IDFC FIRST Private Hurun Indias Top 200 Self Made Entrepreneurs of The Millennia 2023
IDFC FIRST Private Hurun Indias Top 200 Self Made Entrepreneurs of The Millennia 2023
IDFC FIRST Private Hurun Indias Top 200 Self Made Entrepreneurs of The Millennia 2023
INTRODUCTION
IDFC FIRST Private Banking and Hurun India's Top 200 Self-made
Entrepreneurs of the Millennia 2023 showcases the impressive
accomplishments of 405 founders from 200 companies in India's
entrepreneurial landscape.
07 21
Foreword by Top 10 Most Experienced
V. Vaidyanathan,
MD & CEO,
IDFC FIRST Bank
08 22
About Hurun Report Top 10
Youngest Women
10 24
CONTENTS
12 24
TABLE OF
16 25
Top 10 Self-made Entrepreneurs Key Founder Exits
in the List
26 36
Hurun India Rich List Star Signs of Self-made
Entrepreneurs
27 37
Hurun India Ranking & Valuation
Philanthropy List Methodology
28 38
Listed Companies Disclaimers
30 39
Geographical Distribution India’s Top 200
Self-made Entrepreneurs
of the Millennia
32 56
Industry Distribution Profiles of India’s Top 200
Self-made Entrepreneurs
of the Millennia
34
Top 10 Alumni Universities * Refers to page number
6
We are extremely pleased to partner with
Hurun India in launching the first edition of
‘IDFC FIRST Private Hurun India’s Top 200
Self-made Entrepreneurs of the Millennia
2023’, a list of the 200 most valuable
companies in India founded after the year
2000. This list specifically focuses on the
exceptional achievements of self-made
Indian entrepreneurs who have successfully
built and nurtured the most valuable
companies during this millennium.
7
ABOUT HURUN REPORT
Hurun Report is a leading research, luxury publishing and events group established in London in
1998 with a presence in India, China, France, the UK, the USA, Australia, Japan, Canada and
Luxembourg. It is widely recognized world-over for its comprehensive evaluation of the
wealthiest individuals across the globe. Hurun Report is the largest compiler of the rich list
globally.
Hurun Report Inc. has four divisions: Hurun Report Media, a stable of digital media and four
magazines; Hurun Research Institute; Hurun Conferences, an active events division targeting
entrepreneurs and high net-worth individuals; and Hurun Investments, a USD 20mn early-stage
venture capital fund with investments into tech, media, retail and education.
Hurun India was launched in 2012, under the leadership of Anas Rahman Junaid, a alumnus of the
University of Oxford. Junaid met Rupert Hoogewerf, the founder of Hurun Global, through Oxford
University and the duo thought it was the right time to speak about wealth creation in
India as they saw India booming. Since then, Hurun India has been in pursuit to celebrate
the stories of India’s transparent wealth creation, innovation, and philanthropy.
Wealth Creation - We celebrate transparent wealth creation by bringing to light the success
stories of some of the most amazing entrepreneurs through Hurun Rich Lists.
Hurun India Rich List is a ranking of individuals with a net worth of INR 1,000 crore+ and has grown
to become the most comprehensive rich list in India. Over the last decade, the list grew from 100
individuals from 10 cities to 1,319 richest Indians, from 138 cities.
8
Hurun Leading Wealthy Women List is the ranking of the richest self-made women in India
Hurun Real Estate Rich List ranks the country’s most successful Real Estate entrepreneurs.
Hurun India Wealth Report is the most detailed Hurun study on the wealth distribution landscape
in India.
Value Creation - Under this pillar, Hurun celebrates the success stories of some of the most
respected Indian companies through Hurun India 500- a ranking of the most valuable
non-state-controlled companies and emerging companies and investors that make the future look
bright for India through the Hurun India Unicorn Index, Gazelle List, Cheetah List, and Top Investors
List.
Sustainability and Philanthropy - Hurun India Philanthropy List, which is on its 6th anniversary, ranks
India’s most generous entrepreneurs. Hurun India Impact 50 list ranks India’s most sustainable
companies based on their alignment with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
Art - In 2019, the Hurun India Art List was launched, aimed at tracking some of the most successful
artists who are alive today by way of cumulative auction prices. Through the art list, we endeavour
to encourage individuals to collect Indian art.
Lifestyle and Luxury -The Hurun Luxury Consumer Survey debuted in 2019 to encourage an
understanding of ultra-high-net-worth individuals' lifestyle and brand preferences while curating a
survey to help them explain their spending habits.
Globally, the Hurun brand registers an estimated 8 billion views, with 50% YoY growth, on the back
of lists and research reports.
Hurun India serves as India’s definitive voice celebrating wealth creation, innovation, and growth.
Last year, Hurun further expanded its repertoire by releasing the Hurun Global Rich List 2023, a
ranking of the 3,112 US dollar billionaires, the so-called ‘Nine-Zero Club’, currently in the world and
the tenth India Rich List which ranks the 1,319 richest individuals in India, allowing for comparisons
between some of the most dynamic economies in the world. The purpose of this list is to try and tell
the story of modern India through the eyes of an entrepreneur.
9
ABOUT IDFC FIRST BANK
Introduction: IDFC FIRST Bank's vision is to build a world-class bank in India that's guided
by ethics, powered by technology, and a force for social good. IDFC FIRST is a new age bank
that works in the best interest of its customers.
Customer-First Philosophy: The Bank has a customer-first philosophy and offers high-
quality products to our customers. In any product we launch, we bring something special to
our customers. For instance, the Bank is the first and only bank in India that offers Zero fees
for 28 essential services on Savings Accounts including for ATM cash withdrawals, IMPS,
RTGS, NEFT, Cash Deposits at branches, Cash withdrawals at branches, SMS Alerts, Cheque
book, Demand Drafts, Pay-order, duplicate statements, etc.
IDFC FIRST Bank is the first bank to offer monthly credit in savings accounts, so customers
earn more with us. The bank’s credit cards have unique features such as lifetime free,
never-expiring rewards points, zero interest on cash withdrawal at ATMs and low APR, so
customer incur less fees on our Credit Cards.
Ethics First: IDFC FIRST Bank prioritizes ethics in all its dealings and product design. The
Bank believes that income earned unethically is not worth earning. The Bank applies a "Near
and Dear" Test in all product design, so that the employees of the Bank serve only such
products to customers that they'd want for their own loved ones.
Transformation: IDFC FIRST Bank has transformed from infrastructure to retail banking in
four years since merger, increasing CASA ratio from 8.7% to 46.4% (September 30, 2023).
Total Customer Deposits have increased by 4X from Rs. 39,602 crores at the time of merger
as of December 31, 2018, to Rs. 1,64,726 crores as of September 30, 2023. The Bank has
set up 862 branches and 1,111 ATMs.
Financial Performance: The Bank recorded a PAT of Rs. 1,516 crore (~US$ 185 million) in
H1-FY24, with strong Capital Adequacy of 18.06%, including Rs. 3000 crores of fresh equity
capital raised in October 2023. The Bank has high asset quality, with Retail, Rural & SME
book having Gross NPA of only 1.53% and Net NPA of 0.52% as of September 30, 2023.
Overall Gross NPA including infrastructure is 2.11% and Net NPA is 0.68%.
ESG Goals: The Bank is highly committed to ESG. The Bank has high governance scores,
the business lines naturally support social goals, and efforts are ongoing to achieve
environmental goals.
10
ABOUT IDFC FIRST PRIVATE BANKING
We understand your needs are unique, hence we have designed unique solutions
for you. Our quant based, proprietary asset allocation & product selection models
identify potential winners through forward-looking analysis, rigorous due diligence
and back testing across asset classes. Ongoing portfolio reviews and market
insights ensure your investments are on track.
Trust IDFC FIRST Private Banking for an unmatched banking experience that
supports your entrepreneurial journey.
11
Key Highlights
8 of the Top 10 most valuable companies founded in the millennium are from
startups
405 founders from 200 companies feature in India's Top 200 Self-made
Entrepreneurs of the Millennia 2023
Cumulative value of all the companies in the list is INR 30 lakh crore, which is
equivalent to the GDP of Denmark
Kaivalya Vohra of Zepto, at 21 years, is the youngest in India's Top 200 Self-made
Entrepreneurs of the Millennia 2023, followed by Shashvat Nakrani of Bharatpe,
aged 25, and Dilsher Malhi of Zupee, aged 27
More than 56% of the founders in the list are engineering graduates, 10 are
chartered accountants and 7 are doctors
12
Falguni Nayar of Nykaa tops the list of women entrepreneurs in India's Top 200
Self-made Entrepreneurs of the Millennia 2023
20 women feature in India's Top 200 Self-made Entrepreneurs of the Millennia 2023
Ghazal Alagh of Mamaearth, & Saumya Singh Rathore of Winzo, aged 35, each is
the youngest woman in the list
Falguni Nayar, aged 60, of Nykaa, is the most experienced among women to enter
India's Top 200 Self-made Entrepreneurs of the Millennia 2023
India's Top 200 Self-made Entrepreneurs of the Millennia 2023 came from 23 cities
across India, led by Bengaluru (129), Mumbai (78) and Gurugram and New Delhi
(49). These three cities account for over half of India's Top 200 Self-made
Entrepreneurs of the Millennia 2023
13
Financial services and Retail led the way with 46 and 30 companies in India's Top
200 Self-made Entrepreneurs of the Millennia 2023, followed by Healthcare with 27
entrants
38 founders in the list graduated from IIT Delhi, making it the most preferred
undergrad college for India's Top 200 Self-made Entrepreneurs of the Millennia
2023, followed by IIT Mumbai with 24 and IIT Kharagpur with 20 entrepreneurs
40 Gazelles, and 23 Cheetahs from the Hurun Future Unicorn Index feature in the
list
14
The average age of India's Top 200 Self-made Entrepreneurs of the Millennia
2023 is 44
Star signs: leading the way with 14% of the list, Virgo contributes the most number
of entrants, followed by Cancer with 12% and Leo with 10%
15
Top10 Self-made Entrepreneurs in the List
Kunal Shah
CRED
Bengaluru, 2018
Equity Value : INR 53,234 Cr
Note : Mr. V. Vaidyanathan, MD & CEO, IDFC FIRST Bank originally featured in the research by Hurun India
for the Top 10 of this list. However, his name has been excluded in the final list as IDFC FIRST Bank is
associated with the initiative.
16
Radhakishan Damani, the visionary behind Avenue Supermarts, which is worth more than INR 2 lakh crore,
has emerged as the millennium's leading entrepreneur, constructing the most valuable Indian firm launched
in this millennium. Flipkart co-founders Sachin and Binny Bansal grabbed the second spot on the list
following Walmart's acquisition of their company for US$16 billion in 2018. Non-unicorn companies listed in
the top ten include Avenue Supermarts, Flipkart, Zomato, Max Healthcare Institute and Paytm.
17
Profiles of the Top 10 Self-made Entrepreneurs
1
Avenue Supermarts, popularly known as D-Mart, is a leading Indian retail chain that is
founded by Radhakishan Damani. Damani, who is a successful investor and entrepreneur,
has a background in finance and stock trading. Avenue Supermarts operates a chain of
hypermarkets offering a wide range of products at competitive prices. The company's
success can be attributed to its focus on efficient operations, low-cost business model,
and strong customer value proposition. D-Mart went public in 2017 and has continued to
expand its footprint, catering to the growing consumer demand in India.
Flipkart, an e-commerce giant in India, was founded by Sachin Bansal and Binny Bansal
in 2007. Both Sachin and Binny are alumni of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi.
Flipkart started as an online bookstore and rapidly expanded to become one of India's
largest e-commerce platforms, offering a wide range of products in India. In 2018,
Walmart acquired a majority stake in Flipkart, marking one of the largest e-commerce
deals globally. Flipkart continues to innovate and adapt to changing consumer needs,
driving the growth of the Indian e-commerce industry.
4
Dream11, an Indian fantasy sports platform, founded by Harsh Jain and Bhavit Sheth.
Jain, an MBA graduate from Columbia Business School, and Sheth, an alumnus of the
University of Pennsylvania, combined their passion for sports and technology to create
Dream11. The platform allows users to create virtual teams and compete in various sports
leagues to win cash prizes. Dream11 gained immense popularity, becoming the official
partner of the Indian Premier League (IPL). In 2020, Dream11 became their title sponsor,
showcasing its influence in the realm of fantasy sports.
4
Swiggy, a popular food delivery platform in India, was founded by Sriharsha Majety,
Nandan Reddy, and Rahul Jaimini. Majety, an IIT Kharagpur graduate, brings his
engineering expertise to the company. Reddy, an alumnus of BITS Pilani, contributed his
management skills, and Jaimini, another IIT Kharagpur graduate, added his technical
knowledge until his departure. Swiggy started as a small startup in Bengaluru, providing
on-demand food delivery services. The company's efficient delivery system and
user-friendly app gained widespread popularity. Swiggy has expanded its operations to
several cities across India and continues to innovate in the food delivery industry with new
features and services.
Note : Mr. V. Vaidyanathan, MD & CEO, IDFC FIRST Bank originally featured in the research by Hurun India
for the Top 10 of this list. However, his name has been excluded in the final list as IDFC FIRST Bank is
associated with the initiative.
18
6
Razorpay, a leading Indian fintech company, founded by Harshil Mathur and Shashank
Kumar. Mathur, an alumnus of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee, and Kumar,
an alumnus of the Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS) Pilani, joined forces to
create a payment gateway offering seamless online transactions for businesses.
Razorpay's innovative solutions and user-friendly interface have attracted numerous
clients across industries. The company has raised substantial funding from prominent
investors and continues to expand its services, providing cutting-edge payment
solutions in India and abroad.
7
Abhay Soi, a prominent figure in the healthcare industry and the promoter of Radiant
Lifecare, played a pivotal role in the successful merger of Radiant Lifecare with Max
Healthcare. Soi's visionary leadership and dedication to exceptional healthcare propelled
Max Healthcare Institute's growth and success. With a profound grasp of the healthcare
industry, Soi has implemented innovative strategies and technologies to enhance patient
care and outcomes. Max Healthcare Institute has gained a strong reputation for its
world-class facilities, skilled medical professionals, and patient-centric approach. Under
his guidance, the organization continues to expand its services, making a significant
impact in the healthcare sector.
