Raise Financial hires ex-upstox exec Abhishek Singh to helm new insurtech bet. With more than two decades of experience under his belt, Singh has previously served at companies like Aviva India, PNB Metlife and Edelweiss Tokio Life Insurance Raise has hired a seasoned veteran to turn the recently acquired GIBL into a consumer insurtech brand under Pluto, and to build a broader wealthtech universe Pluto Insurance will be housed under Greenlife Insurance Brokers, which was acquired by Raise Financial earlier this year in a cash-and-stock deal Fintech unicorn Raise Financial Services has roped in former Upstox executive Abhishek Singh as the chief executive officer (CEO) of its new insurtech vertical Pluto Insurance. Singh confirmed the development in a post on LinkedIn. His bio on the networking platform also reflected the new designation.

Raise Financial's Pluto Insurance appoints Abhishek Singh as CEO. 27 Aug 2026 Insurance broker Pluto Insurance has appointed Abhishek Singh as CEO, with around 23 years of experience in the insurance industry. Singh joins from Upstox, where he worked on its insurance business, and previously spent over 11 years at OneInsure, according to his LinkedIn post. Pluto is being built under Raise Financial Services, the parent of stockbroking platform Dhan, which acquired GreenLife Insurance Broking earlier this year and rebranded it as Pluto Insurance. Singh has also held senior roles at Edelweiss Life Insurance and PNB MetLife, with experience across insurance distribution, broking, bancassurance and business partnerships. At Pluto, Singh will focus on building a technology- and AI-led insurance platform aimed at simplifying insurance buying and servicing. The company plans to reduce complexity, limit unnecessary sales communication and improve customer support around claims, as per his LinkedIn post. Ranjeet Walunj, Chief Product and Technology Officer at Pluto, will lead the product and technology side of the platform, the post added. Last month, Raise Financial Services rebranded GreenLife Insurance Broking Pvt Ltd (GIBL), the insurance broker it acquired in May, as Pluto Insurance. Entrackr had exclusively reported the development. Raise also plans to invest Rs 100 crore in the new entity. Disclaimer: Bareback Media has recently raised funding from a group of investors. Some of the investors may directly or indirectly be involved in a competing business or might be associated with other companies we might write about. This shall, however, not influence our reporting or coverage in any manner whatsoever. You may find a list of our investors here.

Features that make Kotak Neo stand out among Trading Apps. For a long time, Indian trading apps competed mainly on brokerage rates. That comparison still matters, but traders now look at several other factors before choosing a platform. Execution quality, charting tools, margin access, APIs, order types, and platform stability have become part of the decision-making process. At the same time, most major brokers now offer fairly similar basic features. Nearly every platform provides mobile trading, market watchlists, F&O access, and investment options across multiple segments. Because of that, users increasingly compare how practical the overall experience feels during actual market activity rather than looking at pricing tables alone. Kotak Neo competes in a busy market alongside Zerodha, Upstox, Dhan, and Groww. Its positioning is targeted at active traders who require more than entry-level investing features, like derivatives access, chart-based execution, API connectivity and banking integration in the same ecosystem. What To Look For In A Trading App Brokerage is usually the first thing traders compare, but it is rarely the only factor that matters. Order execution, app stability, charting tools, and ease of fund transfers often make a bigger difference during live market sessions. Active traders tend to prioritise speed, TradingView compatibility, advanced order types, and API access. Long-term investors usually want something simpler, a clean interface that makes buying and holding straightforward. Most brokers cover the basics at this point, so the real decision comes down to your trading style, how often you trade, and how comfortable the platform feels in everyday use. How Kotak Neo Compares With Other Trading Apps All competitor data referenced here is accurate as of 29 May 2026. Pricing is subject to change, so it is advisable to verify the latest details on official broker pages before opening an account. | Feature | Kotak Neo | Zerodha | Upstox | Dhan | Groww | | Account Opening | ₹0 to ₹99 depending on plan | ₹0 | ₹0 | ₹0 | ₹0 | | Equity Delivery Brokerage | ₹0 on select plan; 0.20% on standard plan | ₹0 | ₹20 | ₹0 | ₹20 or 0.1% | | Intraday Brokerage (whichever is lower) | ₹10 or 0.05% | ₹20 or 0.03% | ₹20 | ₹20 or 0.03% | ₹20 or 0.1% | | F&O Brokerage | ₹10 per order | ₹20 per order | ₹20 per order | ₹20 per order | ₹20 per order | | API Access | Available with ₹0 API brokerage on eligible plans | ₹500 per month subscription for Data API | Free with brokerage of ₹10 per order | ₹499 per month for Data APIs | ₹2000 per month subscription for all APIs | | TradingView Integration | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | | Algo Trading Support | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | | Banking Integration | Integrated with Kotak ecosystem | Limited | / | Limited | Limited | | Margin Trading Facility | Available | Available | Available | Available | Available | | Best Suited For | Active traders and frequent F&O users | Active traders | Mixed users | Derivatives-focused traders | Beginner to intermediate investors | Most of these platforms