Before launching Tala in 2011 (originally named InVenture), Shivani Siroya worked as an analyst at the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). Her role required her to conduct thousands of interviews across South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa with micro-entrepreneurs — street vendors, shopkeepers, tailors, farmers.
She listened carefully.
What she discovered was not a lack of ambition or discipline. It was a lack of access. These small business owners were careful with money, disciplined in savings, and eager to grow — but they were invisible to the financial system.
“I started to realize there was so much there that we were missing,” she would later reflect.
The problem wasn’t people. It was the system.
Shivani Siroya: Education That Bridged Policy and Finance
Shivani Siroya’s academic foundation prepared her uniquely for this challenge. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from Wesleyan University, followed by a Master of Public Health in Health Economics and Policy from Columbia University.
Her education blended global development, economics, and policy — disciplines that would later converge in her entrepreneurial mission.
Before founding Tala, she also worked at major financial institutions including Citigroup, UBS, and Credit Suisse. These roles gave her firsthand exposure to global capital markets and microfinance structures.
But something didn’t sit right.
Large institutions moved capital efficiently — but not equitably.
Shivani Siroya wanted to change that.
The Birth of Tala: Data as Dignity
In 2011, she founded Tala with a radical belief: a smartphone could become a gateway to financial identity.
Instead of relying on traditional credit scores, Tala’s technology analyzes smartphone data — such as transaction behavior, mobile money patterns, and digital footprints — to assess creditworthiness. Within minutes, a user with no formal banking history can receive an unsecured loan.
Processing takes about five minutes.
No collateral.
Zero paperwork.
No humiliation.
Just opportunity.
By choosing Kenya as an early launch market — due to its high smartphone penetration and the success of mobile money systems — Tala positioned itself at the intersection of technology and necessity. The results were transformative.
From modest beginnings, Tala expanded across East Africa, the Philippines, Mexico, and India. In 2026, the company began expanding into new markets such as the Dominican Republic and Vietnam, further strengthening its global footprint.
Shivani Siroya: Scaling Impact – From Millions to Billions
Under Shivani Siroya’s leadership, Tala has disbursed more than $6 billion in loans. Customers use these microloans to:
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Start small retail shops
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Invest in farming equipment
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Expand food businesses
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Pay school fees
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Stabilize household finances
Tala’s mission is not simply lending — it is building long-term financial identity. Positive repayment histories help customers access broader financial services and integrate into the formal economy.
The company is headquartered in Santa Monica, with offices in Nairobi, Manila, Mexico City, and Bangalore — reflecting its global vision with strong local leadership.
Tala’s growth has been backed by major investors including GGV Capital, PayPal, Revolution, IVP, and Lowercase Capital. In 2018 alone, Tala secured $65 million in funding from investors including Female Founders Fund, Lowercase Capital, and Revolution Capital, bringing total funding to over $105 million at the time — and much more since.
Recognition followed impact:
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Named to the CNBC Disruptor 50 list in 2024
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Featured in the Forbes Fintech 50 in 2026
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Recognised among America’s 250 Greatest Innovators by Forbes in February 2026
These accolades confirm what her customers already knew: Shivani Siroya is redefining financial access.
Innovation with Purpose
Shivani Siroya doesn’t see fintech as a trend. She sees it as infrastructure for justice.
Under her guidance, Tala has explored blockchain and crypto technologies to remove legacy barriers and increase transparency. She serves on the board of Stellar Development Foundation (Stellar.org), aligning her fintech expertise with decentralized financial innovation.
Her philosophy centers on one powerful idea: financial inclusion is not charity — it is economic intelligence.
When capital flows to overlooked communities, entire economies rise.
Leadership Rooted in Discipline and Collaboration
An only child raised in the United States, Shivani Siroya often credits her parents for instilling discipline. Early mornings, structured routines, and a deep respect for education shaped her work ethic.
Today, she remains intensely hands-on. She begins her day early to coordinate across time zones — connecting with teams in Africa and Asia from California. Yet her leadership style is collaborative. She empowers local leaders to represent Tala in their communities, reinforcing the brand’s authenticity and trust.
She believes global success depends on localized leadership.
That belief has allowed Tala to operate not as a foreign lender, but as a community partner.
Recognitions and Global Influence
Shivani Siroya’s impact extends far beyond business metrics. She has been recognized globally as a social entrepreneur and thought leader.
She is:
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An Ashoka Fellow (since 2013)
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A Senior TED Fellow
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An Aspen Institute Finance Leader Fellow
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A World Economic Forum Young Global Leader
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Nominated by Melinda Gates as a Wired Icon in 2018
Her work has been featured by The New York Times, Forbes, Financial Times, The Wall Street Journal, and TED.