8
Established in 2009, Paytm, an Indian fintech company, has become a household name
for digital payments and financial services. Founded by Vijay Shekhar Sharma, Paytm
started as a mobile wallet and evolved into a comprehensive digital payments platform.
The company's name, "Paytm," aptly represents its core mission of enabling payments
through mobile devices. Sharma's entrepreneurial journey began early when he launched
a website development company while still in college. He holds a Bachelor's degree in
Electronics and Communications Engineering from Delhi Technological University
(formerly known as Delhi College of Engineering) in Delhi, India.
9
CRED, a popular Indian credit card payment platform, was founded by Kunal Shah. Shah,
an entrepreneur with a background in computer science, previously founded FreeCharge,
a successful digital payments company. CRED aims at rewarding credit card users by
offering them exclusive benefits and perks for paying their bills. The platform's unique
approach and user-friendly interface have garnered a larger base. CRED has secured
significant investments and partnerships with renowned brands. Its success
demonstrates the power of innovative solutions in the fintech industry and evolving
landscape of digital payments in India.
10
Zerodha, a leading Indian discount brokerage firm, was founded in 2010 by Nithin Kamath
and Nikhil Kamath. Nithin with a vision to democratize investing and trading in the stock
market. Nithin Kamath, with a strong background in trading and finance, brings his
expertise to the company. He holds a bachelor's degree in engineering from NITK
Surathkal. Nikhil, the younger brother, dropped out of his school when he was only 16,
after Class 10. His entrepreneurial spirit gained hands-on experience and pursued
business opportunities outside formal education.
19
Top Among the Youngest
The average age of the founders of the companies featured in India's Top 200 Self-made Entrepreneurs of
the Millennia 2023 is 44 years. One-third of the founders featured in the list are under 40.
1 Mumbai, 2021
2 New Delhi, 2018
3 Gurugram, 2018
4 Gurugram, 2018
5 Gurugram, 2012
6 Chennai, 2015
6 6 6
Age 30
Bengaluru, 2015 Bengaluru, 2015 Bengaluru, 2016
Neetish Sarda
Age 30
6 Noida, 2016
20
Top10 Most Experienced
Even though India's Top 200 Self-made Entrepreneurs of the Millennia 2023 is dominated by young
entrepreneurs, 30 founders featured in the list are aged 60 or more. After his tenure at Mindtree as Executive
Chairman, Ashok Soota, aged 80, founded Happiest Minds Technologies in 2011, and is the experienced in the
India's Top 200 Self-made Entrepreneurs of the Millennia 2023.
Jaithirth Rao
Devi Shetty
Age 71
Age 70
Mumbai, 2010
Bengaluru, 2000
21
Top10 Youngest Wen
Kanika Gupta
Age 39
Gurugram, 2014
22
Women entrepreneurs are not far behind in founding the most valuable businesses of this millennium. 20
women featured in India's Top 200 Self-made Entrepreneurs of the Millennia 2023, Falguni Nayar, aged 60,
founder of Nykaa, an Indian e-commerce company is the experienced woman featured in the list.
Ruchi Deepak
Mabel Chacko
Age 41
Age 40
Mumbai, 2016
Bengaluru, 2017
Amrita Sirohia
Age 41
Gurugram, 2018
Within India's Top 200 Self-made Entrepreneurs of the Millennia 2023, women make up 5% of the total
co-founders, while the 2022 edition of the Hurun India Rich List included 4.7% women.
23
Serial Entrepreneurs
More than one-third of the individuals featured in India's Top 200 Self-made Entrepreneurs of the Millennia
2023 have founded more than one company. 7 serial women entrepreneurs are also featured in the list.
Neartivity Cashnxt
Find A Kadai Owlink Wireless Technologies
Find A Kadai,The
Owlink,
BrassThe Brass
Plate Plate, Dokbuk
Dokbuk Finzoom Investment Advisors
*Year of exit
#Age of exit
24
Key Founder Exits
We excluded 10 co-founders from India's Top 200 Self-made Entrepreneurs of the Millennia 2023 as they
exited their founding business. Among the Top 10, Ashneer Grover was removed from BharatPe, whereas
Sudhakar Gorti from Leadsquared took a career break and the remaining 8 founders started a new company.
This ensures that the list represents the current and active self-made entrepreneurs who continue to drive
innovation and success in their respective ventures.
* Year of exit
25
Hurun India Rich List
107 individuals from 64 companies featured in India's Top 200 Self-made Entrepreneurs of the Millennia 2023,
also feature in the Hurun India Rich List 2023. And eight feature in Hurun India Philanthropy List 2023.
MN Srinivasu,
Ajay Kaushal,
Karthik Ganapathy
Nearly 40% of the total co-founders in India's Top 200 Self-made Entrepreneurs of the Millennia 2023 are
aged 40 or under, whereas only 4.2% of entrepreneurs featured in the 2023 edition of the Hurun India Rich List
fell in the same age bracket.
26
Hurun India Philanthropy List
Sanjeev Jain, Sandeep Jain Nithin Kamath, Nikhil Kamath Binny Bansal
2004 2010 2008
These are the eight entrepreneurs from the Hurun India Philanthropy List 2023 who are featured in India's
Top 200 Self-made Entrepreneurs of the Millennia 2023.
27
Listed Companies
1 2 3
Market Cap* : INR 2,38,188 Cr Market Cap : INR 86,835 Cr Market Cap : INR 55,085 Cr
Retail Transportation & Logistics Healthcare
2000 2010 2001
7 Policy Bazaar
8
Market Cap : INR 34,950 Cr Market Cap : INR 34,452 Cr
Financial Services Financial Services
2006 2008
Note : Mr. V. Vaidyanathan, MD & CEO, IDFC FIRST Bank originally featured in the research by Hurun India
for the Top 10 of this list. However, his name has been excluded in the final list as IDFC FIRST Bank is
associated with the initiative.
44 5 6
Market Cap : INR 54,328 Cr Market Cap : INR 43,685 Cr Market Cap : INR 37,029 Cr
Financial Services Retail Software & Services
2009 2012 2000
9 10
Market Cap : INR 30,074 Cr
Market Cap : INR 32,513 Cr
Transportation & Logistics
Consumer Goods
2011
2002
Sahil Barua, Mohit Tandon,
Ravi Modi Bhavesh Manglani, Suraj Saharan,
Kapil Bharati
29
Geographical Distribution
The companies featured in India's Top 200 Self-made Entrepreneurs of the Millennia
2023 came from 14 states, led by Karnataka, Maharashtra and Haryana. By city, Bengaluru
led with 69, followed by Mumbai with 41 and Gurugram with 26.
Binny Bansal,
1 Bengaluru 69 Flipkart
Sachin Bansal
2 Mumbai 41 Avenue Supermarts Radhakishan Damani
30
Number of Most Valuable
Rank City Entrepreneur
Entrepreneurs Company
31
8 San Francisco* 6 Mohit Saxena, Abhay Singhal Glance
Financial Services
46 Companies 1 Retail
30 Companies
2
Harshil Mathur,
Shashank Kumar* Radhakishan Damani
Media &
Entertainment
8 Companies
8 Consumer Goods
9 Companies 6
Bhavit Sheth, Ravi Modi
Harsh Jain
Services
7 Companies 9 Hospitality
6 Companies
10
10
Abhiraj Singh Bhal,
Varun Khaitan, Ritesh Agarwal
Raghav Chandra
32
Financial Services and Retail are the biggest contributors to India's Top 200 Self-made Entrepreneurs of the
Millennia 2023 with 46 and 30 companies respectively. The Top 5 industries made up 70% of India's Top 200
Self-made Entrepreneurs of the Millennia 2023.
Healthcare
27 Companies
3 Software &
Services
21 Companies
4
Abhay Soi Deep Kalra
Education
9 Companies 6 Transportation &
Logistics,
16 Companies
5
Chaitanya Kalipatnapu, Deepinder Goyal
Ashwin Damera
33
Top10 Alumni Universities
IIT, Delhi
1 38 Founders
Binny Bansal, Sachin Bansal *
IIT, Mumbai
2 24 Founders
Bhavish Aggarwal
IIT, Kharagpur
3 20 Founders
Asish Mohapatra
IIT, Kanpur
4
17 Founders
Ankush Sachdeva, Farid Ahsan,
Bhanu Singh
IIT, Madras
5 16 Founders
Vasant Sridhar
Delhi University
6 12 Founders
Abhay Soi
IIT, Roorkee
7 10 Founders
University of Mumbai
8 9 Founders
Sandip Gupta
9 8 Founders
Vijay Shekhar Sharma
9 Pilani
8 Founders
Sriharsha Majety
35
Star Signs of Self-made Entrepreneurs
Virgo and Cancer were the biggest contributors to India's Top 200 Self-made Entrepreneurs of the
Millennia 2023 with 14% and 12% companies respectively.
Virgo
Ca
s nc
ce er
Pis
Le
14%
o
es
% 12%
6.0
Ari
10
%
%
6.0
Gemini
Aquarius
9.0%
6.0%
9.0
%
%
7.0
7.0
% %
7.0
S
us
7.0%
orp
ur
Ta
io
Ca
pr
ra ico
Lib rn
Sagittarius
36
Ranking & Valuation Methodology
India's Top 200 Self-made Entrepreneurs of the Millennia 2023 is a prestigious list that recognizes the 200
most valuable companies based in India, all of which were established on or after the year 2000. This list
specifically focuses on the exceptional achievements of self-made Indian entrepreneurs who have
successfully built and nurtured the most valuable companies during this millennium, with 30th September
2023 as the cut-off date. This list is based on the value of the enterprise created and not the net worth of the
individual founder or entrepreneur.
Valuing private companies is as much an art as it is a science. Surely, Hurun India may have missed some
companies, but our endeavour is to develop the most comprehensive report of its kind with an objective to
identify and acknowledge India’s top businesses. Hurun Report’s team of researchers have travelled the length
and breadth of the country, cross-checking information with entrepreneurs, industry experts, journalists,
bankers, and other sources of publicly available data.
For unlisted companies, Hurun Research’s valuation is based on a comparison with their listed equivalents
using prevailing industry multiples such as Price to Earnings, Price to Sales, EV to sales, EV to EBITDA. Other
methodologies such as Discounted Cash Flow and Tobin’s Q are also used. Financial information used is from
the latest available annual reports or audited financial statements.
Valuing start-ups can be a challenging task due to their rapid growth and ever-evolving nature, which makes
it difficult to determine their precise valuation. To maintain consistency in our valuations, the Hurun research
team has relied on the most recent valuations based on significant funding rounds. Additionally, in some
instances, we have taken into account investor-reported markdown valuations to provide a comprehensive
analysis. We have also mindfully kept out companies / enterprises attracting any kind of controversy from this
list.
37
IDFC FIRST Bank Disclaimer
This report is meant for information purposes only. By accessing and/or using any part of the report, the user
accepts this disclaimer and exclusion of liability which operates to the benefit of IDFC FIRST Bank. All the data
collection has been done by Hurun Report India using a systematic methodology. IDFC FIRST Bank does not
guarantee the accuracy, adequacy or completeness of any information contained in the report and neither shall it
be responsible for any errors or omissions in or for the results obtained from the use of such information.
IDFC FIRST Bank shall not be liable to any user of this report (and expressly disclaim liability) for any loss, or
damage of any nature, including but not limited to direct, indirect, punitive, special, exemplary, consequential
losses, loss of profits, lost business and economic loss regardless of the cause or form of action and regardless of
whether or not any such loss could have been foreseen.
This report is not directed or intended for distribution or use, by any, person or entity in any jurisdiction or country
where the publication or availability of this document or such distribution or use would be contrary to local laws or
regulations. No part of this report may be duplicated in whole or in part in any form and or redistributed without the
prior written consent of IDFC FIRST Bank. This report is strictly confidential to the recipient and should not be
reproduced or disseminated to anyone else. All information, opinions, estimates and data included in this report are
as of date and not exhaustive. It is subject to change without notice. IDFC FIRST Bank is in no manner responsible
or liable for incorporation or giving reference of any material, properties, intellectual properties and content of this
Report.
This report has been prepared by Hurun Report. All the data collection and the research has been done by Hurun
Report. This report is meant for information purposes only. Reasonable care and caution have been taken in
preparing this report. The information contained in this report has been obtained from sources which are
considered reliable. By accessing and/or using any part of the report, the user accepts this disclaimer and
exclusion of liability which operates to the benefit of Hurun Report. Hurun Report does not guarantee the accuracy,
adequacy or completeness of any information contained in the report and neither shall it be responsible for any
errors or omissions in or for the results obtained from the use of such information. No third party whose information
is referenced in this report under the credit to it assumes any liability towards the user with respect to its
information.
Hurun Report shall not be liable for any decisions made by the user based on this report (including those of
investment or divestiture) and the user takes full responsibility for their decisions made based on this report. Hurun
Report shall not be liable to any user of this report (and expressly disclaim liability) for any loss, damage of any
nature, including but not limited to direct, indirect, punitive, special, exemplary, consequential losses, loss of profit,
lost business and economic loss regardless of the cause or form of action and regardless of whether or not any
such loss could have been foreseen.
38
INDIA’S TOP 200 SELF-MADE ENTREPRENEURS
OF THE MILLENNIA 2023
39
Market Valuation
Founded
Rank Company of the Enterprise Founders
Year
INR Crore
Max Healthcare
7 55,085 2001 Abhay Soi
Institute
Note : Mr. V. Vaidyanathan, MD & CEO, IDFC FIRST Bank originally featured in the research by Hurun India for
the Top 10 of this list. However, his name has been excluded in the final list as IDFC FIRST Bank is
associated with the initiative.
