Inspiring Stories of 6 Young Entrepreneurs from India in 2025

Top 6 Young Entrepreneurs in India Who Are Redefining Success (2025)

1. Ritesh Agarwal: The Global Hospitality Disruptor

Ritesh Agarwal's story is the perfect example of how a simple idea, fueled by passion, can grow into a global empire. At just 19, he founded OYO Rooms in 2013, with a mission to standardize budget accommodation and provide a reliable, quality experience for travelers.

The journey began with his first venture, Oravel Stays, an online platform for budget hotels and guest houses. His personal love for travel and his early grasp of technology—he learned to code at the age of 10—inspired him to tackle a pervasive problem: the lack of trust and quality in India's fragmented hospitality sector.

From its humble beginnings as a budget hotel aggregator, OYO has transformed into a global hospitality technology company. Today, OYO operates in countries across the globe, including China, the United States, and Europe, managing millions of rooms and properties.

Ritesh’s leadership and focus on innovation have earned him numerous accolades, including a spot on Forbes' "30 Under 30" list. In a significant development, OYO's parent company, Oravel Stays, is back in the spotlight with plans for its long-awaited Initial Public Offering (IPO).

With its unlisted shares rallying, the company is demonstrating a return to strong financial health, with a reported doubling of profit after tax in the first quarter of FY26. Ritesh's journey is a powerful reminder that with vision and persistence, a young entrepreneur can build a business that transcends borders and challenges industry norms.

2. Nikhil Kamath: The Maverick of Fintech

Nikhil Kamath and his brother Nithin are the visionaries behind Zerodha, a name that has become synonymous with low-cost, technology-driven investing in India. Born in 1986, Nikhil's early fascination with the stock market led him to become a self-taught trader. Together with his brother, he identified a major gap in the Indian retail brokerage market: high transaction costs and complex platforms that deterred new investors.

In 2010, they launched Zerodha, which revolutionized the industry by offering zero brokerage on equity delivery trades. This game-changing model, combined with a user-friendly platform, made stock market investing accessible to millions of young Indians. Zerodha's success is a classic case of how a customer-centric, tech-first approach can disrupt a traditional industry.

In 2025, Zerodha is one of India's most valuable unicorns, with a valuation of $8.2 billion. Beyond his role at Zerodha, Nikhil is a notable investor and philanthropist. He co-founded True Beacon, an asset management firm, and has made strategic investments in various startups.

A recent notable investment by Nikhil was in the consumer technology firm Nothing, as part of a $200 million funding round.

Nikhil's contributions to promoting financial literacy and his impactful investments have solidified his place as a key figure in India's entrepreneurial and investment landscape.

Also Read: 5 Mistakes to Avoid As a Young Entrepreneur

3. Bhavish Aggarwal: From Mobility to Electric Vehicles

Bhavish Aggarwal's journey began with a simple yet powerful idea: to solve India’s transportation problem. Born in Punjab and a graduate of IIT Mumbai, Bhavish co-founded Ola Cabs with Ankit Bhati in 2010. After a brief but impactful stint at Microsoft Research, where he earned two patents, he recognized the immense opportunity in the mobility sector.

Ola’s model of providing a convenient and reliable ride-hailing service, initially with cars, and later expanding to bikes and auto-rickshaws, quickly took off.

Under Bhavish's leadership, Ola has become a global force, with operations in over 250 cities worldwide and a network of over 1.5 million driver-partners. In recent years, Bhavish has expanded his vision beyond mobility, placing a major bet on the electric vehicle (EV) revolution with Ola Electric.

The company successfully completed its highly anticipated IPO in late 2024. While the venture has faced its share of challenges, Bhavish's relentless drive to innovate has also led to other ambitious projects, most notably his AI venture, Krutrim.

Despite some internal restructuring, Bhavish's dedication to building a homegrown, full-stack AI platform shows his continued commitment to tackling complex technological challenges and contributing to India’s tech prowess.

4. Vijay Shekhar Sharma: The Fintech Pioneer of a Billion Indians

Vijay Shekhar Sharma’s journey is a powerful story of resilience and vision. Born into a middle-class family in Uttar Pradesh, he faced early challenges, including a language barrier in college. However, his passion for technology and a knack for solving real-world problems led him to found One97 Communications in 2000. This company would eventually become the parent of Paytm, a platform that fundamentally changed how Indians transact.

Paytm started as a simple mobile recharge platform but quickly grew into a comprehensive fintech powerhouse. It expanded its services to include bill payments, digital wallets, e-commerce, and more.

