Innovators Playground by NPCI

In this episode of Innovators Playground, Dilip Asbe, MD and CEO, NPCI, sits down with Paras Chopra, Founder, Wingify and Lossfunk, to unpack what it takes to build, think, and stay relevant in an AI led world that is rewriting the rules faster than we realise. Here is what the episode dives into: ✅ Why choosing your own path matters more than following the systemParas shares how bootstrapping Wingify helped him stay focused on long term thinking, build without external pressure, and optimise for meaningful work rather than just outcomes ✅ What it really takes to build world class products from IndiaFrom serving a global customer base with an India based team to obsessing over the smallest details, the conversation breaks down how culture and standards define quality ✅ Why India cannot win by playing catch up in AIA sharp perspective on why competing on the same path as global leaders may not work, and why original thinking and foundational research are critical for leadership ✅ The uncomfortable truth about AI and the future of workAs intelligence becomes increasingly commoditised, the discussion explores what will truly differentiate individuals in the years ahead ✅ What engineers should focus on in a rapidly changing worldLess about chasing trends and more about building resilience, curiosity, and the ability to continuously learn and adapt 🎧 A must listen for engineers, founders, and builders navigating the realities of an AI led world.Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed on this channel by the host and guests are for informational and entertainment purposes only, and do not constitute professional advice. The content provided does not claim to be exhaustive and does not cover all aspects of the topic discussed. Host and Guests do not necessarily subscribe the opinions expressed. Viewers are advised to conduct their own research and seek professional guidance for any specific concerns or questions.

In this episode of Innovators Playground, Dilip Asbe, MD and CEO, NPCI, sits down with Rajan Bajaj, Founder and ED, slice, for a candid conversation on how a fintech company is rethinking banking itself, from core technology and credit models to AI, UPI, and population scale design. Here is what the episode dives into: What it means to build a banking stack in house:A rare inside look at why slice chose to build its core banking stack in house, how microservices change speed, resilience, and cost economics, and what traditional banks underestimate when they rely on monolithic systemsWhy building for the first time users creates the best bank for everyone: How designing credit, onboarding, and risk systems for first time and small ticket users forces fundamentally better product, underwriting, and automation decisions that scale effortlessly to mainstream and affluent users as well How Credit via UPI is converging into a new financial primitive:Why Credit card on UPI is not just a new feature but a structural shift in how India will distribute credit, reduce acquisition costs, expand merchant acceptance, and bring hundreds of millions into formal credit for the first time Where AI actually matters in banking at scale:Beyond hype, how AI is already replacing large parts of operations, risk checks, customer service, and repayments, and why voice led, multilingual, AI driven interfaces will define the next phase of banking for India🎧 A must listen for engineers, product leaders, and fintech founders building for India’s next decade of growth.Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed on this channel by the host and guests are for informational and entertainment purposes only, and do not constitute professional advice. The content provided does not claim to be exhaustive and does not cover all aspects of the topic discussed. Host and Guests do not necessarily subscribe the opinions expressed. Viewers are advised to conduct their own research and seek professional guidance for any specific concerns or questions.

In this episode of Innovators Playground Podcast by NPCI, Dilip Asbe, MD and CEO, NPCI, speaks with Lalit Keshre, Co Founder and CEO, Groww, on how Groww built for scale using time tested open source, why simplicity takes constant defence, and what smart tech choices look like when growth is fast and stakes are high. Here is what the episode dives into: ✅ Open Source as a growth engine: How Groww’s platform was built on time tested open source foundations like Kubernetes and Kafka and why reliability and security demand proven communities over shiny new tools✅ First principles of tech choices: Why Groww invested early in in house infrastructure and microservices, what they learned from distributed monolith complexity, and how they corrected course✅ Protecting simplicity at scale: How Groww uses a platform layer that standardises core services for multiple product pods, helping teams ship fast without each team rebuilding resilience from scratch✅ India’s DPI story and what comes next: A founder’s perspective on how Aadhaar, digital onboarding, KYC, and UPI enabled Groww’s journey and why the next wave will be shaped by engineering talent, platforms, and responsible inclusive innovation🎧 Tune in for a conversation that blends engineering depth with founder clarity on what it takes to build products and platforms for India at scale.Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed on this channel by the host and guests are for informational and entertainment purposes only, and do not constitute professional advice. The content provided does not claim to be exhaustive and does not cover all aspects of the topic discussed. Host and Guests do not necessarily subscribe the opinions expressed. Viewers are advised to conduct their own research and seek professional guidance for any specific concerns or questions.

Alex Chriss, President and CEO of PayPal, a fintech leader driving global payments and innovation. He discusses making commerce borderless and reducing cross‑border friction. Conversation covers AI‑led agentic shopping and personalized journeys. Stablecoins and chain‑based transfers for faster, cheaper cross‑border moves. Reflections on trust, safety, and scaling products for millions of merchants.

In this special episode of Innovators Playground by NPCI, Mr. C S Setty, Chairman of State Bank of India, joins Dilip Asbe for a rare insider look at how SBI is reimagining banking at national scale, from village touchpoints to AI-driven risk systems and global ambitions. Here’s what you’ll learn:✅ High-Tech + High-Touch Banking - how SBI is fusing AI, predictive risk models, and YONO 2.0’s omni-channel experience with human trust✅ Scaling India’s Financial Backbone - serving 520M+ customers through 1.6 lakh+ touchpoints and 140+ patented AI/ML models✅ Driving Viksit Bharat 2047 - financing new-age sectors like semiconductors & green energy while powering financial inclusion✅ Leading Through Complexity - lessons from steering India’s biggest bank across disruption, regulation, and global expansion 🎧 Listen now for a masterclass in building and leading the institution that moves India’s economy.Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed on this channel by the host and guests are for informational and entertainment purposes only, and do not constitute professional advice. The content provided does not claim to be exhaustive and does not cover all aspects of the topic discussed. Host and Guests do not necessarily subscribe the opinions expressed. Viewers are advised to conduct their own research and seek professional guidance for any specific concerns or questions.

