Fintech

Typof Launches SMEPay: India’s first UPI payment gateway for SMEs with 0% commission

• ByStartupStory     |    June 6, 2025

In a move set to reshape India’s digital payments landscape for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), Typof, an eCommerce platform empowering emerging Indian brands, has officially launched SMEPay, a zero-commission UPI-based payment solution tailored exclusively for SMEs. The product, which began as an internal tool, is now being rolled out nationwide as a response to the steep transaction fees faced by small sellers and the growing need for fair and transparent payment infrastructure.

What started as a pain point among Typof’s merchants has now transformed into a standalone fintech platform that aims to become India’s most trusted UPI-first payment partner for SMEs.

“85% of our sellers’ customers used UPI. Yet they lost 2% per transaction to legacy gateways,” said the founder. “That’s when we knew — India didn’t just need another payment gateway. It needed a fair one.”

Born From Merchant Pain Points, Not PowerPoint Decks

SMEPay was initially developed in-house by Typof to reduce the high commissions charged by traditional gateways and to curb the prevalence of cash-on-delivery (COD) orders. By integrating an inline dynamic UPI QR system and offering smart, UPI-based payment incentives, Typof reported a 35% reduction in COD orders and a significant uptick in prepaid transactions — validating the product’s potential early on.

“Real businesses aren’t built on hype. They’re built on solving real problems — deeply and consistently,” the founder shared. “And that’s what SMEPay stands for.”

Unlike VC-funded competitors, SMEPay was built from scratch without external funding. The Typof founding team dedicated countless engineering hours, product iterations, and direct merchant feedback to craft the product — a true example of grassroots innovation.

Today, the platform is gaining traction among early adopters who previously relied on mainstream players like Razorpay and Cashfree, and are now reporting substantial savings — often in lakhs — annually by switching to SMEPay.

Transparent, Tech-First, and Jargon-Free
At the heart of SMEPay’s value proposition is transparency. The platform charges a flat ₹3 per successful UPI transaction, removing the typical percentage-based commission model that eats into merchant margins.

The name “SMEPay” reflects its ethos — designed specifically for India’s small and medium businesses. By keeping the system simple, tech-driven, and built with the local seller in mind, SMEPay empowers merchants to take back control over their digital payment infrastructure.

A Founder’s Journey: From Kitchen Helper to Fintech Builder

Behind SMEPay is a compelling human story of resilience and grit. The founder, who once worked as an assistant chef and receptionist in his father’s restaurant, only began formal schooling in the 6th grade. His entrepreneurial journey — from selling college projects and building websites to creating full-stack solutions for Indian SMEs — is deeply rooted in the challenges of India’s lower-income, self-reliant communities.

“There were months when ₹500 had to last me a week. I wrote code in the day and took support calls at night. Everything we’ve built — from Typof to SMEPay — came from that lived experience of bootstrapped hustle.”

The Road Ahead

SMEPay is currently in active talks with accounting, billing, and eCommerce platforms to integrate its UPI solution as their default payment method — a move that could open access for over 10,000 small businesses across India. With a mission to make digital payments fair, accessible, and jargon-free, SMEPay is positioning itself as an alternative to legacy gateways that often exclude or exploit smaller merchants.

“Our goal is to bring payment freedom back to the people who need it most — small and growing businesses across India,” added the founder.

As the digital economy continues to expand, SMEPay represents a new wave of fintech — one that doesn’t just talk about empowering MSMEs, but is built from the ground up with their needs, limitations, and dreams in mind.

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