Revolutionizing Digital Lending: The Story of ROSHI
— In an era where startup triumphs often hinge on extravagant fundraising and sizable teams, two European immigrant founders are charting a different path. With just two full-time employees and a modest $100,000 angel investment, they established ROSHI, a profitable fintech platform poised to disrupt the digital lending landscape in Southeast Asia.
Meet the Founders
- Amir Nada (CEO): An Austro-Egyptian who held executive positions at Google, Omnicom, and Dentsu.
- Said Betmurzaev (CTO): A Chechen refugee who mastered coding in Belgium.
- Both met through Antler’s VC startup program in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
- They launched operations in Singapore and Vietnam with only $100,000 in angel funding.
- Achieved profitability within just 12 months, demonstrating their capital efficiency approach.
Challenging the Funding Paradigm
“Everyone told us that we needed millions to be competitive in the fintech sector,” Amir Nada states. “We secured $100,000 and crafted a solution that was simple, smart, and profitable from day one.”
In Southeast Asia’s fintech scene, the conventional strategy typically involves raising $2-5 million in seed funding, recruiting large teams, and enduring losses for years before profitability. Amir and Said have defied this norm with their unique approach.
The Contrarian Strategy
- Capital raised: just $100,000 in angel funding, starkly contrasting with the usual $2-5 million rounds.
- A two-person team functioning at 95% lower operational costs than funded peers.
- Leveraging automation, every system is designed to be API-driven from the start.
- Achieved profitability within a year, emphasizing sustainable unit economics.
- Operating remotely in Singapore and Vietnam, eliminating traditional office overhead.
Tackling Southeast Asia’s Lending Challenges
The credit market in Southeast Asia faces significant inefficiencies. Borrowers often approach various lenders, resulting in repeated sharing of sensitive information. Misleading interest rates are common; for instance, an advertised 3% interest can morph into an actual 12% offer. Additionally, loan approvals may take 2-5 days, often damaging borrowers’ credit scores due to multiple inquiries.
The Innovative Solution
The founders developed a loan aggregator platform akin to an OTA model, showcasing instant pre-approved offers with transparent, real rates and avoiding misleading teaser pricing. Their platform integrates with banks and lenders via APIs, using soft inquiries to safeguard credit scores while ensuring minimal data sharing.
“We’re applying the same principles that revolutionized travel booking to the credit industry,” notes Said. “Finding a loan shouldn’t be more complicated than booking a flight.”
Business Model and Market Traction
ROSHI operates on a matching revenue model, earning from successful loan placements and lender partnerships without bearing inventory risks or balance sheet burdens. This scalability enables growth without proportional cost increases. A cashback program further incentivizes borrowers to make informed credit decisions.
- Profitable operations in Singapore.
- catering to digitally savvy and underserved credit segments.
- Processing loan applications significantly faster than traditional lenders.
- Experiencing 95% lower operational costs compared to venture-backed competitors.
- Expanding their network of lenders across Southeast Asia.
The Immigrant Perspective
Both founders view their immigrant backgrounds as strategic advantages. Said reflects, “Starting from scratch has shaped our approach to building this business—resourceful, resilient, and committed to real value creation.” Amir adds, “Navigating between cultures has allowed me to perceive opportunities where others see roadblocks. Said’s journey from refugee to CTO exemplifies that talent and determination outrank pedigree and capital.”
Learn More About ROSHI
For further details, visit: About ROSHI
Contact Information:
Name: Trinh Mai Thanh
E-mail: Send an email
Organization: ROSHI
Website: ROSHI Website