Info Edge (India) Ltd., the business that runs the job portal Naukri.com, has received approval from its shareholders to spend up to INR 1,000 crore in its third venture fund.
The investment would strengthen the Noida-based company’s plan to boost its position in India’s expanding venture capital ecosystem by allowing it to support more early-stage entrepreneurs.
In a stock exchange filing on May 24, Info Edge stated that, in relation to the aforementioned, the company hereby notifies its members that, via the remote e-voting postal ballot process outlined in the Postal Ballot Notice, the members have approved the aforementioned resolution with the requisite majority.
The approval is considered to have been received on the last date the company specified for remote e-voting, which is May 24, 2025.
Smartweb to Serve as Investment Manager and Sponsor
1,271 legitimate votes were taken into consideration out of the 1,274 members who participated in the voting. The fund’s sponsor and investment manager will be Smartweb Internet Services Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Info Edge.
Co-founder Sanjeev Bikhchandani posted on X (previously Twitter) that the proposition had received 99.9995% of the vote. Bikhchandani announced that the Info Edge shareholders’ postal ballot results were in.
With 99.9995% of the voting in favour, the plan to invest up to INR 1,000 crores in Info Edge Ventures Fund 3 was authorised. He continued by thanking the shareholders for their confidence in the firm’s ability to make investments.
Info Edge’s Investment Network
The next fund from Info Edge’s venture funds, which collaborate with Temasek, Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund, is anticipated to exceed INR 2,000 crore ($230 million). The most noteworthy investment made by Info Edge was in Zomato, where it paid about INR 4.7 crore to purchase a share.
At the time of Zomato’s 2021 IPO, Info Edge owned about 18.6% of the company’s shares, having made numerous rounds of investments over the years. One of the most profitable startup investments in Indian venture history, Info Edge made approximately INR 3,000 crore from the equity sale during the public offering.
Info Edge has provided funding to a number of high-growth firms in addition to Zomato, such as Policybazaar, ShopKirana, Gramophone, DotPe, Adda247, NoBroker, and Univariety. Over INR 2,000 crore ($250 million) has been invested in a number of startups by it, frequently acquiring minority shares while using its operational know-how to assist portfolio companies.
A name associated with turning the digital face of the job market is Sanjeev Bikhchandani. His venture Info Edge happens to be the owning company for Naukri.com, and in turn, an idea turned out in a billion-dollar enterprise. He had a background of a middle-class family and he has built his path from being a simple marketing executive to a famous entrepreneur by clearly showing his ordinate strength of vision and strong will.
This was about the successful incorporation of Zomato and PolicyBazaar and his own dedication and passion for the future. In this StartupTalky article, we will explore Sanjeev Bikhchandani’s success story, including his early life, history, net worth, childhood, personal life, education, investments, achievements, and more.
Sanjeev Bikhchandani – Biography
Full Name
Sanjeev Bikhchandani
Born
29 June 1963
Birthplace
Delhi, India
Education
St. Columba’s School, Delhi BA (Hons) Economics, St. Stephen’s College PGDM, IIM Ahmedabad
Height
178 cm (5’10”)
Profession
Founder of Info Edge (India)
Wife
Surabhi Bikhchandani (Businesswoman)
Children
2
Net Worth
INR 18,856 crore
Notable Awards
Padma Shri (2020)
Family Background
Father: Doctor (Government Service) Mother: Homemaker Brother: Professor at UCLA (PhD from Stanford)
Sanjeev Bikhchandani’s early life and education are a story of resilience and ambition and a singular vision of the future. He was born into a middle-class family in New Delhi and grew up with the values of hard work and perseverance instilled by his parents, who were professionals in the medical and engineering fields. The family expected Sanjeev to follow in his elder brother’s footsteps to IIT Kanpur and into medicine or engineering. But the biggest problem arose when he was diagnosed with color blindness, and it effectively closed the door on those career options.
However, this setback did not hold Sanjeev back academically. He graduated in Economics from St. Stephen’s College, Delhi University in 1984. This is an academic institution that is very rigorous. It has had many distinguished alumni. At St. Stephen’s, he not only learned important stuff in economics but also got used to thinking analytically.
Sanjeev completed his undergraduate studies and then went to the IIM Ahmedabad for his MBA in 1989. This was a very important period in shaping his entrepreneurial aspirations. As a campus volunteer for IIM Ahmedabad, he saw fierce competition among major companies for top talent. But this experience awakened an entrepreneurial spark for the first time since he had not realized that companies were so keen on recruiting skilled graduates.
Sanjeev was a natural innovator, so he opted out of traditional campus placements. Instead, he would go out and approach companies to get interviews and land a marketing job at GlaxoSmithKline (Hindustan Milkfood Manufacturers) on the Horlicks brand. He had been given invaluable industry experience and a view into marketing dynamics that this role had given him. With a big salary and benefits, Sanjeev felt unfulfilled and restless and resigned after 18 months to follow his entrepreneurial dreams.
In 1995, he founded Info Edge, which began with salary surveys and reports that offered clues into compensation trends for MBA and engineering graduates. This was the groundwork for what would become a major player in the Indian job market. But the initial period was difficult; there was financial instability and often he had to supplement his income by giving tuition, in addition to what his wife was earning.
It was in October 1996 that Sanjeev attended an IT Expo in Delhi, which introduced him to the World Wide Web for the first time. He was inspired by a Yahoo demonstration and saw the possibility of putting together an online job portal that would collect job listings, a very novel concept in India at the time. This vision became a reality in April 1997 with the launch of Naukri.com, which has a database of less than 1,000 job advertisements from various magazines.
Naukri.com quickly took off because of its novel pricing policy—charging companies INR 350 for a job listing versus INR 3,500 that traditional newspapers charged. Employers and job seekers alike felt a resonance with this competitive edge, and traffic and listings grew exponentially. Naukri.com became the first dot com company to list on Indian stock exchanges in a decade and has set itself up as one of the top job portals in India.
Sanjeev is married to Surabhi Bikhchandani, who is also an IIM Ahmedabad alumni. During the first phase of Sanjeev’s entrepreneurial journey, he was trying to build Naukri.com, and Surabhi was taking care of household expenses with a job at Nestlé. It was critical support as Sanjeev leaped at a safe corporate career to the vagaries of entrepreneurship.
