As a small business owner, he started with an 8x10 square foot space. Having grown EzeePay, a fintech company with a turnover of Rs 125 crore, from a rented room in Okhla Vihar, Delhi, is an inspiring journey for Shams Tabrej. The son of a fertiliser shop owner in Bihar's Araria district, Shams grew up in a middle-class family. A property division in 1999 left his father with a smaller share of the property. Shams then realized their home's financial reality.
Shams Tabrej's journey from a rented 8x10 sq. ft. room in Okhla Vihar, Delhi, to establishing EzeePay, a fintech company with a turnover of Rs 125 crore, is truly inspiring. Hailing from a middle-class family in Bihar's Araria district, Shams's life took a turn in 1999 when a property division left his father with limited resources.
This moment opened his eyes to their financial struggle. Despite appearing well-off, he realized his family wasn’t saving when they couldn't afford his mother's urgent surgery that cost Rs 25,000. Shams decided to return from Patna, where he was preparing for competitive exams, to support his family. To improve their finances, they rented part of their home to Allahabad Bank, where he befriended the branch manager, Rajendra Pandit.
The manager's suggestion to rent their home generator for hourly use helped Shams start earning Rs 270-300 daily, marking his first venture into business. He later invested in a battery charger for Rs 3,200, allowing him to charge batteries for local shopkeepers, generating an additional income of Rs 400-500 per month and ultimately enabling him to reclaim his mother’s mortgaged jewelry—a deeply emotional moment for the family.
By 2005, Shams had cultivated an entrepreneurial spirit despite leaving full-time studies due to financial difficulties. He completed a correspondence B.Com course at Patna College. He successfully managed small businesses like battery charging and generator rentals, and later ventured into mobile repairs.
Recognizing a business opportunity with a new mobile tower in his area, he borrowed Rs 10,000 from his father to start selling Airtel SIM cards after purchasing five Nokia phones. By 2007, he secured distributorships with Airtel and Vodafone, achieving record sales and earning rewards that he gifted to his sister for her wedding in 2010.
In 2011, he capitalized on the Government of India's initiative by purchasing the first customer care centre for the State Bank of India in his district for Rs 25,000, promoting it effectively. His business flourished until a devastating flood in 2017 impacted local commerce, leading to losses.
However, inspired by the fintech industry and learning from Paytm, Shams began researching digital payments. He secured a distributorship with an AEPS company and onboarded 2,900 retailers in Bihar. Subsequently, on August 15, 2018, he founded EzeePay with his brother, aiming to create a national presence.
EzeePay has rapidly emerged as a prominent B2B fintech company, servicing over 5 lakh merchants across more than 10,000 pin codes in India. The firm offers a range of services including AEPS-based money transfers, bill payments, recharges, travel bookings, and neo-banking. Revenue primarily comes from partnerships with banks, with a commendable daily transaction average of Rs 2 lakh. Notably, 90% of transactions stem from Tier 2, 3, and 4 cities.
Founder Shams faced numerous challenges, competing against well-educated IITians and bankers while hailing from a small-town background. His strengths in Hindi communication and networking were pivotal to EzeePay’s success. He identified customer service gaps in the fintech sector and implemented a system assigning one customer care executive for every 100 retailers to enhance service quality.
In 2022, Shams adeptly managed an issue with a rival company regarding membership disputes by addressing the federation directly. EzeePay now operates from a 4,000 sq. ft. office in Delhi, employing around 100 people. Shams emphasizes persistence and thoughtful execution as vital for young entrepreneurs, showcasing that determination can transform aspirations into reality.
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