Episode 68: Rise, Fall, and Reinvention of LenDenClub | Bhavin Patel | #DamaniTalks

What happens when your startup loses 97% of its revenue overnight—and you still don’t shut down?

Bhavin Patel, Co-founder & CEO of LendenClub, returns to #DamaniTalks. But this time, it’s not a victory lap. It’s a story of near-collapse and the bold reinvention that followed.

After scaling to ₹1,000+ Cr in monthly disbursements, LendenClub ran headfirst into regulatory reforms that wiped out most of its business. What followed? A ₹16 Cr quarterly loss, a brutal product reset, and a team that refused to give up.

Bhavin breaks down how they:

– Navigated RBI’s toughest lending reforms

– Rebuilt a high-trust, tech-first lending engine

– Managed team morale in the middle of crisis

– Turned every new product line into a breakeven playbook

– Built one of India’s most disciplined fintech machines

This is the story of staying in the game without shortcuts, vanity metrics, or VC crutches. It’s about building real value when the world isn’t watching.

If you’re a fintech founder, investor, or someone riding the cycles of startup highs and lows; this episode is for you.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction  
03:21 – Growing up, sports, and early influences   
05:16 – First venture in lending business   
09:09 – Starting LenDenClub: The origin story   
11:00 – Challenges in early fintech days   
15:11- Regulations impact on P2P business 
18:35 – Breaking through: profitability & scale   
25:17 – Building a strong team & shared vision   
28:01 – Shutting down the partnership model  
32:54- Break-even & crisis mangement 101  
35:07- Dancing your way to work- LenDen Club’s culture 
38:06 – The ₹16 Crore loss & recovery strategy   
47:02- How LenDen Club stayed ahead of it’s game 
52:59- Hardik Pandya as brand ambassador 
55:11 – Using AI to revolutionize lending   
01:01:06- Bhavin’s request to RBI 
01:06:25 – Rapid fire  
01:13:48 – Final reflections & vision for 2030   

About Our Guest

Bhavin Patel, Co-founder & CEO – LendenClub

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bhavinpatel2022/
X: https://x.com/ptl_bhavin?lang=en

DamaniTalks

Hosted by Anirudh A Damani, began as a live podcast during COVID-19 to motivate entrepreneurs and investors through tough times. It evolved into insightful conversations uncovering the ‘why’ behind entrepreneurship. From insightful conversations to actionable advice, DamaniTalks explores startup stories, venture capital trends, and the realities of building scalable businesses. Tune in for authentic discussions that inspire, educate, and motivate the next generation of entrepreneurs. Subscribe now to stay ahead in the world of innovation and growth!

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