Episode 68: Rise, Fall, and Reinvention of LenDenClub | Bhavin Patel
Available On
What happens when your startup loses 97% of its revenue overnight—and you still don’t shut down?
Bhavin Patel, Co-founder & CEO of LendenClub, returns to #DamaniTalks. But this time, it’s not a victory lap. It’s a story of near-collapse and the bold reinvention that followed.
After scaling to ₹1,000+ Cr in monthly disbursements, LendenClub ran headfirst into regulatory reforms that wiped out most of its business. What followed? A ₹16 Cr quarterly loss, a brutal product reset, and a team that refused to give up.
Bhavin breaks down how they:
- Navigated RBI’s toughest lending reforms
- Rebuilt a high-trust, tech-first lending engine
- Managed team morale in the middle of crisis
- Turned every new product line into a breakeven playbook
- Built one of India’s most disciplined fintech machines
This is the story of staying in the game without shortcuts, vanity metrics, or VC crutches. It’s about building real value when the world isn’t watching.
If you’re a fintech founder, investor, or someone riding the cycles of startup highs and lows; this episode is for you.
Timestamps:
00:00 – Introduction
03:21 – Growing up, sports, and early influences
05:16 – First venture in lending business
09:09 – Starting LenDenClub: The origin story
11:00 – Challenges in early fintech days
15:11- Regulations impact on P2P business
18:35 – Breaking through: profitability & scale
25:17 – Building a strong team & shared vision
28:01 – Shutting down the partnership model
32:54- Break-even & crisis mangement 101
35:07- Dancing your way to work- LenDen Club’s culture
38:06 – The ₹16 Crore loss & recovery strategy
47:02- How LenDen Club stayed ahead of it’s game
52:59- Hardik Pandya as brand ambassador
55:11 – Using AI to revolutionize lending
01:01:06- Bhavin’s request to RBI
01:06:25 – Rapid fire
01:13:48 – Final reflections & vision for 2030
About Our Guest:
Bhavin Patel, Co-founder & CEO – LendenClub
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bhavinpatel2022/
X: https://x.com/ptl_bhavin?lang=en
DamaniTalks
Hosted by Anirudh A Damani, began as a live podcast during COVID-19 to motivate entrepreneurs and investors through tough times. It evolved into insightful conversations uncovering the ‘why’ behind entrepreneurship. From insightful conversations to actionable advice, DamaniTalks explores startup stories, venture capital trends, and the realities of building scalable businesses. Tune in for authentic discussions that inspire, educate, and motivate the next generation of entrepreneurs. Subscribe now to stay ahead in the world of innovation and growth!
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/showmedamani/?hl=en
Twitter – https://x.com/showmedamani?lang=en
Youtube – https://www.youtube.com/@showmedamani
Linkedin – https://www.linkedin.com/in/showmedamani/