They have worked together to build a successful business and raise a family.
Sanjeev Bikhchandani – Journey So Far
Info Edge and the Companies
Info Edge was a struggle that took seven years to get off the ground. It included a bunch of small initiatives like training and report writing. It was in 1997, with a simple observation of how his colleagues behaved around job listings, that Naukri.com came to be a breakthrough. Bikhchandani started Info Edge from a servant’s quarter with INR 2,000 capital and grew it into a digital conglomerate worth more than $9 billion with 4,500 employees.
The company added 99acres.com, Jeevansathi.com, and Shiksha.com to its portfolio. He was a businessman who invested in unicorns like Zomato and PolicyBazaar.
Bikhchandani is different because he is frugal and focuses on solving real customer problems. Info Edge’s sustainable growth strategy has been built on his philosophy of valuing customer money over investor money. Below is the timeline of Sanjeev Bikhchandani’s life:
1995: Bikhchandani founded Info Edge in 1995 and the company is headquartered in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India. Through Info Edge, he established many website businesses like Naukri.com, 99Acres.com, Jeevansathi.com, and Shiksha.com. India’s internet industry celebrated a milestone when Info Edge’s IPO in 2006 was successful. The company went public with the name Naukri. This is because more than 70% of the company’s revenue comes from the job portal Naukri.com. In 2020, the company established a venture capital fund, Info Edge Venture Fund to invest in online startup companies.
1997: Bikhchandani founded an Indian employment website, Naukri.com in 1997. He set up the job portal on a server in the United States. It was a website business that helped its users to search online for job opportunities in India. He later established Quadrangle, which is an offline executive search business. Eventually, Naukri.com became India’s largest web-based employment site in 2005.
2004: Bikhchandani founded an online matrimonial portal, Jeevansathi.com. The company uses acustomer-to-customer (C2C) business model. Jeevansathi offline centers were also set up with matchmaking services. The first offline center was launched in Mumbai in 2008. Jeevansathi.com grossed profits for the first time in the first quarter of 2016-2017 and earned INR 65 lakhs before interests and taxes.
2008: Bikhchandani launched the online education site, Shiksha.com in May 2008. It helps its users to select the right college through the comprehensive details of several universities. It provides courses and college selection easy for students willing to pursue undergraduate and post-graduate courses in India as well as abroad. Shiksha.com eventually became the most visited study-abroad website in India with 20 million users every year.
2005: Bikhchandani launched another portal for the real estate database website, 99Acres.com in 2005. It helps users to browse and search for properties through mobile. The company has invested INR 3 crore in Zippserv, a real estate risk assessment company.
2006: Sanjeev founded Naukrigulf.com in 2006 to connect recruiters and job seekers and is headquartered in Dubai. It is the fastest-growing job site in the Gulf. The company has a robust presence across the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, and Kuwait.
2020: Sanjeev was awarded the Padma Shri for his contributions.
Info Edge shareholders have reaped rich returns from his early investments in Policybazaar and Zomato. Below is a detailed table showcasing all the investments made by Info Edge to date:
Announced Date
Organization Name
Nov 17, 2019
Burger Singh
Jun 1, 2018
Slurrp Farm
Aug 10, 2015
Wow! Momo
Apr 4, 2023
Stealthed
Feb 22, 2022
Shipsy
Jan 26, 2022
Shopkirana
Nov 23, 2021
greytHR
Nov 25, 2020
Shipsy
Dec 21, 2018
NoPaperForms
Nov 18, 2014
Zomato
Sanjeev Bikhchandani – Controversies
The controversy that erupted recently over SN Subrahmanyan, Chairman of L&T, who praised a 90-hour work week and six-day work schedule. While interacting with employees, he apologized for not being able to make them work on Sundays and said a controversial remark, ‘How long can you stare at your wife?’ This sparked a huge spate of criticism and memes on social media and drew reactions from prominent industrialists Anand Mahindra and Harsh Goenka.
Interestingly, entrepreneur Sanjeev Bikhchandani told a different story based on a recent meeting with Subrahmanyan. In a detailed post on X, Bikhchandani called him humble and inquisitive about entrepreneurship and digital transformation. In their hour-long meeting, Bikhchandani suggested to L&T that it invest some of the substantial amounts of cash reserves (approximately ₹50,000 crores) that it has in India’s startup ecosystem.
This has set off a larger debate about work-life balance in corporate India. Subrahmanyan’s business acumen and leadership of L&T are no doubt respected, but his comments about extended work hours and his lack of care for family time are not.
The tension between the imperative of aggressive corporate growth goals and the growing importance of workplace wellness has been a focus of attention.
In 2008, Bikhchandani was awarded the “Ernst and Young – Entrepreneur of the Year” for Business Transformation.
In the same year, Sanjeev also won the Dataquest Pathbreaker Award & the Teacher’s Achievement Award for Business.
In 2011, he was conferred the Distinguished Alumnus award by IIM Ahmedabad.
In 2012, he received the CF Andrews Distinguished Alumnus award from St. Stephen’s College.
The Lakshmipat Singhania – IIM Lucknow National Leadership Award, Young Leader in the Business Category for the year 2012, is for him.
He was one of India’s fifty greatest CEOs ever, as per Outlook Magazine in April 2017.
The Financial Express gave him a Lifetime Achievement Award in IT in 2019.
Chiratae Ventures honored him with the Pride of India Award 2021 for Lifetime Achievement.
Amity University awarded him an honorary doctorate in December 2021.
He recently received the ET Start Up Awards 2021 in the Midas Touch category in January 2022.
Sanjeev received the Padma Shri Award in 2020.
Sanjeev Bikhchandani – Unknown Facts
Color Blindness: In his teens, Bikhchandani discovered he is partially color blind.
Early Business Location: His first venture began from the servant quarters of his father, and he paid INR 800 a month as rent.
International Server Setup: When India didn’t have servers in 1997, Naukri.com’s first server was set up in the US with the help of his brother at UCLA.
