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Are you a Digital Native?
In today's competitive marketplace, does your business have a strong online presence that leverages cutting-edge technology and prioritises data-driven growth? Welcome to the revolution! You are a Digital Native (DN). In a world driven by technological advancements, Digital Natives are not just companies, but the architects of a thriving #VibrantBharat, a nation pulsating with innovation. They stand at the forefront as disruptors — the pioneers, and visionaries who are redefining industries through digital-first strategies.
Our vision
In the core of Grant Thornton Bharat's purpose lies a vision for a vibrant digital ecosystem, where every startup, unicorn and tech-driven company, plays a significant role in shaping the future of India. We aspire to be more than just a service provider, we aim to be the premier partner for digital-first firms, offering tailored solutions to propel them towards transformation and long-term success in the ever-evolving digital landscape.
Our mission
The Digital Natives segment embodies our 'digital-first' philosophy, dedicated to empowering startups on their path to transformation and excellence.
Key traits of Digital Natives
- Leverage digital tools for customer acquisition and growth
- Maintain a strong or exclusive online presence
- Drive decision-making through data analytics
Our support
We provide tailored solutions to accelerate growth at every stage, including:
- Customised support for startups at various growth stages
- Strategic guidance for scaling operations and revenue
- Expertise to sustain rapid growth and excellence
Digital Natives are the vanguards of innovation, reshaping industries through digital-first strategies. At Grant Thornton Bharat, we are committed to empowering these pioneers with tailored solutions that ensure sustained growth and transformation. Our role extends beyond service provision; we are dedicated partners in propelling India towards a digitally-driven future.
Deepankar Sanwalka
Senior Partner, Grant Thornton Bharat
Revolutionising merchant acquisition with AI
Scaling merchant onboarding across India’s emerging markets
Dark Patterns
We offer a set of services and solutions that can help customers and entities identify and analyse dark patterns.
Travel and expense management
We have collaborated with Happay, India’s leading T&E management solution provider, as its certified Implementation Partner.
The edge we bring to your business
450+
Clients across multiple industries
20+
Focused solutions
77+
Unicorns and 40 Soonicorns across industries
Enterprise Application Services
We offer assessment, implementation and application support services across Oracle, SAP and MSD ERP systems. Our EAS services assist organisations in navigating the constantly evolving regulatory landscape, ensuring they remain compliant and agile.
KYC, AML and CFT solutions
We offer a range of KYC, AML and combating the financing of terrorism (CFT) solutions. Our experts work closely with organisations to understand risk profiles and address the key factors needed to build sustainable and compliant frameworks.
Managed tax and regulatory compliance
Tax laws and regulations are complex and constantly changing, and maintaining a sizable in-house tax division may not be very cost effective for organisations. Our tax compliance methodology provides businesses with an efficient way of handling their compliance workload and meeting deadlines.
Transforming operations for future-readiness
We offer a structured framework (RADAR) to achieve organisational transformation by aligning key processes, activities and interactions with strategic objectives. Our team follows an integrated approach to understand your business ecosystem, establish the necessary infrastructure, guide teams in adopting new frameworks, and monitor their efficiency and effectiveness.
Grant Thornton Bharat stands at the forefront of nurturing a vibrant digital ecosystem in India. Our Digital Natives segment across diverse sectors enables breakthrough innovation and economic growth. We pledge to guide and collaborate with these firms, ensuring their ethical leadership and strategic growth in an evolving digital landscape.
Dharmender Jhamb
Partner, Business Consulting, Grant Thornton Bharat
Our solutions
Embarking on a digital journey isn't just about navigating the present, it's about anticipating and shaping the future. At Grant Thornton Bharat, we are more than advisors – we are collaborators, standing alongside Digital Natives at every juncture of their growth. From valuation to compliance and beyond, our specialised services ensure that your digital venture prospers at every step of the way:
Valuation
Funding
Acquisitions
Process advisory
Compliance
CEO - Growth strategy
Enterprise application strategy and implementation
cybersecurity advisory and implementation
Guiding principles for a responsible future
For Digital Natives, the responsibility lies in innovating ethically to ensure technological advancements benefit society. It is also important to redefine leadership to inspire cultural change within organisations, adapt to the evolving nature of work with automation and AI, integrate sustainability into core business strategies, and leverage influence to address global challenges such as climate change, inequality, and access to education.
Targeted industries
From revolutionising FinTech to transforming EdTech, our Digital Natives segment spans across key domains, helping companies redefine their industries with the state-of-the-art digital solutions. These sectors are not just about business, they represent pillars of growth, evolution, and progress for India. By supporting startups and tech-driven companies in these areas, we are not only fostering breakthrough innovation, but also contributing to the nation's economic growth.