Market Valuation
Founded
Rank Company of the Enterprise Founders
Year
INR Crore
Deccan Fine
28 24,971 2006 Vamsi Gokaraju, G S Raju
Chemicals
Market Valuation
Founded
Rank Company of the Enterprise Founders
Year
INR Crore
Eruditus Executive
30 24,122 2010 Chaitanya Kalipatnapu, Ashwin Damera
Education
Narayana
38 22,146 2000 Devi Shetty
Hrudayalaya
Mobile Premier
43 19,131 2018 Srinivas Kiran, Shubham Malhotra
League
Krishna Institute of
52 15,837 2000 Bhaskar Rao
Medical Sciences
Happiest Minds
62 12,835 2011 Ashok Soota
Technologies
BDR
77 Pharmaceuticals 10,644 2002 Dharmesh Shah
International
MedPlus Health
83 9,173 2006 Madhukar Gangadi
Services
Acko General
84 9,150 2016 Varun Dua, Ruchi Deepak
Insurance
Indiabulls Housing
96 8,748 2005 Sameer Gehlaut
Finance
Latent View
99 8,416 2006 Venkat Viswanathan, Pramad Jandhyala
Analytics
Rattanindia
106 7,860 2010 Rajiv Rattan
Enterprises
Archean Chemical
112 7,254 2009 P B Anandam
Industries
120 CarDekho 6,654 2007 Amit Jain, Anurag Jain & Umang Kumar
RateGain Travel
123 6,425 2004 Bhanu Chopra
Technologies
Hamilton
127 6120 2000 Ajay Vaghani
Housewares
Alliance
129 Infrastructure 6,000 2004 Manoj Namburu, Suneel Bommireddy
Projects
142 Bizongo 4,991 2015 Aniket Deb, Ankit Tomar, Sachin Agrawal
Prudent Corporate
149 4,615 2003 Sanjay Shah
Advisory Services
150 Rossari Biotech 4,494 2003 Edward Menezes, Sunil Srinivasan Chari
191 Samhi Hotels 3,264 2010 Ashish Jakhanwala and Manav Thadani
Yatharth Hospital
195 and Trauma Care 3,243 2008 Ajay Kumar Tyagi, Kapil Kumar
Services
Market Valuation
Founded
Rank Company of the Enterprise Founders
Year
INR Crore
Enjoy personalised
Rewards and Services
with IDFC FIRST Private
Banking Program
Exclusive Privileges
To know more,
scan the
QR code.
T&C Apply
Avenue Supermarts, popularly known as D-Mart, is a leading Indian retail chain that is
founded by Radhakishan Damani. Damani, who is a successful investor and
1
entrepreneur, has a background in finance and stock trading. Avenue Supermarts
operates a chain of hypermarkets offering a wide range of products at competitive
prices. The company's success can be attributed to its focus on efficient operations,
low-cost business model, and strong customer value proposition. D-Mart went public in
2017 and has continued to expand its footprint, catering to the growing consumer
demand in India.
Flipkart, an e-commerce giant in India, was founded by Sachin Bansal and Binny Bansal
in 2007. Both Sachin and Binny are alumni of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi.
2
Flipkart started as an online bookstore and rapidly expanded to become one of India's
largest e-commerce platforms, offering a wide range of products in India. In 2018,
Walmart acquired a majority stake in Flipkart, marking one of the largest e-commerce
deals globally. Flipkart continues to innovate and adapt to changing consumer needs,
driving the growth of the Indian e-commerce industry.
Dream11, an Indian fantasy sports platform, founded by Harsh Jain and Bhavit Sheth.
Jain, an MBA graduate from Columbia Business School, and Sheth, an alumnus of the
4
University of Pennsylvania, combined their passion for sports and technology to create
Dream11. The platform allows users to create virtual teams and compete in various
sports leagues to win cash prizes. Dream11 gained immense popularity, becoming the
official partner of the Indian Premier League (IPL). In 2020, Dream11 became their title
sponsor, showcasing its influence in the realm of fantasy sports.
Swiggy, a popular food delivery platform in India, was founded by Sriharsha Majety,
Nandan Reddy, and Rahul Jaimini. Majety, an IIT Kharagpur graduate, brings his
4
engineering expertise to the company. Reddy, an alumnus of BITS Pilani, contributed his
management skills, and Jaimini, another IIT Kharagpur graduate, added his technical
knowledge until his departure. Swiggy started as a small startup in Bengaluru, providing
on-demand food delivery services. The company's efficient delivery system and
user-friendly app gained widespread popularity. Swiggy has expanded its operations to
several cities across India and continues to innovate in the food delivery industry with
new features and services.
Note : Mr. V. Vaidyanathan, MD & CEO, IDFC FIRST Bank originally featured in the research by Hurun India
for the Top 10 of this list. However, his name has been excluded in the final list as IDFC FIRST Bank is
associated with the initiative.
56
Razorpay, a leading Indian fintech company, founded by Harshil Mathur and Shashank
Kumar. Mathur, an alumnus of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee, and
6
Kumar, an alumnus of the Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS) Pilani, joined
forces to create a payment gateway offering seamless online transactions for
businesses. Razorpay's innovative solutions and user-friendly interface have attracted
numerous clients across industries. The company has raised substantial funding from
prominent investors and continues to expand its services, providing cutting-edge
payment solutions in India and abroad.
Established in 2010, Paytm, an Indian fintech company, has become a household name
for digital payments and financial services. Founded by Vijay Shekhar Sharma, Paytm
8
started as a mobile wallet and evolved into a comprehensive digital payments platform.
The company's name, "Paytm," aptly represents its core mission of enabling payments
through mobile devices. Sharma's entrepreneurial journey began early when he
launched a website development company while still in college. He holds a Bachelor's
degree in Electronics and Communications Engineering from Delhi Technological
University (formerly known as Delhi College of Engineering) in Delhi, India.
CRED, a popular Indian credit card payment platform, was founded by Kunal Shah. Shah,
an entrepreneur with a background in computer science, previously founded
9
FreeCharge, a successful digital payments company. CRED aims at rewarding credit card
users by offering them exclusive benefits and perks for paying their bills. The platform's
unique approach and user-friendly interface have garnered a larger base. CRED has
secured significant investments and partnerships with renowned brands. Its success
demonstrates the power of innovative solutions in the fintech industry and evolving
landscape of digital payments in India.
Zerodha, an Indian discount brokerage firm, was founded in 2010 by Nithin Kamath and
Nikhil Kamath. Nithin with a vision to democratize investing and trading in the stock
10
market. Kamath, with a strong background in trading and finance, brings his expertise to
the company. He holds a bachelor's degree in engineering from NITK Surathkal. Nikhil, the
younger brother, dropped out of his school when he was only 16, after Class 10. His
entrepreneurial spirit gained hands-on experience and pursued business opportunities
outside formal education.
57
Established in 2017 as a subsidiary of Ola, the renowned Indian ride-hailing company, Ola
Electric leads the electric mobility revolution in India and globally. This visionary initiative
11
was brought to fruition by the entrepreneurial brilliance of Bhavish Aggarwal, who also
serves as the co-founder and CEO of Ola. Born on August 28, 1985, in Ludhiana, Punjab
Aggarwal honed his expertise at the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)
Bombay, earning degree in Computer Science and Engineering. His commitment to
sustainable transportation solutions has been remarkable in the success of Ola Electric.
ShareChat, an Indian social media platform, was founded by Ankush Sachdeva, Bhanu
Pratap Singh, and Farid Ahsan. Sachdeva, an IIT Kanpur graduate, contributes his
13
technical expertise to the company's operations. Singh, also an IIT Kanpur alumnus,
brings his knowledge of electrical engineering to the table. Ahsan, another IIT Kanpur
graduate, adds his expertise in metallurgical and material engineering. However, Ahsan
has since stepped down from his active role in the company. On 10th February 2022,
ShareChat made a notable acquisition of MX Taka Tak.
Dailyhunt, formerly known as Newshunt, is a news and content platform that was
co-founded by Virendra Gupta and Umang Bedi. The company's headquarters are
13
located in Bengaluru, India. Gupta, aged 51 and residing in Bangalore, brings his
educational background from MBM Engineering College, Jodhpur, to the company's
operations. Bedi, aged 45 and based in Bangalore, contributes his expertise gained from
Pune University. Dailyhunt has raised over $200 million in funding from investors such as
Tiger Global Management, Sequoia Capital, and SoftBank Vision Fund.
58
Ola cabs an Indian ride-hailing platform, was founded by Bhavish Aggarwal and Ankit
Bhati. Aggarwal, an alumnus of IIT Bombay, also gained valuable experience during his
16
two-year stint at Microsoft Research in Bangalore. Bhati joined Bhavish in November 2010
to work on the project, where he served as the Chief Technology Officer, leveraging his
B.Tech. degree in Mechanical Engineering and M. Tech. in CAD & Automation, both from IIT
Bombay. On 2019 Bhati left the company & formed a new venture Amnic. Ola offers a
diverse range of transportation services, including cabs, auto-rickshaws, and bikes.
Founded in 2010, Lenskart is an Indian eyewear retail company that primarily operates
online. Peyush Bansal and Amit Chaudhary are the visionary founders behind Lenskart.
17
Bansal, the CEO, and founder of Valyoo Technologies, started Lenskart with a vision to
revolutionize the eyewear retail industry. Despite not cracking the IIT entrance, Bansal
pursued Electrical Engineering at McGill University, graduating in 2006. Lenskart offers a
diverse range of eyewear products, including prescription glasses, sunglasses, contact
lenses, and accessories, all at competitive prices.
Founded in 2000 by Deep Kalra, MakeMyTrip has become a leading online travel
company in India, revolutionizing travel booking and experiences. Kalra, an entrepreneurial
18
visionary, recognized the potential of online travel services early on. With a background in
management and technology, he has played a pivotal role in MakeMyTrip's success and
growth. His education at prestigious institutions like St. Stephen's College and the Indian
Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, equipped him with the skills and knowledge to
navigate the challenges of the industry.
Star Health and Allied Insurance Company was founded by a group of investors led by V.
Jagannathan, Mr. Anand Roy and S. Prakash. Jagannathan's extensive experience in the
20
insurance industry, including his leadership positions at United India Insurance Company,
has greatly contributed to the growth and success of Star Health. Prakash serves as the
Managing Director, bringing his medical background and expertise to the company. Roy,
the current CEO, brings over 20 years of experience and holds an MBA from IMI, New Delhi.
59
PolicyBazaar founded in 2008 by Yashish Dahiya, Alok Bansal, and Avaneesh Nirjar, is an
online insurance aggregator and financial products marketplace in India. Dahiya, an
21
accomplished individual, holds degrees from prestigious institutions such as IIT Delhi, IIM
Ahmedabad, and INSEAD. Prior to PolicyBazaar, he had successful stints at Bain &
Company and ebookers.com. Sarbvir Singh, the CEO, brings extensive experience from
WaterBridge Ventures and notable organizations like Emerson Electric and JP Morgan
Private Equity Group. Nirjar, an alumnus of IIT Kharagpur and BIT, adds his expertise gained
from prominent companies like Marico Industries and GE Capital International Services to
PolicyBazaar.
Founded in 2011, BrowserStack is a web and mobile app testing platform that enables
developers and testers to conduct thorough application testing across browsers, operating
22
systems, and devices. The company was co-founded by Ritesh Arora and Nakul
Aggarwal. Arora, currently serving as the CEO, holds a degree in Computer Science from
IIT Bombay. Aggarwal, the CTO, also graduated from IIT Bombay, specializing in Computer
Science. Both Arora and Aggarwal are accomplished entrepreneurs, having previously
co-founded tech companies such as QuarkRank, QuarkBase, and Downbase, solidifying
their expertise in the industry.
Vedant Fashions Pvt. Ltd. is an Indian company operating in the fashion and textile
industry. It specializes in the design, manufacturing, and distribution of fashion apparel and
23
textiles. Ravi Modi, the founder of Vedant Fashions, established the company in Kolkata in
2002 with a focus on manufacturing traditional Indian garments. His wife, Shilpi, holds a
board seat, while their son, Vedant, serves as the company's chief marketing officer. With
over 600 stores across India and 11 international stores. In February 2022, Modi successfully
took the company public. Modi holds a degree in Commerce from St. Xavier's College,
Calcutta.
Delhivery, an Indian logistics and supply chain services company, was established in 2011
by Sahil Barua, Mohit Tandon, Bhavesh Manglani, Kapil Bharati, and Suraj Saharan.
24
Initially, Delhivery offered on-demand delivery services for the e-commerce industry but
expanded to provide comprehensive supply chain solutions. Barua, an IIT-Bombay and
Harvard Business School graduate, brings consulting and e-commerce expertise. Tandon,
an IIT-Delhi graduate, contributes his engineering and technology background. Manglani,
Bharati, and Saharan, all IIT-Delhi alumni, contribute their expertise in operations,
technology, and product development respectively, to drive Delhivery's success.
60
Upstox, formerly known as RKSV Securities India Pvt Ltd, is an online discount brokerage
firm in India that offers trading and investment services to retail investors. It was founded in
26
2009 by Ravi Kumar, Kavitha Subramanian, and Shrinivas Viswanath. Upstox focuses on
providing a seamless and user-friendly trading experience through its technologically
advanced platforms. Kumar, a member of the Upstox Board of Directors, oversees product
development and investor relations. Subramanian, another co-founder, leads the
company's growth, strategy, finance, and customer experience. Viswanath, also a
co-founder, is responsible for Upstox's technology, leveraging his expertise in developing
low-latency, scalable systems for high-frequency trading.
Udaan, an Indian B2B e-commerce platform, was founded in 2016 by three individuals
Amod Malviya, Vaibhav Gupta, and Sujeet Kumar. Malviya, an experienced entrepreneur
27
and former CTO of Flipkart, contributed his expertise in technology and e-commerce to
shape Udaan's platform and strategy. Gupta, previously the Senior Vice President at
Flipkart, brought his extensive knowledge in marketplace operations and scalable
platforms to Udaan. Kumar, an entrepreneur with a focus on technology and product
management, leveraged his experience in operations and business growth from his roles
at Flipkart to drive Udaan's development.
Deccan Fine Chemicals, founded by Vamsi Raju and G S Raju, is a renowned chemical
manufacturing company. Both founders bring a wealth of experience and expertise to the
28
industry. Deccan Fine Chemicals is known for its commitment to quality, innovation, and
sustainability. With state-of-the-art facilities and a dedicated team, the company produces
a wide range of fine chemicals used in various industries. Their passion for excellence and
customer satisfaction has propelled Deccan Fine Chemicals to become a trusted name in
the chemical manufacturing sector.
