National Startup Day: Meet the entrepreneurs shaping India's future
India, with its vibrant and diverse business landscape, has witnessed the rise of visionary entrepreneurs who have not only revolutionized industries but also left an indelible mark on the global stage. From tech titans to social innovators, these business leaders have navigated challenges, pioneered innovation, and become beacons of inspiration for aspiring entrepreneurs. On National Startup Day, let us reflect on these entrepreneurs.
Falguni Nayar: Nykaa
Falguni Nayar worked with Kotak Mahindra Bank for 19 years, rising to the position of MD. However, she left her job at the age of 50 to go on her entrepreneurial path. She introduced Nykaa, an e-commerce portal for beauty and cosmetics that included multiple brands, and it quickly gained popularity. In 2020, Nykaa became the first Indian unicorn startup lead by a woman.
Bhavish Aggarwal: Ola Cabs
An IIT Bombay alumnus, Bhavish Aggarwal co-founded the popular cab aggregator in India, Ola Cabs, with Ankit Bhati. Aggarwal left a well-paying job at Microsoft to start Ola Cabs. Initially, no one supported his idea but his determination, hardwork, and willingness to take risks in life led him to the pinnacle of success. He revolutionized the concept of cab-hailing in India through technology.
Ritesh Agarwal: OYO
Being an avid traveller, Ritesh Agarwal, during his trips, he observed that the majority of places he stayed at charged expensively and provided sub-par facilities. Aiming at budget travellers, he started Oravel Stays which was then relaunched to OYO (On Your Own). OYO slowly grew into the largest hotel network in India. Upon tasting success, the startup began foraying into other countries as well.
Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw: Biocon Ltd.
Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw ventured into biotechnology at a time when it was hardly heard of in India. Despite many obstacles, Mazumdar-Shaw persisted in starting from scratch to create Biocon. Under her leadership, the biopharmaceutical firm expanded to become a major player in the world market, specialized in conditions like diabetes, cancer, and autoimmune illnesses. Today, she is one of the most influential entrepreneurs.
Nithin Kamath: Zerodha
Nithin Kamath started Zerodha, one of India's leading and largest retail stockbroking platforms, along with his brother Nikhil Kamath. Zerodha transformed the widespread brokerage industry in India by introducing a low-cost brokerage platform. It soon gained popularity amongst young, skilled technology investors. Growing swiftly, it currently has a large portion of the retail trading market. A self-funded unicorn, Zerodha stands out for its profitability.
Vineeta Singh: Sugar Cosmetics
Vineeta Singh co-founded the cosmetics brand Sugar with her husband Kaushik Mukherjee in 2015. Through Sugar, Singh aimed at making cosmetics accessible, affordable, and ideal for Indian skin. Today, Sugar Cosmetics is a cult favorite among youngsters and has emerged into one of India's fastest-growing premium makeup brands, with a focus on selling cruelty-free and long-lasting makeup products.
