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  • Kabeer Biswas: From Startup Star to Stepping Down ā€“ The Dunzo Journey

    Kabeer Biswas is among some entrepreneurs in India who, with his friends, made the delivery of daily essentials quick and easy for us. Kabeer Biswas founded the delivery startup Dunzo in January 2015, headquartered in Bengaluru, Karnataka, India. Kabeer serves as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at Dunzo. Kabeer is the Co-founder of Dunzo along with three of its Co-founders, including Ankur Agarwal, Dalvir Suri, and Mukund Jha. They are broadening the service of quick commerce startups in top cities across India. According to the latest reports as of January 2025, Kabeer Biswas is preparing to step down from his role at Dunzo.

    Know all about the personal and professional life of Kabeer Biswas, his education, success story, net worth, Dunzo’s net worth & more in the post ahead!

    Kabeer Biswas – Biography

    Name Kabeer Biswas
    Born 1984
    Education University of Mumbai, NMIMS
    Profession Entrepreneur
    Designation CEO & Co-founder, Dunzo
    Net worth –

    Kabeer Biswas – Personal Life
    Kabeer Biswas – Education
    Kabeer Biswas – Professional Life
    Kabeer Biswas – Dunzo
    Kabeer Biswas – Success Story
    Kabeer Biswas – Funding Raised via Dunzo
    Kabeer Biswas – Business Ideas
    Kabeer Biswas – Stepping Down from Dunzo

    Kabeer Biswas – Personal Life

    Kabeer Biswas - Dunzo CEO and Co-founder
    Kabeer Biswas – Dunzo CEO and Co-founder

    Kabeer was born in 1984. His father died while Kabeer was only 19 years old. His father left considerable wealth for him, which allowed him to experiment with various ideas and take risks without thinking of choosing a safe route. His mother knew the business left behind by his father. Hence, she was secure with Kabeer, not worrying about his mother’s well-being. Thus, Kabeer himself asserted that this is the reason he has no dependents and can formidably experiment on the ideas he took an interest in.

    Kabeer Biswas – Education

    Kabeer pursued a Bachelor of Electronics in Computers from the University of Mumbai (2000-2004). He later did a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from SVKM’s Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS).

    Kabeer Biswas – Professional Life

    Bharti Airtel Limited

    Kabeer started his professional career as soon as he completed his MBA in 2007. He joined Bharti Airtel Limited in 2007 as a Rural NPD. After two years, he was promoted to the Social, Communities, and Location Based Services. He thus spent about three and half years working in this company, from June 2007 to October 2010.

    Videocon Telecommunications Limited

    He later worked for Videocon Telecommunications Limited in the New Product Development area. He worked there for almost three months, from October 2010 to December 2010.

    Y2CF Digital Media Private Limited

    Kabeer then worked for Y2CF Digital Media Private Limited in the Product area. He worked there for three years, from January 2011 to December 2013. He founded a company called Hoppr, which was acquired by Hike in 2014.

    He has gained enough experience till then and thus established his local delivery set up, Dunzo, in January 2015.

    Kabeer Biswas – Dunzo

    Kabeer Biswas, Ankur Agarwal, Dalvir Suri and Mukund Jha | Dunzo Founders
    Kabeer Biswas, Ankur Agarwal, Dalvir Suri and Mukund Jha | Dunzo Founders

    Kabeer started his local delivery set-up Dunzo from a small WhatsApp group. It eventually gained popularity and transformed into a hyperlocal mobile application service.

    He believed that in the space of delivery and logistics, if all systems do not work on tech-based business, then at least customers who need such service should be served well. This thinking should be approached by companies, and they must think of gaining not only customers but valuable customers.

    Thus, Kabeer thought of establishing a business that would help people who formerly needed delivery services. Dunzo renders its delivery services in top cities:

    Marketing strategies of Dunzo [Case Study]
    The food supply was taken over by apps such as Swiggy and Zomato and Ola, Uber
    and Rapido took over the rides. But Dunzo combined both possible resources that
    can be offered online. In the current pandemic situation, Dunzo is an
    interesting source of services. For them to focus on social distance anā€¦
    StartupTalkySimran Shahid

    Kabeer Biswas – Success Story

    Kabeer, the Dunzo founder, started off with the hyperlocal delivery service Dunzo in 2015. It began delivering its services in some of Bengaluru’s most opulent areas like Indiranagar, Koramangala, and the central business district, aiming at making life easier for its users, abiding by the time-consuming tasks.

