Apple is the biggest name in the technological industry. With many amazing products, Apple has very few competitors. Well, the man behind the success and rise of the company is Steve Jobs.
He is regarded as one of the greatest entrepreneurs of all time and is an inspiration for many. Under his leadership, the company started to produce revolutionary technologies, some of the most famous products are the iPhone and iPad. Due to the success of the company, the products are a symbol of economical status in the present generation.
Now the question arises who made Apple the brand it is known for today? And how did Steve Jobs become successful? Steve Jobs entrepreneur story is a powerful example of innovation, resilience, and transforming the tech industry through vision and creativity. Read on to know more about the success story of Steve Jobs.
Steve Jobs Information
Name
Steve Jobs
Born
24 February 1955, San Francisco, California, United States
Died
5 October 2011, Palo Alto, California, United States
Citizenship
American
Education
Reed College, Portland, Oregon
Title
Co-founder, Chairman, and CEO of Apple Inc.
Occupation
Entrepreneur, Industrial designer, Investor, Media proprietor
Steve Jobs was an American inventor and entrepreneur who was the co-founder, chief executive, and chairman of Apple computers which became the biggest name in the technology sector.
The company’s product has dictated the evolution of modern technology. Steve was born in 1995 to two University of Wisconsin graduate students who gave him up for adoption.
Since his childhood, Stevewas smart but directionless. He had dropped out of college and started off experimenting with different sectors before co-founding Apple with Steve Wozniak in 1976. After that, Jobs left the company in 1985 and launched Pixar Animation Studios. Later on, after a decade, Jobs returned to the company.
Steve Jobs Success Story
Steve Jobs – Early Days
Steve was born on February 24, 1955, in San Francisco, California. He lived in Mountain View, California, this place was later renamed the Silicon Valley. During his childhood, Jobs and his father worked on electronic equipment in the family garage. His father used to demonstrate to him how to take apart and reconstruct electronics. This hobby instilled confidence, tenacity, and mechanical prowess in Jobs. Therefore, the path to excellence started to off from his family’s garage.
Jobs was always an intelligent and innovative thinker since his childhood. However, his youth was struck in the quicksand of formal schooling education. Due to the boredom, he was a prankster during his days in elementary school, and hence, his fourth-grade teacher needed to bribe him to study. He tested so well that the administrators wanted him to skip ahead to high school. However, his parents declined that offer.
Post high school, Steve enrolled at Reed College in Portland, Oregon. There too, he was frustrated and dropped out of college and spent the next year and a half dropping in on creative classes at the school. He had developed a love of typography during his struggling days.
In 1974, Jobs took over the job of a video game designer with Atari. A few months later, he left the company and travelled to India.
Job Application – Steve Jobs (Aged 18)
Steve Jobs – How Did He Start Apple
During the days when Jobs was enrolled at Homestead High School, he was introduced to Steve Wozniak. Later on, the duo co-founded Apple. During an interview, Wozniak has stated that their partnership was successful because of their love for electronics.
They used to work for hours with digital chips, and very few had an idea about chips during that time. Although Wozniak had designed many computers before Jobs did, both of them shared a common interest that fueled their journey to success.
Steve Jobs with Steve Wozniak
The start of their entrepreneurial venture was in 1976 when Jobs and Wozniak started a company named Apple Computer. The first headquarters of the company was at Jobs’s family garage. Initially, they funded their entrepreneurial venture by Jobs selling his beloved bus and Wozniak selling his scientific calculator.
Later on, the duo is credited with revolutionizing the computer industry with their company by democratizing the technology and making machines smaller, cheaper, and more accessible to everyday customers.
Wozniak had conceived of a series of user-friendly personal computers, and with Jobs in charge of the marketing sector of the company, they marketed the computer for $666.66 each. The Apple I earned the venture around $774,000! After three years of Apple’s second model, the Apple II, the company’s sales increased by 700 percent to $139 million.
In 1980, the product became a publicly-traded company and comprised a value of $1.2 billion by the end of the first day of trading. Alter on, Jobs asked the marketing expert John Sculley of Pepsi-Cola to accept the role of CEO of Apple. However, the next several products of the company experienced negative feedback due to the flaws in the products. Hence, IBM surpassed Apple in sales and Apple had to compete with a PC dominated world by IBM.
The year 1984 experienced the release of Macintosh, it was both romantic and creative. However, despite positive sales and performance superior to IBM’s PCs, the product was still not compatible with IBM. Later on, Jobswas pushed into a marginalized position in the company and left the company in 1985.
Steve Jobs – Founding NeXT, Returning to Apple, and Pixar
Post his tenure at Apple, Jobs began a new hardware and software enterprise named NeXT. The brand floundered in its attempt to sell its operating system to the public and later on, was taken over by Apple in 1996 for $429 million.
In 1997, Jobs returned to Apple and came back with a new management team. The team under Steve altered stock options and self-imposed an annual salary of $1 per year.
Under Jobs, the company came back on track and his products like iMac gained positive reviews from the customers. In the upcoming years, Apple introduced many more revolutionary products like Macbook Air, iPod, and iPhone. The competitors struggled to produce similar technologies and this became the reason for the success of Apple and Steve Jobs. Later on, Apple became the face of technology.
In 1986, Steve purchased an animation company from George Lucas. This brand was called Pixar Animation Studios. Jobs had invested $50 million of his own money into the company. The studio became popular in the industry by producing many iconic movies like Toy Story, Finding Nemo, and The Incredibles. Pixar’s movies earned the company a whopping $4 billion. In 2006, it merged with Disney and in this case, Jobs was the largest shareholder of the acquisition. In 2024, Steve Jobs’ net worth is estimated to be $7 billion, but he could have been significantly wealthier if he had held onto his Apple shares.
Steve Jobs – Philanthropy
Unlike many billionaires, Steve Jobs was not widely known for philanthropy and faced criticism for not donating as much as his peers. He was a very private person, which led some to believe he may have made anonymous donations over the years. Here are some of the key philanthropic contributions made by Steve Jobs:
After leaving Apple, Jobs created the Stephen P. Jobs Foundation, initially focused on vegetarianism and nutrition, but later shifted to social entrepreneurship.
When Jobs returned to Apple in 1987, he cut Apple’s philanthropic programs to reduce costs. This decision contributed to Apple’s image as one of the least charitable tech companies.
Later in his life, he donated $50 million to Stanford Hospital and gave an undisclosed amount toward AIDS research.
Jobs is mostly remembered and admired for his innovative business achievements, rather than for philanthropy.
Steve Jobs, Apple’s co-founder, shared many powerful quotes that can inspire you as you chase your own business dreams.
Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.
Be a yardstick of quality. Some people aren’t used to an environment where excellence is expected.
You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future.
Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice.
Stay hungry. Stay foolish.
Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.
I’m convinced that about half of what separates the successful entrepreneurs from the non-successful ones is pure perseverance.
You can’t just ask customers what they want and then try to give that to them. By the time you get it built, they’ll want something new.
Conclusion
Steve Jobs is regarded as a marketing genius by many as he made Apple products a status symbol for the next generation. Due to his strong personality and intelligence, Steve Jobs will be remembered as the most iconic entrepreneur ever!
FAQ
Who is Steve Jobs?
Steve Jobs is an American entrepreneur and co-founder of Apple. He is known as the man behind the success of Apple.
How did Steve Jobs start Apple?
Steve Jobs with Steve Wozniak started Apple in his parent’s garage. Steve Wozniak sold his scientific calculator and Steve Jobs sold his Volkswagen bus to fund the business.
Is Steve Jobs an entrepreneur?
Yes, Steve Jobs is an entrepreneur who co-founded Apple with Steve Wozniak.
Who is founder of Apple?
Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak started Apple in 1976 with a capital of $1350.
Where did Steve Jobs grow up?
Steven Paul Jobs grew up in Cupertino, California. It is now known as Silicon Valley.
What made Steve Jobs successful?
Steven Paul Jobs was successful because of his strong vision, creativity, and focus on design and user experience. He had a unique ability to understand what people wanted before they knew it themselves. Jobs also pushed for perfection, inspired his teams, and made bold decisions that changed technology, from the Mac to the iPhone. His passion and persistence helped build Apple into one of the world’s most valuable companies.
How long did it take Steve Jobs to become successful?
Steve Jobs became successful in about 5 years after starting Apple in 1976. By 1980, Apple went public and made him a millionaire. However, his real global success came later with products like the iMac (1998), iPod (2001), and iPhone (2007) after returning to Apple in 1997. His journey had ups and downs, but his major success took about 20–30 years of vision and hard work.
Apple Inc., a trillion-dollar corporation, is a household name. Unboxing their premium products reveals the phrase “designed in California.” The company has a great reputation for having the best products and has a crazy fan following. People who use Apple products swear by the quality and religiously wait for the new launches and buy them.
