Entrepreneurs Redefining India’s Business Landscape
Innovative Entrepreneur Example in India
Entrepreneurs provide creative answers to real-world, monetary and societal problems. They are a source of inspiration for many people worldwide.
In India, entrepreneurship is flourishing thanks to risk capital and pioneering VCs, universities producing talented graduates, entrepreneurs splitting off from large technology companies, reasonable intellectual property protection, and tax incentives.
Bhavish Aggarwal
Bhavish Aggarwal, founder of ride-sharing firm Ola and its electric-vehicle unit Ola Electric, is redefining India’s transportation industry. His avowed goal is to build millions of affordable vehicles for the country, and eventually the world.
His determination to take on big challenges has never wavered. His first company, Ola Cabs, faced stiff resistance from the start, but he refused to give up. His grit and perseverance have helped him achieve success in his mission to revolutionise transportation in India. Today, his companies are a household name and a symbol of innovation and growth in the Indian startup ecosystem. He is also an inspiration for entrepreneurs all around the globe.
Vijay Shekhar Sharma
The founder of Paytm, an Indian digital payment platform, Vijay Shekhar Sharma, grew up in a middle-class family that emphasized educational values. His early struggles, however, showed him the importance of perseverance and determination.
He finished school at an early age and graduated from Delhi College of Engineering at 19. During his college days, he cofounded XS Corps with another student to create content management systems that allowed media agencies to host their websites. Later, he worked for companies like River Run Software and Intersolutions India. His entrepreneurial journey is inspiring to many aspiring entrepreneurs. He learned that adversity can be a great teacher, and that success is all about risk-taking and innovation.
Shradha Sharma
The Founder and CEO of YourStory, Shradha Sharma, founded her media technology company with the goal of telling India’s untold stories of entrepreneurship. Her career at CNBC TV18 provided her with a unique perspective on the entrepreneurs she interviewed, and this inspired her to launch a platform that celebrates and supports startups and their stories.
YourStory publishes inspiring entrepreneurial journeys and highlights key trends within the startup ecosystem. It also organizes events and workshops to promote entrepreneurship and encourage innovation.
YourStory often collaborates with NGOs and non-profits to create awareness and support initiatives aligned with social impact and entrepreneurship. This activity can involve highlighting the work of NGOs on YourStory’s platform or organizing joint events.
Kunal Shah
Kunal Shah is a trailblazer in India’s dynamic startup scene. His journey from selling henna cones to launching billion-dollar companies is a testament to his perseverance and innovation. Shah’s philosophy is based on taking risks and learning from failures. He has also prioritized a customer-centric approach, which has made his businesses successful and resilient.
After establishing FreeCharge, which became the first digital payments company in India to offer mobile recharges, he founded CRED in 2018. The members-only credit card payment app rewards users for responsible credit card usage and has become one of the most popular financial apps in India. Shah is also a prolific angel investor and has supported startups like Spinny and Unacademy.
Azim Premji
A business tycoon, philanthropist and an inspiring leader, Azim Premji turned his small family-owned cooking oil company into a multibillion IT outsourcing powerhouse. His story is a tale of grit, foresight and a commitment to values.
He tapped into the growing trend of outsourcing business functions that can be done more cost-effectively by outsiders and built an IT business around it. He also adopted a different approach to building the business, focusing on long-term customer relationships.
He has dedicated 34% of his company’s shares to the Azim Premji Foundation, an organization focused on improving India’s education system. He has received numerous honors and accolades for his efforts.
Radhika Aggarwal
Having grown up in an army family, Radhika Aggarwal has always been an entrepreneur at heart. She assisted her father in launching his health club and earned her first paycheck of Rs 400.
She co-founded online marketplace ShopClues in 2011 in Silicon Valley and is now the company’s Chief Business Officer. She is an example that women can achieve their entrepreneurial dreams if they work hard enough.
She is now working on her next project, Kindlife, which will target the affluent, quality-conscious consumer with its curated marketplace and community. She is also an active philanthropist and is committed to making a difference in the lives of people around her.