TrackWizz: How Sagar Tanna is Building the Shield Against Global Financial Crime
In the wake of the 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center, the world woke up to a chilling reality: the global financial system was being used as a weapon. The ability of a few individuals to launder money and move resources across borders undetected became an urgent global crisis. Sagar Tanna, Co-founder of TrackWizz (by TSS Consultancy), identified this systemic vulnerability not as a politician or an investigator, but as an engineer. Today, his platform serves as the digital "gatekeeper" for over 180 financial institutions, using AI and data pattern recognition to shut down money laundering and financial crime before it can cause mass-scale damage.
Sagar Tanna’s journey is a masterclass in long-term vision and niche expertise. An IT engineer by training with a background in capital markets, Sagar teamed up with his brother **Sameer Tanna** in 2008 to solve a simple document-tracking problem. That modest beginning eventually pivoted into one of India’s most successful Reg-tech companies, recently valued at over $100 million following a major investment from WestBridge Capital. For Sagar, fighting financial crime is more than just a business—it’s about protecting the ethics and stability of the global economy.
The Gatekeeper’s Mission
Banks and insurance companies are the primary gatekeepers of the financial system. Sagar realized that while there was a playbook for technical bugs, there was no "playbook for people." TrackWizz was built to provide that playbook, identifying suspicious human patterns that legacy systems consistently missed.
The Problem: The Invisible Flow of Laundered Money
Money laundering is rarely a single, massive event. It is often a series of small, seemingly innocent transactions that, when viewed in isolation, appear normal. Traditional banking systems were designed for processing, not for surveillance. This created "loopholes" where market manipulators, dreaded criminals, and terrorist financiers could hide their activities in plain sight.
"The world towers crashing down was an eye-opener," Sagar explains. "It showed how individuals could gather resources in a different country and execute mass-scale attacks. We built technology to help institutions detect these suspicious patterns at the earliest possible stage."
The Solution: The TrackWizz Pattern Recognition Shield
TrackWizz doesn't just look at a transaction; it looks at a profile. By collating a massive data bank of negative sources—including lists of market manipulators, loan defaulters, and international criminals—the platform provides a multi-stage defense for financial institutions.
The Anti-Money Laundering Workflow
- Negative List Screening: Checking every new customer against a global data bank of dreaded criminals and financial offenders.
- Behavioral Baseline: Establishing a profile for every user (e.g., "Priya usually invests 2 lakhs monthly").
- Red-Flag Detection: The system automatically flags "unusual" spikes (e.g., a sudden 50-lakh pump) that deviate from the profile.
- Regulatory Reporting: Helping institutions instantly report suspicious transactions to central registries and regulators.
The Evolution: From Document Tracker to Reg-Tech Titan
TrackWizz didn't start as a high-tech surveillance engine. In 2009, it was a "Brother-Brother" startup selling a simple software called "Inward Outward" for just ₹10,000. It solved a tiny problem: tracking couriered checks and documents. However, when the Indian government began tightening Anti-Money Laundering (AML) regulations, Sagar saw an opportunity to diversify.
Two major pivots defined their growth:
- 2009 AML Launch: Standing up to build a system for money laundering detection when no one else had a playbook.
- 2016 Central KYC: Scaling the platform to handle the government’s new Central KYC registry, becoming an indispensable part of India's regulatory infrastructure.
TrackWizz Scale & Reach
- 180+ Institutions: Serving major banks, insurers, and capital market players.
- $108 Million Valuation: Recognized as a leader in the Indian Reg-tech sector.
- Global Footprint: Operating across three countries with plans for further international expansion.
- 11+ Year Journey: Built on a foundation of family-office wisdom and engineering rigor.
Lessons in Resilience: The Power of 'No'
One of the most defining moments in Sagar’s career was a decision to reject a deal from one of India's largest banks. The bank offered a price ("X") that was far below the fair value ("3X"). Despite the "prestige" of having the bank's logo on their website, Sagar walked away because there was no profit on the table.
"We took a conscious call and said no," Sagar recalls. "It took four years of waiting, but that same bank eventually came back and respected our terms. Decision-making must be based on values, impact, and alignment—not just greed for a big name."
Founder's Lesson: The Blunder Reset
When things blow up, Sagar follows a simple two-step process: First, accept the blunder immediately to "feel light." Second, take a good night's sleep. Tomorrow is a new day to solve the problem, even if it takes 75 days to fix.
The Meaning of Entrepreneurship
For Sagar, entrepreneurship is defined by two words: Passion and Impact. It’s the thrill of having something new to address every day and the satisfaction of knowing that your byproduct is a reduction in national financial crime. He believes that if you enjoy the "adventure" of daily decisions, you are meant to be a founder.
TrackWizz is proving that Indian software can be the global shield against financial darkness. By closing the loopholes and detecting the invisible, Sagar Tanna and his team are ensuring that the world’s financial gates remain locked to those who wish to do it harm.
About the Guest
Sagar Tanna is the Co-founder and CEO of TSS Consultancy, the parent company of TrackWizz. An information technology engineer with over 15 years of experience in finance and technology, Sagar has built TrackWizz into a premier reg-tech platform. Under his leadership, the firm has achieved a valuation of over $100 million and secured strategic backing from WestBridge Capital. He is a passionate advocate for ethical finance and a recognized expert in anti-money laundering technology.
TrackWizz is a leading reg-tech platform designed to help financial institutions combat money laundering, terrorist financing, and financial crime. Based in Mumbai, the platform provides 180+ institutions with comprehensive surveillance, KYC registry, and suspicious transaction reporting solutions.