However, nothing in life is flawless. The same may be said about Apple. Although the company has introduced several extremely unique, game-changing ideas, not every product has been well received by fans, and some have been huge disappointments.
But this hasn’t stopped the company from producing market-leading items regularly. However, the focus of this article is on Apple’s flop products, which have received widespread criticism from customers as they failed terribly in the market.
Let’s take a look at some of Apple’s failed products.
The Apple Newton was launched as a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA). The CEO at that time, John Sculley, led this idea of a personal digital assistant. The device had several features and task management applications. The Apple Newton is often cited among Apple failure products due to its poor handwriting recognition.
The main feature was the handwriting recognition one, where the device was able to understand and recognize different handwriting on the screen, but the outcome was disastrous. The device was nothing but a glitchy mess. Its ground-breaking idea was made fun of, and the company discontinued it after Steve Jobs came back to the company in 1998.
Apple tried hard to enter the gaming console world by launching a product called Apple Pippin. During the mid-90s, the company released a cross between a gaming console and a computer system. The Apple Pippin was a video game console that was released in 1996.
The computer contained the classic Mac OS. The product would have been better but the features were really poor. The product had only a 14.4 kb/s modem and had no support from major game corporations. And a big price of $599 didn’t help the product at all. Despite being marketed as a multimedia device, it failed to compete with other popular consoles like the Sony PlayStation and Nintendo 64 and was discontinued a year later. Apple Pippin was an Apple product that failed in the gaming industry.
3. Round Mouse
Product Name
Round Mouse
Launched In
1998
Discontinued In
2000
Price At Launch
NA
Apple Products That Failed – Apple USB Mouse
The company attempted to launch something unique and exciting but instead created one of the most disliked products in history. Apple thought they did something when they released the round-shaped mouse.
The company is known for its curved edges, but the limit was crossed when the round mouse was launched. Officially named the Apple USB Mouse (M4848), but famously known as the “Hockey Puck“. The mouse was round, with a two-tone design. It was called clumsy because it rotated while using it, was small in size, and was weird to hold and use. It was one of Apple flop products.
4. The Apple Macintosh Portable
Product Name
Apple Macintosh Portable
Launched In
1989
Discontinued In
1991
Price At Launch
$7,300
Apple Failed Products – Apple Macintosh Portable
The company’s first attempt at portable computers was a horrible disaster. The Apple Macintosh Portable – a 4-inch thick portable computer was not easy to carry and could not manage even simple tasks.
Even though the Macbooks we have now had the best performance and design, this was not the case back then. The Macintosh was slow and would not even turn on sometimes, even after plugging it in. The Apple Macintosh Portable is one of the Apple products that flopped due to its weight and high cost.
5. The Power Mac G4 Cube
Product Name
Power Mac G4 Cube
Launched In
2000
Discontinued In
2001
Price At Launch
$1,799
Apple Products That Failed – Apple Power Mac G4 Cube
The cube-shaped computer was aesthetically pleasing to the eye, unlike the previously mentioned Round Mouse, but apart from the looks, nothing was special. The Apple Power Mac G4 Cube device was not well received and everyone hated it. The system didn’t have any monitors and was extremely expensive. While it was praised for its design, it was considered too expensive and lacked the processing power of other desktop computers at the time. The Power Mac G4 Cube had style but poor sales, making it one of the notable Apple flops. After a year, the product was discontinued because it failed to impress Apple fans.
Apple attempted everything it could to make its U2 iPod a hit product, but no amount of marketing or promotion could save it. They collaborated with U2, a well-known Irish rock band, to release an iPod.
With a red-colored button wheel, U2 songs featured, and signatures of all the band members on the back, the branding was spot on. It was designed for fans, but it failed to impress the general public because it cost $50 more than the standard model. The U2 iPod is often seen as one of the worst Apple products because it offered little beyond branding.
7. Apple eMate
Product Name
Apple eMate
Launched In
1997
Discontinued In
1998
Price At Launch
$799
Apple Products That Failed – Apple eMate
Apple launched eMate in 1997, but it was discontinued after only 1 year. It was not available to the general public and was only for educational purposes. It was only seen at educational institutions.
Apple is secretive about it too, as they never released the sales of eMate. The product was a hybrid between a computer, a laptop, and a PDA. It was quite affordable too, with a price tag of just $799.
8. Macintosh TV
Product Name
Macintosh TV
Launched In
1984
Discontinued In
1994
Price At Launch
$2,495
Apple Failed Products – Apple Macintosh TV
In 1993, Apple released the gadget that prepared the way for the now-famous Apple TV. The device combined television with a computer, but one big limitation was that it could only accomplish one thing at a time. On its 14-inch screen, one can watch TV or use it as a computer, but not both at the same time. And all this came with a hefty price of $2,495.
Apple Products That Have Failed
9. eWorld
Product Name
eWorld
Launched In
1994
Discontinued In
1996
Price At Launch
$8.95 for a month
Apple Failed Products- Apple eWorld
The company tried to create a virtual world and an online community where people could hang out, send emails, and much more. Apple eWorld was really advanced for its time but failed to impress as it was expensive and only available for Macintosh users, which limited the market. It was pulled off the shelves in 1996 as it was highly unsuccessful.
10. The Apple III
Product Name
Apple III
Launched In
1980
Discontinued In
1984
Price At Launch
$4,340
Failed Apple Products – Apple III
The Apple III computer was business-focused but failed to impress as it was poorly designed with no cooling fans to provide a silent, quiet working experience, which led to overheating of the device and ruining several components of the computer. This extreme market failure tainted the company’s image, and it was discontinued in 1984.
Apple is known for coming up with innovative approaches and challenging old technologies, which is exactly what it did when it introduced FireWire, a USB competitor. It was claimed by the business to be a speedier alternative to USB.
Nobody noticed the change and continued to use the existing USB port. Hardware manufacturers did not include a FireWire port on their products, as to do so, they had to pay Apple for licensing, which was not worth it.
12. Apple Lisa
Product Name
Apple Lisa
Launched In
1983
Discontinued In
1986
Price At Launch
$9,995
Failed Apple Products – Apple Lisa
Apple Lisawas the world’s first personal computer with a graphical user interface. It was a step forward toward the future of personal computers. But the price tag of nearly $10,000 was way too much for the technology, the overall performance was not even good, and the fact that it was not compatible with many software applications led to poor sales. The company only managed to sell 10,000 Lisa in two years. It was discontinued in 1986. Apple Lisa is on the list of failed products because of its high cost and low adoption.
13. 20th Anniversary Macintosh
Product Name
20th Anniversary Macintosh
Launched In
1997
Discontinued In
1998
Price At Launch
$7,499
Failed Apple Products – Apple 20th Anniversary Macintosh
Apple 20th Anniversary Macintosh is an iconic piece of history as it was released to celebrate Apple’s 20 years of existence and business. It is also known as “Spartacus”. The system was technically advanced and had many features like an LCD screen, Bose sound system, FM radio, and many more. However, it didn’t do well because of the hefty price of $7,500. Apple even reduced the price to $1,995 to clear out the stock and get rid of the failed product.
14. iTunes Ping
Product Name
iTune Ping
Launched In
2010
Discontinued In
2012
Price At Launch
NA
Apple Failed Products – Apple iTunes Ping
iTunes Ping was a music-based social networking service that was launched in 2010 for connecting with your friends and musicians. But when the product launched, it was not connected to Facebook (Now Meta), so it was really difficult to find friends on that, and the overall service was not up to the mark; hence, it was considered an unsuccessful product of Apple.
15. MobileMe
Product Name
MobileMe
Launched In
2008
Discontinued In
2012
Price At Launch
$99
Failed Apple Products – Apple MobileMe
Before iCloud, the company had a similar thing called MobileMe, which was a collection of online services with a subscription of $99 per year. The features include storage space, a synced calendar and contacts, and so much more. But the service was not well received as people were unable to use it. People who were trying to subscribe couldn’t sign up, and the ones who had subscribed were not able to access the service. It was a total flop and was shut down in 2011.
In 1995, Apple tried to launch cheaper computer systems while trying to cut costs. They destroyed their reputation as the computers were horrible to use and became popular among the population as “Macs to be avoided at all costs”. The hardware was terrible, and the systems were painfully slow. Due to this, many people started believing that Macs were overall inferior and slower than Windows, which damaged Apple’s sales in the 90s.
17. Homepod Original
Product Name
Homepod Original
Launched In
2018
Discontinued In
2021
Price At Launch
$349
Apple Failed Products – Apple Homepod and Homepod Mini
Apple launched its smart speaker, HomePod, in 2018. While it received positive reviews for its sound quality, the price tag was so high as compared to other smart speakers on the market and failed to gain much traction. The later release of a smaller, cheaper version, the HomePod Mini, was the final nail in the coffin for the original HomePod.
After receiving criticism from the buyers, the company permanently reduced the price to $299 in 2019. That still didn’t help, and the company finally discontinued it in 2021.