Early Team Building: He paid people money, but instead of paying money, he gave equity stakes to early team members, which included his brother for 5%, 7%, and 9%, to two programmer friends who built Naukri.com.
Early Internet Days: When Naukri.com was launched, there were 14,000 average web users in India. When newspapers started covering Internet-based businesses in India, the website became popular.
Side Job: To make ends meet, he worked as a Consulting Editor for The Pioneer’s career supplement ‘Avenues’ while building his business.
Market Dominance: Alexa.com shows that Naukri.com gets about 75 to 80 percent of the online job search traffic in India.
FAQs
Who is Jeevansathi owner?
Jeevansathi is owned by Info Edge (India) Limited, the same company that owns Naukri.com, 99acres, and Shiksha.
Who is Naukri founder?
Sanjeev Bikhchandani is Naukri.com owner. He founded the company in 1997.
Who is Info Edge owner?
Sanjeev Bikhchandani is the founder and owner of Info Edge (India) Limited. He started the company in 1995.
Who is Naukri.com CEO?
Sanjeev Bikhchandani, an Indian businessman, is the founder and executive vice chairman of Info Edge, the company that owns the job portal Naukri.com.
What is Jeevansathi founder net worth?
Sanjeev Bikhchandani net worth is INR 18,856 crore as of January 2025.
What is Sanjeev Bikhchandani education?
Sanjeev Bikhchandani completed his schooling at St. Columba’s School, Delhi, earned a degree in Economics (Honors) from St. Stephen’s College, Delhi University, and pursued an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Ahmedabad.
For a monetary consideration of INR 3 Cr (about $353K), Redstart Labs, a subsidiary of online classified firm Info Edge, plans to purchase an additional investment in Brainsight Technology, increasing its ownership of the Bengaluru-based healthcare startup from 4.68% to 5.27%. The company, which is led by Sanjeev Bikhchandani, stated in an exchange statement that Redstart’s board has given the company permission to purchase 385 mandatory convertible preference shares of Brainsight. Brainsight, a company founded in 2020 by Laina Emmanuel and Rimjhim Agrawal, provides AI-based functional brain mapping technologies. It now sells two products: Snowdrop and Voxelbox. Snowdrop is a patient care app, whereas Voxelbox provides physicians with access to fMRI processing engines and machine learning models for report generation.
Info Edge on Investment Spree
The filing states that, with a startup valuation of INR 3.74 Cr, Brainsight lost INR 4.76 Cr in the fiscal year 2023–24 (FY24). Lately, Info Edge has been making a lot of investments. The online giant announced last month that it would use its wholly owned subsidiary Startup Investments (Holdings) Ltd. to invest INR 4 Cr in LegitQuest, one of its portfolio companies. Before that, Info Edge declared in October that its executive director committee had approved the company’s plan to invest INR 30 Cr in Redstart Labs. One of the oldest internet-based businesses in India, Info Edge was founded in 1995 by Bikhchandani and works in a number of industries, including education (Shiksha), real estate (99acres), marriage (Jeevansathi), and recruitment (Naukri). Its portfolio includes unlisted edtech company Adda247, insurtech upstart PB Fintech, and listed heavyweights like foodtech giant Zomato.
Info Edge’s Financial Dynamics
In the September quarter of the fiscal year 2024–25 (Q2 FY25), Info Edge reported a 64.6% decrease in its net profit to INR 84.73 Cr from INR 239.74 Cr in the same quarter the previous year. However, compared to INR 625.84 Cr in the same period last year, operational revenue climbed by about 12% to INR 700.82 Cr during the reviewed quarter.
BrainSight AI Wining Top Innovator Category 2024
According to the jury of the ET Startup Awards 2024 panel, which selected BrainSight AI as the winner in the Top Innovator category, innovation in the fields of neurology and mental health has the enormous potential to change lives. Although SatSure, a space technology business, was a contender, BrainSight AI won out because of its capacity to decipher complicated MRI scans using artificial intelligence and its potential effects on people.
“You may get an idea of the moonshot ideas that entrepreneurs are pursuing by looking at the Top Innovator category.” Mithun Sacheti, the creator of Caratlane and a jury member, further said, “It gives you the impression that the world will be a better place.” The firm found it difficult to persuade hospitals to allow it to test its idea and to explain the software’s potential benefits to leading neurologists in the nation during a time when the whole health sector was preoccupied with combating the pandemic.
Info Edge (India) Limited is a pioneering Indian technology company renowned for its diverse portfolio of online businesses and strategic investments.
Its flagship platform, Naukri.com, is one of India’s largest online job portals, complemented by other innovative platforms like 99acres.com for real estate classifieds, Jeevansathi.com for matrimonial services, and Shiksha.com, an education-focused portal. Info Edge’s operational excellence is amplified by its strategic approach to digital advertising, subscription-based services, and premium offerings tailored to meet the evolving needs of users and businesses alike.
Beyond its core platforms, Info Edge has a robust track record of identifying and nurturing high-growth ventures and the company has made notable investments in transformative startups, demonstrating a sharp eye for innovation and long-term value creation.
In this Startuptalky, we will learn more about Info Edge’s success story, its founders, business model, innovative revenue model, growth, challenges, investments, strategic partnerships, and more.
Info Edge, a trailblazer in India’s consumer internet space, has been shaping the online classifieds market for nearly three decades. Established on May 1, 1995, as Info Edge (India) Private Limited, it transitioned into a public limited entity on April 27, 2006. The journey began with Naukri.com, India’s first online recruitment portal and since then, the company has carved a remarkable path, expanding into diverse sectors like matrimony, real estate, education, and more.
What sets Info Edge apart is its culture of innovation and entrepreneurship, backed by a seasoned leadership team and a sharp focus on leveraging technology. With a footprint spanning 62 offices across 43 Indian cities and a workforce of over 4,000 professionals, the company thrives on creating cutting-edge products and solutions. From integrating mobile-first strategies to harnessing the power of social media, Info Edge remains at the forefront of digital transformation.
