India’s startup ecosystem has shown a remarkable transformation in recent years. Today, India boasts the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem, with over 1.5 lakh registered startups, and is expected to see consistent annual growth of 12-15%. This incline in India’s position is possible because of aLeaders across the sectors are redefining innovation while also sharing a common goal: to create impactful solutions to disrupt traditional norms. They have started a new page of ‘Entrepreneurial wave’ in the nation’s growth story. From technology to healthcare, and sustainability to e-commerce, these entrepreneurs have not only built successful businesses but have also inspired a generation to dream big and aim higher.
Anant Goel, Co-founder, Handpickd
AnantGoel, the founder of Handpickd, is a serial entrepreneur who has revolutionized the way Indians access high-quality fruits and vegetables. Anant foundedMilkbasket, in 2015, which created the first online grocery network to meet consumers’ everyday household needs. Post the acquisition of Milkbasket by Reliance at $40M, Anant founded Handpickd, India’s first ‘match-making’ platform for personalized fresh produce shopping. Headquartered in Gurugram, Handpicked is a unique platform that operates a zero-inventory model, sourcing directly from farmers to ensure high-quality fruits and vegetables while minimizing waste. With a strong focus on efficiency and sustainability, Handpickd is redefining the fresh produce supply chain in India. His vision and dedication to digital connectivity have transformed the way people experience and procure fresh produce while improving the lives and livelihoods of store owners.
Deepinder Goyal – Founder of Zomato
Deepinder Goyal, Founder, MD and CEO of Zomato, a popular online food delivery and restaurant discovery platform. With a background in mathematics and computing from the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, Goyal has led Zomato through significant growth to worth around $2.2 billion USD since its inception in 2008. Under his leadership, the company has become a household name, transforming the food industry through technological innovation, community engagement, and support for food entrepreneurs and businesses. With Zomato’s user-friendly mobile app, customers can effortlessly discover restaurants, browse menus, schedule dining, place orders, and track deliveries, all in one place. Deepinder’s entrepreneurial spirit and focus on leveraging mobile technology have played a crucial role in reshaping the food delivery and restaurant discovery landscape in India.
Abinav Varma Kalidindi, Founder and CEO, Ikonz
Abinav Varma Kalidindi started Ikonz Studios in 2021 with a focus on AI-driven digital experiences. Abhinav’sIkonz is the first Indian company that builds hyper-realistic AI avatars and holographic solutions. Working with global personalities and brands, one of its biggest projects is creating the AI-powered digital avatar of Amitabh Bachchan, which was launched in partnership with IDFC FIRST Bank. Abinav, who has a background in technology and finance, has previously built and exited a consumer tech company in the U.S. before founding Ikonz. His focus now is on integrating AI-powered digital assistants into industries like banking, healthcare, education, and entertainment. Ikonz is backed by prominent investors funds that have been backed by Village Global, whose notable LPs include Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos among others.
Deepak Sahni, Founder, Healthians
Deepak Sahni, founder of Healthians, started his career as a computer assembler turned digital marketer and went on to build one of India’s largest at-home diagnostic chains. He founded Healthians in 2015 to make preventive healthcare more accessible and affordable for everyone. By combining convenience with quality, Healthians became the first Indian company to ensure high-quality healthcare services to reach people’s doorsteps across India. Sahni continues to push for digital transformation in diagnostics, with AI and technology playing a bigger role in Healthians’ next phase of growth. The company has introduced AI-driven tools like Smart Report and video analysis of health reports, which simplify complex medical data and help users better understand their test results. These features empower individuals to make informed healthcare decisions, bridging the gap between diagnostic insights and actionable steps. Recently, Healthians has secured No. 1 position in Times Health Survey, operating in over 250 cities with a network of 22+ certified labs and a large fleet of trained phlebotomists, reinforcing its mission of making healthcare more accessible and user-friendly. Diagnostic startup Healthians recorded a modest 8% year-on-year growth during the fiscal year ending March 2024.
Prachi Dharani, Co-founder, PayGlocal
Prachi Dharani, Co-founder and CEO of PayGlocal, is a seasoned payments industry professional with over 20 years of experience. She leads PayGlocal in delivering innovative cross-border payment solutions, enabling Indian businesses to grow globally with secure and seamless transactions. Before founding PayGlocal, Prachi held leadership roles at Visa, First Data, and ICICI Bank. Under her leadership, PayGlocal has been a pioneering force in cross-border payments and operates a comprehensive suite of payment services and cutting-edge technology platform for payment processing and transaction risk management, specifically designed to meet the evolving needs of merchants, partners, and banks. PayGlocal has handled more than INR 22 billion worth of transactions till now, enabling over 1,300 merchants across different platforms and supporting payment acceptance from 181 countries. Through a robust transaction security based approach, the firm has thwarted more than INR 1 billion worth of fraud attempts and recorded up to a 20% hike in Payment Success Rates (PSR) for its customers. PayGlocal’s focus on innovation, security, and customer support makes it a leader in the global payments space, driving seamless and secure transactions for businesses worldwide.
Vineeta Singh – Co-founder & CEO, SUGAR Cosmetics
Vineeta Singh, Co-founder and CEO of SUGAR Cosmetics, a fast-growing D2C beauty brand valued at approximately $500 million. Known for its innovative product offerings and cutting-edge marketing strategies, SUGAR has become a go to name among young consumers since its inception in 2015. With a background in electrical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, and an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, Vineeta has steered the brand to success through data-driven insights, social media engagement, and influencer marketing. Under her leadership, SUGAR Cosmetics has redefined beauty standards, offering trendsetting products that cater to diverse customer needs. The brand’s tech-savvy approach and commitment to inclusivity have positioned it as a leader in the competitive beauty industry. Vineeta’s entrepreneurial vision continues to drive the brand’s growth, setting new benchmarks for quality and innovation.
Kabir Jeet Singh, Founder and CEO, Burger Singh
Kabir Jeet Singh, founded one of the largest Indian homegrown QSR brands, Burger Singh, challenging a market long dominated by multinational giants. His foray into the burger business began during his MBA at Birmingham Business School when he worked at a local burger joint. Experimenting with Indian spices to enhance the otherwise bland offerings, he identified a gap in the market. This insight led to the launch of Burger Singh in 2014, blending global fast food with desi flavors. His focus on customizing flavors for different regions and expanding beyond metros has helped the brand find success even in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. With 175+ outlets across 75+ Indian cities, Burger Singh continues to compete in a segment that was once thought to be untouchable for homegrown brands.
Tarun Joshi, Founder and CEO, IGP.com
Tarun Joshi’s career started in aerospace engineering and later moved to private equity investing before he entered the e-commerce space. He founded IGP (International Gifts Platform) to solve a key problem, how to make online gifting more personalized and efficient. Under his leadership, IGP has become one of Global largest direct-to-consumer gifting platforms, delivering products to 1,000+ cities in India and 150+ countries worldwide. With services like 30-minute delivery in major cities and same-day delivery across 400+ locations, the company has built a niche in curated and customized gifting. IGP has also expanded its business offline and aims to open 140 dark stores and 22 retail stores in the next 1-2 years.
