Keeper gets Rs 5 crore led by Antler to transform paid leave benefits

BENGALURU: Fintech startup Keeper raised Rs 5 crore, led by Antler, with participation from Samved VC and industry leaders from Deloitte and Swiggy, among others. Founded by Shubhranshu Kumar and Sushant Mehta in 2023, Keeper is a fintech startup transforming paid leave benefits into accessible financial solutions.
Keeper’s platform addresses two critical challenges: reducing financial liabilities for employers and unlocking inaccessible funds for employees tied to unused paid leaves. Traditionally, these benefits remained out of reach until employees left their organisations. However, Keeper’s model allows employees to access the cash value of their paid leave while still employed, creating liquidity without disrupting business.
This funding comes as the Indian govt prepares to implement new labour codes mandating paid leaves for all employees. Under these reforms, paid leaves will no longer lapse if unused, and employees will be entitled to receive the cash equivalent of these benefits.
Keeper was founded in 2023 by Shubhranshu and Sushant with a vision to transform employee financial wellness. The idea emerged when Shubhranshu received his encashment of paid leaves after leaving his job, while Sushant was managing an ongoing personal loan. They realised that if employees could access their earned financial benefits earlier, they could avoid high-interest loans and improve financial stability.
Shubhranshu, an alumnus from IIM Ahmedabad, brings deep expertise in fintech lending and investment, having worked at an RBI-regulated NBFC, where he gained hands-on experience in credit and financial products. Sushant, a computer science graduate from Manipal University, has expertise in fintech and HR-tech sectors.
Shubhranshu said, "Paid leave benefits have long been an untapped resource for employees while also posing a financial liability for employers.”