GROWW an online investment platform in India, was founded in 2016 by Lalit Keshre,
Harsh Jain, Neeraj Singh, and Ishan Bansal. The founders shared a common vision of
29
simplifying and democratizing investing for retail investors. They created an intuitive
platform offering a wide range of investment options, including mutual funds, stocks, ETFs,
IPOs, and gold. Keshre, with a background in product and engineering, serves as the CEO.
Jain, who holds an MBA in product management and marketing, is the COO. Bansal, a
finance expert, and Singh, a technology specialist, complete the team, bringing their
respective expertise to drive the growth of Groww.
BharatPe, a prominent Indian fintech company, was founded in 2018 by Shashvat Nakrani
and Ashneer Grover. Nakrani, aged 24 and residing in New Delhi, brings his engineering
30
education background to the company's operations. The company was established with
the objective of addressing the challenges faced by small and medium-sized businesses
in accepting digital payments and accessing financial services. Grover, an MBA graduate
from Harvard Business School and former CFO of Grofers, contributed his financial
expertise and strategic insights to BharatPe's success until his departure from the
company in 2022.
61
Eruditus Executive Education, founded in 2010 by Chaitanya Kalipatnapu and Ashwin
Damera, is a ed-tech company that collaborates with renowned universities to provide
30
executive education programs. Kalipatnapu, an MBA graduate from Harvard Business
School, contributes his expertise in business and entrepreneurship to Eruditus. Damera, an
alumnus of the Indian School of Business, brings his entrepreneurial acumen and extensive
experience in business development and strategic partnerships to drive Eruditus' growth
and establish valuable collaborations with leading universities worldwide.
Unacademy, an Indian online learning platform, was founded in 2015 by Gaurav Munjal,
Roman Saini, and Hemesh Singh. The platform initially gained traction as a YouTube
32
channel, where the founders and educators shared valuable video lessons and tutorials on
diverse subjects. Munjal, with a background in software engineering and prior startup
experience, brings his expertise to Unacademy. Saini, a medical professional and former
Civil Services Examination topper, contributes his knowledge and insights. Singh, with a
background in computer science and engineering and experience at Flipkart, adds his
expertise to Unacademy's growth.
Urban Company, established in 2014 by Abhiraj Bhal, Varun Khaitan, and Raghav
Chandra, is an home services marketplace in India. The founders aimed to address the
32
challenge of finding reliable and skilled service professionals by creating a
technology-driven platform. Bhal, an IIT Kanpur graduate, previously worked at BCG and
obtained an MBA from Harvard Business School. Khaitan, also an IIT Kanpur alumnus,
worked at The Blackstone Group before co-founding Urban Company. Chandra, an IIT
Kanpur and MIT graduate, has experience at Google and Bain & Company.
OYO, founded by Ritesh Agarwal, is a global hospitality chain and online marketplace.
Agarwal, a college dropout, embarked on his entrepreneurial journey at a young age.
34
Starting with a single hotel in Gurugram, India, he transformed OYO into a massive network
of affordable accommodations worldwide. The company provides standardized and
quality stays to budget-conscious travelers. OYO's rapid expansion led to its presence in
over 80 countries. Notably, Agarwal became the world's youngest self-made billionaire in
2020. OYO's success story exemplifies the power of determination and disruptive
innovation in the hospitality industry.
Firstcry, a leading online platform for baby and kids products, was co-founded by Supam
Maheshwari, Amitava Saha, Prashant Jadhav & Sanket Hattimattur. Maheshwari, aged
34
49 and residing in Pune, brings his educational background from the Indian Institute of
Management Ahmedabad. Saha, aged 50, also based in Pune, contributes his expertise
gained from the Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow. Jadhav, aged 45 and residing in
Pune, brings his educational background from Shivaji University. Hattimattur COS for
Firstcry, playing a crucial role in the company's operations and growth.
62
Patanjali Ayurved Limited established in 2006, is an Indian consumer goods company
founded by Baba Ramdev a yoga guru, and Acharya Balkrishna, an Ayurveda practitioner.
36 The company focuses on manufacturing and marketing a diverse range of Ayurvedic and
natural products. Ramdev, born Ramkishen Yadav, is celebrated for his expertise in yoga,
spirituality, and promoting Ayurveda. He holds a bachelor's degree in Sanskrit from Gurukul
Kangri Vishwavidyalaya in Haridwar, India, and has extensively studied yoga, Ayurveda, and
spiritual texts. Balkrishna Pande, an Indian businessman, and Ayurveda practitioner, is a
co-founder of Patanjali Ayurved Limited. He obtained a Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine
and Surgery (BAMS) degree from Sampurnanand Sanskrit University in Varanasi, Uttar
Pradesh.
Satyanarayana Chava, aged 62 and residing in Hyderabad, is the founder of Laurus Labs,
a leading pharmaceutical company. With a qualification of Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) and
39
an MBA, he brings a strong educational foundation to the company. Under his leadership,
Laurus Labs has achieved significant growth and success in the pharmaceutical industry.
Chava's expertise and strategic vision have positioned Laurus Labs as a trusted provider of
high-quality and affordable generic medicines.
63
Games24X7, founded in 2006, is an Indian gaming company that specializes in online
skill-based games and fantasy sports. Bhavin Pandya, the CEO of Games24X7, played a
40
pivotal role in its establishment. Pandya, a graduate of Purdue University with a bachelor's
degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering, oversees the company's operations and
game development. Trivikraman Thampy, also known as Vikram, is a key figure in
Games24X7. With a Ph.D. in Economics from New York University and a bachelor's degree
in Aerospace Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, he has led the
company through successful product launches, marketing campaigns, and investment
rounds.
Mobile Premier League (MPL) is an Indian mobile gaming platform that offers skill-based
games and esports tournaments. It was founded in 2018 by Sai Srinivas Kiran G and
43
Shubham Malhotra. Kiran G, the CEO of MPL, holds a B.Tech degree in Aeronautical
Engineering from IIT Kanpur. Before MPL, he worked at Zynga as an Associate Product
Manager and later joined BSB - Bharti Softbank as the Director of Products. He co-founded
CREO Tech and served as its CEO before launching MPL. Sai's gaming and product
management expertise has been instrumental in MPL's success. Malhotra has completed
his engineering from Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani & has also founded
more 2 companies CREO and Teewe.
Karan Bhagat, Yatin Shah, and Anirudha Taparia founded the notable corporation 360
ONE WAM which was incorporated as IIFL Wealth Management Limited. Bhagat, 46, of
45
Mumbai, offers his expertise to the table, while Yatin Shah, 47, of Mumbai, also contributes
his considerable industry knowledge. Taparia holds the responsibility for overseeing the
wealth advisory practice across various business verticals and geographic regions.
64
CoinDCX, established in 2018, is a cryptocurrency exchange platform in India. It was
co-founded by Sumit Gupta and Neeraj Khandelwal, both alumni of IIT Bombay. Gupta,
46
the CEO, brings his expertise in technology and finance to drive the company's growth.
Khandelwal, the CTO, leads the technical development of CoinDCX's innovative products.
The platform offers a user-friendly interface, a wide range of cryptocurrencies for trading,
and advanced tools to cater to both beginners and experienced traders.
Founded in 2015 by Vikram Chopra and Mehul Agrawal, Cars24 is a player in the used car
marketplace in India. The company's mission is to simplify the buying and selling process
48 of used cars. Chopra, the CEO and Co-Founder, holds a BTech and MTech in Engineering
from the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, and an MBA in Finance from the University
of Pennsylvania. Prior to Cars24, Chopra was a Co-Founder of FabFurnish and an
Investment Analyst at Sequoia Capital, as well as a Business Analyst at McKinsey &
Company. Agrawal, the Co-Founder and COO, holds an MBA from IIM Calcutta and has
previous experience working with BCG. Agrawal also has entrepreneurial experience,
having started an online furniture company called FabFurnish.
ReNew Power, established in 2011 by Sumant Sinha, is a player in India's renewable energy
49 sector. The company specializes in developing, constructing, and operating large-scale
solar and wind energy projects, contributing to India's clean energy transition. Sinha, an
entrepreneur, holds a Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering from IIT Delhi and an
MBA from the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School. With his expertise and
leadership, ReNew Power continues to drive sustainable energy solutions and reduce the
nation's dependence on non-renewable energy sources.
Glance, a leading mobile content platform, was founded by a trio of entrepreneurs. Abhay
Singhal, aged 43 and based in San Francisco, brings his expertise gained from the Indian
50
Institute of Technology, Kanpur. Mohit Saxena, aged 48 and also residing in San Francisco,
contributes his knowledge acquired from the Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee.
Piyush Shah, aged 44 and based in Singapore, adds his expertise gained from Delhi
College of Engineering. Notably, Glance secured a recent funding round on 14th February
2022, amounting to $200 million.
65
Polygon, a blockchain technology company, was founded by a group of individuals. Jaynti
Kanani, aged 32 and residing in Bengaluru, brings his engineering expertise to the table.
50
Sandeep Nailwa, aged 35 and based in Dubai, contributes his MBA knowledge. Anurag
Arjun, aged 38 and residing in Navi Mumbai, completes the trio of co-founders behind
Polygon. With a background in computer science and a passion for decentralized
technology, Arjun contributes his technical expertise and innovative ideas to the platform.
He left the company in 2023.
Bhaskar Rao Bollineni, a physician and visionary entrepreneur, is the founder of Krishna
Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS). With a Bachelor's degree in Medicine and Surgery
52
(MBBS) and a Master's degree in General Medicine (MD), Bollineni established KIMS with
the mission of providing high-quality healthcare services and medical education. His
extensive experience in the medical field and commitment to improving healthcare access
and delivery have made KIMS a trusted institution. Driven by excellence in patient care,
education, and research, KIMS continues to be a prominent healthcare provider in the
region.
Clean Science and Technology Limited, founded in 2006, is an Indian specialty chemicals
manufacturer with a focus on sustainable and eco-friendly solutions. Ashok Boob, aged 71,
54
holds the position of Managing Director at Clean Science and Technology. He was born on
March 2, 1952, in Pune and falls under the zodiac sign Pisces. Boob, the Promoter and
Managing Director of Clean Science and Technology, brings his expertise in chemical
engineering and oversees key areas such as engineering, production, finance, and project
implementation. His leadership has contributed to the company's success and growth.
Aptus Value Housing Finance India Limited is an Indian housing finance company
founded by Mr. M Anandan. The company aims to serve individuals from low and
55
middle-income segments in rural and urban areas. Mr. Anandan, a seasoned professional
in the housing finance industry, has been instrumental in shaping the vision and growth of
Aptus Value Housing Finance. Sankaran Krishnamurthy, a Non-Executive Independent
Director, contributes his expertise to the company. Aptus Value Housing Finance is
dedicated to promoting homeownership and financial inclusion, particularly for
underserved populations in India.
66
Founded in 2018, DealShare is an Indian social commerce startup led by co-founders
Vineet Rao and Sourjyendu Medda. Rao, a former Associate Director at Flipkart, brings his
56
expertise in strategy and growth to the company. Medda, the Chief Product Officer,
leverages his background as a Senior Manager at Flipkart to develop scalable and
user-centric products. Notably, DealShare secured a recent funding round on 29th January
2022, amounting to $165 million, further strengthening its position in the market.
BillDesk, a Indian payment gateway and fintech company, was founded in 2000 by M.N.
Srinivasu, Ajay Kaushal, and Karthik Ganapathy. BillDesk ensures secure and seamless
59
online transactions. Srinivasu, a Co-founder and Director, brings valuable experience from
ITC Limited and Andersen. Kaushal, another Founder-Director, has a background at SBI
Capital Markets Limited, Arthur Andersen, and CAF India. Ganapathy, the Chief Architect,
leverages his expertise gained from IIT Bombay, IIM Bangalore, and Arthur Andersen to
drive BillDesk's technology and operations.
Cure.Fit founded in 2016 by Mukesh Bansal and Ankit Nagori, is an Indian health and
fitness startup that aims to provide a comprehensive approach to well-being. Bansal,
60
known for his success as the founder and CEO of Myntra, brings his expertise in
e-commerce and technology to the company. Nagori, a former professional athlete and
Chief Business Officer at Flipkart, combines his sports background with business acumen.
In the initial days, Cult.fit used to have studios where they held Zumba classes, boxing,
dancing, Yoga, and Strength and conditioning to make workouts a fun session.
67
Anthem Biosciences, founded by Ajay Bharadwaj, Ravindra Chandrappa, and Ganesh
Sambasivam, is a contract research organization (CRO) based in Bangalore, India.
61
Bharadwaj, the CEO and founder, brings his expertise in the pharmaceutical industry,
gained from his previous role as President Marketing at Biocon. With a background in
chemical engineering from prestigious institutions like IIT Delhi and Louisiana State
University. Sambasivam, the co-founder and CSO, has contributed to the company's
success with his expertise in life sciences. Chandrappa has left the company.
Licious, an online meat and seafood company, was co-founded by a dynamic team. Vivek
Gupta, aged 42 and residing in Bangalore, brings his expertise as a Chartered Accountant
63
to the company's financial operations. Joe Manavalan, based in Bangalore, contributes his
business acumen with an MBA education. Abhay Kumar Hanjura, aged 37 and also
residing in Bangalore, adds his entrepreneurial skills to the mix. Notably, on 15th March
2022, Licious achieved a significant milestone by crossing the 1 billion dollar mark.
Slice, a fintech company in India, was founded by Rajan Bajaj with the mission of
simplifying banking and financial management for young professionals and college
63
students. Bajaj, the Founder and CEO of Slice, envisions transforming the financial services
industry in India. Prior to founding Slice, Bajaj gained experience as a Business Analyst
Intern at Walmart and as the founder of Mesh Internet. With a bachelor's degree in Civil
Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, Bajaj brings his
entrepreneurial spirit and expertise to provide accessible and tailored financial products
through Slice's user-friendly digital platform.