overlap in terms of basic capabilities. The real differentiation usually comes from how well their systems handle active trading requirements, order execution, and workflow convenience. Flat Fee Brokerage Structure and Cost Visibility One noticeable industry-wide shift has been the move away from percentage-based brokerage. When brokerage was percentage-based, trading more simply meant paying more. Flat fees flipped that logic. Now you know what each order costs before you place it, which matters when you are moving in and out of positions quickly during a volatile session. Kotak Neo runs on this model, charging fixed fees across most segments. Delivery trades can cost nothing whatsoever on eligible plans. It's worth noting, however, that flat-free brokerage is no longer a differentiator. Zerodha, Dhan, Upstox, and most other mainstream brokers have moved the same way. Banking Integration And Fund Transfers One aspect traders usually notice only during volatile markets is fund movement. Delays while adding margin or transferring capital can become frustrating during active sessions. Kotak Neo benefits from being connected to the larger Kotak banking ecosystem. Users already operating within that network can manage banking and trading activities through a more connected structure. Most brokers today support UPI transfers and online fund additions, so integrated banking is not exclusive to one platform. Still, some traders prefer keeping banking and trading functions within the same ecosystem because it simplifies routine account activity and reduces transfer lag. API Access And Automated Trading Retail participation in algorithmic trading has increased steadily over the past few years. As a result, API infrastructure has become an important feature for many active traders. Kotak Neo provides APIs that support order placement, portfolio access, live market data, and automated trading workflows. The platform also supports multiple order varieties, including stop-loss, cover, bracket, and after-market orders. Competing brokers such as Zerodha and Dhan already have strong recognition among retail algo traders, especially because of their developer communities and ecosystem maturity. Kotak Neo's approach appears slightly broader. Instead of positioning itself purely around APIs, it combines automated trading support with a larger brokerage and banking framework. TradingView Integration And Chart-Based Trading Many active traders now prefer executing trades directly from charts rather than switching between separate analysis and trading windows. Kotak Neo supports TradingView integration, allowing connected users to place trades directly through TradingView charts. Features such as Trade From Charts and advanced order management tools are also part of the platform's broader trading setup. This reflects a larger trend across India's trading ecosystem. More brokers are narrowing the gap between chart analysis and execution as traders increasingly rely on real-time chart monitoring and technical setups. TradingView integration is now available across most major platforms, as the comparison table shows. Focus On Active Market Participants Some trading apps are designed mainly for first-time investors and long-term SIP users. Others are structured more around derivatives trading and active market participation. Kotak Neo appears more aligned with the second category. Along with equities, the platform supports F&O, commodities, currencies, ETFs, IPOs, bonds, and margin trading facilities within one ecosystem. Rather than standing out because of one single feature, its positioning comes from combining multiple active-trading tools within a connected setup. Platform Experience And Reliability No major Indian broker has completely avoided technical complaints during periods of heavy market activity. Platform slowdowns, delayed order execution, and temporary outages have affected nearly every large trading app at some stage. Ultimately user preference is a function of trading style. Long-term investors usually look at an intuitive interface, whereas active traders care more about execution speed and order management. It's only through consistent use that the reliability of the platform during high-volume sessions is revealed, and feature comparisons alone are not enough to determine the outcome. Can IPO applications be made through Kotak Neo Trading App? Yes, you can apply for IPOs directly on the platform using ASBA, UPI, or net banking. Can I trade commodities on Kotak Neo Trading App? Yes, the platform covers equities, derivatives, commodities, and currency segments all in one place. Are APIs only for professional traders? No, if you're a retail trader with a Kotak Neo account, you can plug into APIs just like the pros. It completely equalises the conditions for algorithmic and automated trading. Does Kotak Neo support advanced order types? Yes, you can execute everything from standard stop-losses to bracket orders, cover orders, and after-market orders (AMOs) straight from the platform. Is TradingView only useful for short-term traders? Active traders use TradingView the most, but long-term investors can still use the charts to track price action and pick better entries. Conclusion Most trading apps offer similar features these days. Your choice really depends on your specific style, what you trade, and how the platform holds up under heavy market hours. Kotak Neo is ideal for active traders who need speed, solid charting, and API access in one place. Pick the tool that actually fits your workflow. (The views, opinions, and claims in this article are solely those of the author's and do not represent the editorial stance of The Assam Tribune) [email protected]