    Dunzo provides its delivery services in packages, pick up and drop, online restaurant discovery, ordering online food, grocery, medicine, laundry, local couriers, and Bike taxis as well. The company receives ten lakh orders monthly.

    Dunzo eventually became the first Indian tech company to receive funding from Google in 2017. Dunzo started providing a platform to local businesses. The company has also started food delivery services in direct competition with Swiggy and Zomato. It has become a favorite brand among Bengaluru’s digital-savvy and time-strapped elite. At one point, Biswas’s net worth was estimated to exceed INR 6,000 crore.

    The Dunzo Journey

    Kabeer Biswas – Funding Raised via Dunzo

    Dunzo has raised a total funding of $700 Million till January 2022. Reliance Retail has funded $240 million in January 2022 with Vikas Poddar and five other investors.

    Dunzo received its first round of funding from Blume Ventures Aspada Ventures, escorted by other investors such as the MD of Google India- Rajan Anandan and Sandipan Chattopadhyay, worth $650k in March 2016.

    In December 2017, the existing ventures and investors provided investments to Dunzo in another round of funding. This was Google’s first direct investment in a startup in India.

    In August 2019, Dunzo raised a funding of Rs. 34.56 crores by issuing debentures and Series C1 preference shares to one of the existing investors, Alteria Capital. Dunzo has raised around $498 Mn across multiple funding rounds till date.

    Dunzo Startup Story – Business Model | Founders | Revenue | Competitors | Funding
    We yearn to live hassle-free lives. And smartphones have a major role to play in
    achieving this dream. Mobile apps have given us the kind of freedom and leverage
    that was hard to imagine a decade back. Product delivery is one domain which has
    been streamlined with the radical innovations in mobile aā€¦
    StartupTalkyRishabh Rathi

    Kabeer Biswas – Business Ideas

    Kabeer, the founder of Dunzo, declared last year that he and his company will be focusing on the local businesses that are offline. He is trying hard to make the local economy a lot more efficient. For example, once a local grocer’s shop was declining and about to shut down, then Dunzo, under the leadership of Kabeer, signed it up as one of its delivery merchants. The shop is now gaining profits more than ever, in several past years.

    Kabeer has specifically designed Dunzo to use the data of its core delivery areas to make life easier for its users. It is through this service that they got to know that the well-to-do users were frequently searching for some specific foodstuffs, which led them to open a food delivery service as well. At that time, no one knew what his customers needed, neither the user nor the retailer.

    Kabeer Biswas – Stepping Down from Dunzo

    Kabeer Biswas is planning to step down, as reported by Moneycontrol on 2nd January 2025. He may soon join Flipkart Minutes as head of operations. The 10-year-old company has faced difficulties in the last few years and now operates in fewer areas. Biswas is the last co-founder to leave, following the earlier exits of Dalvir Suri, Mukund Jha, and Ankur Agarwal.

    Conclusion

    Kabeer Biswas’s main aim was to make a living by saving people’s time. Dunzo, a hyperlocal delivery startup lets users transfer or deliver their desired product or parcel from one corner of the city to the other corner with just a click.

    Dunzo can change the way you move things and how you shop and lets you access your city like never before. An app that connects you to the nearest delivery partner who can make purchases pick up items from any store or restaurant in the city, and bring them to you.

    FAQs

    Who is Dunzo CEO?

    Kabeer Biswas is the Co-Founder & CEO at Dunzo. But he is set to quit from his position and join Flipkart Minutes.

    What is Kabeer Biswas education?

    Kabeer pursued a Bachelor of Electronics in Computers at the University of Mumbai and later obtained an MBA from SVKM’s Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies.

    Is Dunzo funded by Google?

    Dunzo has raised $40 million in Series E funding from Google and existing investors, including Lightbox, Evolvence, Hana Financial Investment, LGT Lightstone Aspada, and Alteria Capital in January 2021. Earlier in September 2020, Dunzo received $ 28 million from Google, Lighrock, and other investors.

    Why did Google invest in Dunzo?

    Dunzo is reimagining how e-commerce and delivery could be done in India, thereby posing a challenge to Amazon and Walmart-owned Flipkart, as well as local food and grocery delivery startups such as Swiggy, Zomato, BigBasket, and Grofers.

    Who is Dunzo owner?

    Dunzo was founded by Kabeer Biswas, along with Co-founders Ankur Agarwal, Dalvir Suri, and Mukund Jha, in 2014.

    What is the valuation of Dunzo?