The founders of ElasticRun are Sandeep Deshmukh, Shitiz Bansal, and Saurabh Nigam.
They established the company in 2015 with the vision of revolutionizing logistics and
63
supply chain management in India. Deshmukh brings his expertise in technology and
business scaling, while Bansal contributes his knowledge in operations and supply chain
management. Nigam's background in technology further strengthens the company's
technological capabilities. Notably, ElasticRun recently secured a funding round on 8th
February 2022, amounting to $300 million, fueling its growth and expansion plans.
68
Ashwin Desai started Aether Industries, a pioneering company in its sector. The organi-
66 zation has thrived under the direction of Desai, who is 71 years old and lives in Surat. Desai
has established a solid basis for the company by having a profound awareness of the
market and a passion for innovation. Under his leadership, Aether Industries continues to
prosper, offering cutting-edge solutions and making a big influence in its industry. Desai's
commitment and skills have been critical to the company's growth and success.
Rebel Foods, formerly known as Faasos, is a Indian food tech company founded in 2011 by
Jaydeep Barman and Kallol Banerjee. Both founders are graduates of the Indian Institute
68
of Management, Ahmedabad, and share a passion for revolutionizing the food industry.
Barman, the co-founder and CEO, has been instrumental in driving the company's growth
and success. With an MBA from INSEAD and prior experience at McKinsey & Company,
Barman brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to Rebel Foods. Banerjee, another
co-founder, contributes his expertise in mechanical engineering and international work
experience to the company's operations.
OneCard is a digital-first credit card and financial services platform in India, co-founded by
Rupesh Kumar, Anurag Sinha, and Vibhav Hathi. Kumar, with a background in software
68
engineering and experience in building digital banking solutions, brings valuable expertise
to the company. Sinha, with a strong background in technology and finance, has a
successful track record in founding and scaling fintech ventures. Hathi, with his experience
in banking and entrepreneurship, contributes his knowledge in driving digital payment
innovations.
Pristyn Care, founded in 2018, is a healthcare and wellness startup in India. The company
was co-founded by Harsimarbir Singh, who brings expertise in finance and operations,
68
shaping the organization's strategy. Vaibhav Kapoor, a medical professional, contributes
his insights to patient care and treatment. Garima Sawhney, a gynecologist, adds a
valuable perspective in women's healthcare. Singh holds degrees from IIM Ahmedabad
and Duke University, while Kapoor completed MBBS from MGM Institute of Health Science,
and Sawhney has qualifications from Maharashtra University of Health Sciences and
Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University.
69
boAt, established in 2016, is an Indian consumer electronics company specializing in audio
products. Co-founded by Sameer Mehta and Aman Gupta, boAt aims to offer affordable
68
and high-quality audio solutions. Mehta, the Chief Product Officer and Executive Director of
Kores (India) brings his extensive experience in marketing and entrepreneurship to the
company. Gupta, the Chief Marketing Officer, holds degrees in Commerce and Chartered
Accountancy, as well as an MBA in Finance and Strategy.
Zepto, a Mumbai-based startup, has revolutionized the grocery delivery industry with its
10-minute delivery service. Aadit Palicha and Kaivalya Vohra, both Stanford University
68
graduates, joined forces to create Zepto in response to the limitations of traditional delivery
services during the Covid-19 pandemic. Palicha, the CEO and Co-Founder, brings his
entrepreneurial experience from previous ventures like GoPool and KiranaKart. Vohra, the
Co-Founder and CTO, contributes his expertise in computer science. Zepto emerged as a
game-changer, offering ultra-fast grocery deliveries to meet the evolving needs of
customers.
Akums Drugs, founded by Sanjeev Jain and Sandeep Jain, is a pharmaceutical company
known for its commitment to healthcare. Their vision and leadership have shaped the
74
success of Akums Drugs. The company specializes in the manufacturing and distribution
of a wide range of high-quality pharmaceutical products, including tablets, capsules,
syrups, ointments, and more. It holds the record of the 67th largest employer in the country
employing more than 15000 employees. With a strong focus on research and
development, Akums Drugs continuously strives to innovate and meet the evolving needs
of the healthcare industry.
Shiprocket, founded in 2017, is a logistics and shipping aggregator platform in India. The
company was co-founded by Saahil Goel, Gautam Kapoor, and Vishesh Khurana, each
75
bringing their unique expertise to the table. Goel, with an MBA and MS, leverages his
business and technology background to drive the company's growth. Khurana, with a
specialization in marketing, adds valuable insights to Shiprocket's strategic approach.
Kapoor, a Delhi University graduate, contributes his knowledge and skills to the company.
Notably, Shiprocket recently acquired the company Omuni for a deal value of $25.03
million, strengthening its position in the market and expanding its service offerings.
70
Yubi, an Indian fintech platform specializing in digital lending for SMEs, was established by
Gaurav Kumar and Vineet Sukumar. Sukumar, also Co-Founder and Managing Director of
75 Vivriti Capital, contributes extensive financial industry expertise. Holding a degree from IIT
Kharagpur, Sukumar played a pivotal role in establishing Yubi as a key player in lending. In
2022, Yubi reached a significant milestone, achieving a valuation of $1 billion, attaining
unicorn status. Kumar, the Co-Founder and CEO, brings experience from organizations like
Outsized and Northern Arc Capital, holding a degree from the Institute of Rural
Management Anand (IRMA).
Darpan Sanghvi, the founder of MyGlamm, is an entrepreneur in the beauty industry. With
his expertise and passion for cosmetics, Sanghvi founded the Good Glamm Group, a
78
conglomerate that combines content and commerce in the beauty and personal care
sector. Raised in Pune, Maharashtra, he holds a mechanical engineering degree from the
Maharashtra Institute of Technology and an MBA from ESADE Business School in
Barcelona, along with a dual degree from the McCombs School of Business at the
University of Texas at Austin.
71
Founded in 2016 by Varun Alagh and Ghazal Alagh, Mamaearth is an Indian personal care
brand known for its natural and toxin-free products for babies, kids, and adults. Varun, a
78 seasoned professional in the FMCG industry, brings his brand management expertise to
Mamaearth. Varun has previously worked in Hindustan Unilever, Smirnoff, and The
Coca-Cola Company. Ghazal, on the other hand, serves as the Chief Innovation Officer and
is recognized as one of India's top women artists. She then served as a Corporate Trainer at
NIIT and later on founded Dietexpert in February 2012.
Route Mobile, a communication platform, was founded by Rajdip Gupta and Sandip
Gupta. The founders, driven by their passion for technology and communication, aimed to
82
provide innovative solutions for businesses to engage with their customers effectively.
Rajdip Gupta, as the CEO, brings his expertise in business strategy and growth. Sandip
Gupta, as the COO, contributes his experience in operations and technology. A significant
part of the company’s business involves being the middleman between a mobile operator
and an enterprise.
Madhukar Gangadi, the founder of MedPlus Health Services, established the company in
2006 with the vision of creating a reliable and affordable healthcare solution for the people
83
of India. With an MBA degree from the Wharton School and a bachelor's degree in
medicine and surgery, Gangadi combined his expertise in healthcare and entrepreneurship
to start MedPlus. The company began as a single store in Hyderabad and has grown into
one of India's leading retail pharmacy chains. MedPlus now operates multiple stores across
different cities, offering a wide range of medications, healthcare products, and personal
care items to ensure convenient access to quality healthcare essentials.
Spinny, founded by Niraj Singh, Ramanshu Mahaur, Ganesh Pawar, and Mohit Gupta, is
an Indian online marketplace that works for pre-owned car markets. Singh, an IIT Delhi
84
alumnus, brings his expertise as the Founder and CEO of Spinny, along with his experience
as a Founding Partner at Outbox Ventures. Mahaur, also an IIT Delhi alumnus, serves as the
co-founder and CTO, leveraging his technical prowess gained from his tenure at Adobe.
Gupta, a graduate of IMT Ghaziabad and a former Flipkart employee, contributes his
business acumen to the team. After being the Co-founder of spinny, Pawar left the
company.
72
LEAD School, founded in 2012 by Sumeet Mehta and Smita Deorah, is an Indian edtech
company. Mehta, the Founder and CEO, brings extensive brand management experience
84
from companies like Olay and Vicks, along with an education from prestigious institutions
like IIM Ahmedabad and PEC Chandigarh. Deorah, the Co-Founder, CLO, and COO, is a
passionate advocate for quality education, having founded the non-profit organization
Sparsh.
Global Bees, founded in 2020 by Nitin Agarwal, Deepak Khetan & Supam Maheshwari, is
an Indian e-commerce venture operating in the direct-to-consumer (D2C) space. Agarwal,
84
the CEO of GlobalBees, brings a wealth of experience from his previous roles at renowned
companies like Citibank, Equirus Capital, and Edelweiss. Maheshwari, the Co-founder of
FirstCry, also plays a key role in GlobalBees, leveraging his expertise in the e-commerce
industry. Khetan is an alumnus of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, who also
attained the CFA Institute and GARP, USA. Khetan has previously served as a Manager and
Chief Manager at ICICI Bank
Acko General Insurance, an Indian digital insurance company, was established in 2016 by
Varun Dua and Ruchi Deepak. Deepak, who resides in Bengaluru, had previously served as
84
a board member for Pitstop car before co-founding Acko alongside Dua. Deepak is an
alumna of Lady Shri Ram College for Women. Dua is dedicated to streamlining insurance
procedures and increasing their accessibility. By embracing a digital-first strategy and
benefiting from Dua's guidance, Acko ensures that it delivers cost-effective, tailored, and
convenient insurance solutions to both individuals and businesses.
Apna, founded in 2019 by Nirmit Parikh, is India's largest professional networking and job
search platform for blue-collar workers and entry-level job seekers. Parikh, the Founder
84
and CEO of Apna, brings his expertise from working at Apple and establishing successful
ventures like Cruxbot. With a focus on sectors such as retail, hospitality, customer service,
logistics, and delivery, Apna provides a digital space where individuals can showcase their
skills, discover relevant job opportunities, and connect with potential employers. Parikh's
vision and leadership drive Apna's mission to empower India's working class with better job
prospects and networking opportunities.
Physics Wallah, founded by Alakh Pandey, also known as "Physics Wallah Sir," is an online
educational platform in India. It specializes in providing high-quality physics and science
84
education to students preparing for competitive exams like JEE and NEET. Pandey, a
renowned physics teacher, started the Physics Wallah YouTube channel in 2016 to share his
expertise with students nationwide. With a unique teaching style, Pandey simplifies
complex concepts, incorporates real-life examples, and fosters a student-centric
environment, earning a massive following. Prateek Maheshwari, the co-founder, brings
valuable experience as a former founder, strengthening Physics Wallah's foundation.
73
Purplle, founded by Manish Taneja, Suyash Katyayani and Rahul Dash, is an Indian
e-commerce platform specializing in beauty and personal care products. Taneja, an
84
alumnus of IIT Delhi and the Indian School of Business, brings his extensive experience in
finance and entrepreneurship to the company. Dash, an alumnus of IIT Bombay and IIM
Ahmedabad, contributes his expertise in strategy and business development. Katyayani
had been a student of DPS Bhilai and is also an alumnus of Kharagpur IIT, from where he
completed his BTech. in Chemical Engineering. Katyayani had earlier co-founded
VidyaCenter.
Lemon Tree Hotels, founded by Patu Keswani, is a hotel chain in India that specializes in
providing mid-priced accommodations with a distinct brand experience. Keswani, an
92
accomplished entrepreneur and hotelier, identified the untapped potential in the
mid-scale hotel segment in India, leading to the establishment of Lemon Tree Hotels in
2002. The first property opened in 2004 in Gurugram, near Delhi, offering comfortable
rooms, contemporary amenities, and a vibrant ambiance that became synonymous with
the Lemon Tree brand. Keswani, with his educational background and business acumen,
has played a pivotal role in shaping the success and reputation of Lemon Tree Hotels.
eClerx Services, founded in 2000 by Anjan Malik and PD Mundhra, is a prominent Indian
knowledge process outsourcing (KPO) company. Malik, the co-founder and executive
93
director, brings over 25 years of experience in consulting and investment banking.
Mundhra, also a co-founder and executive director, has extensive experience in the
KPO/BPO sector. eClerx initially focused on providing data analytics and management
services to the financial services industry. Leveraging its expertise in handling large data
volumes, the company delivers value-added solutions to clients worldwide. Malik and
Mundhra's leadership has been instrumental in eClerx's success in the digital solutions and
operations management domains.
SBFC Finance, Aseem Dhru, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of SBFC
finance, brings a wealth of expertise and experience in the financial sector. Armed with a
94
bachelor's degree in commerce from Gujarat University, he is an esteemed member of
both the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India and the Institute of Cost and Works
Accountants of India. With a remarkable career spanning over 25 years in banking, his
tenure at the company commenced on September 28, 2017, marking a pivotal addition to
the institution's leadership. His impressive academic background and extensive industry
tenure underscore his adeptness in financial management and strategic leadership.
74
Indiabulls Housing Finance, a housing finance company in India, was founded by Sameer
96 Gehlaut, a prominent entrepreneur and visionary leader. Gehlaut, born in 1974, has a strong
background in finance and business management. He holds a Bachelor's degree in
Mechanical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi. With his
entrepreneurial drive and keen understanding of the financial industry, Gehlaut
established Indiabulls Housing Finance to provide easy and accessible housing finance
solutions to individuals and families.
Founded by Darshan Patel in 2010, Vini Cosmetics is a renowned Indian beauty and
personal care company based in Mumbai. Patel, an experienced entrepreneur in the
97
beauty industry, has been instrumental in the growth and success of the company. With a
portfolio of popular brands such as Fogg, White Tone, Glam Up, and Nufeel, Vini Cosmetics
offers a wide range of high-quality and affordable cosmetic products. He had spent the last
two-and-a-half decades launching and relaunching products like Moov, Itch Guard and
Krack at Paras Pharma, a business he co-owned with his brothers.