The company’s reach isn’t limited to India. Through NaukriGulf.com, Info Edge has ventured into international markets, establishing a presence in key Gulf regions with offices in Dubai, Bahrain, Riyadh, and Abu Dhabi. Whether driving recruitment, enabling property searches, or facilitating lifelong partnerships, Info Edge continues to redefine how online platforms serve users, setting the standard for excellence in the industry.
Info Edge – Industry
India’s real estate sector is a powerhouse, ranking second globally in generating employment and significantly contributing to the nation’s GDP. Currently accounting for around 5% of the GDP, this industry is projected to soar to a staggering $1 trillion by 2030. By 2025, its share in the GDP is expected to rise to an impressive 13%, underscoring its critical role in the country’s economic landscape.
The growth trajectory of Indian real estate has been remarkable, with the sector expanding at an annual rate of approximately 30%. This upward momentum is fueled by the booming outsourcing industry, which encompasses technical consultancy, medical transcription, and call centers. These sectors alone have driven the demand for an additional 10 million square feet of real estate, further propelling the industry’s expansion.
Info Edge – Founders and Team
Sanjeev Bikhchandani
Sanjiv Bikhchandani – Founder and Executive Vice Chairman, Info Edge
Sanjiv Bikhchandani is the Founder and Executive Vice Chairman of Info Edge.
Sanjeev’s journey began in Delhi, where he graduated from St. Columba’s School in 1981. He pursued a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from St. Stephen’s College, Delhi, in 1984, followed by an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Ahmedabad in 1989. His entrepreneurial spirit led him to leave a marketing role at Hindustan Milkfood Manufacturers (now GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare India) in 1990 to embark on his ventures.
Initially venturing into pharmaceutical trademarks and salary surveys, Sanjeev founded Info Edge in 1995. Two years later, he launched Naukri.com, a pioneering jobs portal hosted on an Indian server. The platform quickly gained traction and by 2005, it was India’s largest web-based employment site. Info Edge expanded its portfolio with platforms like 99acres.com (real estate), Jeevansathi.com (matrimony) and Shiksha.com (education).
Beyond his success with Info Edge, Sanjeev is an accomplished investor, backing unicorns like PolicyBazaar and Zomato. He also supports budding innovators as part of the ‘Vision Circle’ of FYI (Foundation for Young Innovators), a unique initiative encouraging high school students to develop social enterprises.
Hitesh Oberoi is the Managing Director and CEO of the company.
Hitesh Oberoi, an accomplished leader in the internet industry, serves as the Co-Promoter, Managing Director, and CEO of Info Edge, the company behind iconic platforms like Naukri.com, 99acres.com, and Jeevansathi.com. With nearly two decades of experience in the internet space, Hitesh has been instrumental in shaping India’s digital ecosystem.
Before joining Info Edge, Hitesh spent almost four years at Hindustan Unilever Limited, where he worked as Regional Planning and Distribution Manager for the Ice Cream Division. His strong academic foundation includes a B.Tech from IIT Delhi (1994 batch) and an MBA from IIM Bangalore.
Hitesh’s contributions extend beyond business operations. He is a charter member of TiE (New Delhi) and has previously served as Chairman of the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI). He is also a founding member of the Board of Trustees at Ashoka University, further reflecting his commitment to fostering education and innovation.
Info Edge – Startup Story
Info Edge was founded by Sanjeev Bikhchandani in 1995, initially by reproducing classified ads from newspapers on its website. Together with Hitesh Oberoi and their CFO, Ambarish Raghuvanshi, Sanjeev built Info Edge into a dotcom enterprise that, by 2008, employed 1,500 people, generated revenues of INR 273 crores and boasted a market capitalization of INR 2,100 crores. Info Edge’s flagship platforms include Naukri.com, Jeevansathi.com, Brijj.com, 99acres.com, and Shiksha.com.
Reflecting on the early days, Sanjeev recounted the challenges, including the difficulty of securing an INR 30,000 bank limit in 1991. At the time, Naukri was a small operation and he realized the need for like-minded individuals and a fundamentally different business model. That’s when Hitesh joined the journey.
Hitesh, then working at Hindustan Unilever, considered an offer to join a new venture started by Pradeep Kar of Microland. However, after consulting with Sanjeev, who suggested he consider joining Naukri instead, Hitesh decided to take the leap. He set up operations from Sanjeev’s home and took charge of marketing. Drawing from his commercial experience, Hitesh hired a few sales representatives who sold annual subscriptions for INR 6,000. By investing INR 20,000 per salesperson, including office costs, they were able to generate INR 50,000 in revenue per hire. Realizing the profitability of this model, the team continued scaling the salesforce, which eventually became a cornerstone of the company’s growth. Today, Naukri.com is responsible for one in three lateral hires in corporate India.
Ambarish Raghuvanshi, who became the third pillar of Info Edge, joined after Sanjeev persuaded him to consider the company’s headhunting division. At the time, Ambarish had taken voluntary retirement from Bank of America and was exploring new opportunities. Sanjeev convinced him to lead the financial services practice within the headhunting division and later invited him to take on the role of CFO—a position Ambarish accepted, bringing fiscal discipline that gained recognition in the stock market.
Sanjeev described his decision to bring Hitesh on board as pivotal, recognizing his energy, ambition, and willingness to leave a stable corporate job to join a startup. These qualities reminded Sanjeev of himself a decade earlier. He emphasized that the team’s hiring philosophy evolved, prioritizing values such as teamwork, competence, humility, and an entrepreneurial spirit while steering clear of self-promoters and those unwilling to share credit.
Under Sanjeev’s leadership, Info Edge launched Naukri.com in 1997 with support from family and friends, followed by Jeevansathi.com in 1998, 99acres.com in 2005, and Shiksha.com in 2008. The company went public in 2006 under the ticker symbol “Naukri” and expanded its reach with ventures like NaukriGulf.com in 2006 and FirstNaukri.com in 2009 for campus recruitment.
Info Edge – Mission and Vision
Vision Info Edge envisions creating world-class platforms that transform lives, empowering individuals and organizations through innovative and impactful solutions.
Mission Info Edge strives to continuously delight its customers in both current and new businesses by delivering superior value through enhanced offerings on the internet and other platforms.