    Dunzo has a net worth of $744 Million as of 2023.

    What is Kabeer Biswas age?

    Dunzo founder, Kabeer Biswas was born in 1984. He is 40 years old.

    Who are Dunzo founders?

    Kabeer Biswas, Ankur Agarwal, Dalvir Suri and Mukund Jha are the founders of Dunzo.

  • Chad Hurley: The Visionary Entrepreneur Who Revolutionized Online Video

    Everybody heard of the largest social media medium – YouTube; it is time to see the man who made this miracle possible – Chad Hurley, the co-founder and former CEO. He was the brains behind the platform and played a central role in how people could share and consume videos. From his modest background as a graphic designer to becoming a tech entrepreneur, he not only created one of the most influential platforms of the 21st century but also changed the entire media landscape forever. 

    Let’s look at the biography of Chad Hurley, the Co-founder and former CEO of YouTube. We will discuss his early life, personal life, career, philanthropy, achievements, and more.

    Chad Hurley – Biography

    Full Name Chad Meredith Hurley
    Birthplace Reading, Pennsylvania, USA
    Nationality American
    Education Bachelorā€™s degree in Fine Arts, Indiana University of Pennsylvania
    Occupation Entrepreneur, Investor
    Known For Co-founder of YouTube, CEO of MixBit
    Other Titles Designer, Innovator
    Philanthropic Focus Education, Technology Empowerment
    Hobbies Motorsport, Design, Travel
    Net worth $800 million (2024)

    Chad Hurley – Early Life and Education
    Chad Hurley – Personal Life
    Chad Hurley – The Birth of YouTube
    Chad Hurley – Career Highlights
    Chad Hurley – Philanthropy and Legacy
    Chad Hurley – Awards and Recognition
    Facts About Chad Hurley
    Chad Hurley’s Impact on the Digital Landscape

    Chad Hurley – Early Life and Education

    Chad Hurley was born on January 24, 1977. He hails from Reading, Pennsylvania. Since he grew up in a highly creative environment, Hurley took a keen interest in art and technology at an early age. He was involved in his school’s art programs and showed considerable potential in applying design to make things functional. This interest evolved into a passion for building user-friendly digital platforms.

    Hurley completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in graphic design from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, after which he moved on to perfect his knowledge of user interface and branding, a significant contribution later on in the success of this venture.

    Jawed Karim Success Story: How did he Found YouTube | Net worth | Education | Early Life
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    Chad Hurley – Personal Life

    Chad Hurley is rather low-key in comparison to his accomplishments. He is married to Kathy Clark, daughter of tech entrepreneur James H. Clark, and they have two children. Hurley’s hobbies include motorsport, for which he actively competes as a co-owner of a Formula One team.

    Chad Hurley – The Birth of YouTube

    YouTube Owner Name and Photo
    Founders of YouTube – Chad Hurley, Steve Chen, Jawed Karim

    The Idea

    It was in 2005 when Chad Hurley was working at PayPal that he joined two colleagues, Steve Chen and Jawed Karim, who shared the same enthusiasm for innovation. The trio observed a significant gap in the digital space. There was no platform by which users could easily upload and share their videos online. Recognizing this opportunity, they conceptualized YouTube, a platform designed to democratize video content creation and sharing.

    Early Development

    YouTube’s first version came in February 2005. Hurley applied his design skills to create YouTube’s logo, and he managed the user interface design so that it remained simple and straightforward. This resulted in a high growth rate, as users perceived the site to be easy and intuitive.

    Rapid Growth

    Within months of its launch, YouTube had very quickly gained popularity, accommodating millions of users that ranged from personal vloggers to professional content providers. By November 2006, YouTube had become the world’s most visited video-sharing website. It caught Google’s attention, and it acquired YouTube in stocks for $1.65 billion; this deal sealed the deal for Hurley in the book of tech history.

    Chad Hurley – Career Highlights

    CEO of YouTube

    As the chief executive officer of YouTube, Chad Hurley focused on scaling the platform while staying true to its core mission of empowering creators. Some of the notable innovations introduced under his leadership included video monetization through ads and introducing high-definition video streaming.

    MixBit

    After leaving the post of YouTube’s CEO in 2010, Hurley co-founded MixBit, a video editing and sharing platform that aims to encourage creativity and collaboration among users. Though MixBit was not as successful as YouTube, it demonstrated Hurley’s unrelenting pursuit of innovation in the digital media space.

