Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) has secured the 23rd spot in renowned analyst Mary Meeker’s Global Tech Top 30 rankings. As the only Indian company featured in this prestigious list, Reliance stands alongside global tech titans like Microsoft, NVIDIA, Apple, Amazon, and Alphabet — all based in the United States.
Earlier, Reliance had also been acknowledged as the sole Indian entry in the list of the 30 most valuable tech companies worldwide, largely due to its significant advancements in artificial intelligence.
“Testament to decades of innovation, leadership, and nation-building,”
Reliance said in an official statement. The company credited this milestone to the visionary leadership of Mukesh Ambani and reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening the country's digital infrastructure.
Apart from US companies, tech giants from Taiwan, China, the Netherlands, and South Korea were also represented in the Mary Meeker’s Global Tech Top 30 list.
Though Reliance's market capitalisation stands at $216 billion, which is significantly lower than the Top 5, the company’s transformative impact on India’s digital ecosystem remains unmatched.
Reliance became the first Indian company to surpass Rs 10 lakh crore in net worth. It also holds the position of the highest-ranked private sector enterprise in India and is a member of the Fortune Global 500 list.
Consolidated net profit (Q4 FY25): ₹22,611 crore
Growth: Up 6.44% from ₹21,243 crore (Q4 FY24)
Revenue from operations: ₹2,61,388 crore
Year-on-Year growth: Up 10.51% from ₹2,36,533 crore
Jio EBITDA increased by 17%, making it the world's largest data company
It now serves over 191 million 5G users
Following a high-profile merger, JioHotstar emerged as India’s leading media and entertainment platform
It now boasts the second-largest paid-user base globally — achieved within 10 weeks of launch
The history of Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) is a remarkable saga of entrepreneurial vision, audacious diversification, and strategic growth, transforming from a humble textile trading venture into one of India's largest and most valuable conglomerates. Its journey is inextricably linked with India's economic liberalization and growth.
Reliance Commercial Corporation (1958): The story begins with Dhirubhai Ambani, who started Reliance Commercial Corporation in 1958 as a small trading firm. His initial focus was on exporting spices and importing polyester yarn, demonstrating an early understanding of global supply chains.
Backward Integration into Textiles (1966): Driven by a vision of self-reliance and cost efficiency, Dhirubhai Ambani decided to move from trading to manufacturing. In 1966, he established Reliance Textiles and Engineers Pvt. Ltd. in Naroda, Gujarat, setting up its first textile mill. This marked the beginning of Reliance's pioneering strategy of "backward integration," controlling the entire value chain from raw materials to finished products.
Public Listing (1977): A pivotal moment came in 1977 when Reliance Textiles went public with an Initial Public Offering (IPO). This was groundbreaking at the time, as Dhirubhai successfully mobilized capital from thousands of small retail investors across India, often through innovative and direct engagement. This IPO is often credited with kickstarting the equity culture in India.
Transformation to Reliance Industries Limited (1985): As the company diversified beyond textiles, it was renamed Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) in 1985.
Petrochemical Foray: Building on its textile business, Reliance aggressively expanded into petrochemicals, which provided the raw materials for synthetic textiles. It began manufacturing purified terephthalic acid (PTA), polyester staple fibre (PSF), and later plastics.
Massive Scale and Global Ambition: The 1990s saw Reliance establish world-scale manufacturing facilities, most notably the integrated petrochemical complex in Hazira, Gujarat (commissioned in 1991-92). This propelled Reliance to the forefront of the global polyester market.
Refining and Oil & Gas Exploration: Reliance continued its backward integration strategy by venturing into petroleum refining and oil and gas exploration and production (E&P). This was a massive undertaking, culminating in the construction of the Jamnagar Refinery complex, one of the largest and most complex single-location refinery complexes in the world, commissioned in the late 1990s.
Dhirubhai Ambani's Demise and Family Split (2002-2005): After Dhirubhai Ambani's passing in 2002, a widely publicized family dispute emerged between his two sons, Mukesh and Anil Ambani, over control of the vast empire. In 2005, their mother, Kokilaben Ambani, brokered a demerger agreement, splitting the Reliance Group's assets.
Mukesh Ambani retained control of Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), focusing on oil refining, petrochemicals, and oil & gas exploration and production.
Anil Ambani gained control of the telecommunications, power generation, and financial services businesses, which were subsequently structured under the Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani (ADAG) Group.
Mukesh Ambani's Strategic Shift to Consumer Businesses: Under Mukesh Ambani's leadership, RIL embarked on an aggressive strategy of diversification, particularly into consumer-facing businesses, leveraging its financial strength and engineering capabilities.
Reliance Retail (2006): RIL entered the organized retail sector in 2006 with Reliance Retail Ventures Limited (RRVL). Starting with grocery stores (Reliance Fresh), it rapidly expanded into consumer electronics (Reliance Digital), fashion and lifestyle (Reliance Trends), and a host of other formats. Reliance Retail has grown to become India's largest retailer by revenue and store count, with a vast omnichannel presence and numerous acquisitions (e.g., Hamleys, JustDial, Future Group assets, and partnerships with global brands like GAP, 7-Eleven).
Reliance Jio Infocomm (2016): This was perhaps the most transformative venture under Mukesh Ambani. After re-entering the telecom sector (following the non-compete agreement with Anil Ambani being amended in 2010), RIL launched Reliance Jio Infocomm (Jio) in September 2016. Jio revolutionized the Indian telecom market by offering free voice calls and extremely affordable data services, driving a massive digital adoption wave across the country. It rapidly became the largest mobile network operator in India.
Jio Platforms (2019): In 2019, RIL spun off its digital and telecom businesses into a subsidiary called Jio Platforms Limited. This entity attracted significant investments from global tech giants and sovereign wealth funds (e.g., Facebook, Google, Silver Lake, KKR) in 2020, valuing it as a major digital ecosystem player.
New Energy and Green Initiatives (2021 onwards): In recent years, RIL has announced ambitious plans to pivot towards new energy and green technologies, committing massive investments to become a leader in clean energy and sustainable solutions. This includes ventures in solar, batteries, and hydrogen, with the goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions. Reliance New Energy Ltd. was established for this purpose and has made strategic acquisitions in this space (e.g., REC Solar).
Continued Growth and Acquisitions: RIL continues to be highly acquisitive, constantly looking for opportunities to expand its footprint in existing and new sectors, including media (Network18), healthcare (Karkinos Healthcare), and various consumer brands. It also continues to invest heavily in its traditional oil-to-chemicals (O2C) business for efficiency and integration.
Today, Reliance Industries Limited is a diversified conglomerate with a strong presence across energy, petrochemicals, natural gas, retail, digital services (telecom, broadband, content), media, and new energy. It consistently ranks among the largest and most profitable companies in India and is a significant player on the global stage, driving innovation and economic transformation in India.
Reliance Industries’ inclusion in Mary Meeker’s Global Tech Top 30 not only marks a significant global recognition but also highlights India’s growing prominence in the global technology landscape.
As the only Indian firm to feature on this elite list, Reliance’s rise showcases decades of commitment to innovation, digital expansion, and visionary leadership under Mukesh Ambani. Its continued efforts in areas like artificial intelligence, telecommunications, and media have paved the way for exponential growth.
With over ₹22,000 crore in quarterly profit and a fast-expanding user base in 5G and OTT sectors, Reliance is redefining India’s role in the global tech economy. The company's strategic investments and aggressive growth roadmap in digital services have solidified its standing not only as a business giant but also as a transformational force shaping India’s digital future.
This recognition further fuels its ambition to compete with global powerhouses and drive national technological advancements.