Latent View Analytics, founded in 2006 by Venkat Viswanathan and Pramad Jandhyala,
99 is a leading Indian analytics and digital solutions company. Viswanathan, the founder and
chairman, has experience in management consulting and global IT services. Jandhyala, the
co-founder, brings over two decades of finance and analytics expertise. With a team of
data scientists and analysts, Latent View Analytics specializes in delivering data-driven
insights and advanced analytics solutions to industries such as retail, consumer goods,
finance, and more.
InMobi, a mobile advertising and marketing platform, was founded by Naveen Tewari,
Mohit Saxena, Amit Gupta, and Abhay Singhal. The visionary founders set out to transform
100
the mobile advertising landscape by creating innovative solutions that connect brands with
consumers. Tewari, with his entrepreneurial spirit, leads the company as the CEO, while
Saxena brings technical expertise as the CTO. Gupta contributes his experience in
operations and strategy as the COO, and Singhal's marketing insights drive the company's
growth as the CRO.
75
NoBroker, founded in 2014 by Amit Kumar Agarwal, Akhil Gupta, and Saurabh Garg, is an
Indian real estate platform that directly connects property owners and tenants, eliminating
100
the need for traditional brokers. Agarwal, the CEO of NoBroker.in, brings over 15 years of
experience in banking and finance. Gupta, the Co-founder and Chief Tech and Product
Officer, leads the tech vertical, ensuring enhanced customer experiences. Garg, also a
Co-founder, has a background in sales and marketing, and he continues to serve as the
Director of Four Fountains Spa, his first entrepreneurial venture.
Founded in 2011 by Nilesh Patel, Prashant Singh & Sudhakar Gorti, LeadSquared
empowers businesses with its comprehensive lead management platform. Patel, the
100
CEO, brings his experience from Proteans and IBM to enhance sales execution and
efficiency. Singh, the COO, leverages his background in Mathematics and Computer
Science to drive business growth and expansion. LeadSquared's cloud-based solution
offers user-friendly tools, automation capabilities, and insightful analytics to capture,
nurture, and convert leads. Gorti, the Chief Product Officer, leads the product design and
development of LeadSquared. However Gorti left the company in March 2023.
Oxyzo, founded by Asish Mohapatra, Bhuvan Gupta, Nitin Jain, Ruchi Kalra, and Vasant
Shridhar, is a startup that aims to revolutionize the clean energy industry. The company is
100
focused on developing innovative solutions for renewable energy generation and storage,
with a particular emphasis on hydrogen-based technologies. Combining their skills in
engineering, technology, and business to drive the company's mission forward. Their
commitment to a greener future and sustainable energy solutions has positioned Oxyzo as
a promising player in the clean energy sector.
Open Financial Technologies Pvt. Ltd., commonly known as "Open," India's digital banking
platform, serves startups, SMEs, and freelancers. Anish Achuthan, Open's co-founder,
100
utilizes 17 years of fintech experience to drive innovation and success for the company.
Ajeesh Achuthan, the CTO, brings his expertise from Forbes 30 Under 30, InLoc8, PayU,
and Citrus Payment Solutions Pvt. Ltd. Mabel Chacko, a fintech expert and IIM Bengaluru
graduate, co-founded Touch2pay, worked with Citrus Payment Solutions and PayU,
earning the title "Startup Leader of the Year" for driving Open's vision. Deena Jacob, Open's
Co-founder brings over 18 years of expertise in constructing and leading finance teams for
early-stage startups, contributing to the company's establishment and growth.
Tanmai Gopal and Rajoshi Ghosh founded Hasura, a leading technology business. Gopal,
33, of San Francisco, brings to the organization his expertise in software engineering.
100
Ghosh, a 36 year old female entrepreneur headquartered in San Francisco, is well-known
for her exceptional commercial acumen and strategic vision. They have grown Hasura into
a tech sector powerhouse, known for its cutting-edge technologies and imaginative
approach. Their combined experience, leadership, and dedication have brought Hasura to
the forefront of the software development industry. In 2022 Hasura raised $100m in a fresh
funding round.
76
RattanIndia Enterprises, a prominent conglomerate, was founded by Rajiv Rattan, a
106 visionary entrepreneur with a passion for sustainable development and clean energy. With
a deep understanding of the evolving energy landscape and the potential of renewable
sources, he established RattanIndia Enterprises, which has become a leading player in
sectors such as power generation, solar energy, and electric mobility. His commitment to
environmental sustainability and social responsibility has earned RattanIndia Enterprises
recognition and accolades within the industry.
Xpressbees, founded in 2015 by Amitava Saha and Supam Maheshwari, emerged from
their deep understanding of the e-commerce industry and its logistical challenges. Saha,
107 an IIT Varanasi alumnus with extensive experience in sales and operations, co-founded
FirurtletCry.com before establishing Xpressbees. He started with Brainvisa Technologies,
where he served as a Director, and a VP, who was eventually promoted to the position of
Senior VP. Maheshwari, the co-founder and CEO, brings a wealth of knowledge from his
roles in senior positions at prominent technology and business development companies.
Maheshwari was the co-founder and CEO of Brainvisa Technologies from 2000-2009,
which he started with Saha and eventually sold it and also left the Xpressbees.
Founded in 2015 by Jayant Paleti, Chaitanya Peddi and Rohit Chennamaneni, Darwinbox
107 revolutionizes HR management with its comprehensive platform. The founders aimed to
simplify and streamline HR processes, leveraging technology to enhance employee
experiences. Peddi, as the Product Head, brings his consulting background to drive
product development. Paleti, the Sales Head, combines his expertise in technology and
finance to lead the sales team. Chennamaneni, the Head of Operations, draws from his
experience at Google and McKinsey & Company to optimize operations and foster growth.
Leap Scholar, founded by Vaibhav Singh and Arnav Kumar, is an educational platform
with a focus on providing learning resources. Both founders bring impressive academic
107
backgrounds, having graduated from IIT Kharagpur, India's premier engineering institute.
Their expertise and knowledge gained from their education at IIT Kharagpur have been
instrumental in shaping Leap Scholar's curriculum and approach. With a deep
understanding of the challenges students face, Singh and Kumar have created a platform
that empowers learners by offering comprehensive study materials and personalized
guidance to help them achieve academic excellence.
Ather Energy, founded in 2013 by Tarun Mehta and Swapnil Jain, is an Indian electric
vehicle (EV) manufacturer. Mehta and Jain, both graduates from IIT Madras, embarked on
107
their journey of developing electric vehicle technology during their time at the institute.
Mehta interned at Mercedes Benz and BHEL during his college days. After completing a
brief internship at General Motors and BHEL, Jain decided to found Ather with his college
friend Mehta. Through extensive research and testing, they created the Ather S340 electric
scooter, which addressed the limitations of existing electric two-wheelers.
77
Money View, a leading financial management app in India, was founded in 2012 by Sanjay
Aggarwal and Puneet Agarwal. Aggarwal, the co-founder of Money View, is an IITian who
107
completed B-tech from the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi. Later, he continued work-
ing as an engineer at Ciena Corporation, Yahoo, among others. Agarwal, the co-founder of
Money View, is also an IITian from the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi. He went on to
pursue an MBA from Purdue University - Krannert School of Management. He started his
career working as a consultant for McKinsey for about three years.
Home First Finance Company (HFFC), an Indian housing finance company, was founded
113 in 2010 by PS Jayakumar, Jaithirth Rao, Manoj Viswanathan. Rao, a distinguished
alumnus of IIM-Ahmedabad and the University of Chicago, has a remarkable
entrepreneurial background, including being the Founder, Chairman, and Managing
Director of Mphasis. Jayakumar, currently the MD and CEO of Bank of Baroda, has
extensive experience in retail banking. Viswanathan, with a background in consumer
lending, is the Managing Director and CEO of HFFC.
Indigo Paints, a paint manufacturing company, was founded by Hemant Jalan. At the age
of 62 and residing in Pune, Jalan's leadership and business acumen have driven the
114
company's success. With an engineering degree from Stanford University and an MBA,
Jalan brings a strong educational background to his role. Born under the zodiac sign of
Virgo, his meticulous attention to detail and analytical mindset have played a crucial role in
shaping Indigo Paints' growth. In January 2021, Indigo Paints went public and listed on the
NSE and BSE. The company’s Rs 1,170-crore initial share-sale garnered an overwhelming
response from investors and was subscribed 117 times on the final day of bidding.
Jupiter Life Line Hospitals, under the stewardship of Dr. Ajay P Thakker, the Founder,
Chairman, and Managing Director, represents a cornerstone in the field of medicine and
115
healthcare with a distinguished tenure spanning over three decades. Dr. Thakker's
extensive experience and leadership have been instrumental in the hospital's growth and
its dedication to providing high-quality healthcare services. His guidance reflects a
commitment to innovation and excellence, positioning the hospital as a key player in
addressing the dynamic needs of the healthcare industry.
78
Easy Trip Planners, popularly known as EaseMyTrip, was founded in 2008 by Nishant Pitti,
Rikant Pittie, and Prashant Pitti. Nishant, a visionary entrepreneur, aimed to establish a
116 leading travel and tourism company in India. Nishant has dabbled in filmmaking,
co-producing the Bollywood blockbuster ‘Madaari'. Rikant, Having earned a Bachelor of
Technology (B.Tech.) from Kurukshetra University, his expertise in online travel and
e-commerce, brought fresh perspectives to the business. Prashant, an experienced
industrialist, contributed his marketing skills and innovative ideas to the company's growth.
Prashant holds a B.Tech. from IIT Madras. He has three years of experience in the United
States, where he worked as an assistant vice president in HSBC's Risk Department in
Chicago.
117 entrepreneur with a passion for style and business. At the age of 34 and based in Chennai,
India, Saraogi has made a significant impact in the fashion industry. He pursued his
education at Loyola College, where he earned a Bachelor of Commerce degree with a
specialization in Accounting. In 2022, Go Fashion went Public.
Lalit Kumar Aggarwal, Vice Chairman and Whole-time Director at Signature Global,
holds seven years of real estate experience. He completed his senior secondary education
119
in Delhi and received a home nursing certificate in 1988. Pradeep Kumar Aggarwal, the
Founder and Chairman, possesses eight years in real estate, educated at Motiram
Baburam Inter College, Nainital. Ravi Aggarwal, Managing Director, brings nine years of
real estate expertise and is a fellow member of ICAI. Devender Aggarwal, Joint Managing
Director, with 11 years in real estate, finished secondary education in Delhi. Parveen
Aggarwal, Co-founder and former Vice Chairman at Signature Global Group, embodies
perseverance and integrity in his pursuits.He left the company in 2018.
79
Vedantu, an Indian online tutoring platform, was founded in 2014 by Vamsi Krishna, Anand
120 Prakash, Pulkit Jain, and Saurabh Saxena. The journey of Vedantu began with their earlier
venture, Lakshya Institute, which they established in 2006 to prepare students for entrance
exams. Realizing the potential of online education, they sold Lakshya and founded Vedantu
in 2011. Krishna, an IIT Bombay graduate, played a pivotal role in the formation of both
Lakshya and Vedantu. Prakash, an alumnus of IIT Roorkee, serves as the co-founder and
Academic Head, while Jain and Saxena, also IIT Roorkee graduates, contributed to the
establishment of Vedantu before pursuing other ventures. In 2018 Saxena left the company.
Rapido, an Indian bike taxi and ride-hailing platform, was founded in 2015 by Aravind
Sanka, Pavan Guntupalli, and Rishikesh SR. These founders recognized the need for a
120
reliable and efficient last-mile transportation solution in congested Indian cities.. Sanka, an
IIT Bhubaneswar graduate, brings his expertise from Flipkart.com, while Guntupalli, an IIT
Kharagpur alumnus, contributes his software development skills from Samsung Research
India. Rishikesh SR, a graduate of PES University, is known for his award-winning projects
and entrepreneurial ventures like IMPStant and theKarrier.
Quess Corp, a business services provider, was founded by Ajit Issac. With over three
decades of experience in the industry, Issac is a seasoned entrepreneur and business
124
leader. Born and raised in India, he pursued his higher education at the prestigious Harvard
Business School, where he earned an MBA degree. Issac 's entrepreneurial journey began
when he co-founded the company in 2007 with a vision to provide innovative workforce
solutions.
80
MobiKwik, a prominent digital payments company, was co-founded by Upasana Taku,
Bipin Preet Singh, and Chandan Joshi. Taku, aged 43 and a Scorpio by zodiac sign, is a
126
female entrepreneur with a strong presence in the industry. Singh, aged 43 and a Leo by
zodiac sign, is a male entrepreneur who has made significant contributions to MobiKwik's
success. Joshi, aged 41 and a Libra by zodiac sign, is another male co-founder of
MobiKwik.
128 solutions, has its roots in the entrepreneurial journey of Divyank Turakhia. In 2010, started
coding at the age of eight. He received his early education from Arya Vidya Mandir in
Bandra, Mumbai and holds a bachelor's degree from Narsee Monjee College of
Commerce and Economics. He is the co-founder of Directi and all its media businesses,
such as Media.Net, Skenzo, BigJumbo, DomainAdvertising.com, & MediaInvestments.com
Manoj Namburu, the founder of Alliance Infrastructure Projects, boasts three decades of
129
128 industry experience and champions an ethical, customer-focused approach. His
leadership shapes the company's vision, emphasizing an unwavering dedication to quality
and organizational values. Recognized with accolades such as the "Economic Times
AceTech" and 'Global Indian of the Year 2019' awards for his impactful contributions to the
Indian real estate sector. Suneel Bommireddy, a seasoned serial entrepreneur at Alliance
Infrastructure Projects, holds a Civil Engineering degree, leveraging 26 years of expertise
in conceiving and developing significant real estate projects in Bangalore, Chennai, and
Hyderabad, specializing in business strategy and development.
Scaler, an online accelerator program, was founded by Anshuman Singh and Abhimanyu
130 Saxena with the goal of providing software developers with the skills and guidance
needed in tech companies. Singh, who previously worked at Facebook, brings extensive
experience in building and scaling features. Saxena, a seasoned entrepreneur, has a strong
background in front-end design. Recognizing the need for practical skills in the industry,
they launched Scaler Academy in 2019, offering a comprehensive computer science
course taught by industry leaders.