    Investments and Ventures

    Hurley has also been actively investing in startups in the tech and entertainment spaces. His investment portfolio includes creativity-driven, user engagement-focused, and socially impactful companies. Chad Hurley’s net worth as of 2024 is $800 million.

    Top 10 Richest YouTubers in 2023
    This article showcases the top 10 richest YouTubers in 2023, who hugely rely on YouTube as their main source of income.
    StartupTalkyShalini Rath

    Chad Hurley – Philanthropy and Legacy

    Chad Hurley is an innovator and philanthropist who understands the value of contributing back to society. He mainly focuses on education and technology by bridging gaps in access and opportunity.

    • Education: Some initiatives where Hurley extended his support toward underprivileged children to help avail quality education coupled with appropriate resources of technology also include making every possible stride through education a harbinger for bringing innovation as well as a social revolution.
    • Environmental and Social Causes: In addition to education, Hurley has contributed to environmental conservation projects and organizations that promote sustainability. His approach to philanthropy reflects a holistic vision of societal betterment.

    Chad Hurley – Awards and Recognition

    Chad Hurley, YouTube co-founder and former CEO, has won many awards and recognition for his contribution to technology and digital media. Some of these include:

    • Webby Person of the Year 2007: Hurley with co-founder Steve Chen was chosen by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences for his efforts that have shaped the internet with YouTube.
    • Business 2.0 “50 People Who Matter” (2006); Ranked No. 28 on that list, “Business and technology,” which established Hurley as someone who would impact the space in both.
    • Lifetime Achievement Emmy Award (2019): The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences recognizes Hurley and Chen for the work that changed the media landscape through YouTube.
    • PGA Vanguard Award (2008): Hurley received the PGA Vanguard Award presented by the Producers Guild of America for distinction in new media and new technology.

    These accolades signify Hurley as a leading and influential figure responsible for the actual development of new digital media to this day.

    Facts About Chad Hurley

    • YouTube’s First Video called “Me at the Zoo,” was published by YouTube’s co-founder Jawed Karim.
    • Google Acquisition: Google’s purchase of YouTube for $1.65 billion has become one of the most memorable tech deals.
    • Motorsport Enthusiast: Hurley is a co-owner of the US-based Formula One team Haas F1, demonstrating his love for speed and design.
    • Focus on Collaboration: Through MixBit and other ventures, Hurley has emphasized the importance of collaboration in content creation.

    Top 10 AI Tools for YouTube to Look Out for in 2025
    Explore the top AI tools for YouTube that enhance video editing, optimize content, boost SEO, and grow your channel effectively.
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    Chad Hurley’s Impact on the Digital Landscape

    Chad Hurley’s story exemplifies the transformative power of creativity and vision. In creating YouTube, he revolutionized the consumption pattern and provided a breakthrough opportunity to millions of other creators, enabling them to express themselves to the entire world. In this direction, he correctly identified gaps in the market and developed solutions that reached out to people on a global scale.

    FAQs

    Who is Chad Hurley?

    Chad Hurley is an American entrepreneur. He co-founded YouTube in 2005 and served as its first CEO. He is also the founder and current CEO of MixBit.

    Who is the founder of YouTube?

    Jawed Karim, Chad Hurley, and Steve Chen are the founders of YouTube.

    What is Chad Hurley net worth?

    The net worth of YouTube founder, Chad Hurley stands around $800 million as of 2024.

  • The Inspiring Story of KFC & Its Founder, Colonel Sanders

    The present-day fast food industry is the confluence of companies that sprung up during the mid-90s and 2000s. Multinational companies like Pizza Hut and Burger King are popular around the globe, but KFC enjoys a following of its own.

    Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) is the second-largest food chain with presence over 25,000 restaurants across 145 countries.

    The recipe that made KFC marketable and sought-after was a pressure-fried chicken blended with Sanderā€™s 11 spices and recipes. With over 2.83 billion USD in revenue in 2022, Colonel Sanders gifted a delectable delight to chicken lovers through KFC.

    This article talks about the KFC founder’s motivational story of unparalleled success. Learn about Colonel Sanders’s life story, his family, Philanthropy, KFC, and more from this article.