18. iPod Hi-Fi
Product Name
iPod Hi-Fi
Launched In
2006
Discontinued In
2007
Price At Launch
$349
Apple Failed Products – Apple iPod Hi-Fi
The main concern with the discontinued Apple products has always been the hefty price and the terrible performance. The same goes for the next Apple product, too. In 2006, Apple released the Hi-Fi, a high-end speaker system designed to work with iPods. The iPod Hi-Fi was meant to capitalize on the popularity of portable speakers with iPod docks. But the price of the speaker was so high that the general public didn’t buy it at all. We can’t blame them because the product was $349, which was significantly more expensive than any other competing brand. While it received positive reviews for its sound quality, it was considered too expensive and failed to gain much traction in the market. It was one of the Apple products that
Apple tried to replace the pre-installed Google Maps on its devices by coming out with its own Apple Maps. It was for iPhones and iPads, but it was full of distorted images and wrong directions, and the final product was so glitchy and terrible that the CEO, Tim Cook, had to apologize for it. Apple didn’t discontinue the product and launched a newer version that was much better.
20. iPhone 6
Product Name
iPhone 6
Launched In
2014
Discontinued In
2016
Price At Launch
$649
Apple Failed Products – Apple iPhone 6
Who doesn’t remember the infamous Bend Gate? There was a time on YouTube when all the tech channels were bending the iPhone 6 in their reviews. It became such a huge problem for Apple as it showcased its phone as not durable and of poor quality. The company claimed that it was only a case for a few iPhone owners and that a replacement would be conducted for those who were facing this issue.
Apple Product Failures
21. Apple Butterfly Keyboard
Product Name
Apple Butterfly Keyboard
Launched In
2015
Discontinued In
2020
Price At Launch
–
Failed Apple Products – Apple Butterfly Keyboard
Apple’s most significant modern technology setback began in 2015 with the release of the 12-inch MacBook, which featured a keyboard with low-profile “Butterfly” switches. Although the ultra-slim design of the notebook was generally praised, the keyboard faced widespread criticism for its stiff and unresponsive feel, alongside complaints about the limited number of ports.
22. Airpower
Product Name
Airpower
Launched In
2018
Discontinued In
2019
Price At Launch
$199
Apple Product Failures – Airpower
AirPower was an unreleased wireless charging mat by Apple, designed to charge three devices simultaneously. Announced in 2017, it was canceled in 2019 due to multiple development challenges, including overheating, inter-device communication issues, and mechanical and interference problems. These technical difficulties prevented the product from meeting Apple’s standards.
23. Macintosh Copland
Product Name
Macintosh Copland
Launched In
1994
Discontinued In
1996
Price At Launch
Never released as a product
Apple Failed Products – Copland
Apple’s Copland project, intended to revolutionize the Mac OS, failed due to overambitious goals, leadership changes, and significant technical challenges, including stability issues and missed deadlines. These problems, combined with competitive pressure from emerging operating systems, led to the project’s cancellation in 1996. Apple ultimately shifted focus, acquiring NeXT to develop what would become macOS. Apple’s Copland was one of the most unsuccessful Apple products.
24. iPod Socks
Product Name
iPod Socks
Launched In
2004
Discontinued In
2012
Price At Launch
$29
Apple Product Failures – iPod Socks
iPod Socks, a set of colorful knit covers for iPods, was launched by Apple in 2004. They were designed to protect the devices from scratches and came in a pack of six different colors. The product was discontinued in 2012 due to declining demand and the changing landscape of Apple’s product line. As iPods evolved and new models were introduced with different form factors and built-in protective features, accessories like the iPod Socks became less relevant.
25. Apple Xserve
Product Name
Apple Xserve
Launched In
2002
Discontinued In
2004
Price At Launch
$2999
Apple Product Failures – Apple Xserve
The Xserve, one of Apple’s biggest failures, was Apple Inc.’s first rack-mounted server series. Designed for tasks like file serving, web hosting, and high-performance computing, it also came in a special “Cluster Node” version without a video card or optical drives fr use in computing clusters. Initially powered by a PowerPC G4 processor, it was later upgraded to a PowerPC G5 in 2004 and Intel Xeon processors in 2006, with both single and dual-processor options. Apple discontinued the Xserve in 2011, replacing it with the Mac Pro Server and Mac Mini Server.
Apple’s Closed Ecosystem: Apple controls everything on its devices, software, apps, and services like Apple TV and the App Store. This gives Apple more control but also means it has to handle a lot by itself. Unlike Samsung, which uses Google’s Android system, Apple must do everything in-house, which can slow things down.
Slow Innovation: People expect each new Apple product to be perfect and groundbreaking. This makes Apple careful and slower to try new ideas compared to companies like Google or Samsung, who release new products or updates faster. Apple still leads but others are catching up quickly.
Other Challenges: Apple’s products are expensive, which could be a problem if the economy worsens. Also, Apple competes in tough markets like streaming (Apple TV vs. Netflix) and payments (Apple Pay vs. PayPal and banks). Apple relies more on its brand than heavy advertising.
Conclusion
Apple is a trillion-dollar corporation with customers all around the world. It has developed several cutting-edge products and services. However, like any other company, Apple has had its share of failures throughout its history. Apple has seen a few notable Apple failures over the years, including products like the Newton, the Pippin console, and the discontinued Xserve servers.
However, Apple’s ability to learn from its mistakes and continue to innovate has enabled the company to maintain its position as a leader in the technology industry. By focusing on delivering products that meet the needs and desires of its customers, Apple has been able to thrive and create some of the most iconic products of our time. Ultimately, Apple’s failures serve as a reminder that even the most successful companies are not immune to missteps, and that innovation often requires taking risks that may not always pay off.
FAQs
What are some failures of Apple?
Apple iPhone 6, Newton, U2 iPod, Apple III, FireWire, Lisa, Homepod were some of the biggest failures of Apple.
What was Apple’s biggest mistake?
Dan Ives, an analyst said that Apple’s biggest mistake was not acquiring Netflix years ago. The company does not have a major stake in the popular streaming giant.
How did Apple almost fail?
Due to overpriced computers, and mediocre service, the company was about to be shut down in the mid-90s.
What is Apple’s main product?
The iPhone is Apple’s main product, with more than 1.7 billion iPhones sold since 2017.
What is the most famous failed product by Apple?
The Apple Newton is often cited as one of Apple’s most famous failed products.
How has Apple’s approach to product development evolved over time?
Apple has evolved its approach to product development over time by becoming more customer-focused, prioritizing simplicity and ease-of-use, and placing greater emphasis on design and aesthetics.
What can other companies learn from Apple failed products?
Other companies can learn from Apple’s failed products by understanding the importance of listening to customers, balancing innovation with practicality, and being willing to learn from mistakes.
What products does Apple not manufacture?
Apple does not manufacture accessories like printer devices, external displays (non-Pro models), routers (like the discontinued AirPort), or TVs. It also doesn’t make game consoles, smart glasses (yet), or budget phones below a certain price point. Most hardware production is outsourced to companies like Foxconn.
A plethora of agriculture business ideas stretches from agro-based traditional practices to modern innovations, lining up varied opportunities in the fields of farming, processing, service, and agri-tech. Some of these agriculture business ideas include crop farming, animal husbandry, vertical farming, agro-fintech, and e-commerce-agriculture, and offer different investment requirements ranging from low to high, as well as expertise and knowledge.
The emerging technologies used in the sector include precision farming, IoT, and digital platforms, which promise increasing efficiency and giving market access. Sustainability-driven modes of farming, such as organic farming, hydroponics, and waste-to-wealth, offer the additional value of environmental conservation. Increased consumer demand for local and organic produce, as well as rural experiences, drives innovation.
Here, let’s explore the best agriculture business ideas in India that can help aspiring entrepreneurs and farmers identify profitable and sustainable opportunities.
Top 10 Profitable Agriculture Business Ideas to Start in India
Organic Farming
Organic farming is an environmentally sustainable agricultural approach that shuns all synthetic chemicals, GMOs, and artificial fertilizers and uses alternative means of maintaining soil and ecological balance through crop rotation, composting, biofertilizers, and biological pest control. This market is forecast to reach a global organic farming market in 2025 of US$230.19 billion, with consumer-demand trends for an increasing healthy and eco-friendly diet. Other features comprise natural inputs, enhancement of biodiversity, and practices that improve long-term soil fertility. Premium markets almost always require organic certification. Most farmers today use integrated cropping systems that engage livestock for a circular system and are increasingly using online platforms and farm markets to reach customers directly at higher margins.
Pros
Demand for organic products by consumers is increasing
Job Creation and enormous employment opportunities in rural areas.
Saves productive land for generations to come.
