From Dorm Room to Board Room: The Inspiring Stories of Successful Entrepreneurs in India 

Introduction

India has become a rising force in the tech world, thanks to the brilliant minds driving innovation behind the scenes. The digital wave sweeping through the business sector has not only transformed the way Indians live and work but has also captured global attention. In this article, we will take a closer look at some of the most inspiring journeys of successful Indian entrepreneurs. So, let’s take a look at the successful entrepreneurs in India and their story.

Top 10 Successful Entrepreneurs in India Leading the Startup Revolution

Over the last decade, India’s startup ecosystem has witnessed explosive growth, with innovative ventures transforming sectors ranging from food delivery and hospitality to beauty and fintech. Visionary entrepreneurs have created household brands that have reshaped how Indians shop, dine, travel, and manage money. What began as modest ideas in dorm rooms and garages has evolved into billion-dollar enterprises competing on the global stage.

1. Ritesh Agarwal, OYO

Quote: “Not all dreamers are winners, but all winners are dreamers.” – Ritesh Agarwal

Ritesh Agarwal dropped out of the Indian School of Business and Finance, driven by a curiosity to explore new opportunities and take risks in the business world. Having experienced the lack of standardization and quality in budget stays himself, Ritesh recognised a clear gap in the market for affordable and hygienic hotels. His curiosity led him to build “OYO Rooms” in 2012. He is the founder and serves as the Chief Executive Officer of OYO.

In 2020, during the COVID-19 outbreak, he became the second-youngest billionaire and secured his place among India’s most successful founders. The company is now aiming for an IPO valued between $5-7 billion in 2025. But that’s not all, OYO has grown its network to over 23,000 properties across 800 cities and 18 countries.

2. Falguni Nayar, Nykaa

Quote: “We are feeling a coming-of-age kind of excitement as a company.” – Falguni Nayar

Falguni Nayar, a woman who changed the way fashion and beauty products are sold in India through Nykaa. Falguni is the founder and CEO of Nykaa, and also serves as its Executive Chairperson and MD.
A former investment banker, she left behind a successful career in finance to follow her dream of building a beauty retail brand in 2012. With a net worth of around $3.6 billion, Falguni has secured the 31st position on Forbes’25 list of the World’s Richest Self-Made Women and made her successful women entrepreneurs in India. Nykaa is not only expanding its online presence by onboarding new brand partners but also growing its offline footprint. It has increased its number of physical stores from 250 in 80 cities to around 550 in 100 cities in the past few years. Recently, Nykaa’s share price rose after the company released its first-quarter business update for FY25.

3. Supam Maheshwari, FirstCry

Quote: “Entrepreneurs are a breed which dares to dream, they dare to fail and also dare to succeed, come what may.” – Supam Maheshwari

A father’s care knows no limits, and Supam Maheshwari channelled that love and care into creating FirstCry, a brand devoted to parents and their little ones. When he couldn’t find reliable baby products for his child, he spotted a gap in the market and decided to address it. He founded FirstCry in 2010, which is now valued at $2.2 billion making him one of the most successful entrepreneurs in India. Supam has co-founded logistics firm XpressBees and houseware brand GlobalBees, making him the visionary behind three Indian unicorns.

Today, FirstCry offers a wide range of children’s products, from clothing and toys to feeding supplies, furniture, and healthcare essentials. With an estimated net worth of $100–150 million, Supam has grown FirstCry to over 1,600 stores across India, including 435 company-owned and company-operated (COCO) stores and 628 franchise-run outlets.

4. Kunal Shah, CRED

Quote: “The pursuit of excellence comes at a price. The biggest cost is solitude. Collectivist societies struggle with excellence because the price of solitude is hard for most to accept.” – Kunal Shah

Kunal Shah is one of India’s most successful entrepreneurs, best known for founding CRED,  a fintech platform that rewards users for timely credit card bill payments. Recognising the need for a system that values responsible financial behavior, he created CRED to fill that gap.

Kunal dropped out of Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS) while pursuing an MBA, but that didn’t stop him from achieving success. Today, his net worth stands at $59.7 million ₹433 crore, and CRED is valued at $6.4 billion, ranking among the top five startups shaping the fintech space.

