Announcement
L&T Finance Ltd. (LTF), a leading Indian non‑banking financial company, has launched the second edition of its “Pitch Point” competition, positioned as a launchpad for early‑stage AI startups that serve either BFSI or non‑BFSI domains. The initiative is timed ahead of RAISE’ 26, the premier AI‑themed event for the banking, financial services and insurance sector, and aims to connect startups with venture capitalists, senior LTF management and global industry experts.
Past Winners Insights
The inaugural cohort produced two winners – Arrowhead AI, an enterprise voice‑AI startup, and SpoofSense, which provides AI‑driven digital identity verification and fraud‑prevention solutions. Ms. Devyani Gupta, CEO of Arrowhead AI, said the competition gave her team direct access to senior decision‑makers and credibility that accelerated deployment. Mr. Kartikeya Bhardwaj, Founder of SpoofSense, emphasized that the program delivered enterprise validation, feedback on scalability, security and operational readiness, and third‑party endorsement that reassures prospective clients. Both founders now view Pitch Point as a partnership opportunity rather than a mere contest, urging future participants to bring a working product that solves a clear problem.
Application Process & Timeline
Startups may apply online by submitting a registration form and pitch deck. Shortlisted applicants will undergo a virtual interaction round, after which five finalists will be selected to present live at RAISE’ 26. The application window remains open until 31 October 2026. The final shortlist will be announced on 1 December 2026, and the culminating event will take place on 16 December 2026 at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai. Queries can be directed to raise.pitchpoint@ltfs.com.
Evaluation Domains
Pitch Point will assess product offerings that align with any of L&T Group’s current or future services across thirteen AI‑focused domains: Cyber Security & Fraud Prevention, Rural & Agri Fintech, Generative AI Applications, Embedded Finance Solutions, Alternate Data‑Based Lending Solutions, AI‑Driven Credit Scoring & Risk Assessment, Regulatory Technology & Compliance Tools, AI‑Powered Collections & Recovery Solutions, Enterprise Agentic AI for BFSI, Image Processing and Recognition, AI Geospatial and Remote Sensing, Portfolio Optimisation Solutions, and Quantum Computing for BFSI.
About L&T Finance and RAISE’ 26
L&T Finance Ltd., headquartered in Mumbai, holds an AAA credit rating from four domestic agencies and a “BBB/Stable” long‑term rating from S&P Global Ratings, with additional affirmations from Fitch. The firm has been recognised for ESG performance and as a Great Place To Work®, and it runs the “Digital Sakhi” CSR initiative focused on women’s empowerment and digital inclusion. RAISE’ 26, launched in 2024, has grown to over 4,500 participants, including regulators, unicorn founders and deep‑tech innovators, positioning it as the largest AI‑focused gathering in the BFSI space.
Leadership Commentary
Dr. Debarag Banerjee, Chief Data & AI Officer at LTF, stated that Pitch Point 2026 serves as a strategic launchpad for high‑potential AI startups, offering a gateway to collaborative design partnerships that bridge cutting‑edge innovation with enterprise scale. Ms. Sushma Kaushik, Head of Innovation Fund at Larsen & Toubro, praised LTF for leading the effort to responsibly scale AI across the financial services industry.