Travel fintech startup Scapia has announced a ₹20 crore Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) buyback, providing eligible employees with an opportunity to monetize a portion of their vested stock options. The liquidity programme comes shortly after the company raised $63 million in a Series C funding round led by General Catalyst, with continued backing from Peak XV Partners and Z47.
The ESOP buyback reflects Scapia’s continued focus on rewarding employees while scaling its travel and fintech platform. It also highlights a broader trend among India’s high-growth startups, many of which are offering liquidity events to attract and retain top talent.
Eligible Employees Can Sell Up to 10% of Vested ESOPs
Under the newly announced programme, eligible employees will be allowed to sell up to 10% of their vested stock options, enabling them to realize financial gains without waiting for a public listing or acquisition.
ESOP buybacks have become an increasingly popular tool among startups to recognize employee contributions, improve retention, and create wealth for long-term team members. By offering partial liquidity, companies can strengthen employee engagement while continuing to incentivize future growth through equity ownership.
Backed by Strong Funding Momentum
The buyback announcement follows Scapia’s $63 million Series C funding round, led by General Catalyst, with participation from existing investors Peak XV Partners and Z47.
Over the past year, the Bengaluru-based startup has secured more than $100 million in funding, reflecting strong investor confidence in its vision of combining financial services with travel experiences.
The fresh capital is being used to expand beyond its flagship co-branded credit card business and build a comprehensive travel ecosystem covering multiple consumer services.
Building an Integrated Travel and Fintech Platform
Founded in 2022 by Anil Goteti, Scapia operates at the intersection of travel and financial technology.
The company offers co-branded credit cards in partnership with Federal Bank and BOBCARD, alongside an integrated travel platform that allows users to book flights, hotels, visas, train tickets, bus tickets, and travel experiences.
Scapia has also developed one of India’s dual-network credit cards, supporting both Visa and RuPay, giving customers greater flexibility in payments across domestic and international markets.
Its platform currently serves customers across more than 17,500 pincodes throughout India.
Rapid Growth Across Travel Services
According to the company, demand for its travel platform has grown significantly over the past year.
Scapia said its flight bookings have increased five to six times year-on-year, while hotel bookings have grown nearly eightfold during the same period.
The company also noted that its credit cards have been used across 113 currencies in 174 countries, demonstrating growing international adoption among Indian travellers.
The combination of travel bookings and financial services has enabled Scapia to build an integrated ecosystem that rewards customers while simplifying travel planning and payments.
Revenue Growth Continues While Losses Narrow
For the financial year ending March 2025, Scapia reported strong operational growth.
Its operating revenue rose 71% to ₹29 crore, compared to ₹17 crore in FY24. At the same time, the company reduced its net loss to ₹83 crore, down from ₹88 crore in the previous fiscal year.
The improved financial performance reflects continued business expansion while the company invests aggressively in customer acquisition, technology, and product development.
ESOP Buybacks Gain Popularity Across India’s Startup Ecosystem
Scapia joins a growing list of Indian startups offering liquidity opportunities to employees through ESOP buybacks.
According to industry data, nine startups have collectively completed ESOP buybacks worth more than $270 million in 2026. Companies including BrowserStack, Innovaccer, CoinDCX, Unacademy, Tractor Junction, Emversity, Cashfree Payments, Plum, and Kratikal have all conducted similar programmes this year.
More recently, Flipkart also approved its second discretionary ESOP liquidity event, estimated to be worth around $25 million.
As India’s startup ecosystem matures, ESOP buybacks are becoming an important mechanism for sharing value creation with employees while strengthening talent retention. Scapia’s latest ₹20 crore buyback underscores the company’s confidence in its long-term growth strategy and its commitment to rewarding the people helping build its travel fintech platform.
