Madhu, Founder and CEO of Altcase
In today's digital age, investing has become more accessible yet increasingly stressful for the average Indian investor. The ease of entering markets, combined with the pressure of keeping up with the market, often leads to risky decisions without proper knowledge. Investors face a constant flood of information and conflicting advice, resulting in anxiety and poor choices.
Recognising these challenges, a team of seasoned financial experts will be launching Altcase, an investment platform set to become India's largest Fixed Deposit (FD) marketplace.
Industry veteran Madhusudhan ML started Altcase to provide a stress-free investment experience, focusing initially on FDs with plans to offer more non-equity investment products in the near future.
Madhu, Founder and CEO of Altcase, has over two decades of experience in digitalising financial services in India. His impressive career includes being part of the founding team for Aditya Birla MyUniverse and serving as the head of digital business at Motilal Oswal AMC. Most recently, Madhu held the position of MD and CEO at NDML, a subsidiary of NSDL, one of the world's largest securities depositories.
"Throughout my career, I've seen the challenges Indian investors face," says Madhu. "Altcase exists because investors today blindly chase quick stock market gains but often forget that investing in stocks is quite risky and diversification is critical. Diversification can only be achieved by investing in steady instruments like FDs and corporate bonds, which can cushion investments during volatile periods in the stock markets."
Madhu also writes Altsights, a weekly investing newsletter that promises to supercharge your wealth creation process through powerful and actionable investing insights.
Altcase is set to launch in July with a curated selection of FDs from four financial institutions - a mix of banks and NBFCs. But why FDs?
"FD rates were very low for a long time. But then as the RBI started increasing interest rates in 2022, FD rates also started inching up and continue to do so." Madhu says.
"But that's not all", he adds. "New financial institutions like small finance banks and NBFCs have emerged. So, investing in FDs offered by these institutions is very lucrative as they are offering high rates to attract depositors."
Deposits at all banks are insured up to Rs. 5 lakh. So there's no additional risk investors take by investing in FDs of small finance banks as long as they invest amounts up to Rs. 5 lakh.
Altcase will offer FDs with interest rates as high as 9.4%, significantly higher than what most large banks offer.
"Our curation process is rigorous," Madhu explains. "We focus on the credibility of the institution, interest rates offered and support for investors. This ensures that our users have access to not just high returns, but also a smooth pre- and post-investing experience. Our aim is to become India's largest FD marketplace by offering FDs from 6-7 issuers in the coming weeks."
Altcase users will be able to invest in FDs from the comfort of their homes in 2-3 minutes. Moreover, investors need not create new bank accounts to invest in FDs on Altcase.
Before the end of FY25, Altcase plans to offer 4-5 non-equity investment products, including Gold and Corporate Bonds. This roadmap aligns with Madhu's philosophy regarding diversification in investing.
"While equities help create wealth, non-equity products play a crucial role in building a balanced and resilient portfolio," he adds. "They provide stability and can act as a hedge against market volatility. Our goal is to make investors realise the importance of these products and make investing in them as effortless as possible."
The launch of Altcase comes at a time when the need for financial literacy and prudent investment options has never been more apparent. With the rise of day trading and speculative investments among younger demographics, platforms like Altcase offer a much-needed alternative for those seeking steady, reliable returns.
