MCCI Special Session on ‘Funding Opportunities for New Businesses & Entrepreneurs’ held at MCCI Conference Hall

Merchants’ Chamber of Commerce & Industry (MCCI) organised a Special Session with Shri Sanatan Mishra, General Manager, State Bank of India, Shri Prem Shankar Jha, General Manager, UCO Bank, Shri Sujit Bose, Zonal Head, Business Banking, HDFC Bank and Shri Sunil Kumar, Deputy General Manager, Central Bank of India on ‘Funding Opportunities for New Businesses & Entrepreneurs’, on 1 November 2025 at 2.30 pm at the Conference Hall of the Chamber.

Shri Sanatan Mishra, General Manager, State Bank of India said that start-ups can avail of bank funding or grants. Finance from banks comes after government funds and seed money. Start-ups must demonstrate that they are capable of absorbing funds from banks.

Entrepreneurs should develop skills and build capacity. An entrepreneur needs to take help from a financial advisor and enhance his / her capacity as well as develop Financial Discipline.

SBI was the first bank to start a branch for start-ups in Bengaluru. The start-up ecosystem is picking up in Eastern India.

Shri Prem Shankar Jha, General Manager, UCO Bank said that one challenge for Small Business and MSMEs is obtaining funding and another is delayed receivables, an area in which TReDS is useful. The GeM portal is a valuable resource for entrepreneurs as PSUs are mandated to purchase from GeM.

UCO Bank has recently introduced as many as 34 loan schemes, several of which were digital loan schemes. The bank provides proactive training to start-ups which is funded by its CSR funds.

He ended by saying that entrepreneurs need to keep in mind what to borrow, when to borrow and from whom to borrow.

Shri Sujit Bose, Zonal Head, Business Banking, HDFC Bank said that what matters to borrowers is Ease of Doing Business and not small differences in interest rates.

The lending process of HDFC Bank is 100% digitalised. Documentation is a problem for entrepreneurs and MSMEs, so the bank requires only four documents to disburse a loan, namely KYC, application form & bank statement and GST returns.

HDFC Bank is interested to see whether the borrower has discipline and has good credit history. HDFC Bank is not interested in encashment or securitisation of collateral. Rather, its focus is to earn profits by giving loans.

Shri Sunil Kumar, Deputy General Manager, Central Bank of India said that the Bank only sees face value and intention and whether the borrower will timely pay interest. He urged entrepreneurs to pay their dues in a timely manner and treat their banker as their friend.

Shri Smarajit Mitra, Chairman, Council on Banking, Finance & Insurance, MCCI in his Welcome Address said that government schemes play a vital role in promoting entrepreneurship. In addition to government schemes, private funding options are also available, such as venture capital, angel investors and private equity. Grants are another avenue for funding.

The Session concluded with a hearty Vote of Thanks proposed by Shri Sunil Singhi, Co-Chairman, Council on Banking, Finance & Insurance, MCCI.

(This story has not been edited by News Mania staff and is published from a MCCI Media Release)