Travel fintech startup Scapia has launched its first employee stock option plan (ESOP) buyback programme worth ₹20 crore (about $2 million). According to reports from The Hindu BusinessLine, Economic Times, and CNBC TV18, the buyback programme allows eligible employees to liquidate up to 10 per cent of their vested stock options, offering them near-term liquidity without requiring an initial public offering or acquisition. An ESOP buyback involves companies or investors purchasing vested employee shares at prices linked to the company's latest valuation. The company stated that the initiative is aimed at providing liquidity to employees while recognising their contribution to the business.
Founder and CEO Anil Goteti emphasized the buyback's significance in recognising team contributions, stating that "When we started Scapia, we set out to create something new - a category that didn't really exist for a generation of travellers who think and spend differently. Building something new takes passion and conviction, and we've been fortunate to have an incredible team. This buyback is one way of recognising their contribution, and I hope it's the first of many such moments." As reported by The Hindu BusinessLine, Economic Times, and CNBC TV18, the programme represents Scapia's commitment to employee recognition and retention as the company continues expanding its travel fintech platform. The company noted that the programme acknowledges the efforts of the team in building the business.
Since its launch in January 2022, Scapia has transformed from a flight and hotel booking platform into a comprehensive travel fintech ecosystem. According to The Hindu BusinessLine, Economic Times, and CNBC TV18, the company has expanded its travel platform into 8+ categories, including visas, experiences, trains, buses, trips, stores, and more. The platform currently covers multiple travel-related services, including flights, hotels, trains, buses, visas and experiences. The company also offers a rewards programme under which users earn Scapia Coins on eligible spending. The platform's growth metrics show flight bookings increased 5-6x and stays nearly 8x year-on-year. The company has also built one of India's only dual-network cards supporting both Visa and RuPay/UPI, with card spends recorded across 113 currencies in 174 countries.
The ESOP buyback programme was launched just two months after Scapia raised $63 million in a Series C funding round in May. As reported by The Hindu BusinessLine, Economic Times, and CNBC TV18, the Bengaluru-based firm had previously raised $40 million in a Series B round in April 2025. The company is backed by marquee investors including General Catalyst, Peak XV Partners, Elevation Capital and Z47. Founded in January 2022, Scapia operates at the intersection of travel and financial services, offering a travel booking platform alongside co-branded credit cards issued in partnership with Federal Bank and BOBCARD. The company is designed around a rewards ecosystem where every spend earns Scapia Coins. The company plans to continue investing in artificial intelligence capabilities and expand its travel and financial services offerings.
The ESOP buyback trend has gained momentum across the fintech sector. As reported by Business Standard, fintech firm Cashfree Payments announced an ESOP buyback programme covering more than 400 employees, including 175 former employees. In December 2024, Razorpay granted ESOPs worth ₹1 lakh to all its employees. These programmes provide liquidity to employees without requiring traditional exit events like IPOs or acquisitions, reflecting the growing trend of employee-friendly compensation strategies in India's fintech sector.
