Zinc Money

Zinc Money (Zinc) helps Indian families save and pay for studying abroad. It combines money planning, smart guidance and fast foreign tuition transfers in one platform. Serving a growing number of students going overseas, Zinc tackles challenges like increasing fees, exchange rate risks and admission hassles. It stands out by focusing only on overseas education and operating under a SEBI RIA license and initial approval to run payment services.

Core Products and Services

• Goal-Based Investments: Families can build dollar-based investment plans (e.g. equity, bonds) through platforms like Leo Wealth in Singapore. These portfolios automatically adjust as college approaches.
• Ada (AI Counsellor): A smart advisor offering personalized suggestions—ranging from university and scholarship choices to visa application support.
• Zinc Pay: A fast, international payment facility offering tuition transfers within 48 hours and forex rates typically 1–2% better than standard.
• Multi-Currency Accounts: Users can hold funds in currencies like USD, GBP, EUR or CAD to reduce exposure to rupee volatility.
• Education Loans (Upcoming): Plans to introduce no-collateral loans through associations with HDFC Credila and Avanse, pending final approvals.

Business Model & Revenue Streams

• Advisory Fees (~40%): Earned from offering personalized financial guidance and SEBI-certified planning, usually ₹50–100K per client.
• Transaction Fees (~35%): Income comes from forex spread and fees via Zinc Pay transfers.
• Asset Management (~20%): Revenue from managing over $150 million worth of global education-focused investments.
• Subscription (~5%): Members pay ₹999/month to access Ada’s premium guidance features—like detailed scholarship planning and application help.