StartUps

Bitcoin modernizes shopping

Roshni Aslam, an Indian entrepreneur from Bangalore, is the Co-founder and Head of Finance at GoSats, India’s pioneering Bitcoin rewards platform. After graduating with a M.Sc. in Finance from the University of Strathclyde, UK, Roshni gained valuable experience as an investment analyst at Alphabit, a cryptocurrency investment fund, and later as a Senior Research Analyst at ONEX AE in Dubai. With a vision to simplify Bitcoin adoption, Roshni and her brother Roshan founded GoSats in February 2021. Co-founded by Mohammed Roshan and Roshni Aslam, GoSats provides a seamless way for users to earn Bitcoin while shopping from over 120 popular brands, including Flipkart, Nykaa, and Swiggy. Users can easily access GoSats through the mobile app or Chrome extension, making purchases via UPI or credit/debit cards. Roshni Alam in conversation with Surabhi Goel about GoSats, how it began, and more.

What inspired you to co-found GoSats, India’s first Bitcoin rewards platform, and how did you envision its role in the crypto ecosystem?

The inspiration behind GoSats stemmed from my passion for Bitcoin and finance and the desire to make it accessible to everyone in India. I believe Bitcoin is a valuable asset and wanted to offer a simple way for people to earn it while shopping. We aim to introduce Bitcoin to a broader audience by providing Bitcoin rewards instead of traditional cashback. In the cryptocurrency ecosystem, we envision GoSats as a leading platform in India. Our recent launch of a Visa card allows users to top up their card with Bitcoin, further integrating earning and spending in the crypto space. We aspire for GoSats to be positioned among the top companies in India, facilitating the widespread adoption of Bitcoin.

As a female entrepreneur in the crypto industry, what challenges did you face while establishing GoSats, and how did you overcome them?

I was fortunate not to face the typical challenges many women encounter. However, I did encounter difficulties in product development, idea creation, fundraising, and navigating legal aspects. Despite these challenges, I persevered and overcame them to establish GoSats successfully.

How does GoSats simplify the process of earning Bitcoin through online purchases, making it accessible and straightforward for users?

Download the GoSats app from the App Store or Google Play Store and complete the registration process, including KYC.
Browse the list of 120+ partnered brands on the app and choose where to shop.
Users can purchase vouchers from brands like Myntra or Nykaa or opt for the GoSats card for a hassle-free experience.
To get the card, users need to select either the Intro or Elite card, complete the KYC process, and make the payment. The Elite card costs ₹999, and the Intro card costs ₹399; within 10 days, the physical card will be delivered to the address.
Users earn Bitcoin through purchases, which are stored in their GoSats wallet. However, for security, a third-party operator securely holds the Bitcoin.
Shop as usual, and GoSats will reward Bitcoin based on the merchant’s fees from the backend. Even when using the GoSats card, users can earn Bitcoin without affecting their transaction amounts.
Every Wednesday, GoSats processes withdrawals for users. For example, if a user has earned 100,000 sats (equivalent to 0.001 Bitcoin), they can request a withdrawal.

What strategies has GoSats employed to attract and retain users, particularly in a market where cryptocurrency adoption may still be emerging?

To attract and retain users in an emerging cryptocurrency market, GoSats has strategically expanded its brand partnerships to include popular retailers like BigBasket and Shopee, responding to user preferences and feedback. In addition to Bitcoin rewards, the platform introduced new asset classes such as gold, catering to diverse user interests and enhancing engagement. Looking ahead, GoSats aims to offer a broader range of asset classes as cashback options, providing users with more rewarding and diversified investment opportunities.

As the Head of Finance, how do you contribute to shaping GoSats’ financial strategies and ensuring sustained growth in the dynamic cryptocurrency landscape?

I oversee operational and marketing budgets, including influencer campaigns, to ensure efficient resource allocation and sustained growth. I analyse financial reports, such as burn rates, to monitor spending and identify opportunities for revenue enhancement. Recently, we’ve initiated strategies to introduce new campaigns to boost revenue and optimize financial performance in the dynamic cryptocurrency landscape. With over half a million users since its inception, GoSats has grown significantly. A year ago, the launch of the GoSats card further enhanced user benefits, resulting in over 25 Bitcoin distributed to users and processing over $1,000,000 in annualized shopping volume.