5. Shashank ND, Practo

Quote: “I believe in a passionate, super-flat, meritocratic organisation. I don’t believe in average or good, I believe in great.” – Shashank ND

Shashank ND co-founded Practo in 2008 with Abhinav Lal & Siddhartha Nihalani to help people connect with nearby doctors. The idea came from a personal challenge which led him to create a platform that bridges the gap between patients and healthcare providers.

Today, Practo connects users with over 5 lakh doctors and healthcare professionals. It has also expanded to around 700 cities across 22 countries. Shashank’s clear vision and execution have earned him a spot among India’s most successful entrepreneurs.

6. Bhavish Aggarwal, Ola

Quote: “All things can be done by every company in the world. Apple builds a phone, and so does Samsung. It’s not about being different but about being better at what you do.” – Bhavish Aggarwal

Bhavish Aggarwal is widely recognised for co-founding Ola Cabs in 2010. The idea for Ola was born after a frustrating experience with a rented car during a trip. Spotting the broader issues with India’s transportation system, he decided to build a reliable, tech-driven ride-hailing service. Earlier this year, Ola launched a new Roadster X Series, which gained a lot of hype. What started as a solution to a personal problem has now become one of India’s leading mobility platforms, making Bhavish a standout figure among India’s top entrepreneurs.

7. Peyush Bansal, Lenskart

Quote: “Startups are not about ideas. They are about solving real problems.” – Peyush Bansal

Peyush Bansal, the founder of Lenskart, has transformed the eyewear industry in India by offering affordable, stylish, and high-quality spectacles to millions. A graduate from McGill University, Canada, and a former Microsoft employee, Peyush left his corporate job to follow his entrepreneurial ambitions. In 2010, he launched Lenskart with the goal of making eyewear accessible to all, especially in smaller towns where optician services were limited.

Over the years, Lenskart has grown from an online-only business to a strong offline presence with hundreds of retail outlets. The company is now valued in billions, while Peyush himself has an estimated net worth of around $75 million getting him a spot in our list of India’s top entrepreneurs.

8. Deepinder Goyal, Zomato

Quote: “Start small, but think big. Don’t be afraid to take bold steps.” – Deepinder Goyal

Deepinder Goyal, the co-founder and CEO of Zomato, started his entrepreneurial journey in 2008 by creating a platform to list and share restaurant menus online. An IIT Delhi graduate, Deepinder’s idea was sparked by seeing his colleagues struggle to find good places to eat.

Recently, a surge in the company’s stock price added over $228 million to his personal wealth, taking his estimated net worth to impressive new heights. He recently made his debut in the Indian aviation sector with his LAT Aerospace venture.

9. Vijay Shekhar Sharma, Paytm

Quote: “Never give up. Today is hard, tomorrow will be worse, but the day after tomorrow will be sunshine.” – Vijay Shekhar Sharma

Vijay Shekhar Sharma, the founder and CEO of Paytm, built one of India’s most influential fintech companies from the ground up. Born in a small town in Uttar Pradesh, Vijay Sharma is also an active angel investor supporting multiple tech startups.

In 2010, he launched Paytm as a mobile recharge platform, which quickly evolved into a multi-service digital payments ecosystem offering everything from bill payments to banking and insurance. As of recent estimates, Vijay’s net worth stands at around $1.1 billion, making him one of the richest self-made entrepreneurs in the country.

10. Aadit Palicha, Zepto

Quote: “Speed is a feature, not a luxury.” – Aadit Palicha

Aadit Palicha, along with his childhood friend Kaivalya Vohra, co-founded Zepto in 2021 with the mission of delivering groceries in just 10 minutes. Originally from Dubai, Aadit dropped out of Stanford University to pursue this ambitious venture in India’s rapidly growing quick-commerce space.

His sharp focus on execution, operational efficiency, and customer experience helped Zepto become one of the fastest growing startups in the country. In just a few years, the company has expanded to hundreds of dark stores across major metro cities, with a valuation exceeding $5 billion. Only at the age of 22 Aadit has earned a place on the Hurun India Rich List, with a net worth of about $145 million.

Conclusion

This list showcases successful Indian entrepreneurs who have set new standards in business. Their stories highlight how vision, determination, and a strong sense of purpose can lead to extraordinary success. These journeys serve as inspiration for aspiring founders and prove that with the right mindset, anything is possible.