81
Droom Technology, founded by Sandeep Aggarwal, is an online marketplace in India that
focuses on the buying and selling of new and used automobiles. Aggarwal, a renowned
131
serial entrepreneur and angel investor, is recognized as a visionary in the Indian marketplace
industry. He co-founded ShopClues.com before starting Droom in 2014. Aggarwal's
inspiration for Droom came from observing the challenges in the used vehicle market and
the need for a transparent and technology-driven platform.
Medikabazaar, a leading B2B online medical supplies marketplace, was founded by Vivek
131 Tiwari and Ketan Malkan. The founders, driven by their vision to streamline the healthcare
supply chain, aimed to bridge the gap between manufacturers, distributors, and
healthcare providers. Tiwari brings his expertise in business development and operations,
Tiwari completed his Bachelors Degree from the University of Calcutta, where he was a
rank holder with 1st division. while Malkan contributes his experience in technology and
product management.
Square Yards, founded by Tanuj Shori, Anupam Rastogi, Hitesh Singla, Piyush Bothra,
Rahul Purohit and Kanika Gupta Shori in 2014, is India's largest integrated platform for real
131
estate. In just eight years. Shori, the CEO, brings a wealth of experience in finance and
investment banking, while Kanika, the Chief Relationship Officer, contributes her expertise
in marketing and relationship management. Singla residing in Gurugram, has played a very
important role. Bothra, with his education in Engineering has also founded Rail Tiffin.com.
Rastogi, the Co-Founder & Director NRI Division. Purohit, the last founder has completed
his PGDM from marketing.
Adarsh Srivastava, Amrendra Singh, Shashank Kumar, and Shyam Sundar Singh are the
131 founders of DeHaat, an agritech startup in India. Srivastava, a technology enthusiast, and
Singh, an agricultural expert, recognized the need to connect farmers with technology to
improve productivity. They joined forces with Kumar, who had experience in e-commerce,
and Shyam Sundar Singh, who specialized in data analytics. All founders are in their 30s
and have diverse educational backgrounds in engineering, agriculture, and management.
Tushar Aggarwal, Parikshit Chitalkar, and Shruti Aggarwal are the dynamic founders of
StashFin, a leading digital lending platform. Tushar, an alumnus of IIT Delhi and INSEAD,
131
brings his expertise in technology and finance to the table. Chitalkar, a banking industry
veteran, holds an MBA from IIM Ahmedabad and has extensive experience in credit risk
assessment. Shruti, an MBA graduate from INSEAD, specializes in finance and operations.
StashFin aims to provide quick, convenient, and affordable credit solutions to underserved
individuals and small businesses.
82
Servify, a technology company, was founded by Sreevathsa Prabhakar, an entrepreneur
136 with a strong educational background in Computer Science, holding a Bachelor of
Engineering degree. Prior to Servify, Prabhakar successfully founded another company
called The Service Solutions. With his technical expertise and entrepreneurial spirit, he has
been instrumental in driving the growth and success of Servify. Prabhakar's commitment
to providing cutting-edge solutions and his proven track record in the industry have
positioned Servify as a trusted name in the technology and service sector.
IndMoney, a financial technology company, was founded by Amrita Sirohia and Ashish
Kashyap. Kashyap is a dynamic entrepreneur with a deep understanding of the finance
138
industry. Born in 1979, Kashyap pursued his education at the Indian Institute of Technology,
Delhi, where he obtained a degree in Computer Science. In 2020, he launched IndMoney,
a one-stop solution that provides users with personalized financial recommendations and
investment opportunities. Sirohia played a very important role for IndMoney, she has previ-
ously worked as a Vice President at HSBC & AIESEC.
83
Vivriti Capital, was founded in 2017 by Vineet Sukumar, Aniket Deshpande, and Gaurav
141 Kumar. Deshpande, residing in Chennai and a co-founder with an MBA from the Institute of
Rural Management Anand. Sukumar, a seasoned professional with an MBA from IIM
Bangalore and an engineering degree from IIT Kharagpur, leads the company as the
Founder and Managing Director. Kumar, an expert in digital strategy, advises the
management on technology and platform advancements. Together, they established Vivriti
Capital to address the financing needs of underserved sectors through customized debt
financing and investment solutions. With their expertise and vision, Vivriti Capital bridges
the gap between borrowers and investors, leveraging technology and innovative financial
products.
142 Prabhu Rangarajan, and Muthukumar Ayyakkannu, three entrepreneurs with a deep
understanding of the fintech industry. Madhusudanan R, born in 1982, holds a Bachelor's
degree in Computer Science and has a wealth of experience in building scalable
technology platforms. Rangarajan, born in 1978, is a seasoned professional with expertise
in product management and strategy. Ayyakkannu, born in 1983, has a strong background
in finance and business development.
Progcap, a pioneering fintech company, was founded by Himanshu Chandra and Pallavi
Shrivastava, two dynamic individuals with a passion for empowering small businesses.
142
Chandra, born in 1986, holds an MBA from the Indian School of Business and brings a
wealth of experience in finance and investment to the table. Shrivastava, born in 1988, is a
strategic thinker with expertise in business development and operations. Progcap's
mission to drive financial inclusion and support the growth of small businesses has made
them a game-changer in the industry.
Bizongo, a B2B platform for packaging materials and solutions, was founded by Ankit
142 Tomar, Aniket Deb and Sachin Agrawal. Deb, born in 1989, completed his education at
the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi. Tomar, born in 1989, holds a degree in
Computer Science and Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi.
Agrawal, born in 1989, graduated from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay.
Bizongo had a recent founding round in 2022 for $25m.
Fynd, a fashion e-commerce platform, was co-founded by Farooq Adam, Harsh Shah,
142 and Sreeraman Mohan Girija. Adam's vision, Shah's technological prowess, and Girija's
business acumen have propelled Fynd's success. Shah, born in 1988, graduated from
Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay. Shah has also founded Nova Global. Girjia, Aged
36 Graduated from University of Kerala, has made them a game-changer in the industry.
84
La Renon, a pharmaceutical company, was founded by Pankaj Singh, an entrepreneur
with a deep commitment to improving healthcare. La Renon was conceived in the year
142
2007 and went operational in 2008. Singh, born in 1975, pursued his education in the field
of pharmacy, earning a degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences. With a strong background in
the pharmaceutical industry and a desire to make a difference, Singh established La
Renon intending to develop innovative and affordable medicines.
Country Delight, an innovative dairy tech startup, emerged from the collaborative efforts
of Chakradhar Gade and Nitin Kaushal, two visionary entrepreneurs with a shared goal of
147
transforming the dairy industry. Gade, who is 40 years old and an alumnus of the
prestigious Indian Institute of Management, Indore, brings his profound knowledge in
technology and operations to the forefront of the company. Complimenting him is
Kaushal, also 40 years old, hailing from Gurugram and equipped with an impressive
background in sales and marketing, and having pursued his education at the esteemed
Indian Institute of Management, Indore.
Infibeam Avenues, a prominent e-commerce and digital payments solutions provider, was
founded by Vishal Mehta and Vishwas Patel. Mehta, a graduate of the Massachusetts
148
Institute of Technology (MIT), brought his expertise in technology and e-commerce to the
table. Patel, on the other hand, is a seasoned entrepreneur with a deep understanding of
the payment industry. Infibeam Avenues has grown to become a trusted name in the
e-commerce and payment space, serving a wide range of businesses and consumers.
Sanjay Shah started Prudent Corporate Advisory Services, a renowned financial advice
firm based in Ahmedabad. Shah, a Chartered Accountant, adds a lot of skills and
149
experience to the organisation. As the founder, he has led Prudent Corporate Advisory
Services to become a trusted name in the market, offering a comprehensive range of
financial services and solutions to clients. Shah 's innovative leadership and thorough
understanding of the market have been critical to the company's success. Prudent
Corporate Advisory Services thrives under Shah's leadership with a commitment to
excellence and client satisfaction.
Rossari Biotech, founded by Edward Menezes and Sunil Srinivasan Chari, is a prominent
150 biotechnology company based in Mumbai. With a combined age of 62 and 57, the
founders bring extensive experience and expertise to the company. While specific details
about their education or other interesting facts may not be available, their entrepreneurial
journey in the biotech industry is commendable. Rossari Biotech focuses on
manufacturing and marketing specialty chemicals, enzymes, and other innovative
products for various industries. Under the leadership of Menezes and Chari, the company
85
Ankur Jain, a 42-year-old entrepreneur from New Delhi, founded Bira 91, a well-known
craft beer brand. Having completed his education at the Illinois Institute of Technology,
151
Jain embarked on a remarkable entrepreneurial journey that serves as an inspiration to
others. In addition to Bira 91, Jain has also established ReliantMD, showcasing his
innovative spirit and diverse ventures.
152 company. Aged 42, residing in Surat, holds a Bachelor of engineering from Gujarat
University. His entrepreneurial journey and leadership have propelled Ami Organics to
success. The company specializes in the production of high-quality chemicals and has
gained a reputation for its commitment to quality and customer satisfaction. With a
focus on innovation and continuous improvement, Ami Organics has established itself
as a trusted name in the chemical industry.
Bounce, the bike-sharing platform was founded by Vivekananda Hallekere, Anil G, and
Varun Agni. All the three reside in Bengaluru. Agni, is the Co-founder and Chief Technology
155
Officer. He falls under the zodiac sign Aquarius. Hallekere, holds the position of CEO and
Co-founder. He belongs to the zodiac sign Aries. Anil G, is a Co-founder and Chief
Operating Officer. His zodiac sign is Capricorn. The platform allows users to rent bikes on a
short-term basis, offering a flexible and efficient alternative to traditional transportation
methods.
86
Shadowfax, a logistics platform, was co-founded by Gaurav Jaithliya, Praharsh Chandra,
Abhishek Bansal and Vaibhav Khandelwal. Bansal and Khandelwal Born in 1988 and 1989,
156
respectively, both Bansal and Khandelwal are engineering graduates from the Indian
Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi. Jaithliya was also a student of IIT Delhi, from where he
completed his Dual Degree in Mathematics and Computing. Chandra was a Mechanical
Engineering student, who completed his Btech degree from the IIT Delhi, much like the
other co-founders.
Dharmil Sheth, Harsh Parekh, Siddharth Shah, Hardik Dedhia, and Dhaval Shah founded
PharmEasy, a renowned online pharmaceutical platform. Sheth, an IIT Bombay alumnus,
157 lends to the organisation his commercial skills, while D. Shah, a practising doctor, maintains
the platform's medical accuracy. S. Shah, who lives in Mumbai, launched two other firms
before creating Pharmeasy. Parekh has a Master's MBA from SVKM's Narsee Monjee
Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS) and is the creator of several businesses. Dedhia,
who also lives in Mumbai, has a solid engineering education background. PharmEasy
offers a wide range of healthcare products and services, delivering medications and
healthcare essentials directly to customers' doorsteps.
157 entrepreneur and visionary. With a strong educational background, Singh holds a
Bachelor's degree in Economics from St. Stephen's College, Delhi, and an MBA from
Harvard Business School. At a young age, he embarked on a mission to revolutionize the
financial services landscape. Prior to InCred, Singh gained valuable experience at
esteemed institutions such as Deutsche Bank and HDFC.
Rupeek, a leading online gold loan company, was founded by Amar Prabhu, Ashwin Soni,
157 and Sumit Maniyar. Prabhu, born in 1984, holds a Bachelor's degree in Electronics and
Communication Engineering. Soni, born in 1986, completed his Bachelor's degree in
Computer Science Engineering. Maniyar, born in 1985, pursued a degree in Commerce.
The founders recognized the untapped potential in the gold loan market and set out to
revolutionize the lending industry by leveraging technology and providing convenient,
transparent, and secure gold loans to customers.
87
Zupee, a dynamic gaming platform, was founded by Dilsher Malhi and Siddhant Saurabh.
Malhi, aged 27, is the Founder of Zupee, and resides in Gurugram. Malhi falls under the
157
zodiac sign Gemini. Saurabh, also aged 27, is the Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer
(CTO) of Zupee, and also resides in Gurugram. Saurabh zodiac sign is Virgo. Malhi and
Saurabh recognized the potential of skill-based gaming and the growing demand for
engaging entertainment options.
Srikanth Iyer and Tanuj Choudhry co-founded HomeLane, a leading home interior design
157 firm. Choudhry adds expertise in design and consumer experience, while Iyer brings
substantial experience in technology and entrepreneurship. HomeLane provides home
renovations and interior designs. It has around 24 experience centers and over 900
designers across twelve cities including Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and
Delhi-NCR. Their vision and commitment have enabled HomeLane to become an industry
leader, transforming countless homes into beautiful, practical environments.
Captain Fresh, a seafood supply chain platform, was founded by Utham Gowda. Gowda's
157 entrepreneurial journey in the seafood industry is remarkable. Gowda is the Founder and
CEO of Captain Fresh, a company based in Bengaluru. With a deep understanding of the
challenges faced by fishermen and seafood buyers, he established Captain Fresh to
bridge the gap between the two. With his innovative approach and commitment to the
industry, Gowda is revolutionizing the seafood market, making it easier for consumers to
access fresh and sustainable seafood.
157 and Saurabh Tandon. Tandon, aged 44, serves as the Co-founder and Group Chief Operat-
ing Officer (COO) of BetterPlace. He resides in Bengaluru. Tandon's zodiac sign is Aries. He
holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Computer Science from Bangalore University,
India. Agarwala, aged 50, is the Co-founder and CEO of BetterPlace, based in Bengaluru.
He falls under the zodiac sign Aquarius. Agarwala holds a Bachelor of Engineering (B.E.)
degree in Electronics and Telecommunication from Gauhati University, India.
88
Northern Arc Capital, a prominent financial institution, was founded by Kshama
Fernandes. Her entrepreneurial journey in the finance industry is commendable. With a
157
strong vision of fostering inclusive growth and financial access, Fernandes established the
Northern Arc. Fernandes, aged 54, holds the position of Chairperson at Northern Arc. She
was born on November 13, 1968, in Chennai and falls under the zodiac sign Scorpio. She
completed her Bachelor of Science (BS) degree at Goa University in India. Furthering her
academic pursuits, Fernandes also obtained a Master of Science (MSc) and a Ph.D. from
Goa University.