Cons
Higher Initial Investment
Labor-Intensive
Vertical Farming
Vertical Farming – Top Agriculture Business Ideas to Start in India
Vertical farming refers to the process of growing crops in vertically inclined structures, such as a stack of layers, with controlled environments within buildings using approaches such as hydroponics, aeroponics, and climate control systems. Ideal for urban areas with limited arable land, it is a means to produce food in an efficient, sustainable, and year-round manner. The expected value of the vertical farming market is expected to range between 13.7 – 19.67 billion dollars by 2029, mainly driven by the power of urbanization, food security, and requirements for local produce. Other benefits include an efficient space, saving up to 90 percent of water, minimal use of pesticides, and a twenty times higher yield per square meter.
Pros
Seasonless Produce
Massive conservation of water and land is possible
Food Miles Reduction
Cons
Huge Operational costs
Competitive entry barriers
Hydroponics
Hydroponics is a soil-less form of farming in which nutrient-rich water nourishes plants in controlled environments, whereby those plants produce crops with very high yield every year through year. The system is well-established for urban settings and resource-limited areas. Hydroponics is perfect for the development of city infrastructure, increasing the market from $17.3 billion in 2025 to $32.1 billion in 2033. Major benefits include water saving of up to 90 percent and extremely high yields per square meter, with almost no use of pesticides due to very few pest exposures. Hydroponics works well in rooftop, containerized, and indoor systems, favoring local fresh produce consumption while saving the environment.
Pros
Year-Round Production
Advanced Food Security
Suitable for Urban and Semi-Urban Areas.
Cons
Technical Complexity
Not all crops are economically feasible within a determining hydroponic system.
Agri-tech solutions are improving the use of advanced technologies such as AI, IoT, robotics, drones, data analytics, and biotechnology to make agriculture more efficient, productive, and sustainable. The agri-tech industry is expanding fast across the globe, and by 2024, the agri-tech market will have reached $30.63 billion before changing into $34.58 billion in 2025 and $53.25 billion by 2029. Major innovations are precision agriculture through sensors and drones to increase inputs-oriented yield optimization as well as automation tools—the earlier, including robotic harvesting machines and smart irrigation, which reduce labor yet increase efficiency. Smart farming platforms also provide real-time information for improved decision-making, whereas biotechnology helps in crop resilience.
Pros
Increased Productivity
Saving on Manual Labor
Data-Driven Decisions:
Cons
High Initial Investment
Data Privacy & Security
Livestock Farming
Livestock Farming – Top Agriculture Business Ideas to Start in India
Livestock farming is among the major pillars in agriculture in 2025, covering the rearing of animals like cattle, poultry, goats, sheep, and fish for products in the form of milk, meat, eggs, and wool. It is now being increasingly shaped through some ethical and sustainable practices, such as organic feed, animal welfare, and environmentally friendly methods, responding to rising demand from consumers for high-protein foods, including value-added products such as organic dairy and free-range poultry. Livestock farming contributes significantly not only to agricultural GDPs and increases rural livelihoods, but also receives government support and modernization from technological advancements such as precision livestock farming, which increases productivity and enhances health management of animals.
Pros
Government Support
Job Creation generates lots of employment, especially in rural areas.
Growing appetite for animal proteins and products.
Cons
Very Heavy Initial Investment
Outbreaks can be dangerous
Agroforestry
Agroforestry, among the top agricultural business concepts for the year 2025, manifests as an innovative model that involves integrating trees and shrubs with crops and/or livestock on the same land surface to develop a diversified and sustainable farming system. It increases the productivity of land and generates multiple production assets such as timber, fruits, nuts, medicinal plants, and livestock feed. And it will improve soil fertility and conserve water, as well as foster biodiversity. The global agroforestry market is expected to cross $114 billion by 2025. Its phenomenal growth is related not only to its environmental benefits but also to its resilience to climate and government support: India alone will contribute INR 65,000 crores to the sector.
Pros
Increased Climate Adaptation
Subsidized, financed, and welcomed government policies.
Sustainable land use
Cons
Skill-intensive
Competition for land
Herb Farming
Herb farming – Top Agriculture Business Ideas to Start in India
Herb farming happens to be the most lucrative agricultural business idea for the year 2025, given the low investment and returns that are way high, and with increasing demand for fresh medicinal herbs in the culinary, wellness, and cosmetics industries. This venture can be started on a small scale since most of the herbs, such as basil, mint, rosemary, and lavender, can be grown in small spaces. Some herb farmers sell their produce directly to consumers, restaurants, or wholesalers, with particular attributes being fresh or dried herbs, potted plants, and value-added products, and high-value varieties could earn a farmer up to $30,000 per acre per year. The sector also attracts increased consumer interest in natural health solutions.
Pros
Low Initial Capital
High Gross Margin Products
Wide Scope of Usages
Cons
Market Fluctuations
Knowledge Intensive
Mushroom Farming
Mushroom farming is one of the most highly profitable agri-businesses and the least space-consuming agri-business by 2025, with a projected global market of $71.62 billion and a growth rate better than 8% CAGR. It involves very low start-up cost requirements (as little as $500 for a small setup) and allows for year-round indoor cultivation. Both such entrepreneurs can operate equally well in urban spaces or rural areas. Demand for gourmet and medicinal mushrooms, such as oyster and shiitake, is growing, with good profit margins of 40-60%, from owners of restaurants, health stores, and markets for vegans. Healthier consumers are driving this development, the rise of plant-based diets.
Pros
Market Growth
Use of Less Space
Product Diversification
Cons
Contamination issues
Shelf Life issues
Beekeeping
Beekeeping – Top Agriculture Business Ideas to Start in India
Beekeeping is witnessing a vibrant boom as an agriculture business opportunity in 2025, with low startup costs, repeat income, and multiple streams of income from honey, beeswax, propolis, royal jelly, and fairly profitable pollination services. The global apiculture market is poised to surge to $15.2 billion by 2025, with top drivers being the increased demand for natural products and pollination in agriculture. Beekeeping can accommodate both rural and urban-based entrepreneurs and range from being practiced as a hobby to a subject in large-scale commercial pursuit, whereby medium-scale beekeepers can generate an annual income of $20,000-$70,000 from 50-200 hives. The crux of success ultimately rests on good hive management, diversification, and adaptability to market trends.
Pros
Affordable Initial Investment
Strong Demand in the Market
Recurring Income
Cons
Labor and Management:
Compliance with Regulation
Manure and Organic Fertilizer Production
By 2025, manure and organic fertilizers would have become one of the fastest-rising businesses in agriculture, driven by a global trend towards sustainability in farming and an increasing demand for organic food. According to projections, the market would rise from $11.08 billion in 2025 and culminate in $15.14 billion by 2029, with a compound annual growth rate of 8.1%, driven by government incentives, environmental awareness, and regulations favored in organic inputs. The main feature of it is a conversion of waste, i.e., animal-, plant-, and mineral wastes into nutrient-rich fertilizers along with soil-enhancing qualities that would reduce chemical runoff and support regenerative agriculture. The business opportunity for taking both small-scale farms and urban agriculture into account offers all the opportunities for innovation in customized formulations and waste-to-fertilizer technologies.
Pros
Environmental Boosts.
Government Grant
Resource Utilization
Cons
Highly Expensive Production:
Technical Viability
Conclusion
Innovations in technology and changing consumer demands charred the future of agriculture business ideas in 2025. Digital agriculture, precision farming, vertical and indoor farming, and regenerative practices all lay impetus on producing and using resources as efficiently as possible while limiting negative impacts on the environment. Digital technology and advanced tools such as artificial intelligence, automation, and biotechnology make farm management smart and climate-resilient. Sustainable farm practices such as organic farming and agroforestry have gained more importance for ecological and economic benefits. Despite ongoing challenges such as economic uncertainty and market volatility, collaboration and data-driven strategies are enabling agribusinesses to adapt and thrive in a dynamic global landscape.
Indian Agriculture is being transformed by the way AI is used to drive farming efficiency, sustainability, and resilience to various other challenges, from climate to markets, with a few such pioneering projects. These projects use drones, sensors, and satellite images to track crops and animals in real time and spot problems early. AI models that accurately predict harvests, better assist in the planning of crops, and facilitate location-based pest/weed control drastically decrease input costs as well as chemicals. Satellite data analysis in sustainable land management and decision support services for regional languages improves farmer decision-making in a better way.
In this article, learn about the top AI-powered projects transforming the Indian agriculture sector.
AI-driven farm programmes towards increasing productivity, sustainability, and resilience to climate change are being implemented in conjunction with the Government of India and IBM. The initiatives are building on IBM’s depth of AI, cloud computing, and data analytics to give farmers the tools they need for improved access to info and technology. AI-based Agricultural Monitoring: Crop Supervision by Satellite Imagery, Yield Estimation, and Resource Optimization are some key Features. However, tools for climate resilience direct decisions about local seed, water use, and platforms (i.e, CRM Connect) encourage sustainable agriculture while reducing residue burning. They allow for mobile and web-based access to real-time insights into market dynamics with digital advisory services.