Info Edge – Name, Tagline and Logo
Info Edge Logo
The sleek and modern design of Info Edge’s logo mirrors its forward-thinking approach and innovative spirit. Its carefully chosen color palette conveys trust, stability, and dynamism—qualities integral to the company’s identity. Each element of the logo is thoughtfully crafted to resonate with their core values: customer delight, entrepreneurship, knowledge, results, and trust.
Info Edge Tagline: The tagline “Transform Lives” reflects Info Edge’s unwavering commitment to making a meaningful impact. Through platforms like Naukri.com, Jeevansathi.com, and 99acres.com, they connect job seekers with opportunities, help families find compatible matches, and assist in real estate transactions. These endeavors empower users and foster positive transformations in their lives.
Info Edge – Business Model
Info Edge is a leader in the recruitment sector with platforms such as:
Naukri.com: A premier employment website catering to job seekers and recruiters.
Naukrigulf.com: A job portal tailored to the Middle East market.
Quadrangle: An offline executive search service connecting top talent with organizations.
FirstNaukri.com: A dedicated platform for fresher hiring, bridging the gap between employers and new graduates.
The company has extended its expertise into real estate, education, and matrimony through:
99acres.com: A comprehensive real estate classifieds platform for buying, selling, and renting properties.
Shiksha.com: An educational portal aiding students in making informed decisions about courses and institutions.
Jeevansathi.com: An online matrimonial service facilitating meaningful connections.
Info Edge has made strategic investments in numerous successful online ventures, including:
Zomato: A leading food delivery and restaurant discovery platform.
Policybazaar: An innovative insurance aggregation and comparison service.
Shopkirana, Shipsy, Gramophone, and Adda247, among others, expanding their footprint in diverse digital domains.
Info Edge – Revenue Model
Info Edge is an Indian technology powerhouse with a diversified revenue model built on multiple streams that capitalize on its robust online platforms and strategic investments.
Info Edge Revenue Breakdown
Advertising Info Edge leverages display ads, sponsored listings, and banner advertisements across its websites, such as Naukri.com and 99acres.com, to generate substantial revenue from advertisers seeking to reach its vast user base.
Subscription Fees These features, offered on platforms like Naukri.com and 99acres.com, include premium search tools, analytics, and targeted user engagement functionalities.
Premium Services These include profile boosters for job seekers and premium matchmaking services on Jeevansathi.com.
Strategic Investments Info Edge’s forward-looking investment strategy involves holding minority stakes in successful ventures like Zomato and PolicyBazaar.
Info Edge – Challenges Faced
Writing Off Investments Info Edge recently wrote off an investment of INR 276 crore in 4B Networks. This decision was driven by concerns over the company’s sustainability, high cash burn rate, and difficulties in raising capital, reflecting the challenges of managing portfolio investments in dynamic markets.
Slowdown in IT Hiring As the operator of Naukri.com, Info Edge has been affected by reduced hiring activity in the IT sector. This slowdown is attributed to softer demand within the IT industry, impacting one of the company’s core revenue streams.
Evolving Consumer Preferences Meeting the rapidly changing preferences of users has been a persistent challenge. Info Edge has had to focus on creating products that are device-agnostic and adaptive to modern consumer behavior, which requires continuous innovation and agility.
Quarterly Financial Performance Info Edge has encountered challenges in its quarterly financial results, including a decline in profit and earnings per share (EPS). This underscores the difficulty of balancing growth with operational efficiency in fluctuating economic conditions.
Info Edge has made investments in the following companies:
Date
Name
Funding Round
Money Raised
November 7, 2024
Nexstem
Seed Round
$3.5 million
August 30, 2024
Clean Electric
Series A
Rs. 48.5 crore
July 27, 2024
Gnani.ai
Series A
Rs. 30 crore
May 16, 2024
Gramophone
Venture Round
Rs. 15 crore
October 1, 2023
RayloT Solutions Inc.
Seed Round
$400K
September 4, 2023
Sploot
Seed Round
$800K
July 10, 2023
BrainSightAI
Venture Round
Rs. 99 lakhs
April 4, 2023
Stealthed
Pre Seed Round
Rs. 5 crore
January 24, 2023
Gramophone
Corporate Round
Rs. 9.31 crore
October 1, 2022
Adda247
Series B
Rs. 280 crore
Info Edge – Acquisitions and Mergers
Info Edge has acquired the following companies:
Acquiree Name
Date
Price
Coding Ninjas
Oct 6,2022
Rs. 140 crore
Aisle
Jan 24, 2022
Rs. 150 crore
DoSelect
July 6,2021
Rs. 21 crore
Zwayam
Jun 14, 2021
Rs. 61 crore
iimjobs.com
May 28,2019
Rs. 91 crore
Ambition Box
Apr 13, 2017
–
Info Edge – Growth
Info Edge Financials
2023
2024
Operating Revenue
INR 2345 crore
INR 2536 crore
Total Expenses
INR 1858 crore
INR 1830 crore
Profit/Loss
INR -70 crore
INR 594 crore
In FY23, Info Edge reported an operating revenue of INR 2,345 crore, which grew by 8.2% to INR 2,536 crore in FY24. Total expenses decreased slightly from INR 1,858 crore in FY23 to INR 1,830 crore in FY24, a 1.5% drop. The company moved from a loss of INR 70 crore in FY23 to a profit of INR 594 crore in FY24, showing significant financial improvement.
Info Edge Financials FY24
Info Edge – Advertisements and Social Media Campaigns
Advertising and Marketing Strategies:
CTV Advertising and Live Sports Marketing: Info Edge used CTV advertising and live sports marketing for its brand 99acres.com, targeting a male audience interested in buying or renting homes.
Co-branded Vignettes: For Naukri.com, Info Edge partnered with CreativeWorks to create a co-branded vignette for the Hotstar Special Ghar Waapsi.
Revenue Streams:
Display Ads, Sponsored Listings, and Banners: Info Edge generates revenue from advertising on its platforms, including display ads, sponsored listings, and banners across websites like Naukri.com and 99acres.com.
Subscription Fees: Info Edge collects subscription fees from employers and real estate agents who pay for advanced features and tools on Naukri.com and 99acres.com.