We partner with over 450 Digital Native companies, including 67% of Unicorns (77 out of 115) and 35% of Soonicorns (40 out of 112).
Tech Product and SaaS
11 Unicorns, 5 Soonicorns
FinTech
20 Unicorns, 12 Soonicorns
LogiTech
5 Unicorns, 3 Soonicorns
Online Gaming
2 Unicorn, 3 Soonicorns
Retail & Ecommerce
16 Unicorns, 1 Soonicorn
HealthTech
5 Unicorn, 3 Soonicorn
TravelTech
1 Unicorn, 1 Soonicorn
Media & Entertainment Tech
6 Unicorns, 2 Soonicorns
EdTech
3 Unicorn, 2 Soonicorns
Trends in Digital Natives
- Digital Natives in Fintech and Gaming are growing rapidly, with expected CAGRs of 22-31% and 27.4% respectively, and the gaming market is projected to reach $8.6 billion by 2028
- India's startup ecosystem has seen significant growth from 2015 to 2022, with a 15x increase in funding, 9x increase in investors, and 7x increase in incubators, making it the world's third largest startup ecosystem
- As of June 2024, DPIIT has recognised over 140,803 startups, reflecting a year-on-year growth rate of 25%
- E-commerce in India is expected to grow at a 23% CAGR, reaching $350 billion in Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) by 2030, making India the world's third largest online retail market
- Reverse flipping is on the rise, with startups considering relocating to India due to favorable economic policies, ease of doing business, and investor confidence
- The Indian government has launched initiatives to enhance the business environment, including the National Single Window System (NSWS), simplifying procedures, rationalising laws, and promoting digitisation
Our key offerings
Embarking on a digital journey isn't just about navigating the present, it's about anticipating and shaping the future. At Grant Thornton Bharat, we are more than advisors – we are collaborators, standing alongside Digital Natives at every juncture of their growth. From valuation to compliance and beyond, our specialised services ensure that your digital venture prospers at every step of the way:
- Deals Lifecycle
- Funding
- Cybersecurity Advisory and Implementation
- ESG Consulting
- Managed Tax Compliance
- Travel & Expense Management
- Dark Patterns
- US Tax Compliance
- KYC/AML
- Forensics
Our value proposition
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We provide tailored solutions with deep industry, financial, and operational expertise to address the unique needs of digital-first organisations
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Our expertise spans large corporations, mid-sized enterprises, niche players, and startups in the dynamic tech ecosystem
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Our global network enables us to address cross-border needs and manage international business considerations seamlessly
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We deploy resources effectively through collaboration across geographies, service lines, and expertise areas
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We offer payment flexibility, including cash/deferred cash, differentiated fees, equity models, and management fees
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Focused solutions
We cater to every stage of the start-up journey:
1.
Self-funding
- Advisory (CFO/CIO) for setting financial and operational foundations
- Cybersecurity and Crisis Management to protect limited resources
- Funds Management & Advisory to ensure efficient financial planning
- Human Capital for managing lean teams effectively
2.
Pre-seed funding
- Business strategy for refining their vision and execution
- Deals Structuring & Lifecycle for attracting early investors
- Entrepreneurial & MSME Focus to address small-scale business dynamics
- New & emerging tech to leverage innovation and gain a competitive edge
3.
Seed funding
- Finance transformation to streamline financial processes
- Tax planning & optimisation to make early tax structures efficient
- Human capital for scaling the workforce
4.
Series A, B, C funding
Risk optimisation and process excellence to refine operations
IPO preparation for planning a public offering
Operations & finance transformation to accommodate larger business demands
Impactful case studies
Our insights
Can ULI address the real-time micro-lending challenge of India?
ArticleIndia’s small businesses and women entrepreneurs have long been the backbone of the economy, contributing not only to GDP but also to the social fabric of the nation.
Roadmap for bank-based apps to gain UPI market share - a missed opportunity!
ArticleAs UPI dominates, will banks step up to reclaim their market? UPI continues its meteoric rise, handling 69.6% of India’s digital transactions and reaching %20.6 lakh crore across 14.8 billion transactions in August 2024 alone.
Our resources
Driving tax efficiency for enhanced business growth
We offer a suite of specialised US tax services to help you manage your compliance obligations.
Digital Natives
Optimise your procurement function with ProcMart
Grant Thornton Bharat has partnered with ProcMart, a trusted leader in B2B MRO procurement, to deliver streamlined and tech-enabled procurement solutions.