An interview with Anand Balaji, Co-founder and CEO of XFlow, a cross-border payments platform
In this exclusive interview, we sit down with Anand Balaji, Co-founder and CEO of XFlow, a leading cross-border payments platform. With a vision to simplify international transactions, XFlow is transforming the way businesses and individuals navigate global payments.
Anand shares insights into the company’s journey, challenges, and innovative solutions that are reshaping the future of cross-border financial transactions.
Anand, can you tell us a bit about your background and what led you to co-found Xflow?
Anand Balaji: I was in high school when I saw first-hand how the NSE changed my stock-broker father’s life. Since then, I have been deeply interested in solving real-world challenges through technology. And my journey with Xflow reflects that.
When we started Xflow, we identified a glaring issue—we heard from several businesses in India that they were struggling to receive payments from their global clients. The process was complex, riddled with opaque fees, long waiting times, and regulatory hurdles that took away valuable time and energy from businesses.
We realized that while India’s exporters were thriving in the global market, outdated payment systems were holding them back. This problem needed a modern, efficient solution. And, that’s how Xflow was born.
Our mission is simple: to make cross-border payments as seamless, transparent, and affordable as domestic transactions. We want businesses to focus on their growth rather than getting bogged down by administrative headaches.
Xflow aims to streamline international transactions. Can you walk us through how the platform works and what makes it stand out from traditional payment solutions?
Anand Balaji: Absolutely. Xflow is designed to simplify cross-border payments while offering speed, transparency, compliance and affordability. With Xflow, exporters can settle payments in just one business day and at much lower costs.
Unlike conventional solutions that sneak hidden fees into exchange rates, we offer transparent FX rates linked to the mid-market rate. We also offer users a cashback on the processed funds in some cases.
On the compliance front, Xflow automates the process by providing an eFIRA for free within 24 hours for every withdrawal. With Xflow, users can transact without transaction limits—collect funds of over $10,000 in a single invoice.
With coverage across 140+ countries, businesses can truly operate on a global scale. What makes Xflow stand out is our commitment to user experience—no hidden charges, no delays, and a seamless process that feels as effortless as domestic transactions. By partnering with licensed banks, we ensure that every transaction remains secure and compliant.
What are some common pain points that businesses in India face with cross-border payments, and how does Xflow address these challenges?
Anand Balaji: Receiving international payments in India is often viewed as a frustrating and expensive experience due to opaque fees, long processing times, complex compliance, and limited flexibility.
Many financial institutions hide fees within currency exchange rates, leaving businesses unaware of how much they lose until it’s too late. Traditional systems also take days—sometimes weeks—to process transactions, creating unnecessary delays.
Navigating regulatory and documentation requirements, like obtaining FIRA, often means weeks of back-and-forth with banks, while many platforms impose restrictions on transaction sizes. At Xflow, we’ve tackled these challenges head-on.
We ensure full transparency, fast settlement, competitive pricing, easy access to documentation with eFIRA delivered within 24 hours, and the ability to transact without limits in a single invoice. This way, exporters can focus on growing their businesses instead of getting tangled in financial red tape.
What technologies are behind Xflow’s platform, and how do they contribute to the speed and affordability of international transactions?
Anand Balaji: Our powerful platform provides many capabilities to our users while abstracting away the complexities of cross-border money movement. We offer payment collection via local payment methods–which makes it fast and affordable.
By partnering closely with large, multinational licensed banks, we move money across countries very quickly yet compliantly.
Our APIs are designed to easily integrate onto any platform and simplify events like onboarding, compliance and security. We are a ISO and SOC 2 certified organization. At Xflow, we are constantly building our offering to make cross-border more affordable.
We observed that there is a lot of confusion amongst exporters around what their global payments are costing. So we launched an online calculator.
It gives the exporter complete understanding of what their banks are charging, including the hidden costs. Any merchant, it doesn’t have to be our customer, can go online and just upload their FIRA to know the exact cost.
What’s next for Xflow? Are there any exciting new features or products on the horizon that you can share with us?
Anand Balaji: We have some big plans for the future. Currently, our focus is on helping businesses collect international payments seamlessly in USD. We’re actively working on expanding our currency support to include GBP, EUR, and other major currencies.
Another exciting area we’re exploring is collecting payments from India to global markets. While we’ve primarily focused on inbound payments so far, we’re looking to simplify outbound cross-border transactions as well.
We are doubling down on integrations with third-party platforms like Zoho Books and more to make payment collections even smoother. Our goal is to continue innovating and removing barriers so that businesses can operate globally without any hassle.
What advice would you give to other entrepreneurs looking to enter the fintech space, particularly those focused on solving complex global challenges?
Anand Balaji: Fintech is an exciting but challenging space, especially when solving global problems. My biggest piece of advice would be to focus on customer experience within the constraints of the regulatory environment.
Importantly, surround yourself with the right partners—whether that’s banking institutions, third-party apps or tech collaborators. Solving complex challenges requires strong partnerships, and having the right ecosystem can make all the difference. At the end of the day, if your solution genuinely adds value and makes life easier for your users, success will follow.
Anand Balaji’s leadership at XFlow showcases how innovation and technology can revolutionize global payments. As XFlow continues to grow, its impact on simplifying cross-border transactions is undeniable, positioning the company as a key player in the future of finance.
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