Quick Q&A

Which finance book is your favourite?

Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki made a significant impact on me. It broadened my understanding of economics and money, prompting deeper reflections on financial matters.

What hobbies or interests beyond finance enhance your professional performance?

I prioritize exercise, aiming for 3-4 sessions weekly. Reading and cooking are also my hobbies. These activities contribute to my mental well-being, enhancing my productivity at work.

Do you have any favourite strategies for staying financially organized in your personal life?

Keeping track of expenses is crucial for a financial organization. Whether through an Excel sheet or a written record, monitoring spending helps maintain control. Budgeting, instilled in me by my mom, is vital.

How do relationships and networking impact your finance career, and whom do you enjoy interacting with professionally?

Interacting with my team members is invaluable, especially during brainstorming sessions for different strategies. Additionally, discussing ideas with my co-founder, who is also my brother, greatly contributes to my professional journey.

Your inspiration?

My mom is my role model. About 20-25 years ago, she was involved in currency trading and stocks in Muscat. Her passion for finance inspired me, although she never pushed me. Just seeing her excitement and hearing her stories influenced me subconsciously.

February 28, 2024

bitcoin, Roshni Aslam

Sujata & Taniya Biswas: Redefining the Everyday Indian Sari

A homegrown Indian fashion brand redefining the sari as an everyday, breathable, and expressive garment. Combining Sujata’s structured, systems-driven approach with Taniya’s creative vision, they work closely with artisan communities across India to create clothing rooted in comfort, honesty, and human connection. Their journey blends entrepreneurship with sisterhood, building a brand that values trust, craftsmanship, and mindful fashion. Taniya, you left a stable career with the Tata group and IBM after IIM Lucknow, and Sujata, you pivoted from IIFT Delhi and corporate life. What was the exact moment when both of you realised that the corporate path wasn’t enough and that Suta was waiting to happen? Taniya: It wasn’t a rebellion. It was recognition. I had done everything “right”: engineering, IIM, a Consulting role that looked perfect on paper. But somewhere between late-night presentations and early morning meetings, I realised I was living life from the neck up. My hands missed fabric. My heart missed stories. I kept returning mentally to memories of wet saris drying on clotheslines, of Maa moving through the house with her pallu tucked in. One evening, over chai, I said it aloud to Sujata: I don’t think this is it. The moment I spoke it, Suta was born. Sujata: For me, it came as the discomfort of becoming someone I wasn’t. The corporate world had given me growth, but it had also hardened me. I remember thinking: If success requires me to lose softness, I don’t want it. My PhD was an attempt to find meaning, but even that felt academic, distant. What we really wanted was to build something with our hands, our intuition, and our values. Suta didn’t arrive as planned. It arrived as relief. From travelling through remote weaving clusters in Meghalaya, Varanasi, MP, and Odisha to working directly with artisan families,

StartUps

Blood, Bond & Business: The Real Equations behind Family-Driven Startups

February is the month of relationships, and at Hashtag, we’re celebrating the bonds that shape not just personal lives, but powerful businesses. This special edition explores entrepreneurs who share more than a company; they share roots. From siblings turning into strategic partnerships to spouses balancing love and leadership, we dive into the real dynamics behind relationship-driven ventures. This month, discover how strong relationships can become a business’s most valuable asset. Vijayaraghavan Venugopal is the Co-founder at Fast&Up and has been instrumental in building the brand in India. He has over 26 years of business experience in diverse fields, which includes pharmaceuticals, Healthcare and Information Technology. He has been responsible for business development in multiple geographies, including the Triad (USA, Europe and Japan). He has worked with TekFriday, Dr Reddy’s, Lupin and Emcure in different senior management roles. He was Lupin’s country head in China for three years between 2007 and 2010. He is a mechanical engineer and an MBA in International Business from the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, Delhi. He is one of the fastest amateur marathoners in the country, having run in sub-3-hour marathons 12 times in major cities throughout the world, including Paris, Boston, Chicago, Berlin, London, Tokyo and New York, all while leading the growth of India’s fastest-growing nutrition brand, Fast&Up. He also has the distinction of being the first Indian to do all six world marathon majors under 3 hours, and is the winner of the recently held Tata Mumbai Marathon in his age group. Varun Khanna is the CEO of Fullife Healthcare Pvt. Ltd., a company he started at the age of 23 with the sole purpose to focus on healthy living. A relentless passion to do something innovative for the millennial need for an active life drove him to launch India’s first effervescent

