Tejas From Sholapur to Niyo Fintech (2026)

Landing a job at a hot fintech startup like Niyo can feel like a distant dream, especially when you're studying in a tier-2 city and the competition seems overwhelming. But the journey from a local college to a global tech company is being made every day by students who strategically build the right skills. This is the story of how Tejas, a Computer Science student from Sholapur, cracked a ₹14 LPA package at Niyo by focusing on practical, in-demand technologies and leveraging free resources available to every Indian student.

The Starting Point: Identifying the Skills Gap

Tejas's B.Tech curriculum provided a solid theoretical foundation in data structures and algorithms, but he quickly realized it wasn't enough. Scouring job descriptions from companies like Niyo, Razorpay, and Paytm, he identified a clear pattern: they demanded proficiency in modern backend development, cloud platforms, and system design principles. The syllabus in his college hadn't caught up with the industry's shift towards microservices, APIs, and scalable architecture.

His research led him to a focused skill set:

• Core Backend Language: He chose Java due to its strong presence in large-scale fintech and banking systems, noting its use in companies like Flipkart and Swiggy.
• Framework Mastery: He dedicated himself to Spring Boot, the go-to framework for building production-ready Java applications.
• Cloud & DevOps Basics: Understanding that fintech runs on the cloud, he learned the fundamentals of AWS (Amazon Web Services) and tools like Docker.
• The Non-Negotiables: He never neglected Data Structures & Algorithms (DSA) and Database Management Systems (DBMS), knowing they were the bedrock of any technical interview.

Building the Foundation with Free Resources

Without a hefty budget for paid courses, Tejas turned to the wealth of free, high-quality content created for Indian learners. He followed a disciplined, project-driven approach.

1. Mastering the Basics: He started with NPTEL's "Programming in Java" course to solidify his core Java concepts. For DSA, he followed the legendary playlist by Striver (takeUforward), which is renowned for its interview-focused approach.
2. Diving into Frameworks: To learn Spring Boot, he combined resources. He completed the "Spring Framework" course on freeCodeCamp and supplemented it with practical tutorials from CodeWithHarry and Apna College on YouTube, which explained concepts in Hindi and English, making complex topics relatable.
3. Hands-On Practice: After each learning module, he would immediately build a small project. For instance, after learning Spring Security, he built a basic user authentication system. He used GitHub to store all his code, which gradually built his public portfolio.

The Project That Caught Their Eye

Theory alone doesn't get you shortlisted. Tejas knew he needed a standout project on his resume. Instead of another to-do list app, he decided to build something relevant to fintech. He created a "Digital Banking Simulation API."

This project was a collection of RESTful APIs simulating core banking operations. It included features like:

• User registration and JWT-based authentication.
• Virtual account creation and management.
• Simulated fund transfers between accounts with transaction history.
• Basic interest calculation endpoints.

He didn't stop at functionality. He implemented best practices:

• Used Spring Boot for the backend.
• Containerized the application using Docker for easy deployment.
• Wrote comprehensive unit tests.
• Deployed the API on a free tier of AWS EC2 and documented the entire process in his GitHub README.

This project demonstrated not just coding skill, but an understanding of domain-specific logic, security, and modern deployment practices—exactly what Niyo was looking for.

Cracking the Interview Process

With a polished resume highlighting his project and skills, Tejas applied through Niyo's careers page and also reached out to recruiters on LinkedIn. His preparation for the interview rounds was meticulous.

• Online Assessment: He practiced extensively on platforms like LeetCode and GeeksforGeeks, focusing on medium-level problems on arrays, strings, and trees. He also solved SQL problems to ace the DBMS section.
• Technical Rounds: Here, his project was his greatest asset. Interviewers spent significant time discussing his design choices, why he used certain Spring annotations, and how he would scale his APIs for millions of users. He explained his thought process clearly, referencing concepts he learned from Gate Smashers' system design videos.
• HR Round: He prepared by researching Niyo's products, mission, and recent news. He articulated why he wanted to work specifically in fintech and how his skills from Sholapur could contribute to solving problems for Niyo's users.

Key Takeaways for Your Journey

Tejas's story isn't about genius; it's about focused execution. The roadmap is accessible to anyone.

• Skills Over College Brand: Companies like Niyo, Freshworks, and Zerodha prioritize demonstrable skills and problem-solving ability.
• Free Resources Are Enough: Platforms like NPTEL, SWAYAM, freeCodeCamp, and dedicated YouTube channels provide world-class education. You can even audit courses on Coursera and edX for free or apply for financial aid.
• Build in Public: A GitHub profile with clean, well-documented code is your digital resume. It speaks louder than any certificate.
• Understand the "Why": Don't just learn to code. Understand why fintech companies use certain technologies—for security, scalability, and reliability.

Next Steps

Your journey starts today. The resources Tejas used are available to you right now.

• Begin by browsing free computer science courses to structure your learning path.
• Dive deep into a specialized field by exploring fintech and finance courses to understand the industry domain.
• Get interview-ready with our curated list of DSA and coding preparation resources.