    Colonel Harland David Sanders – Biography

    Name Colonel Harland Sanders
    Born September 9, 1890 – Henryville, Indiana, U.S.
    Died December 16, 1980 – Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.
    Age 90
    Nationality American
    Education La Salle Extension University
    Occupation Businessman, restaurateur
    Founded Kentucky Fried Chicken(KFC)
    Net worth ~$3.5 million (at the time of death)

    David Sanders – Founder’s Story
    David Sanders – Family
    KFCā€™s Rapid Expansion
    David Sanders – Face of KFC
    David Sanders – Life Beyond KFC
    David Sanders – Final Years
    David Sanders – Charity And Philanthropy
    David Sanders – An Inspiration

    David Sanders – Founder’s Story

    Colonel Sanders, the founder of KFC and owner of an iconic life story, will be remembered as one of the greatest businessmen and entrepreneurs to have existed.

    Colonel Sanders Story
    Founder of KFC – Colonel Sanders

    The logo and icon of the mega-brand, Colonel Sanders, and KFC owner, had multiple occupations under his belt. He was a filling station operator, insurance salesman, and steam engine stoker before selling chicken from his roadside restaurant during the Great Depression. He sold chicken pieces that were blended with a secret recipe prepared by him. Every successful entrepreneur identifies an object or idea as a manifestation of their thoughts to change the world; Colonel found him in chicken.

    He was paid $0.04 for a single piece of chicken. When his North Cabin restaurant had to be shut down, he was left only with some savings and $105 from Social Security. In dire need, he began to franchise his chicken concept and traveled across the United States in search of restaurants. Talent can not be left unrecognized, as with Harland David Sanders. The tables were turned, and restaurant owners began visiting Sanders as they were mesmerized by his recipe. After recognizing the potential in his recipe, he set up the first KFC restaurant in South Salt Lake, Utah, in 1952. After his North Cabin restaurant debacle, he devoted his time to building and uplifting the KFC brand.

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    David Sanders – Family

    KFC Founder - Family of Colonel Sanders
    KFC Founder – Family of Colonel Sanders

    Colonel Sanders faced many challenges in his family life. In 1908, he tied the knot with Josephine King, and together they had three children: Margaret, Harland Jr., and Mildred. Unfortunately, Sanders struggled to keep a steady job, leading to difficulties at home. The stress became so much that Josephine temporarily left him, taking the children with her. Eventually, the couple divorced in 1947.

    Tragedy struck the family again when Harland Jr. passed away at the young age of 20 due to complications from a seemingly routine tonsillectomy. This unexpected loss deeply affected Sanders and contributed to a period of depression in his adult life.

    In 1949, Colonel Sanders found companionship again by marrying Claudia Leddington, and they remained together until he died in 1980. Despite the challenges and sorrows in his personal life, Sanders continued to build his legacy through KFC, leaving a lasting impact on the fast-food world.

    KFCā€™s Rapid Expansion

    Jack Massey, Colonel Sanders, and John Y. Brown Jr
    Jack Massey, Colonel Sanders, and John Y. Brown Jr

    Regarding popular food chains, customers tend to frequent restaurants with quality food. Quality is a major differentiator among restaurants. KFCā€™s finger-licking menu enabled it to expand rapidly through the United States. When Colonel Sanders was 74 years old, he had a successful company with many people working for him, making him a good amount of money. But then, a young lawyer named John Y. Brown, Jr., and his rich friend Jack Massey wanted Colonel Sanders to sell his company.

    At first, the KFC founder, Colonel Sanders, said, “No way!” But John and Jack kept trying to convince him. They told him he should stop working and enjoy his life. They promised not to change the special recipe for his famous chicken. Even though KFC was like his own baby, Colonel Sanders wasn’t sure about selling. They traveled around, talking to his family and friends.

    Finally, in 1964, Colonel Sanders agreed to sell for $2 million. That’s a lot of money! He got $50,000 right away, the company’s stuff in Canada, and he’d get $40,000 yearly for the rest of his life. But, by doing this, he had to give up the most important thing in his lifeā€”his company. And we don’t know if he was really happy with that decision.

    How the Owner of KFC Failed 1009 Times and Became Successful in His 60s

    David Sanders – Face of KFC

    Founder of KFC - Colonel Sanders, the Face of KFC
    Founder of KFC – Colonel Sanders, the Face of KFC

    Sanders remained the face of KFC even after selling it. He traveled over 200,000 miles every year to promote KFC around the world. Sandersā€™s image was meant to demonstrate his determination and persistence and encourage customers to assimilate the same. He often visited KFC restaurants and used to taste the gravy. Sanders used to proclaim that his self-made gravy was so good that one would throw away the damn chicken and eat the gravy. ā€˜God-damned slopā€™ was his phrase whenever he disliked KFCā€™s gravy at a franchise. The Colonel was a perfectionist and could not withstand compromises in quality. In 1939, Colonel Sanders came up with a new way to cook chicken using a pressure cooker. This method made the chicken less greasy while keeping its flavor, moisture, and texture intact, and it cooked faster. This invention helped his restaurant do really well for more than ten years.