Premium Services: Info Edge offers premium services such as Naukri FastForward and Jeevansathi eAdvantage, which are available for a fee.
Info Edge – Awards and Achievements
Info Edge has been awarded with the following awards:
World’s Best Workplaces 2024
ICAI Excellence Award 2015
Info Edge – Competitors
Some competitors of Info Edge (India) Ltd include:
Just Dial Ltd
Matrimony.com Ltd
IntraSoft Technologies Limited
Jupiter Infomedia Limited
PB Fintech Ltd
Affle (India) Ltd
Tanla Platforms Ltd
Info Edge – Future Plans
Info Edge (India) is projected to experience robust growth, with earnings expected to grow by 37.6% per annum and revenue increasing by 13.7%-13.8% annually. Additionally, Earnings Per Share (EPS) is forecast to rise by 31.8% per year, with a projected Return on Equity (ROE) of 4.7% over the next three years. This optimistic outlook aligns with the company’s strategic investments and diversified portfolio, including Naukri.com, 99acres, and stakes in Zomato and PolicyBazaar.
Sanjeev Bikhchandani, founder of Info Edge, emphasized that profitability in real estate and a resurgence in IT hiring would be pivotal drivers for this growth trajectory in the next 3-4 years.
Long-Term Investment Strategy
The flagship platforms, Naukri.com and Jeevansathi, are expected to continue expanding, driven by signs of recovery in the IT sector. The job market is showing green shoots of growth, signaling a potential rebound from the slowdown. Info Edge’s strategy of early investments in promising ventures, increasing stakes in successful businesses, and maintaining a patient, long-term approach has been a cornerstone of its success.
FAQs
What is Info Edge?
Info Edge is an India-based company that provides internet-based services through its mobile applications and web portals. Its services include recruitment, real estate, matrimonial, and education.
When was Info Edge founded?
Info Edge was founded by Sanjiv Bikhchandani in 1995.
Rahul Yadav, the founder of its portfolio firm 4B Networks, and others are the targets of a first information report (FIR) filed by online classified company Info Edge, the parent company of the jobs listing portal Naukri, due to allegations of fraudulent actions related to the misappropriation of the money. According to an exchange filing made by Info Edge on November 30, “a formal complaint has been filed by the Bandra Police Station (Mumbai Police) on November 29, 2024, against Yadav, who also co-founded Housing.com, Devesh Singh, Pratik Choudhary, Sanjay Saini (and unnamed others) in connection with 4B Networks (an indirect subsidiary of the company), alleging inter alia the commission of certain fraudulent acts involving 4B Networks’ funds.” Info Edge has promised that the FIR won’t affect its commercial operations, nevertheless. In 2020, Yadav introduced 4B Networks.
Arbitration Proceedings Against 4B Networks
Since early 2021, the Sanjiv Bhikchandani-led Info Edge, which runs the Naukri.com employment portal, among other things, has invested a total of INR 288 crore in 4B Networks through its fully owned subsidiary ALLcheckdeals India in several tranches, holding a roughly 59% ownership.
After 4B Networks refused to give Info Edge the information it said it was contractually required to receive—including details and specifics of financial transactions, related party transactions, and information about operations and management—Info Edge launched a forensic examination last year. The Info Edge claimed at the time that although the startup was growing rapidly, it had chosen to write off the investment in accordance with “principles of conservatism” because of the high capital burn and the general funding climate. Info Edge complained to the Mumbai Police’s Economic Offences Wing (EOW) in October of last year about Yadav’s suspected INR 288 Cr in cheating. Yadav, Chaudhary, Singh, Yadav’s wife Karishma Khokhar, and RY Advisory LLP, the partnership firm founded by the Broker Network founder, are also identified in the EOW complaint as 4B Networks Private Limited.
Info Edge’s Financial Report
In a message to investors, Info Edge revealed that it had lost INR 532 crore overall as a result of writing off its investment in 4B Networks. Before Info Edge had to write down its whole investment, the 4B Networks was valued at INR 719 crore.
One of the oldest internet-based businesses in India, Info Edge was founded in 1995 by Bikhchandani and works in a number of industries, including education (Shiksha), real estate (99acres), marriage (Jeevansathi), and recruitment (Naukri). Its portfolio includes unlisted edtech company Adda247, insurtech upstart PB Fintech, and listed heavyweights like foodtech giant Zomato. In the September quarter of the financial year 2024-25 (Q2 FY25), the company’s net profit dropped 64.6% to INR 84.73 Cr from INR 239.74 Cr in the same quarter the previous year.
An investment of INR 30 crore has been approved by Info Edge (India) for Redstart Labs (India), a fully-owned subsidiary of the business. 3,000,000 Compulsorily Convertible Debentures (CCDs) with a face value of INR 100 each have been agreed to be purchased by the company. Redstart is still the company’s wholly-owned subsidiary after this investment.
Redstart’s business activities include direct or indirect investments in tech companies, software development, consulting, technical support for consumer companies, internet or SAAS providers, and any other services related to product development and information technology.
RedStart Labs Invested INR 1 Crore in BrainSightAI Healthtech Firm
According to a BSE filing, RedStart Labs (India) invested around INR 1 crore in Bengaluru-based health technology business BrainSightAI in 2023. RedStart has a 4% fully converted and diluted interest in BrainSightAI.
Online classifieds, including Naukri.com, the matrimonial site Jeevansathi.com, and the real estate marketplace 99acres.com, are all owned by InfoEdge. BrainSightAI was founded in 2019 and uses artificial intelligence to give neurologists, psychiatrists, and neurosurgeons evidence-based treatment ideas.
About InfoEdge (India)
The business was first established as Info Edge (India) Private Limited on May 1, 1995, in accordance with the Companies Act of 1956. On April 27, 2006, it changed its name to a public limited company. Info Edge began as naukri.com, an online classified recruitment company. Since then, it has expanded and changed its business model quickly, becoming a model for others to follow. Today, it is India’s leading online listing company for recruitment, marriage, real estate, education, and associated services. It is driven by innovation, creativity, a strong culture of entrepreneurship, and a team of skilled and experienced leaders.