Following the Indian government’s demonetization move in 2016, Paytm’s digital wallet saw explosive growth, solidifying its position as a household name. In 2015, it became India’s first fintech unicorn. Under Vijay's leadership, Paytm navigated intense competition and regulatory hurdles.

In 2025, Paytm is focusing on a renewed strategy to provide digital payment technology solutions through partnerships, having recently collaborated with Axis Bank.

Despite recent regulatory and legal challenges, Vijay's innovative thinking and risk-taking attitude have made him a crucial figure in the Indian fintech landscape, and his story continues to inspire countless aspiring entrepreneurs.

5. Peyush Bansal: The Visionary Behind Lenskart

Peyush Bansal is the dynamic entrepreneur who revolutionized the Indian eyewear market. A graduate of McGill University, Canada, he returned to India and saw a massive, untapped opportunity in the optical industry.

The traditional process of buying glasses was cumbersome, expensive, and lacked variety. Peyush’s initial venture, SearchMyCampus, provided him with insights into the needs of young consumers. This led him to co-found Lenskart in 2010 with Amit Chaudhary and Sumeet Kapahi.

Lenskart's business model was groundbreaking. It combined an online platform with a robust offline presence, offering affordable, high-quality eyewear with features like virtual try-on and home eye-checkups.

This innovative approach allowed the company to grow rapidly. In 2025, Lenskart is valued at $4.5 billion and has expanded its footprint to over 1,000 stores globally. Peyush’s strategic investments in other ventures and his role as a judge on Shark Tank India have cemented his reputation as a shrewd investor and a mentor to a new generation of founders.

His success with Lenskart highlights the power of using technology to democratize a traditional market and make essential products accessible to all.

6. Sachin Bansal: The Pioneer of Indian E-commerce

Sachin Bansal is a towering figure in the history of Indian entrepreneurship, widely credited with pioneering the country’s e-commerce revolution. In 2007, along with Binny Bansal, he co-founded Flipkart, a company that began as an online bookstore from a two-bedroom apartment in Bengaluru. Their vision was simple yet ambitious: to bring the convenience of online shopping to the Indian consumer.

Flipkart's journey from a small startup to a multi-billion dollar e-commerce giant is legendary. It introduced new concepts like cash-on-delivery and a strong logistics network that built consumer trust in online shopping.

The company's strategic acquisitions, including fashion platform Myntra and fintech company PhonePe, further consolidated its dominance. In a landmark deal in 2018, Walmart acquired a majority stake in Flipkart, valuing the company at over $20 billion.

After his exit, Sachin Bansal pivoted to new ventures. He founded Navi Technologies, a fintech company that provides a range of financial services, including loans and insurance.

In 2025, Sachin's public holdings and private investments, particularly in sectors like financial services and electric vehicles, showcase his continued influence and belief in India's growth story.

His journey demonstrates the cyclical nature of entrepreneurship—pioneering a revolution, exiting at the peak, and then beginning a new journey to innovate again.

The Next Generation of Indian Entrepreneurs in 2025

While the stories of these iconic founders continue to inspire, a new crop of young entrepreneurs is already making a name for themselves in 2025, demonstrating the dynamic nature of India’s startup ecosystem.

Aadit Palicha and Kaivalya Vohra (Zepto):

The founders of Zepto are among the youngest unicorn founders in the world. Their instant grocery delivery service has captured the imagination of consumers and investors alike. In a highly competitive quick-commerce space, they have achieved remarkable success, showcasing the potential of addressing consumer needs with speed and efficiency.

Raena and Rahee Ambani (Terractive):

These young entrepreneurs have entered the thriving sportswear and athleisure market with their brand Terractive. Their company focuses on creating versatile, comfortable sportswear with an emphasis on durable fabrics and simple, adaptive designs. Their story highlights the rising trend of young founders building D2C (Direct-to-Consumer) brands that cater to niche markets.

Anshita Mehrotra (Fix My Curls):

Anshita's story is one of a personal problem leading to a business solution. Frustrated by the lack of quality curly hair care products in India, she founded Fix My Curls. The brand has successfully carved out a market for itself by offering specialized, high-performance products tailored for curly, wavy, and coily hair, a segment long neglected by traditional beauty brands.

These emerging entrepreneurs are not just following in the footsteps of their predecessors but are charting their own paths, proving that India's entrepreneurial spirit is as vibrant as ever. They are solving real-world problems, building sustainable businesses, and creating a legacy that will shape the country's economic future for decades to come.