    Colonel Sanders retired from cooking in 1964 and sold KFC to an investment group for two million euros. However, this didnā€™t mark the end of his career. He continued working as KFCā€™s public representative. During the 1950s, 60s, and 70s, his face and calm personality appeared in many KFC commercials.

    Sanders also came up with the famous slogan ā€œFinger-lickinā€™ goodā€ to highlight the quality of KFCā€™s food. Interestingly, he didnā€™t hesitate to speak up if something wasnā€™t right. For instance, if the food at a restaurant didnā€™t meet his standards, he openly criticized it. In 1975, KFC even sued him to stop his negative remarks, but the lawsuit was dismissed.

    In 1973, he stood up against the dip in the quality of food and sued the parent company, Hueblein Inc., which owned the KFC brand and sold items he had never developed. Hueblein Inc. filed an unsuccessful lawsuit against Sanders for he labeled the gravy ā€˜wall-paper.ā€™

    Why Did the Founder of KFC Sue KFC for $122 Million?
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    David Sanders – Life Beyond KFC

    Disappointed by the way KFC was being managed, Colonel and his wife reopened their restaurant and started serving the original KFC-styled chicken. They named the restaurant Claudia Sanders, The Colonelā€™s Lady. Unfortunately, the couple was sued by the owners of KFC. After reaching a settlement, he sold the restaurant, which continues to operate even today. It is the only restaurant that serves chicken prepared from the recipe used by KFC.

    Colonel Sanders has been posthumously a part of various television commercials. His appearances in DC comics and WWE commercials pay homage to his legacy.

    Global Brand Value of KFC
    Global Brand Value of KFC

    David Sanders – Final Years

    Founder of KFC - Final Years of Colonel Sanders
    Founder of KFC – Final Years of Colonel Sanders

    Even though Colonel Sanders had some problems with KFC, he kept working for the company until he passed away. His grandson, Trigg Adams, said that for Colonel Sanders, life was all about work. He had been working for almost 80 years and didn’t want to stop. He continued traveling around the country for KFC, and for the last 20 years, he always wore his famous white suit in public.

    As he got older, he became religious and sometimes appeared on Christian TV shows. Colonel Sanders was generous, giving much of his money to charities like the Salvation Army. Sadly, on December 16th, 1980, Colonel Sanders died at 90 years old from leukemia. People paid their respects to him at the Kentucky State Capitol, and he was buried in Louisville, Kentucky.

    After Colonel Sanders passed away, KFC became hugely successful. It became one of the top fast-food brands in the US, opened thousands of restaurants worldwide, and made a lot of money. But, to reach this success, they kind of changed the image of Colonel Sanders.

    Instead of being a respected figure, he became more like a cartoon used for advertising. At one point, he even became a cartoon character, dancing and playing basketball. The company, which used to be called Kentucky Fried Chicken, changed its name to just KFC. They also tried to distance themselves from the Southern style that Colonel Sanders was known for. His family doesn’t have anything to do with the company now. Recently, KFC has tried to show more respect for Colonel Sanders, but it’s tough to say what he would think of the company today. He was a man who believed in hard work, had his own dignity, and didn’t trust big companies.

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    David Sanders – Charity And Philanthropy

    Before Colonel Sanders passed away, he used his money to start a charity in Canada called the Colonel Harland Sanders Charitable Organization. This charity helped hospitals that care for women and children. One part of Mississauga Hospital was named after him because of his big donation. Sanders’s charity also gave a lot of money to other children’s hospitals in Canada.

    David Sanders – An Inspiration

    Even after being fired from legal jobs and facing multiple setbacks, Colonel Sanders always learned from his mistakes and grew as an entrepreneur. He had to take up various occupations in order to sustain a livelihood. Starting from insurance salesman to filling up gas stations, Sanders had done it all. After surviving the Great Depression, he founded a food chain that is an inseparable part of our daily life. The KFC is now part of every countryā€™s food chain. Customer satisfaction is what drove Sanders to criticize KFC. He was named a Kentucky Colonel twice by two different governors of the state. After nearly three decades of his death, his image still finds a place on the posters and magazines. He is, without any doubt, one of the best entrepreneurs who thrived for perfection in his products.

