As Indian businesses continue to expand globally, seamless and compliant cross-border payment solutions have become a defining factor in their growth journey. In this context, Skydo, a Bengaluru-based cross-border payments platform, has emerged as a game-changer for exporters, freelancers, and SMEs looking to simplify international collections. Strengthening its mission further, Skydo recently announced a strategic partnership with Veem , a leading global payments provider trusted by over 1.1 million users worldwide.
Through this collaboration, Skydo’s Instalinks now enable Indian businesses to receive USD payments directly from U.S. clients with greater ease, transparency, and speed. By leveraging Veem’s licensed payment infrastructure, Skydo users can bypass the friction of traditional banking channels—often burdened with high transfer costs, hidden forex markups, and long settlement periods. Instead, they benefit from regulatory compliance, real-time exchange rates, and predictable flat-fee pricing—ensuring reliable cash flows and greater confidence in global transactions.
This development is particularly significant at a time when service exporters and freelancers across India are seeking greater efficiency in expanding to North American markets. By combining Skydo’s deep understanding of the Indian SMB ecosystem with Veem’s proven U.S. payment rails, the partnership opens doors to a smoother financial experience for businesses of all sizes.
In an exclusive conversation with Small Enterprise India, Srivatsan Sridhar, Co-Founder & CEO of Skydo, and Movin Jain, Co-Founder of Skydo, share their insights on this partnership, the challenges of cross-border payments, and their vision for reshaping how Indian businesses thrive in the global economy.
Q) What was the key motivation behind Veem and Skydo entering into this partnership, and how does it reflect the evolving needs of Indian exporters today?
Ans: At the heart of this partnership is a very simple idea: Indian exporters deserve the same seamless, trusted infrastructure that businesses in developed markets already take for granted. Veem has built deep expertise in U.S. money movement, while Skydo has been focused on solving global collections for Indian businesses—making the process compliant, transparent, and effortless.
When you combine these two strengths, the result is a bridge that truly works both ways. For Indian exporters, it translates into faster access to U.S. clients, the ability to accept multiple payment methods (including cards), live forex rates without hidden spreads, and automated compliance—all in one place.
On a broader level, this reflects a critical shift in what Indian exporters need today. It’s no longer only about receiving payments—it’s about doing so in a way that reduces costs, minimizes friction, and builds trust with global clients. As the ecosystem matures, exporters are scaling faster, and their ambitions require infrastructure to match. That’s precisely the gap this partnership aims to fill.
Q) How does the integration of Veem’s licensed cross-border infrastructure with Skydo’s InstaLinks specifically address the traditional pain points faced by Indian exporters receiving USD payments from the U.S.?
Ans: Traditionally, receiving USD payments from the U.S. has been fraught with friction—high forex markups, hidden intermediary fees, settlement delays, and time-consuming compliance paperwork. With Skydo’s USD local collection accounts, we had already solved part of the problem by making bank transfers seamless, cost-effective, and compliant.
However, in the U.S., card payments are widely used, and this remained a gap for exporters. By integrating Veem’s licensed cross-border rails with our InstaLinks, we’ve effectively closed that loop. Now, exporters can simply share a payment link with their U.S. clients, who can choose to pay via bank account or card, while Skydo ensures the funds arrive in India at live forex rates with automated FIRA issuance.
Running an export business is already challenging enough. Our job is to remove the payment headaches, allowing exporters to focus squarely on serving their clients and scaling their operations.
Q) Could you explain how compliance and regulatory challenges are managed through this partnership, given the complexities of cross-border payment regulations between India and the U.S.?
Ans: Compliance is one of the central reasons this partnership was forged. Cross-border payments between India and the U.S. are heavily regulated—and rightly so. Exporters must navigate RBI reporting, FIRA requirements, and ensure every payment moves through licensed, regulated channels.
With Veem, we have licensed and regulatory-compliant U.S. payment rails at the very source. On our side, Skydo ensures that once the funds land in India, the process is fully transparent: live forex rates, flat fees, instant FIRA issuance, and RBI-approved reporting.
For the exporter, the complexity completely disappears. They simply share a link, receive their payment, and everything else—from money movement to compliance—is handled in the background. Essentially, compliance shifts from being a persistent worry to a built-in assurance.
Q) What role does technology, such as automation, real-time exchange rates, and transparent flat-fee pricing, play in delivering a superior payment experience compared to traditional banking channels?
Ans: Banks have always been the backbone of international trade and will continue to serve that role. However, for smaller exporters and freelancers, traditional wire transfers often mean less visibility on exchange rates, unexpected fees, and compliance processes that drag on longer than they should. The system works, but it isn’t designed around the speed or needs of today’s SMBs.
Technology changes that dynamic. With automation, exporters no longer need to manually chase banks for compliance documents such as FIRA—it’s generated instantly. Real-time forex ensures clarity on the exact exchange rate before the payment lands, eliminating hidden spreads. Flat-fee pricing offers full predictability on costs, preventing surprises later.
Put together, technology delivers what traditional systems could not: a transparent, predictable, and effortless payment experience.
Q) From an Indian exporter’s perspective, what are the most tangible business benefits they will see immediately after adopting this new solution?
