Edu-wealth startup, Zinc has secured $25.5 million in seed funding that was led by Nexus Venture Partners. The seed funding round saw participation from EDBI, Quona Capital, Saison Capital, and Global Ventures. 

Zinc will be able to increase its product portfolio and spur innovation thanks to the cash.The capital will also be used to “support the development of global investment tools, AI-powered university counselling, and cross-border payment solutions,” the company said.

With the primary objective of helping families build “edu-wealth,” or a financial foundation specifically created to address the rising costs of studying abroad, Zinc was formed by Prashanth Ranganathan.

Features like Zinc Honors, a full product package that provides all-in-one support for a child’s education, and Ada, a proprietary AI-powered edu-counsellor designed to offer young aspirants in India thorough guidance and advice, have been introduced by the firm.

Prashanth Ranganathan, founder and CEO of Zinc, said, “In today’s rapidly changing financial landscape, it’s crucial to move beyond traditional rupee-based savings and adopt global strategies that protect against currency fluctuations and inflation.”

“Zinc is not just about connecting students to the right universities; it’s about providing a comprehensive financial ecosystem that enables families to plan, save, and invest wisely across borders,” he added.

Zinc’s ultimate objective is to become a comprehensive, cross-border financial services platform that offers Indian families a variety of choices for addressing the monetary difficulties related to attending an international school.

According to the firm, Zinc is prepared to provide families considering an education abroad with a smooth, safe, and all-inclusive solution now that these crucial licences are in place.

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has granted its approval for the Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) licence and in-principle permission to operate as a Payment Service Provider (PSP). Additionally, the company has applied for a brokerage licence from the International Financial Services Centers Authority (IFSCA) of GIFT City.

“India is emerging as a key geography for students pursuing global education opportunities. Nexus is delighted to partner again with Prashanth and Team Zinc in their vision to support parents and students in realising their global education goals in a planned and transparent manner with a best-in-class combination of education advisory and financial services platform,” said Anup Gupta, managing director, Nexus Venture Partners.

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