Pros
Improved crop yields
Promotes sustainable agriculture
Enhanced climate resilience
Cons
Initial costs for deployment
Requires digital literacy among small farmers
Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY)
India’s PMFBY (Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana), commonly referred to as the crop insurance scheme, turned into the next level of reforms in 2025, adopting Artificial Intelligence(AI), Machine Learning(ML), remote sensing, and drones to increase transparency and efficiency. Yield estimation now uses AI (SVM, Random Forest, Neural Networks) models to circumvent reliance on human crop-cutting. Satellite and drone images to monitor the real-time crop, speed up loss assessment. Digital platforms are used for ease of claim submission and direct benefit transfers (DBT) through these channels. YES-TECH and WINDS are among the solutions using hyper-local weather data for risk assessment at an accurate scale. National training programs, complaint digital portals strengthen stakeholder capacity and responsive support services.
PM-KISAN – Top AI-Powered Projects in the Indian Agriculture Sector
Introduced in the year 2023 and launched on non-agricultural landholders every Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) gives INR 6,000 per year to the eligible farmer-holders by disbursing it in three installments; first major flagship scheme for India to integrate AI in; The instant multilingual response chatbot powered by AI, Kisan-eMitra available on both PM-KISAN portal and app takes queries about the status of application, payments paid, eligibility and updates. It improves the grievance redressal process as farmers themselves can resolve the issues, and they no longer need third-party intermediaries. It also contains remote e-KYC with facial authentication FOR those who don’t have OTPs or biometrics enabled on the app.
Pros
Instant and accurate information to farmers
Multilingual and user-friendly interface
Face authentication for e-KYC
Cons
Continuous updates and AI training are required
Handholding might be required for less tech-savvy farmers
In a quest to uplift the incomes and yield factors of smallholder farmers in the Government of Karnataka, in partnership with Microsoft, an AI & algorithm-driven digital agriculture project has been launched to support connected farmers to support their ventures. Based on Microsoft’s Cortana Intelligence Suite, the organization leverages cloud computing, machine learning, and advanced analytics for real-time insights. It is equipped with AI on board price forecasting models that utilize weather, yield, and sowing data to help farmers make market decisions. SMS-based, soil and weather data integrated service for sowing advisory instead of costly devices to receive recommendations on planting times. A community of satellite imagery for crop health monitoring or yield prediction.
Pros
Increases yield and income through data-driven decisions
Seamless scalability
Transparency through price forecasting
Cons
Dependence on accurate data
Issues with poor connectivity in some villages
AGRI-UDAAN
AGRI-UDAAN — a flagship food and agribusiness accelerator by a-IDEA (ICAR NAARM TBI) along with the govt. of India in association with NABARD, seeks to accelerate innovation in Agriculture at its best. Well-established in its maturity variants, by 2025, this is responsible for growing AI/tech-based startups focusing on productivity, sustainability, and challenges along the supply chain. In the structured 4-6 month programme beneficiary will have mentorship, workshops, and business development support. Startups get mentioned through demo days and investor connections, agribusiness contacts as well. AI, IoT, and data analytics are the clear keywords of the program, thereby driving solutions in disease/disease detection, weather forecasting, and resource use.
Pros
Provides mentorship for agri startups
Creates solutions for supply chain issues
Drives adoption of AI in agriculture
Cons
Limited cohort size
Impact created is indirect
Maha Agri Tech
Maha Agri Tech – Top AI-Powered Projects in the Indian Agriculture Sector
Maha Agri Tech Project is being launched by the Government of Maharashtra to digitalise the agriculture sector at the State level through AI and next-generation geo-ICTs. Launched with pilots on 1 lakh acres and supporting 50,000 farmers, the program aims at improving productivity, farmer income, & climate resiliency. The AI-grade satellite-based crop monitoring tells you how healthy your crops and soil are. Yield forecasts, pest alerts, and input recommendations are some of the decision support available through interactive dashboards. Efficient use of water, fertilizer, and pesticides; improved supply chain traceability & market access. Linked to the MahaVISTAAR-AI, it gives Multilingual and Personalized advisories as part of the framework and is planned as per pilot success.
Digital India Bhashini – Top AI-Powered Projects in the Indian Agriculture Sector
Digital India Bhashini will be a nationwide program to eliminate the language barrier by leveraging AI-based language technology services for all 22 Scheduled Indian Languages. In agriculture, it empowers a farmer with real-time voice-enabled multilingual advisory, weather updates, schemes, etc, as well as advanced practices directly from his/her mobile. By using AI for speech recognition and translation to text-to-speech, Bhashini bridges the language gap for all farmers be it literate or illiterate. It offers speech-to-text and machine translation, voice-enabled support, as well as a single access to the Unified Language Interface for digital services. These are integrated with other platforms like MahaVISTAAR-AI, which provides location-cropped advice on the crop.
Pros
Multilingual support
Provides transparency, inclusion, and government outreach
Supports multiple agri-tech platforms and government schemes
Cons
Quality and AI translations can vary
Ongoing demands for AI model training
FutureSkills PRIME
FutureSkills PRIME (Public-Private Partnership of MeitY & NASSCOM), which is a grand initiative to give India’s workforce skillset on future-focused technologies with heavy Auto-agonism in Artificial Intelligence (AI).Not agriculture-agnostic but equally important to Arm agri-professionals, Students, and Entrepreneurs with AI skills for transforming agriculture in India. A comprehensive range of beginning to advanced AI courses on agriculture use case through to 2025, featuring beginner courses about crop monitoring, yield prediction, and resource optimization. The programme offers government-certified certifications, a curriculum in sync with the industry, practical AI tools, and use cases. It also helps agri-tech startups in the space through mentorship and funding, and runs inclusive, high-density studies at scale under online or blended platforms, bridging rural & urban.
Pros
Supports innovation
Bridges the gap in digital skills
Provides upskilling in AI for agri professionals
Cons
Practical training is very limited
Requires ongoing development of curriculum
National AI Centres of Excellence
The Government of India has also launched National AI Centres of Excellence (CoEs) across India to spur transformative innovation in the key sectors of agriculture. Make AI in India, and Make AI Work for India (Agriculture AI CoE under IIT Ropar with a budget of INR 990 Crores over the next five years aims at making revolutionary science and solutions for agriculture technology, realizing these problems. They engaged in multi-disciplinary R&D towards agriculture (yield prediction, pest detection, precision farming) using big data and ML. The centre will help link up academia, industry, and startups in the country, impart training to the vast talent pool relating to AI support for agri-tech innovation.
Pros
Supports innovation
Bridges the gap in digital skills
Provides upskilling in AI for agri professionals
Cons
Practical training is very limited
Requires ongoing development of curriculum
Kisan e-Mitra
Kisan e-Mitra is India’s first voice-based AI chatbot, an instant multilingual agricultural query answering assistant integrated by the Indian government. It started with advising the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme but currently gives out instructions for several govenment programs pest alerts, weathers update and crop management in a multi-language platform. 11 regional languages enabledoperates with over 20,000 queries served daily and over 9.2 million queries resolved so far Supported A/B testing with National Pest Surveillance System learns crop pests from images sent by farmers and suggest solutions for 61 crops Leveraging satellite imagery, weather data and soil info to provide in real-time crop monitoring insights via Kisan e-Mitra.
Pros
Reduces dependency on middlemen
Integrates with other agritech and government platforms
Efficient in scheme delivery and grievance redressal
Cons
Quality of AI responses depends on data accuracy
Data privacy and security concerns
Conclusion
AI-driven projects are transforming Indian agriculture at the field level by providing real-time alerts, tools for applicator precision, and automation to the farmers for challenges related to climate change, farmer labour shortages, crop disease, etc. Primarily initiated by the government and private sector initiatives with the use of drones, sensors, satellite imagery, AI chatbot lighting for irrigation, fertigation, pest control, and predicting yields in these projects brings higher productivity, sustainability. AI is also used to scale climate resilience, help improve resource-efficient practices, and add transparency and including using multilingual digital platforms. AI will scale to guarantee food security and an economically stable infrastructure, driving a sustainable future of Indian agriculture as adoption grows.
AI is revolutionizing Indian agriculture by enhancing productivity, enabling precision farming, reducing input costs, and improving sustainability.
What are the benefits of using AI in farming?
The main benefits of AI in agriculture include better crop yield prediction, efficient pest and weed control, optimized resource use (water, fertilizer, pesticides), early disease detection, and improved climate resilience.
Which AI technologies are commonly used in agriculture?
Key AI technologies used in agriculture include machine learning models, computer vision, drones, satellite imagery, IoT sensors, natural language processing (NLP), and voice-based AI chatbots.