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    David Sanders – Conclusion

    Colonel Harland Sanders has become a known figure for Kentucky Fried Chicken. Colonel Sanders was rejected 1009 times before succeeding. It takes courage and hard work to not give up and keep striving for success. Colonel Sanders is the best example who has shown us to keep working for our dreams without giving up. He is admired by many people who are pursuing their dreams and working hard in their respective careers. His hard work and perseverance have made KFC the world’s most-loved fried chicken franchise.

    FAQs

    What is KFC founder name?

    The founder of KFC is Colonel Harland Sanders.

    What is KFC full form?

    KFC’s full form is ‘Kentucky Fried Chicken.’

    What is the current KFC owner name?

    Yum! Brands is the current owner of KFC.

    Which is KFC owner country?

    KFC is an American brand that originated in Corbin, Kentucky, USA.

    How old was Colonel Sanders when he founded KFC?

    In 1952, at the age of 65, when most people were looking at slowing down and retiring, Harland David Sanders began Kentucky Fried Chicken.

    How rich is KFC’s owner?

    Dropped out of school at age 12. Died with an estimated net worth of 3.5 million dollars. Opened his first KFC franchise at the age of 64. His company, Kentucky Fried Chicken, has an estimated net worth of 15 billion dollars as of 2013.

    How many times did KFC fail?

    KFC founder Colonel Sanders was rejected 1009 times before finding a taker for his chicken recipe.

    What was KFC founder age at the time of his death?

    KFC founder Colonel Sanders was 90 years old at the time of his death.

    What is KFC net worth?

    In 2024, the brand value of Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) was $6.7 billion.

    Who bought KFC from Colonel Sanders?

    Brown Jr. and Jack Massey bought Kentucky Fried Chicken from Col. Harland Sanders for $2 million. In 1971, Brown sold KFC to Heublein for $285 million. In 1986, PepsiCo acquired Heublein and became the owner of KFC. In 1997, PepsiCo spun off its restaurant chains into a separate company named Tricon Global Restaurants, later renamed Yum! Brands. Since then, KFC has been a subsidiary of Yum! Brands.

  • Harsh Jain: The Visionary Behind Dream11’s Rise to Success

    Harsh Jain is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Co-founder of India’s biggest Fantasy Sports platform, Dream11. Harsh co-founded Dream11 with Bhavit Sheth in 2008, which has 60 million plus users today. Dream11 became the first Indian gaming company to enter the Unicorn Club in April 2019. Under his leadership, the company became a leading name in fantasy sports in India.

    Let’s look at the biography of Harsh Jain, the Founder and CEO of Dream11. We will discuss his early life, personal life, education, investments, and more.

    Harsh Jain Biography

    Name Harsh Jain
    Born 1986
    Birthplace Mumbai, Maharashtra
    Nationality Indian
    Education University of Pennsylvania; Columbia Business School
    Profession Entrepreneur
    Position CEO & Co-founder, Dream11
    Marital Status Married
    Spouse Rachana Shah

    Harsh Jain – Personal Life
    Harsh Jain – Education
    Harsh Jain – Professional Life
    Harsh Jain – Co-founder of Red Digital
    Harsh Jain – CEO of Dream11
    Harsh Jain – Awards and Achievements

    Harsh Jain – Personal Life

    Harsh was born in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. He has an immense passion for gaming, sports, and technology. He is an ardent Fantasy Cricket and Soccer player.

    Harsh Jain married Rachana Shah, a dentist, in 2013. They have a son named Krish. In 2021, Harsh and Rachana became very famous after they bought a luxury apartment worth Rs. 72 crore. The apartment is spread across two floors, the 29th and 30th, in one of the most expensive areas in India. It is located near Mukesh Ambani’s Antilia, which is worth Rs. 15,000 crore. This news was widely covered in the media.

    Harsh Jain – Education

    Harsh has completed his primary education at Greenlaws High School. He studied IB from Sevenoaks High School for three years (2001-2003). He went to the University of Pennsylvania for five years (2003-2007) in Philadelphia to study Bachelor of Science in Engineering, Electric Engineering, Mathematics, and Economics.

    He was a sports freak and took part in the Upenn Cricket Club and Intramural Football (Soccer) while studying at the university. In 2012, he pursued a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Columbia Business School in New York.

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    Harsh Jain – Professional Life

    He has worked as a Summer intern for Microsoft. As a part of this role, he worked on the feasibility and commercial benefits for Microsoft to enter the Push-To-Talk (PTT) marketplace. He cordially worked there for three months i.e., from June 2006 to August 2006.

