (approximately US$ 1.2 trillion) held in FDs as of 2024. While Belong offers USD Fixed Deposits at launch, the platform will soon add other financial products such as mutual funds, stocks, insurance, cards and more, which will offer NRIs more rewarding investment and transaction options in India. Alongside the USD-based FD service, Belong has also launched a dedicated India tax filing service for NRIs without the typical 'NRI markup' pricing. NRIs are usually charged higher, non-standardised rates for most services in India. Belong aims to change that by offering transparent and cost-effective NRI taxation services 'NRIs have long been underserved when it comes to modern, digital-first financial solutions tailored to their unique needs," said Vaas Bhaskar, Partner, Elevation Capital. "Belong is uniquely positioned to serve this massive, underserved market by combining deep fintech expertise with GIFT City's regulatory framework. We're excited to back this exceptional team as they scale across key markets and build the go-to platform for everything India that global Indians need.' Belong aims to become the financial and lifestyle bridge for global Indians - helping NRIs stay connected, invested, and rooted in India, no matter where life takes them. Belong already has a suite of NRI-specific digital tools to help NRIs make informed financial decisions. About Belong Founded in 2024, Belong is India's first fintech app designed exclusively for NRIs. Built to simplify cross-border investing and financial management, Belong operates through GIFT City, India's International Financial services centre. Belong is powered by Betafront Technologies Pvt Ltd and its subsidiaries, Betafront Financial Services (IFSC) Private Limited, which holds a Payment Services Provider (PSP) license and Betafront Securities(IFSC) Private Limited, which holds the Broker Dealer license issued by the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA). The company is the brainchild of fintech veterans Ankur Choudhary, Sai Sankar M, Ayush Singh and Savitri Bobde, committed to building trusted, transparent financial solutions for the Indian diaspora worldwide.
Entrepreneur
09-07-2025
- Business
- Entrepreneur
Belong, Green Aero, and Enercomp Solutions Raise Early-Stage Funding
The below brands have announced their latest funding rounds. You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. Belong Raises USD 5 Mn Funding from Elevation Capital NRI-focused fintech startup Belong has raised USD 5 million in a seed round led by Elevation Capital, with participation from Relentless Ventures and top angel investors including Abhiraj Singh Bahl, Varun Khaitan (Urban Company), Akshant Goyal (Zomato), Varun Alagh (Mamaearth), and others. The funds will be used to acquire regulatory licences, scale its product suite, and expand across major NRI geographies such as the UAE, Gulf, UK, and US. Founded in 2024 by fintech veterans Ankur Choudhary, Ayush Singh, Sai Sankar M, and Savitri Bobde, Belong is India's first digital financial platform built exclusively for NRIs, operating through GIFT City, India's International Financial Services Centre. Belong launched with a USD Fixed Deposit product in partnership with Indian banks in GIFT City—offering tax-free returns, INR depreciation protection, doorstep KYC, and easy repatriation. It has also secured PSP and broker-dealer licences from IFSCA. "We're building Belong to be the trusted financial home for Global Indians," said Ankur Choudhary, CEO. "Starting with secure USD Fixed Deposits, our goal is to simplify India for NRIs." The company also offers NRI-specific digital tools like an FD explorer, GIFT Nifty tracker, rupee-dollar monitor, and is soon launching a transparent India tax-filing service for NRIs. "Belong is uniquely positioned to serve this massive, underserved market," added Vaas Bhaskar of Elevation Capital. Green Aero Raises USD 1.6 Mn from pi Ventures and Antler Deeptech startup Green Aero, incubated at IIT Delhi, has raised USD 1.6 million in seed funding from pi Ventures, with participation from Antler, to build next-generation propulsion systems for defence and hydrogen-powered civil aviation. The funds will be deployed towards R&D, setting up an in-house engine testing facility, and team expansion ahead of upcoming commercial pilots. Founded in 2022 by Prithwish Kundu, a former research scientist at the US Department of Energy's Argonne National Lab, Green Aero focuses on designing indigenous propulsion systems—a strategic move for India, which has long depended on imported turbine engines. The company recently test-fired India's first hydrogen-based aero engine, a major milestone in sustainable aviation. "We are excited to be at the forefront of developing advanced aero engine technologies in India for the world. This is the need of the hour for modern defence and aviation requirements," said Kundu, who has previously collaborated with NASA and the US Army. Green Aero aims to commercialise a small-category engine within 12 months, with long-term plans for larger engine platforms. Its product line includes propulsion systems for aerospace, naval, and civil aviation sectors. "Green Aero is building world-class aero engines in India, with a laser-sharp focus on efficiency and performance," added Shubham Sandeep, MD at pi Ventures. Enercomp Solutions Raises INR 2 Cr to Scale AI-Driven Drone Capabilities Drone tech startup Enercomp Solutions has raised INR 2 crore in a bridge round led by angel investors, with the round advised by Bestvantage Investments, a boutique investment advisory firm. The capital will be used to expand manufacturing, scale R&D for its AI-powered drone software, and strengthen delivery capabilities for national-scale projects. Founded in Ahmedabad, Enercomp operates at the intersection of hardware, services, and software, offering indigenous drone manufacturing, Drone-as-a-Service (DaaS) models, and a proprietary GIS analytics platform. Its product portfolio includes seven proprietary drone models—VTOL, fixed-wing, and surveillance variants—actively used by enterprise and government clients. "This bridge round will help us deepen our IP portfolio and scale for national deployments," said Jatin Patel, Co-founder and Director. "We're building not just drones, but foundational tech infrastructure for India's USD 13 billion drone economy." Enercomp serves major clients such as Tata Projects, Reliance, Mahindra Susten, and L&T, and has maintained profitability while growing from INR 3.1 crore in FY23 to INR 5.6 crore in FY24. With INR 4.2 crore already logged in FY25 and an order book over INR 9 crore, the company shows strong momentum. "We backed Enercomp for its capital efficiency and IP-led innovation," said Raman Sharma, Founder of Bestvantage Investments. To date, Enercomp has raised INR 6.9 crore, with a valuation jump from INR 12.5 crore to INR 60 crore, while the founding team retains over 80.5% equity, including a 4% ESOP pool.