Founded by brothers Shardul Sheth and Sitanshu Sheth in March 2013, the Pune-based
157 agri tech startup’s growth has been 5X year-on-year since inception. With over 18 million
farmers served, AgroStar says it operates over 7,500 pin codes across India with 2,300
stores. The startup has a commerce model where it sells input products - seeds, fertilizers,
and crop protection materials among others -- from various brands on its platform and
monetises by the spread of margins which varies from product to product.
89
Revant Bhate and Dhyanesh Shah are the founders of Mosaic Wellness, a pioneering
157 company in the wellness industry. With a shared vision and extensive educational
background Bhate, aged 39 and residing in Thane, holds qualifications in engineering and
an MBA. Meanwhile, Shah, aged 40 and based in Mumbai, also holds degrees in
engineering and an MBA. Together, their expertise and passion have propelled Mosaic
Wellness to great heights, providing innovative and effective wellness solutions for their
customers.
JusPay, a leading payment gateway provider, was founded by Vimal Kumar and Sheetal
Lalwani. The founders, driven by their deep understanding of the payments landscape,
157
aimed to simplify and secure online transactions for businesses and consumers. Kumar,
aged 42, is the Founder of JusPay. He was born on June 9, 1981, in Bengaluru and falls
under the zodiac sign Gemini. Lalwani, also aged 42, serves as the Co-founder and Chief
Operating Officer (COO) of JusPay. Lalwani was born on June 14, 1981, in Bengaluru and
shares the zodiac sign Gemini with Vimal Kumar.
Founded by Anindiya Dutta and Sandeep Dalmia, Stanza Living is a leading managed
accommodation provider that has transformed the student housing industry. Dutta, born in
173
1990, completed his undergraduate studies at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)
Kharagpur, while Dalmia, born in 1991, holds an MBA from Stanford University. Today,
Stanza Living provides hassle-free and enriching accommodations, catering to the unique
needs of students across India, redefining the student accommodation landscape.
Lalit Agarwal, the founder and guiding force of V-Mart Retail, has led the company to
success. Agarwal, aged 53, is the Founder and Managing Director (MD) of V-mart Retail. He
174
was born on January 15, 1970, in Gurugram and falls under the zodiac sign Capricorn.
Agarwal has also founded another company named Plaksha. With his entrepreneurial
journey and business acumen, V-Mart Retail has expanded nationwide, providing
affordable and fashionable clothing in tier-II and tier-III cities.
Nagakanaka Durga Prasad Chalavadi, as the Managing Director and a Promoter at Sai
Silks (Kalamandir), holds a bachelor’s degree in commerce from Nagarjuna University
175
and a master’s in Business Administration from the Institute of Management Education,
Pune. Alongside, he earned a post-graduate diploma in computer applications from the
Institute of Computer Software Sciences. With over 17 years in retail, including his role in
the former 'Sai Silks' partnership, he oversees comprehensive company management,
finances, internal controls, and security systems.
90
Pepperfry, a prominent online furniture and home decor retailer in India, was established
176 by Ambareesh Murty and Ashish Shah. Murty, born on June 30, 1972, in Mumbai, brought
valuable e-commerce expertise, while Shah, born on September 11, 1976, in Mumbai and
a Chemical Engineering graduate from Savitribai Phule Pune University, contributed his
engineering background. Together, their collaboration disrupted the furniture retail market.
Tragically, Murty, the Founder of Pepperfry, passed away in August 2023. Apart from his
role at Pepperfry, Murty also founded another company, Origin Resources. Shah, aged 46,
continues to serve as the Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Pepperfry.
Dunzo, the Indian hyperlocal delivery startup, was founded in 2014 by Kabeer Biswas,
Ankur Agarwal, Dalvir Suri, and Mukund Jha. Agarwal, an IIT Roorkee graduate, joined
177
forces with Jha, a computer science expert, who had previously worked at Google. Suri,
with experience in application development and operations, completed the founding
team. Biswas currently serves as the CEO, driving Dunzo's growth and success. Jha, aged
36, holds the position of Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at Dunzo. He was born on August
30, 1986, in Bengaluru and falls under the zodiac sign Virgo.
ClearTax, founded in 2011 by Archit Gupta, Srivatsan Chari and Ankit Solanki, is an Indian
online tax preparation and filing platform. Gupta, an experienced professional in the finan-
177
cial sector, played a key role in establishing ClearTax. The platform began as a website
offering free income tax return filing services and has since expanded to provide a wide
range of tax compliance and planning tools. With its user-friendly interface and compre-
hensive services, ClearTax has become a leading online tax platform in India, serving
millions of individuals and businesses nationwide.
Founded by Pranav Goel, Uttam Digga, and Vikas Choudhary, Porter is a logistics
platform that has made a remarkable impact in the industry. Goel, aged 33, is the
177
Co-founder and CEO of Porter. He was born on November 22, 1989, in Bengaluru and falls
under the zodiac sign Sagittarius. Goel pursued his M.Sc. in Economics at the Indian
Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, India. Digga, also aged 33, is a Co-founder of Porter. He
was born on September 13, 1989, in Bengaluru, and his zodiac sign is Virgo. Digga also
completed his M.Sc. in Economics at the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, India.
Mfine offers a mobile app for online doctor consultations, appointment booking, and
medicine delivery. Specialties include pediatrics, gynecology & obstetrics, and general
177
medicine. which was founded by Ashutosh Lawania and Prasad Kompalli. Lawania, aged
45, is a Co-founder of mFine. He has previously been associated with Myntra.com and
Bytedge Solutions. He pursued his Bachelor of Technology (BTech) degree in Engineering
at the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, India. Kompalli, aged 48, is the CEO and
Co-founder of mFine. He has previously founded Indus Bionics Systems and Technologies
Pvt Ltd. Arjun Choudhary & Ajit Narayanan are the founding members of mfine but have left
the company.
91
WayCool, founded by Karthik Jayaraman and Sanjay Dasari. Dasari aged 48 and based in
177 Chennai, is a remarkable player in the agri-tech space. With a deep understanding of the
challenges faced by farmers and the agricultural supply chain, Dasari embarked on a
mission to create a sustainable and efficient ecosystem. Jayaraman left the company.
WayCool leverages technology and innovation to connect farmers directly with retailers,
reducing wastage and ensuring fair prices for both parties. The company's robust logistics
network and cold chain infrastructure enable the delivery of fresh produce to customers
on time.
Ankit Mehta serves as the co-founder and CEO of ideaForge, a cutting-edge drone
182 systems company specializing in advanced UAVs for Defense and Industrial uses.
Graduating with a B.Tech and M.Tech in Computer-Aided Design and Automation from
IIT-Bombay, he initiated ideaForge in 2007 with a team of IIT Bombay graduates. Ashish
Bhat, the Co-Founder and VP (Research and Development), holds a B.Tech in Electrical
Engineering from IIT Bombay, driving innovation in solutions. Rahul Singh, Co-Founder
and VP of Engineering, leverages his B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering from IIT Bombay to
lead hardware design, production, and support at ideaForge. Vipul Joshi, Co-Founder and
VP of Operations, holds an MBA in International Business, contributing rich expertise in
product management.
Perfios (Personal Finance One Stop) is an Indian financial technology company that offers
a comprehensive platform for financial data aggregation and analysis. Founded by V.R.
185
Govindarajan (V.R. Govind) and Debasish Chakraborty, Perfios serves individuals, banks,
NBFCs, fintech startups, and other financial institutions. Govind, the CEO, brings extensive
experience in the fintech industry, while Chakraborty, the COO, contributes expertise in
operations and business development. Their vision has been to empower users with
efficient tools for financial management and risk mitigation.
92
HealthifyMe, a leading health and fitness app, was founded by Tushar Vashisht, and
185 Sachin Shenoy. Tushar Vashisht, aged 38, is the Co-founder and CEO of HealthifyMe. He
was born on April 3, 1985, in Bengaluru and falls under the zodiac sign Aries. Vashisht
pursued his Bachelor of Applied Science (BASc) degree in Computer Science at the
University of Pennsylvania in the United States. HealthifyMe has become a trusted name
in the industry, inspiring millions to lead healthier lives. Shenoy has left the company.
Chalo, a Mumbai-based company, was founded by Dhruv Chopra, Mohit Dubey, Priya
185 Singh, and Vinayak Bhavnani. Chalo, users can track buses in real-time, plan their routes,
and make hassle-free payments through a mobile app. The founders' diverse backgrounds
and expertise in technology and transportation have been instrumental in shaping Chalo
into a trusted and user-centric platform. Through their innovative approach, they are
improving the daily commute experience for millions of people. Nikhil Agarwal was also
one of the co-founders but in 2019 he left the company.
Pocket FM, founded by Nishanth S, Prateek Dixit and Rohan Nayak is an innovative audio
190 storytelling platform. With their combined passion for audio content and technology, the
founders have created a unique platform that offers a wide range of engaging audio stories,
podcasts, and audiobooks.Dana Ram Meghwal left the company on 2019 & joined Google.
Aged under 40 and residing in Bengaluru, these entrepreneurs have brought their expertise
in content curation and technology to build Pocket FM. The platform provides a seamless
listening experience with a diverse collection of genres and languages.
93
Ashish Jakhanwala, Chairman, Managing Director, and CEO of Samhi Hotels, holds a
191 bachelor’s degree in commerce from the University of Delhi, alongside diplomas in hotel
management and a postgraduate diploma in management. His industry experience spans
hotel operations, design, consulting, and investment, notably receiving the Gold Bernache
by Accor in 2009. Manav Thadani, a Non-Executive Director, graduated from New York
University with a bachelor’s degree in science and a master’s degree in arts, showcasing a
robust educational background for his role in the company.
HealthKart, founded by Prashant Tandon and Sameer Maheshwari, is a leading health and
wellness company. Tandon & Maheshwari, aged 46 and residing in Gurugram, have played
192
a pivotal role in the company's growth and success. In 2015, Prashant left the company.
With a passion for promoting a healthy lifestyle, Sameer established HealthKart to provide
easy access to a wide range of genuine and quality health products. Under his leadership,
HealthKart has become a trusted brand for fitness enthusiasts and individuals seeking
nutritional supplements and wellness solutions.
GoKwik, a leading fintech startup, was founded by Chirag Taneja, Ankush Talwar and
Vivek Bajpai. Provider of checkout shopping solutions for eCommerce businesses. It offers
192
solutions to increase profitability for eCommerce with increasing conversions, reduced
acquisition costs, and increase xxdelivery rates. Taneja, is the Co-founder and CEO. He has
been associated with Ketchup. He pursued his Bachelor of Engineering, further obtained a
Master of Business Administration from the University of Delhi. Talwar is a Co-founder,
responsible for Data Science and Operations. Bajpai, serves as the Co-founder and Chief
Technology Officer. He completed his Bachelor of Technology from Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
Technical University.
ixigo, founded by Aloke Bajpai and Rajnish Kumar, is a leading travel and hotel booking
192 platform. With a shared vision and passion for revolutionizing the travel industry, the
founders have been instrumental in ixigo's success. Both Bajpai and Kumar, aged 42 and
residing in Gurugram, bring their extensive experience and expertise to the company. ixigo
offers a user-friendly platform that allows travelers to search, compare, and book flights,
hotels, and trains seamlessly. The company's innovative features, such as fare predictions
and personalized recommendations, have made it a popular choice among travelers.
Ajay Kumar Tyagi operates as the Chairman and Whole-time Director at Yatharth Hospital
195 and Trauma Care Services, equipped with a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery
from LLRM Medical College, Meerut University. With a rich background encompassing over
16 years in medical care and hospital management, he leads strategic investments and
offers comprehensive business guidance. Kapil Kumar, serving as the Managing Director,
holds a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery from SN Medical College, Agra
University, along with significant experience in orthopedic surgery, spearheading clinical
94
Founded by Shan Kadavil and Matthew Joseph, is a pioneering online platform that
196 connects consumers directly with fishermen and farmers to deliver fresh, chemical-free
seafood and meat products. Kadavil and Joseph, hailing from Bengaluru and Kochi
respectively, recognized the need for transparency and quality in the food industry. With
their combined expertise and passion for sustainable sourcing, they established
Freshtohome.
SUGAR Cosmetics, a renowned beauty brand, was founded by Kaushik Mukherjee and
Vineeta Singh. Their entrepreneurial journey has been inspiring. Kaushik and Vineeta
198
identified a gap in the cosmetics industry and sought to create high-quality, cruelty-free,
and affordable makeup products. With their passion for beauty and their combined
expertise in marketing and e-commerce, they launched SUGAR Cosmetics. Mukherjee and
Singh are both under 40 years old. Mukherjee is a graduate of the Indian Institute of
Technology, Bombay, and Singh is a graduate of the Indian School of Business.
WinZo, founded by Paavan Nanda and Saumya Singh Rathore, is a dynamic gaming
platform based in New Delhi. It is a mobile e-sports social gaming platform that offers
199 monetary benefits and prizes to players. Nanda, aged 35, is the CEO. He has been
associated with Zostel and ZO Rooms. He pursued his Bachelor of Engineering degree in
Electronics & Communication Engineering at Netaji Subhas Institute of Technology. He
further obtained a Master of Business Administration with a specialization in Finance &
Strategy from the Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta. Rathore, aged 35, is a
Co-founder. She completed her Masters in Organization & Customer Psychology at The
University of Manchester.
Mintifi, co-founded by Ankit Mehta, Anup Agarwal, and Sanjoy Shome, is a Mumbai-based
financial technology company that is transforming the lending landscape. Shome, aged 54,
200
is a Co-founder. He is associated with The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, where
he pursued his Chartered Accountancy qualification. Agarwal, aged 45, serves as the
Co-founder and CEO. He completed his Chartered Accountancy. He is also associated with
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India. Mehta, aged 39, is a Co-founder. He holds a
degree in Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, with a specialization
in Chemistry.
95
For Media Inquiries,
Please Contact
Gargi Gupta
Manager,
Corporate Communications
media.queries@idfcfirstbank.com
Notes
Notes
Notes