Ans: The first and most important benefit is choice. Exporters no longer have to say “no” when U.S. clients want to pay by card. Whether it’s a bank transfer or a card payment, both options are now possible through a single link—making business transactions more flexible and client-friendly.
The second is cost certainty. Instead of hidden spreads or unpredictable bank fees, exporters can see the live forex rate upfront alongside a flat fee. This ensures no erosion of margins and complete pricing transparency.
Finally, compliance ceases to be a burden. Automated FIRA generation and reporting mean that exporters can stop wasting hours chasing banks. Combined, these advantages allow businesses to protect their margins, serve more clients efficiently, and remain confident about compliance—without giving payments a second thought.
Q) How do you see this collaboration impacting India’s position in the global export ecosystem, particularly for SMBs and freelancers who typically struggle with cross-border payments?
Ans: Right now, Indian exporters, especially SMBs and freelancers, are working in an increasingly tough environment marked by tariffs, trade uncertainties, and thin margins. Losing money during the payment process is the last thing they can afford.
This collaboration is a direct solution to that problem. By offering transparent costs, live forex rates, and payment flexibility through ACH and cards, we help exporters keep more of their earnings. Whether it’s a freelancer billing $1,000 or a small agency invoicing $10,000, knowing the exact amount that will land in their account is critical. It defines whether they can reinvest in growth or merely break even.
More importantly, this partnership lowers entry barriers to competing globally. SMBs and freelancers now have access to enterprise-grade infrastructure built around their realities. That strengthens India’s export ecosystem not only as a hub for services and talent but as a reliable, predictable partner in international trade.
Q) What measures have been put in place to ensure a localized experience for U.S. clients paying Indian businesses, and why is this important for building long-term client relationships?
Ans: For U.S. clients, paying via card is second nature—even for B2B transactions. They’re accustomed to the simplicity of platforms like PayPal, where a quick card payment feels easier than initiating a transfer.
We had already addressed the bank transfer side with USD local collection accounts, giving exporters a reliable, compliant way to collect funds. This partnership extends the same ease to card transactions as well. With InstaLinks powered by Veem, U.S. clients can now open a simple link, choose between net banking or card, and pay in the way they’re most comfortable. Exporters, in turn, enjoy live forex rates, transparent flat fees, and automated compliance.
This localized client experience is critical for retaining global customers. When paying an Indian exporter feels just as seamless as paying a local vendor, clients are more likely to pay on time, return with repeat business, and cultivate long-term partnerships.
Q) Looking ahead, do you foresee this partnership expanding into other geographies or introducing additional features to support global cross-border transactions?
Ans: That is very much the long-term vision. Indian businesses are serving clients not only in the U.S. but also in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. Each of these geographies comes with its own regulatory landscape, and compliance cannot be compromised.
While this partnership currently focuses on U.S. collections, there is definite potential to expand into other regions over time. However, we want to do it responsibly. For us, it’s not just about scale but about ensuring every rail is properly licensed, every compliance layer is robust, and the overall experience remains as seamless as what we’ve built for U.S.-India flows.
So yes, expansion is on the horizon, but we’ll take it one step at a time, because in payments, scaling without maintaining complete trust is not an option.
Q) How do Veem’s global payment infrastructure and Skydo’s understanding of the Indian SMB ecosystem complement each other to overcome cross-border payment challenges?
Ans: Veem has spent years building global payment rails—licensed infrastructure in the U.S., strong banking partnerships, and the ability to move money efficiently across multiple channels. This is why over a million businesses worldwide already trust Veem.
Skydo, from the outset, was built specifically for Indian exporters. We understand local pain points: hidden forex markups, settlement delays, dependence on banks for compliance, and how razor-thin margins often make exporters vulnerable to unexpected fees.
This partnership divides responsibility perfectly. Veem ensures the money leaves the U.S. compliantly, while Skydo makes sure it lands in India at live forex rates, with flat fees and automation to handle compliance. Exporters don’t see the underlying complexities—they simply experience smooth, predictable transactions from start to finish.
That’s the real strength of the collaboration: Veem provides the global rails, Skydo delivers local depth, and together we eliminate uncertainty in cross-border payments.
Q) What message would you give to Indian exporters and service providers still relying on traditional banking channels for U.S.-India payments, and why should they consider making the switch now?
Ans: It’s understandable that many exporters still rely on traditional banks. Banks have been around for decades and are trusted partners. For large-value transfers and long-standing corporate relationships, they continue to play a critical role.
But for today’s SMB exporters and freelancers, day-to-day realities are different. Margins are thinner, clients expect faster and more convenient payment methods, and exporters need compliance assurances without bureaucratic delays.
This is exactly where fintech solutions like Skydo come in. With Veem powering the infrastructure, our platform offers exporters live forex rates, flat fees, instant compliance, and the ability to accept payments via bank transfers and cards. It’s not about replacing banks altogether—it’s about giving exporters a toolkit that matches the pace and demands of modern global business.
To Indian exporters still on the fence, my message is simple: switching isn’t about taking risks; it’s about unlocking efficiencies. The sooner you modernize your payment processes, the sooner you can protect your margins and make it easier for clients to pay you.