[vc_row padding_top="0" padding_bottom="0"][vc_column][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text text_color="#555555" font_size="16px" letter_spacing="" el_class="lh22"]<strong>Location:</strong> Odeon Social, New Delhi

With just about a week to go for the last date of submission for the <a href="http://cashlesscatalyst.org/incubator/">Catalyst Incubator call</a>, a small but enthusiastic audience participated in a discussion to explore the opportunity and what makes it special. The venue was Odeon Social in New Delhi and the speaker for the day was <a href="http://cashlesscatalyst.org/author/vivek/">Vivekdeep Gupta</a>, Associate Director Strategic Innovations at Catalyst.

On an overcast evening, the conversation began with the broader work that Catalyst does to enable low-income consumers and merchants to move to a less-cash ecosystem and towards financial inclusion.

Vivekdeep soon took the stage, drawing the line of conversation ahead to explain how the last mile digital transaction enablement is linked with the idea of the Incubator, and the future trajectory of #Fintech solutions to be supported through the incubator project.
Vivekdeep highlighted that solutions to enable and empower the last mile to access digital payments need to be supported and nurtured through funding, mentorship, and linkage to a vast network of partners working in the area.

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-11343" src="http://cashlesscatalyst.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Interaction-img.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="450" />

As the formal presentation came to a close, the cups of hot tea and biscuits drew the audience into small groups buzzing with conversations under the warm yellow incandescent lights.

The participants sought information about the long-term support, design and research inputs and mentorship that the shortlisted solutions will receive as a part of the journey with the Catalyst Incubator.

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-11351" src="http://cashlesscatalyst.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/fccincu.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="450" />

Vivekdeep also threw in details as a sneak peak of the remarkable solution ideas that have already come in from companies and organizations. He added that the simplicity of solutions and context specific approach seems to be a cross-cutting and defining trait for most of these.

The entries range from newspaper bill payment digitization as a value-added service for vendors, with a potential to digitize consumers in large numbers to customized loan solutions for housewives who need to bridge the monthly budget with dynamic repayment options.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row]