In this exclusive conversation with StartupTalky,Anand K Rathi, Co-founder of MIRA Money, shares how the platform is helping India’s growing middle class manage their personal finances better. With his deep experience in managing wealth for India’s elite, Anand explains MIRA Money’s tech-driven, goal-based approach to investing. He talks about the platform’s rapid growth, the unique needs of its digital-first users, and how it uses data and strong security to build trust. Anand also discusses MIRA’s future plans, offering a clear view of how investing in India is evolving.
StartupTalky: Could you briefly introduce what MIRA Money is and how it is changing the way Indians approach personal finance and investing?
MIRA Money is a tech-first investment platform designed to simplify wealth creation for the everyday Indian. What makes it stand out is its goal-based, index-led investing approach that relies on data, not guesswork. We have built ready-made portfolios using NIFTY 50, MIDCAP 150, and SMALLCAP 250 index funds. Therefore, investors are not chasing hot tips or timing the market. Instead, they are working toward real goals, whether that is a down payment for a house or their child’s education. Everything is powered by our proprietary Quant-on-Index™ framework, which blends index investing discipline with robust analytics to drive long-term performance.
StartupTalky: Considering the target audience is a crucial aspect for any business, could you describe MIRA Money’s primary target audience in terms of demographics, financial behaviour, and technology adoption? What data informs your understanding of this audience?
Our core audience is India’s emerging middle class: digitally savvy, first-time investors in their 20s and 30s. These are salaried professionals, freelancers, and entrepreneurs who are looking for simple, transparent investment solutions that help them save for real goals. They are not chasing alpha; they are chasing peace of mind. Our platform usage data shows strong traction from metro and Tier 1 cities, with a growing footprint in Tier 2 locations. Their behaviour reflects a preference for mobile-first interfaces, low-friction onboarding, and educational content that helps demystify finance.
StartupTalky: You’ve had a successful journey managing the wealth of India’s top 1% through Augment Capital. What inspired you to shift focus to India’s growing middle class through MIRA Money, and how is this audience different in terms of needs and behaviour?
After years of working with India’s wealthiest, I realised the same expertise and discipline could unlock wealth creation for a much wider audience: India’s middle class. They do not want complexity; they want clarity. They do not need exotic products; they need transparent, goal-linked strategies. MIRA Money was born out of that insight: to offer the same principles of disciplined, long-term investing that work for the top 1%, but in a format that’s accessible, affordable, and digital-first. This audience is extremely tech-savvy and intent on building wealth, but often lacks the guidance or confidence to start. That is where MIRA steps in.
StartupTalky: What is the total number of users MIRA Money has acquired since its inception, and what has been the average user growth rate on a quarterly basis over the past year?
Mira Money has acquired over 5,000 customers in less than two years. Our average growth rate is around 150%, which is quite high due to our smaller customer base. We experience a growth rate of approximately 100% almost every quarter.
StartupTalky: What is the current total value of assets under management (AUM) or transacted through the MIRA Money platform?
As of March 2025, MIRA Money has crossed INR 250 crore in assets under management (AUM), and what is exciting is that this growth has been completely organic. We are on track to hit INR 600 crore by the end of the year. Our portfolios are built around index funds like NIFTY 50, MIDCAP 150, and SMALLCAP 250. The product focus is clear: no gimmicks, no active fund chasing: just solid, data-driven investing for real goals.
StartupTalky: What is the average customer acquisition cost (CAC) for MIRA Money? What strategies are you using to optimise user engagement and value?
The Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC) is particularly interesting in our case; it’s effectively zero because we do not spend any money on marketing. All of our customers come through content marketing, so our marketing expenses are non-existent, resulting in a CAC of zero. In contrast, many other companies we know have a CAC of around $4,000 to $5,000 per customer.
Additionally, we have observed that the transaction values from the customers we acquire are quite high since they are highly motivated. This leads to a better conversion rate and higher transaction values. While our CAC is skewed because it stands at zero, we actively monitor our portfolio and continually rebalance it, which helps us increase our Customer Lifetime Value (CLV).
StartupTalky: How does MIRA Money ensure high user engagement across its investment offerings? Could you highlight which types of investment baskets or strategies see the most traction among your users?
Our feature focuses on launching engaging investment baskets for our customers based on current market trends. For instance, when market conditions are unfavourable, we introduce a gold basket that tends to perform well. Similarly, when interest rates start to decline, we invest in smart debt funds that focus on long-duration investments. When the market is bullish, we shift our investments towards sectoral funds. We have observed that our customers engage the most with these trending baskets. Recently, there has been significant interest in the smart debt funds we’ve launched, which are designed for long-duration mutual funds.
StartupTalky: What is the average transaction size or account balance for MIRA Money users? How has this metric evolved over the past 1–2 years?
Initially, the customer started with a minimal investment of about INR 10,000. However, over time, as trust was built, the value of construction increased. We began with zero transactions, and now, a significant number of people are using the app to transact amounts exceeding INR 1,00,000, with many individuals averaging around 50,000 rupees in investments.
StartupTalky: In a competitive fintech industry, what key performance indicators (KPIs) do you track most closely to measure MIRA Money’s success and differentiate it from competitors?
We are deeply focused on long-term portfolio performance, user retention, and AUM growth. What differentiates MIRA is that we do not chase vanity metrics. Instead, we look at metrics that reflect investor trust: repeat contributions, duration of engagement, and goal completion rates. Rather than performance marketing, content-led growth also means that our growth is quality-led. Users stay because they see value, not because we chase them with ads.
StartupTalky: How does MIRA Money leverage data analytics to understand user behaviour, personalise user experiences, and enhance the security of the platform, considering the increasing risks highlighted by data breach statistics?
From day one, MIRA was built to be a digital-first, analytics-driven platform. Our Quant-on-Index™ framework is a great example. It helps tailor portfolios to specific goals using behavioural and financial data. On the security side, we are uncompromising. We follow stringent compliance protocols and data encryption standards to ensure user information is secure. Trust is our currency, and in fintech, you only get one shot at it.
StartupTalky: Given the evolving regulatory environment for financial services and the increasing focus on compliance, what percentage of your operational budget is currently allocated to regulatory compliance and security measures?
We have been in this business for several years and understand that regulatory compliance is crucial because it builds trust. Generally, we have observed that about 0.03 to 0.05% of our total expenditures go towards compliance, and we believe this percentage will remain stable. This is our current outlook.
StartupTalky: Looking ahead, what are your projections for MIRA Money’s user base growth and revenue growth over the next 3–5 years? What are the key assumptions driving these projections?
We believe that we will be able to achieve an Asset Under Management (AUM) of approximately INR 600 crores by the end of this year, with a goal of reaching about INR 5,000 crores over the next five years. This is part of our larger plan, and we expect our revenue to be around 0.6 to 0.7 per cent of the total AUM we manage.
There are two main reasons we are confident in this outlook: first, the market is very attractive, with significant investments and financialisation occurring, which acts as a strong catalyst for our growth. Second, we have over 20 years of experience in asset management, and we are recognised as one of the most trusted brands in wealth management for individuals. We believe these factors will significantly contribute to our success.
Why buy a bike or a car when you can rent one? As per research, millennials do not like buying vehicles, especially when Uber and Ola are readily available in the market.
From simple bikes to luxury car rentals, everything is now available in multiple cities. The global rental market for bikes and scooters is projected to grow from $2.5 billion in 2019 to $10.1 billion in 2027.
The rise in demand for emission-free vehicles, stricter emission norms, and the growth in traffic congestion are increasing the demand for economical transportation.
So, if you want to earn money by launching a bike or scooter rental business in your city, this guide will walk you through all the essential steps.
How to Start a Bike and Scooter Rental Business to Earn Money in India
How to Start a Bike and Scooter Rental Business to Earn Money in India
When planning to set up your own bike and scooter rental business to earn money in India, it’s important to understand the step-by-step process you need to follow before launching.
Make a business plan
The first step to setting up your business is a proper business plan. By planning the total idea on pen and paper, not only do you give it life, but you also understand the steps involved in building your dreams into a reality.
The business plan will help you for multiple reasons:
Talk to banks to get business loans
Select the proper type of business you want to be a part of (eg, luxury bikes and scooters, second-hand rentals, etc.)
Locating a good area to set up your business
Identification of target market and audience
Set the necessary objectives required to make your business a success
Apply for the right licenses and registrations
Draw up a Company Summary
Your company summary will detail the specifics of the business. It should help answer questions such as – What is the essence of the product you offer? How does it benefit the customers? It should also contain the details of the type of business you plan to operate.
Here are some kinds of bike and scooter rental businesses:
City bike rentals: These are perfect for vacation destinations where people will want to explore the city on two-wheelers.
Rentals for work purposes: Long-term bike renting or leasing is growing in popularity as people are searching for alternatives to cars in bigger cities.
Premium bike rentals: These offer the experience of a luxury bike ride to niche market customers. These bikes can be rented out for special events like engagements and weddings.
Understand your competitors and find the right target audience
Before you start your marketing campaigns, it is important to understand your competition and the target audience. Your target market will be made up of people who have an active lifestyle and will want to rent a bike or scooter to help them get from one place to another.