What does it really take to build India’s future? In Episode 4 of Innovators Playground by NPCI, Kunal Shah, Founder of CRED, joins Dilip Asbe for an unfiltered conversation on ambition, risk, AI, and the mindset to scale big. Here’s what you’ll learn: ✅Why ambition is India’s biggest untapped resource✅ How founders turn chaos into clarity✅ Why risk-taking is essential to building for scale✅ How AI can be a 100x productivity multiplier✅ Why valuing time is central to becoming a developed nation 🎧 Tune in now for insights from one of India’s most dynamic entrepreneurs.Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed on this channel by the host and guests are for informational and entertainment purposes only, and do not constitute professional advice. The content provided does not claim to be exhaustive and does not cover all aspects of the topic discussed. Host and Guests do not necessarily subscribe the opinions expressed. Viewers are advised to conduct their own research and seek professional guidance for any specific concerns or questions.

In the third episode of Innovators Playground by NPCI, Dilip Asbe speaks with Dr. Pramod Varma, Former Chief Architect of India Stack, Co-Creator, Finternet & Beckn, to explore what it takes to engineer systems at billion-user scale. Key takeaways:• Advice for young engineers to move beyond coding into problem-solving and execution• Principles behind building modular, resilient, and future-ready architecture• Why protocol thinking is the key to scaling globally without central bottlenecks• The vision for tokenizing real-world assets through the Internet initiative• Lessons from Aadhaar, UPI, and India Stack on innovation at population scale 🎧 Tune in for a masterclass on technology, scale, and imagination shaping India’s digital future. Follow NPCI on Social Media Handles:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/npci_npciInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/npci_npci_/Linkedin:https://www.linkedin.com/company/npci/Website:https://www.npci.org.in/ Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed on this channel by the host and guests are for informational and entertainment purposes only, and do not constitute professional advice. The content provided does not claim to be exhaustive and does not cover all aspects of the topic discussed. Host and Guests do not necessarily subscribe the opinions expressed. Viewers are advised to conduct their own research and seek professional guidance for any specific concerns or questions.

In the second episode of Innovators Playground by NPCI, Dilip Asbe speaks with Rahul Chari, Co-founder & CTO of PhonePe, for a deep dive into what it truly takes to build and scale trusted technology for a billion-plus India. From the early chaos of Flipkart’s Big Billion Day to leading a fintech giant at the forefront of India’s digital revolution, Rahul shares candid reflections on building for scale, designing resilient systems, and staying ahead of the innovation curve.Tune in to hear:• How a foundational gap in India’s early digital infrastructure sparked the birth of PhonePe • The architectural and cultural principles behind building resilient, high-concurrency platforms for a billion-plus user base• Extensibility of the UPI specs • Why AI is not just augmenting developers but redefining the role of software engineers • Rahul Chari’s perspective on nurturing engineering talent, decentralising learning, and building outside legacy institutions Follow NPCI on Social Media Handles:YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/npci_npciInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/npci_npci_/Linkedin:https://www.linkedin.com/company/npci/Website:https://www.npci.org.in/Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed on this channel by the host and guests are for informational and entertainment purposes only, and do not constitute professional advice. The content provided does not claim to be exhaustive and does not cover all aspects of the topic discussed. Host and Guests do not necessarily subscribe the opinions expressed. Viewers are advised to conduct their own research and seek professional guidance for any specific concerns or questions.

Innovators Playground is a podcast by NPCI that brings together sharp minds building the future of India’s digital economy. Each episode features conversations with founders, engineers, product leaders and technologists who are shaping how we live, work and pay in a tech-first world. This is not just a podcast about technology. It is about how innovation actually happens and what it takes to stay ahead.  In this episode, Harshil Mathur, Co-founder and CEO of Razorpay, joins Dilip Asbe to discuss the future of tech talent, the role of AI across functions, and how open-source culture is influencing the way companies hire and build.  Key discussion points • Why AI is not a function but a shift in mindset • The rise of ‘Human + AI’ across every role and domain • How GitHub is emerging as a filter for top tech talent • Open-source contributions as a differentiator for early-career professionals • What companies are really looking for in the next generation of engineersDisclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the individual host and guest and do not necessarily represent the official policies or positions of NPCI or any of its affiliate or group companies. The content provided is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as professional, legal, or financial advice. Listeners are encouraged to seek appropriate professional counsel before making decisions based on the content presented. Neither the host nor the podcast producers shall be liable for any damages or losses arising from reliance on the information provided.

This is where technology meets real-world impact. Innovators Playground is a podcast series that brings together builders, founders and engineers who are shaping the future of digital economy.  In this trailer, get a glimpse of what’s coming… conversations on AI, open source, digital payments, system design, cloud infrastructure and everything in between. Whether you’re just out of college or growing your career in tech, this series helps you stay curious, stay relevant and stay ahead.  What to expect: • Sharp conversations with industry leaders • Real insights on the future of work and tech • Ideas to help you build smarter, code better and think bigger  Presented by NPCI, this is not just another tech podcast. This is a space to learn from those building what comes next.Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the individual host and guest and do not necessarily represent the official policies or positions of NPCI or any of its affiliate or group companies. The content provided is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as professional, legal, or financial advice. Listeners are encouraged to seek appropriate professional counsel before making decisions based on the content presented. Neither the host nor the podcast producers shall be liable for any damages or losses arising from reliance on the information provided.