In order to capitalise on the thriving and expanding Indian internet industry, the corporation has made investments in start-ups and early-stage businesses, demonstrating its entrepreneurial spirit. The company currently owns shares in the following companies: Rare Media Company Private Limited, Goa-based Mint Bird Technologies Private Limited, Mumbai-based Green Leaves Consumer Services Private Limited, Etechaces Marketing and Consulting Private Limited, Kinobeo Software Private Limited, Canvera Digital Technologies Private Limited, Happily Unmarried Marketing Private Limited, and Zomato Media Private Limited.
Info Edge employs 4,049 people working in innovation, product development, social media and mobile integration, technology and technology updates, research and development, quality assurance, sales, marketing, and payment collection across its network of 62 offices spread across 43 cities in India. With the website www.naukrigulf.com, it has also ventured overseas into the Gulf market. At the moment, it maintains offices in Dubai, Bahrain, Riyadh, and Abu Dhabi.
Gaurav Gupta was the Global Head of the Advertising sales of Zomato and was later promoted to the COO position of the company. After 4 years of exceptional contribution towards his work and leading the launch of a wide range of the services of the business, Gaurav Gupta was again elevated to the rank of the Co-founder of Zomato on March 2, 2019. However, after a brief stint of a little more than 2 years as the Co-founder and COO of Zomato, Gaurav Gupta resigned from the company on September 14, 2021.
Quite intriguing isn’t it?
We know you want to know more about Gaurav Gupta, which is why StartupTalky covers the story of Zomato COO and Co-founder, Gaurav Gupta from his entry into the organization to his resignation.
Gaurav Gupta Biography
Name
Gaurav Gupta
Nickname
GG
Nationality
Indian
Education
Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi
Profession
Sales and Advertising Head, Business Head
Position
Former COO and Co-founder of Zomato
Co-founder
Zomato
Gaurav Gupta Before He Joined Zomato
Little is known about Gaurav Gupta’s life before he joined Zomato, but as per his Linkedin profile and a TOI article, Gaurav worked as a consultant at A.T. Kearney for a decade.
Gaurav joined the organization in 2015 and was the Head of the Supply of Zomato. He was the key person, who led the launch of numerous services that the online food ordering platform currently draws revenue from across a bunch of international markets. Furthermore, Gaurav also launched the table reservation business and was also responsible for scaling it up across India, UAE, and Australia.
Gaurav Gupta not only led the advertising sales of the company globally but also played a significant role in launching Zomato Gold. Gupta played an instrumental role in growing the subscription service of Zomato to one of the fastest-growing of paid membership programs. Furthermore, he had also worked with Zomato’s payments business, registered under Zomato Pay.
Gaurav was then promoted as the COO of the company and thereby, acted as the head of the operations team.
Gaurav Gupta eventually moved from the COO role to lead Zomato’s nutrition business. On this Gaurav mentioned via an email saying, “I was anyway not doing this role, and it will be great for all of us if we find someone better than me to do this role,” wrote Gupta.
Gaurav Gupta Promoted as the COO of Zomato
In January 2018, at a time when Zomato was seeing a key shuffle in top management roles, he was elevated from his earlier role of the global head for advertising sales to the COO. As the COO, he was given charge of critical operations including content and new initiatives such as their cloud kitchen module, Zomato Infrastructure Services along with sourcing and reviews on the platform.
Gaurav Gupta as the Co-founder of the Company
In a move that Zomato’s Co-Founder and CEO Deepinder Goyal stated as ‘empowerment for the right person’, the company’s 38-year-old Chief Operating Officer (COO), Gaurav Gupta was given the title of co-founder. The announcement, which comes as a surprise to many, was made by the company’s CEO Goyal in an internal mail on the 1st of March, 2019. Zomato confirmed the development but declined to share further details.
Deepinder Goyal stated in the mail saying,
This is not a ‘reward’- this is empowerment, for the right person, to seamlessly be able to level-up to a role which he has shown the potential for.” He further mentioned that along with the new title of co-founder, Gupta’s role and title as the COO would still be maintained.
The company then decided to elevate Gaurav Gupta’s position to that of the Co-founder of the company in March 2019.
As part of the employee empowerment policy of Zomato, the company embraced Gaurav Gupta as one of its co-founders.
“We are going to call GG ‘co-founder and COO’, in addition to his COO role,” said the Co-founder and CEO Deepinder Goyal via an email to its employees.
His services were looked up to by everyone in Zomato and he was even singularly praised by CEO Goyal on a couple of occasions due to the success that Zomato is enjoying through numerous add-ons to its primary food delivery business. These include Zomato Gold, the subscription service of Zomato; Hyperpure (through which Zomato supplies fruits, vegetables, and meat to restaurants); the events unit of the company, Zomaland, and more.
Why is being a Co-founder prestigious and rare in the Startup Ecosystem?
It is one of the rare moments in the startup ecosystem when a company rewards its experienced and executive by conferring them the title of a founding partner. However, it happened with Zomato and Gaurav Gupta.
The ride aggregating giant, OLA is another Indian startup company that encourages its employees in a similar fashion. Pranay Jivrajka, an early employee of Ola had also been given the title of a founding partner in 2017, where a similar thing happened. The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ola Foods and a Co-founder of Ola has already taken an exit from the firm in the wake of 2021.
The Exit of Gaurav Gupta
Gaurav Gupta finds his way to exit on September 14, 2021, after two years since his promotion to the position of a Co-founder. The resignation of Gaurav Gupta comes a little more than a year after Pankaj Chaddah had quit the company in March 2020. Pankaj Chaddah co-founded Zomato with Deepinder Goyal in 2008 and had been extensively known as the face of the brand for over a decade.
Zomato has already drawn a conclusion to some of its business lines and subsidiaries, including its grocery delivery service, nutrition and nutraceuticals, along with some of its international subsidiaries.
Gaurav Gupta had sent a heartfelt email on his parting to every one of Zomato where he addressed Zomato Co-founder and CEO Deepinder Goyal via a special mention. Deepinder also replied to Gaurav promptly in the same email bidding his Co-founder a fitting farewell.