It is also important to understand what your target audience wants, and this can be found in their reviews. The next step is to check for competition and find gaps in their marketing style. Try to stay away from locations where there are multiple competitors, as it might be hard to penetrate such a market.
Registrations required to start a bike and scooter rental business
To operate a bike and scooter rental company legally in India you will need to get the correct licenses and registrations.
Compliance with the 1997 Bike Renting Scheme and State Government Laws
ESI Registration
PF Registration
Licenses and Registration of all the vehicles you plan to use
Conducting a market analysis
It is important to develop a proper marketing plan from the beginning, as most rental businesses need to have this in place before opening their doors.
But your marketing efforts should be proportionate to your financial and commercial ability to serve customers. You do not want to over-promote your brand and then underdeliver to your customers.
One of the biggest decisions you will need to make before starting your bike rental business and earning money from your fleet is choosing the right type of business model. You can choose from the following two:
The aggregator model: Here, you act as a collector of bikes rather than an owner. You design a portal, and people who want to rent out their bikes or scooters can upload them onto your platform.
The biggest advantage is that you do not need to purchase any bikes, but it also means that you cannot control the types of bikes being rented out. I am running a few minutes late; my previous meeting is running over.
The owner model: In this model, you can purchase the bikes as per the target market and then rent them out. This way, not only do you control the quality of the fleet but also earn the entire revenue generated.
The importance of marketing cannot be overlooked, especially before opening the doors of your rental business. You want to attract as much attention as possible to keep people interested in your products and to spread a positive vibe.
When customers learn of your business and understand how it will help them, then half your work is already done.
Fix your Rental Rates
Setting the right rental rates is crucial if you want to maximize how much money you can earn renting your bike or scooter. Most rentals charge by the day, hour, weekend, and kilometre.
Here is where your competitor research will come in handy. Check how your competitors are charging and how customers react to their policies.
Then you can decide on a pricing strategy that will be designed to encourage customers to hire bikes and scooters for extended periods.
Build a team that can handle the business
When starting your bike and scooter rental business, you will need to have a team on your side to help run the business. These will include:
Mechanics: To handle the periodic maintenance of the bikes and for emergency support in case of mid-way issues. You can also get a third-party service, but they might not be available whenever you need them.
Marketing team: To help gain traction, you will need to have a proper marketing team. As marketing is a continuous process, you will need to hire someone full-time. It is best to look for someone who can handle both offline and online marketing for your rental startup.
Customer support team: To ensure that customers have someone they can talk to or share their grievances with, a customer support team is highly important. This extra service is what can differentiate you from your direct competitors.
So, it is very important to have a support team that can handle customer queries as soon as possible.
Conclusion
To set up and excel in a bike and scooter rental business, not only do you need to understand the market first, but also the needs of your potential customers. You need to properly analyze the market and then come up with a business plan that closes any gaps in the market.
Once you have these and a proper team in place, your business is ready to take off, and you can start making money by renting your bikes and scooters!
From fintech to wellness and social-commerce infrastructure, today’s funding activity reflects the diversity and momentum in the market. Here’s a quick look at the top funding updates for 6th June 2025.
Startup
Sector
Funding
Round
Lead Investors
Decentro
API banking / Fintech
₹30 crore (~US$3.6M)
Series B
InfoEdge Ventures; Y Combinator-backed
Biopeak
Wellness & Longevity tech
US$3 million
Seed
Claypond Capital (Ranjan Pai), Prashanth Prakash, Rainmatter
Kosmc AI
Social‑commerce infrastructure
Pre‑seed (undisclosed)
Pre‑seed
–
Decentro secures INR 30 crore Series B
Y Combinator‑backed fintech startup Decentro has raised INR 30 crore in its Series B round, led by InfoEdge Ventures. Simultaneously, the firm announced plans to shift its holding company from Singapore to India over the next 12–18 months—a strategic move to reinforce its local presence.
Biopeak bags $3 million seed investment
Wellness and longevity startup Biopeak has secured US$3 million in a seed round. The investment was led by Claypond Capital, the family office of Ranjan Pai (Manipal Group), along with Prashanth Prakash (Founding Partner at Accel India) and Rainmatter, the startup incubator backed by Zerodha. The funds will be used to expand Biopeak’s R&D in longevity science and scale its proprietary wellness offerings focused on healthspan optimisation.
Kosmc AI lands pre‑seed funding
Social-commerce infrastructure startup Kosmc AI has raised an undisclosed amount in a pre‑seed round, according to Entrackr. The investment will aid in building its platform to support social selling. (User-supplied link; details were not available via independent sources.)
Insight
Decentro’s strategic shift highlights fintech companies’ push for local regulations and market depth in India.
Biopeak’s funding shows growing interest in longevity and wellness, attracting both corporate and venture capital.
Kosmc AI’s pre-seed reflects ongoing investment in infrastructure for India’s vibrant social commerce ecosystem.
Uncertainty surrounds the fate of a Japanese private lunar lander that lost communication on 6 June while descending to the moon.
The lander, dubbed Resilience, successfully left lunar orbit, according to Tokyo-based iSpace, but communication was lost during the hour-long descent phase. At crucial points, the company’s broadcast abruptly ended.
As Mission Control worked to reconnect, a commentator in Japanese stated that there was still no confirmation of the landing. According to a Japanese media report, one of the commentators stated in Japanese, “We haven’t been able to confirm,” and that Mission Control “will continuously attempt to communicate with the lander.”
After an unsuccessful trip two years prior, this was iSpace’s second attempt to land on the moon. As a tribute to their tenacity, the firm had given this new craft the name Resilience.
The lander carried a miniature red house made by a Swedish artist and a small rover intended to gather lunar material. Since 2019, private companies have joined government space agencies to explore the moon, with varying degrees of success.
Launched from Florida in January, Resilience travelled on Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost, the first private craft to land on the moon safely earlier this year, before reaching lunar orbit.
ispace’s Lander Targeted Mare Frigoris
Mare Frigoris (Sea of Cold), a crater-rich area with ancient lava flows on the moon’s northern near side, was the objective of iSpace’s lander. It was anticipated that the 2.3-metre-tall Resilience would deploy its rover over the weekend and start sending pictures soon after landing.
Tenacious, a five-kilogram rover manufactured in Europe, was made of plastic reinforced with carbon fibre. It had a shovel that NASA had commissioned and a high-definition camera. With a targeted range of up to one kilometre over a two-week operating window, the rover was intended to remain close to the lander while travelling at a modest pace of centimetres per second.
The Moonhouse, a little red residence designed by Swedish artist Mikael Genberg and intended for installation on the lunar surface, was also transported by the rover as a symbolic act. Takeshi Hakamada, CEO of iSpace, described the expedition as a first step towards next endeavours, including the development of a larger lander in collaboration with NASA for a planned trip in 2027.
Hakamada had stated his faith in the lessons learnt from the first failed mission before the landing attempt. In a statement, CFO Jumpei Nozaki reaffirmed the company’s commitment to lunar exploration “regardless of outcomes”.
However, Jeremy Fix, chief engineer of ispace’s US division, admitted the financial realities at a recent space industry conference, stating that the organisation “cannot sustain repeated failures”. Although the new mission’s cost was not made public, it was said to be less than their first, which cost more than $100 million.
Other Private Firms Pushing their Moon Mission
There are other private companies that are still striving for success. Astrobotic Technology and Blue Origin are preparing missions for the year-end. After failing to reach the moon in 2024, Astrobotic returned to Earth’s atmosphere.
Only five countries have accomplished robotic moon landings to date: the US, China, India, Japan, and Russia. With 12 NASA astronauts stepping on the moon between 1969 and 1972, the US is the only country to have landed humans.
Next year, NASA plans to send humans back into lunar orbit and use SpaceX’s Starship to make a commanded landing. Additionally, by 2030, China intends to send humans to the moon.
When we think of multinational corporations (MNCs), names like Google, Apple, or Nestlé often come to mind. But India, known for its strong business culture, has also created successful global companies, started in India, grown in India, and now operates globally.
These MNCs founded in India are not just surviving globally; they are leading, innovating, and influencing change on a massive scale. From technology and car manufacturing to medicines and banking, Indian companies are changing how the world works.
This article highlights the top Indian-founded MNCs that have made a massive impact worldwide while staying true to their Indian roots.
List of Top MNCs Founded in India
India is home to some of the world’s most influential multinational corporations that started from scratch and grew into global giants. These companies showcase India’s entrepreneurial spirit and its rising influence on the global economic stage. The following is a list of the top 10 multinational companies founded in India and now operating worldwide:
Tata Group is synonymous with Indian pride. A conglomerate with over 100 companies, Tata operates in automobiles (Tata Motors, Jaguar Land Rover), IT (TCS), hospitality (Taj Hotels), steel, telecom, chemicals, and more.
