The force has always been with him. When Sameer Segal joined Ujjivan Financial Services as an intern in 2008, the electrical engineering student was given a vast brief: use technology to find ways in which the microfinance firm could improve engagement with borrowers. In his travel to villages in Tamil Nadu’s Hosur district, Segal found that Ujjivan offered closure of an existing loan before taking on a fresh debt, but the pre-closure took up to 15 days, delaying the disbursal of the new loan.