Furthermore, Deepinder also took to Twitter to announce the exit of his co-founder and thanked him for the amazing journey of six long years that they spent together. Here goes his Tweet:
Thank you @grvgpta – the last 6 years have been amazing and we have come very far. There's so much of our journey still ahead of us, and I am thankful that we have a great team and leadership to carry us forward.https://t.co/AJAmC5ie6R
On his resignation, Gaurav Gupta has said that this will be a new turn in his life, and he will be starting a new chapter after he leaves Zomato.
Zomato and the Resignation of its COOs
Gaurav Gupta is not the only COO of Zomato who resigned from the company, nor is he the first of its top-level resignations. Zomato seems to have seen a couple of other resignations too of people working in similar designations.
Pankaj Chaddah was another Zomato personality who donned several hats, among which it is crucial to mention that he was also strikingly the COO of the firm. Deepak Gulati, who had joined Zomato as the President and the Chief Operating Officer of the company had also resigned in September 2017, within six months.
Conclusion
Resignations and struggles are part of every organization and Zomato is not an exception but the ground it gives to its employees to grow as an individual and as a team player is laudable indeed. Zomato is backed by investors like Chinese payment giants Ant Financial (payment affiliate of Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba), venture capital firm Sequoia and Naukri-owner Info Edge with a valuation of over $2 billion. However, with the competition from companies like Swiggy and a never-ending demand for better service, only time will tell how this move will affect in helping Zomato stay ahead of its competitors.
Gaurav Gupta is the co-founder of Zomato who was elevated to the role of Co-founder from COO and eventually resigned from the organization on September 14, 2021.
When he joined Zomato?
Gaurav Gupta joined Zomato in 2015 and was working as a global head for advertising sales for Zomato.
What’s his current role in Zomato?
Gaurav Gupta is currently leading Zomato’s nutrition business.
Who is the founder of Zomato?
Pankaj Chaddah and Deepinder Goyal are the founders of Zomato. Zomato was founded in July 2008.
Who are the co-founders of Zomato at present?
Zomato has four cofounders— Deepinder Goyal, Gunjan Patidar, Gaurav Gupta, Akriti Chopra, and Mohit Gupta.
As per the 2018 census, India has a population of 135.26 crores. Of these 135.26 crores, approximately 25 crore students live in India. There are a lot of students out of 25 crore who are worried about their studies and their career path. Many don’t know what to do after they complete 10+2. Management problems also face many students at times. Univariety is the app that provides guidance to the students concerned. Guidance related to their careers as well as choosing colleges through various tools, counselling, etc.
Read the Univariety success story below to know more about Univariety Funding, Business model, Growth, revenue, competitors and more.
Univariety is a unique guidance platform for students. It offers the schools an unparalleled service experience in the form of a comprehensive career and college guidance solution for the students, counsellors, parents and also the school management system. Univariety aims to be a marketplace with students in the centre for the college admission process. It’s the leading career counselling and college guidance platform for schools. The mission of the company is to help the students to get admitted to their dream university.
Jaideep Gupta is the founder and CEO and Varun Aggarwal is the COO and Co-founder of Univariety.
Jaideep Gupta Founder & CEO, Univariety
Jaideep Gupta is the leader to drive the force behind the scenes. He pursued his BBS in Finance from Delhi University. Then he did his MBA in Finance and Strategy from the SVKM’s Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies. He worked as a Derivatives Trades Analyst at the GE Corporate Treasury. He was also selected to be a part of the premier leadership program. He also worked as the Associate Director at Ernst & Young Corporate Finance. He was selected as the Senior Manager & Area Director and Vice President for a few years. Presently he is at Singapore working at Univariety.
Univariety – Tagline And Logo
The tagline of Univariety is Discover and be discovered.
Univariety collects a fee for connecting the capable students to the universities. Each program has different modules specifically designed for the different types of students. Their programs are divided into ages or classes of students, and also have different programs at different prices. There are programs starting at Rs. 2,000 and going up to Rs. 1,225,000. Students can also take various types of tests in order to get the best guidance. Business management is a very important thing here. Relevant knowledge, essential skills are necessary to understand the economy.
Univariety – Funding And Investors
Univariety has raised a total amount of $3 Million in funding over the 2 rounds. It is funded by Info Edge.
The top competitors of Univariety are GetmyUni, MapMyTalent, CareerGuide, CollegeBol, MINDLER, CollegeSearch, and Careerfutura.
GetMyUni is a platform where students can apply to get admitted into top colleges of India. It also gives details about the fees, courses, scholarships, placements and reviews.
MapMyTalent is a career counsellor expert that offers guidance based on scientifically designed Aptitude Test.
CareerGuide provides instant career guidance to the students. It also enables users to browse career options.
CollegeBol is a platform that helps the students to select a college. Based on the course wise reviews and ratings. These are given by the former or the current students of India.
MINDLER helps the students to find the perfect career, college, stream and courses. It takes the help of India’s best counsellors to perform the task.
CollegeSearch provides information to the students about universities and examinations. It also helps the students to compare colleges and universities.
Careerfutura provides career counselling in an innovative way. It also provides the Aptitude Test to the students.
The journey of the company began in 2011. In between the years 2015-16 the company crossed 100+ partner schools. In between the years 2016-17 the company again crossed 350+ partners school mark. In between the years 2017-18 the company became a proud addition to the Info Edge Private Limited family. Info Edge will invested twice in the span of 3 years. Usually, the company uses the fund to make its tech stack strong and increase its customer base. Univariety’salumni network includes 75000+ students, over 350 partner schools, and more than 200 active universities. Univariety has conducted more than 50,000 Psychometric Tests. Over 1,50,000 counselling sessions have been conducted. Univariety’s growth can be seen in these statistics.
Almost everyone dreams about a golden career of their own after 12th boards. Some of the students get confused. Some remain excited. But these all are a part of the journey. Univariety was always there and is still with the students to help them find out the best. It helps the students to chalk out their career and choose a stream. They prepare the students for the admission procedure to get them flexible for any kind of interviews that would take place in the future.
Univariety – FAQ’s
What is Univariety?
Students are guided at Univariety, a company that’s mission is to help them get into their dream university.