TCS is among the top global IT service firms.
Tata Motors owns Jaguar Land Rover, headquartered in the UK.
A legacy-driven empire, Aditya Birla Group is one of the largest conglomerates in India with operations in metals, cement, textiles, carbon black, telecom, and financial services.
Present across North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia, and Africa.
Hindalco, UltraTech Cement, and Aditya Birla Capital are major arms.
Employs over 187,000 people globally.
Infosys
Founders
N.R. Narayana Murthy & Team
Founded
1981
Headquarters
Bengaluru, Karnataka
Global Presence
50+ countries
Annual Revenue
19.3 billion U.S. dollars
Infosys is often hailed as the flagbearer of India’s IT revolution. It is among the most prominent Indian IT multinational companies.Starting in a small room in Pune with just seven engineers, Infosys rapidly transformed into a global powerhouse, providing cutting-edge technology solutions, IT consulting, and business process outsourcing to Fortune 500 companies worldwide.
Offers services in cloud computing, AI, machine learning, blockchain, and digital transformation.
Employs over 300,000 skilled professionals globally.
Serves clients across banking, retail, manufacturing, and healthcare sectors.
Pioneer in ethical corporate governance and sustainability practices.
Major presence in North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia
Wipro is a stellar example of business transformation. Originally launched as a manufacturer of vegetable oil in 1945, it operated under the name “Western India Palm Refined Oils.” Over the decades, Wipro evolved into a global IT solutions and consulting powerhouse, thanks to the visionary leadership of Azim Premji, who redirected the company toward technology in the 1980s.
Provides cloud infrastructure, cybersecurity, digital transformation, and consulting services.
Acquired UK-based Capco to expand financial services consulting.
Works with several Fortune Global 1000 companies worldwide.
Strong focus on diversity, sustainability, and innovation.
Larsen & Toubro (L&T)
Founders
H.L. Larsen & S.K. Toubro
Founded
1938
Headquarters
Mumbai, Maharashtra
Global Presence
30+ countries
Annual Revenue
INR 2 Lakh Crore (FY 2024)
L&T is India’s largest engineering and infrastructure conglomerate with a diversified global presence. The company operates across key sectors such as construction, heavy engineering, defense, power, IT services, and financial services.
It operates in over 50 countries worldwide
Known for quality, innovation, and sustainability in engineering projects.
HCLTech
Founder
Shiv Nadar
Founded
1976
Headquarters
Noida, Uttar Pradesh
Global Presence
60+ countries
Annual Revenue
$13.3 billion (FY 2024)
HCLTech is a global leader in IT services and digital innovation. It delivers cutting-edge solutions in cloud computing, cybersecurity, AI, and enterprise IT.
It has acquired companies such as Actian and Volvo’s IT arm to expand its capabilities.
Works with several Fortune 500 companies across industries.
Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL)
Founded
1933 (as Lever Brothers India Limited)
Headquarters
Mumbai, Maharashtra
Global Presence
Operations in 20+ countries through parent Unilever
Annual Revenue
INR 614 billion (FY 2024)
HUL is India’s largest fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) company, offering a wide range of products in home care, personal care, and food & beverages. While it’s a subsidiary of the global giant Unilever, HUL operates with a high degree of autonomy and is considered an Indian MNC in its own right due to its massive scale, R&D, and export operations out of India.
Manages a portfolio of 50+ iconic brands like Surf Excel, Dove, Lifebuoy, Lux, and Horlicks.
Employs over 10,000 people directly and supports thousands more through its ecosystem.
Strong focus on sustainability, with brands like Love Beauty & Planet and water-saving initiatives.
Products are exported to markets in Southeast Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.
Operates multiple R&D centers and manufacturing units across India.
M&M (Mahindra & Mahindra) is a leading Indian multinational in the automotive and farm equipment sectors. Known for its rugged SUVs and tractors, it has a strong global presence across over 100 countries.
Operates in the US, Europe, Africa, and Southeast Asia.
Subsidiaries include SsangYong (Korea) and Automobili Pininfarina (Italy).
Bharat Forge
Founder
Babasaheb Neelkanth Kalyani
Founded
1961
Headquarters
Pune, Maharashtra
Global Presence
50+ countries
Annual Revenue
INR 89.7 billion (FY 2024)
Bharat Forge is a world leader in precision forging and engineering components. Headquartered in Pune, it is a flagship company of the Kalyani Group and serves diverse sectors including automotive, aerospace, oil & gas, power, and defense.
Partners with global defense and space technology firms.
Known for high-precision manufacturing and innovation.
Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories
Founder
Dr. K. Anji Reddy
Founded
1984
Headquarters
Hyderabad, Telangana
Global Presence
42 countries
Annual Revenue
INR 8,506 Crore
Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories is a major player in the global pharmaceutical industry, known for its generic medicines, active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), and biotechnology products.
It operates in the US, Europe, Russia, and emerging markets.
Focuses on affordable healthcare with extensive R&D and manufacturing in India.
Supplies to major hospitals and health systems worldwide.
Tech Mahindra
Founded
1986
Part of
Mahindra Group
Headquarters
Pune, Maharashtra
Global Presence
90+ countries
Annual Revenue
$2.6 billion (FY 2024)
Tech Mahindra is a key player in IT services and digital transformation, offering cutting-edge solutions in AI, cloud, 5G, cybersecurity, and enterprise automation.
Provides software development, cloud solutions, enterprise mobility, and telecom services.
Serves top global telecom players and Fortune 500 clients.
Delivery centers in the US, UK, Philippines, and Germany.
In India, multinational corporations are not just local success stories but global powerhouses reshaping industries, setting innovation benchmarks, and putting India firmly in the world spotlight.
What unites them is not just their Indian origin, but their world-class ambition, ethical foundations, and relentless pursuit of growth through innovation. In an era when India continues to rise as a global economic force, MNCs will remain at the forefront, expanding India’s influence, creating millions of jobs, and building innovations for a better, smarter future.
Multinational corporations (MNCs) are companies that operate in multiple countries beyond their home country, managing production or delivering services on a global scale.
What are some multinational companies (MNCs) founded in India?
Some multinational companies (MNCs) founded in India are:
Tata Group
Aditya Birla Group
Infosys
Wipro
Larsen & Toubro (L&T)
HCLTech
Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL)
Mahindra & Mahindra
Bharat Forge
Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories
Tech Mahindra
How are the top MNCs in India determined?
The ranking of top MNCs in India is usually based on various factors, including revenue, market share, brand reputation, growth rate, and social impact.
In the Indian legal education space that often favours the privileged few, LawBhoomi is reshaping access by reaching over 5 lakh Indian law students with trusted opportunities, practical learning tools, and affordable resources, no matter where they study.
As one of the top 10 most visited legal websites in India, LawBhoomi is a career companion for law students across metros, small towns, and regional colleges. Be it Delhi, Bhopal, Imphal, Ranchi, or Coimbatore, students now rely on LawBhoomi for equal access to verified internships, free resources, and practical courses.
LawBhoomi’s growing value lies in breaking barriers traditionally faced by students in and outside elite campuses:
Verified Internships and Jobs: LawBhoomi lists thousands of genuine opportunities (including internships at law firms, litigation chambers, research centres, and NGOs), bridging the gap for students who lack personal networks.
Free Legal Notes and Judgement Summaries: Designed in an easy-to-understand format, these expert-made notes support thousands of students from differentlaw colleges, especially where access to books, databases, or coaching is limited.
Practical Online Courses: Thousands of students have purchased LawBhoomi’s affordable, practical legal courses, including legal drafting (civil/criminal), CV building, corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, criminal litigation, RERA, media and entertainment law, insolvency, contract drafting and career-building guides starting at prices that most students can actually afford.
Career Guidance and Peer-Led Stories: LawBhoomi shares student journeys, interview experiences, and real-world career tips to show what’s possible, helping even first-gen law students build clarity and confidence.
Aishwarya Agrawal, Co-founder of LawBhoomi, shared her thoughts on the milestone:
“Our mission has always been simple—to ensure that no student is left behind because of where they come from, which college they study in, or what resources they can afford. Everyone deserves access to the same legal opportunities. That’s what LawBhoomi is here for.”
Legal education in India is often unequal. Top law school students get better internship calls, coaching options, and alumni networks, while thousands of students in tier-2/3 law colleges struggle to even find authentic application links.
LawBhoomi helps level this imbalance by creating an equal playing field for students. By listing internships from verified sources, sharing free case briefs, and offering low-cost upskilling, the platform has already helped millions of students take control of their careers.
LawBhoomi’s reach isn’t just limited to India anymore. With the recent launch of:
Consult Legally: for simplified U.S. legal content
eLawDaily: for UK law updates and insights
The platform is expanding its vision to support Indian students as well as global learners exploring international legal systems.
For more information about LawBhoomi, visit lawbhoomi.com