StartUps

Top 6 Startups Of 2025: The New Architects of India’s Future

From sustainable farming to EV mobility, discover six Indian startups shaping a cleaner, smarter, and more connected tomorrow. Every generation finds its dreamers, the ones who don’t just talk about change, but build it. In 2025, India’s startup scene feels less like a rush for valuation and more like a movement with a purpose. These founders aren’t chasing unicorn tags; they are chasing impact. They are solving what truly matters. This is the India that rolls up its sleeves and says ‘Let’s make it ourselves.’ Dhanush Kumar writes about the Top 6 Startups of 2025, born from soil, steel, and software, each shaping tomorrow with courage and conscience. 1.Handpickd: Fresh from Farm to Table When freshness becomes a luxury, Handpickd restores it to the everyday plate. This Bengaluru-based agritech startup has built a direct bridge between local farmers and urban consumers ensuring every tomato, mango, and millet travels fewer miles and earns farmers more smiles. Using tech-driven logistics and transparent sourcing, Handpickd doesn’t just deliver produce; it delivers trust. In an era of overprocessed everything, this is simplicity redefined clean food, honest pricing, and a system where farmers finally get their due.It’s not a brand. It’s a return to our roots literally. 2.Bambrew: Building a Plastic-free Future At a time when the planet gasps under plastic, Bambrew breathes innovation. The Bengaluru-based packaging pioneer crafts biodegradable, compostable alternatives made from bamboo, sugarcane, and cornstarch materials that love the earth back. Their vision isn’t just green, it’s bold. Bambrew’s eco-packaging now wraps products for top FMCG and e-commerce giants, proving sustainability doesn’t have to look boring or cost a fortune.This isn’t rebellion it’s reinvention. A reminder that small choices, multiplied by millions, can rewrite the story of our planet. 3.Eeki Foods: Vertical Farming for a Greener Tomorrow In the deserts of Rajasthan, where

StartUps

The Fresh Faces of India’s Clean Eating Revolution

Eat Right Clean eating is no longer a fad but a necessity in the times we live in, and several startups are making sure this is a choice that is easy to make. As people take charge of their health and well-being, eating clean is one of the most important priorities. BINDU GOPAL RAO features seven startups that are helping make this change, one plate at a time. Nutreat Hyderabad-based Nutreat was born in 2014 out of a personal need to provide clean, wholesome food for the founder’s son. Over time, this evolved into a deeper mission: to craft handmade, customised nutrition rooted in ancestral Indian food wisdom. “We handcraft each product using our signature four-step process sprouting, sun-drying, slow roasting, and stone grinding and tailor it to the individual’s age, health condition, and dietary needs. Nutreat promotes clean eating not just by avoiding processed ingredients, but by ensuring every spoonful is mindfully made and consciously consumed. In 2023, when our business was at its peak with franchise opportunities, foreign collaborations, and incubation offers we made a bold decision. We stepped back. We refused to bulk produce because it was creating false demand, pressuring both our team and consumers to buy more than they needed. That turning point reaffirmed our belief in nooverbuying and consciousconsumerism. Clean eating, we believe, must also be mindful free of waste, hype, or excess. While the wellness industry grows, we often see food wastage even in the name of healthy eating. Our model of customisation ensures that we make only what’s needed, drastically reducing waste while offering personalised nutrition,” says Jyothi Sri Pappu, Founder & CEO, Nutreat. Moving forward, their goal is to scale impact, not volume, by nurturing conscious consumers, supporting women artisans, and creating a food culture rooted in purpose. The Kenko Life