Exclusive: Kunal Shah-Backed GenWise Shuts Down Operations

SUMMARY

Z47-backed GenWise, the lifestyle app built for India’s senior citizens, has shut down its operations

Cofounder and CEO Nehul Malhotra said that the startup has “paused active operations as other strategic options emerged and are being evaluated for the company"

Per regulatory filings, in FY25, the startup booked a net loss of INR 12.1 Cr on a top line of INR 1 Cr

Z47-backed GenWise, the lifestyle app built for India’s senior citizens, has shut down its operations.

The startup, which had a team of around 20 employees, has laid off most of its staff as part of the wind down, sources told Inc42. It reportedly had handed the pink slip to about 20% of its workforce back in May.

In a statement to Inc42, cofounder and CEO Nehul Malhotra said that the startup has “paused active operations as other strategic options emerged and are being evaluated for the company.”

Malhotra did not share any further details on what these options pertain to. However, a person familiar with the matter told Inc42 that GenWise was looking for a buyout option.

GenWise’s closure highlights the challenges of building digital-first products for older users in India, a large but still relatively under-served segment of the population.

Founded in 2023 by BharatPe executives Malhotra, Geetanshu Singla and Rajat Jain, GenWise bid to make senior citizens digital-ready in areas of financial management, social engagement and healthcare. Its offerings included a digital passbook, payment reminders, social networking for elders, and even an AI-powered companion for conversation and emotional support.

Per regulatory filings, in FY25, the startup booked a net loss of INR 12.1 Cr on a top line of INR 1 Cr. While in FY24, the operating revenue was at INR 1 Lakh at a net loss of INR 5.7 Cr.

The burgeoning losses come despite the GenWise app seeing modest growth in its run time, with claims of a user base of over 30 Lakh elder citizens. However, the startup still struggled with adoption and faced monetisation challenges, as per sources.

Overall, GenWise raised $3.5 Mn in a seed round, led by Z47, with participation from DBR Ventures, Climber Capital, and angel investors like CRED’s Kunal Shah, ex-BharatPe Suhail Sameer, PharmEasy’s Sidharth Shah, among others.

It was also selected for the Google for Startups Accelerator 2025 program in India. The company was part of the cohort for the Google for Startups Accelerator: Apps program, which focused on AI-powered solutions.

(With inputs from Tapanjana Rudra)