    He worked as the Manager of Marketing at Jai Corp Limited for one year i.e., from June 2007 to June 2008. He was employed at the Navi Mumbai Special Economic Zone division as a liaison for investors.

    He co-founded a Social Media agency focusing on building strategy for digital marketing, Red Digital in 2010. However, the company was acquired in 2013.

    He then served as the President of the Federation of Indian Fantasy Sports since 2017. He is currently positioned as the CEO and Co-founder at Dream11, which was founded in June 2008.

    Harsh Jain – Co-founder of Red Digital

    Harsh was the co-founder of Red Digital, which was acquired within three years of the company’s establishment. Red Digital is a specialized Social Media firm that focuses on social media management, digital marketing, app development, and online reputation management.

    Red Digital was launched in July 2010. Within two years, the company signed up marquee brands in India and Internationally, such as Dell, PepsiCo, Mumbai Indians, BMW, Parker Pens, Adidas, PVR, Godrej, Berger Paints, Reliance Foundation, Educomp, Citibank, ICC, and the Discovery Channel.

    The company thus expanded nationally with offices in Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, and Kolkata. Red Digital was later acquired by Gozoop in 2013.

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    Harsh Jain – CEO of Dream11

    Dream11 Logo

    Dream11 is India’s biggest Fantasy Sports platform with 220 million users playing Fantasy Cricket, Football, Kabaddi, Hockey, Basketball, Volleyball, Handball & Baseball. The company has cordially partnered with national and international sports leagues & bodies with reputed Indian and International cricketers as well.

    The convenient mobile app of Dream11 allows its users to virtually make their own team of real-life players from the forthcoming matches, score points based on their on-field live performance, and compete with other virtual players. Thus, sports enthusiasts and fans actively engage and display their knowledge of sports.

    Harsh, with his friend Bhavit Sheth, launched the freemium Fantasy game in India for cricket fans. Dream11 ranked 9th in India’s Great Mid-Size Workplace-2018. It has been also declared as one of the top 10 startup innovative companies in India by Fast Company in 2019.

    Indian Cricketer, Mahendra Singh Dhoni is the brand ambassador of Dream11 and launched the “Dimag Se Dhoni” media campaign during the 2018 Indian Premier League. Kartik Aaryan and Samantha Prabhu joined the company as brand endorsers in 2022.

    The company first decided and brought in commentator Harsha Bhogle in 2017 as its brand ambassador. In the 2019 IPL, the company signed seven cricketers and partnered with the IPL franchise as part of its marketing.

    Dream11 has become very popular in India. It had 100 million users in 2020, 140 million in 2021, and over 200 million users by 2024. This is amazing growth from just 2 million users in 2016. In April 2019, Dream11 became the first Indian gaming startup to join the Unicorn Club. It has reached many big milestones, including sponsoring the 2020 Indian Premier League. Right now, it is also the main sponsor of the Indian cricket team.

    Dream11 won the sponsorship of the 2020 IPL for INR 2.22 billion after which Vivo withdrew in the year 2020. The BCCI officially declared Dream11 as the official partner of the IPL in March 2019. Along with that, Dream11 also conducted the Official Fantasy Game of the IPL.

    In 2018, Dream11 declared its partnership with the ICC, Pro Kabaddi League, International Hockey Federation, WBBL, and BBL. In 2017, it also partnered with three leagues namely, the Hero Caribbean Premier League, the Hero Indian Super League, and the National Basketball Association (NBA).

    Dream11 is the flagship brand of Dream Sports, which also has brands like FanCode, a multi-sport aggregator platform, Dream X, a sports accelerator, and DreamSetGo, a sports experiences platform. These brands were founded in 2008 by Harsh Jain and Bhavit Sheth.

    Dream Sports Investors

    • Tiger Global Management
    • D1 Capital Partners
    • Footpath Ventures
    • Chrys Capital
    • TCV
    • TPG Growth
    • Steadview Capital

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    Harsh Jain – Awards and Achievements

    Harsh Jain has received the following awards:

    • Young Entrepreneur Award by the All India Management Association (AIMA) – April 2022.
    • Fortune India 40 under 40 – June 2021.
    • Indian Express Newsmaker of the Year – December 2019.
    • The Economic Times 40 under Forty – 2019.
    • Red Herring Global 100 Award – January 2013.

    Conclusion

    Harsh Jain, a fan of Manchester United Football Club, Mumbai Indians, and the Indian Cricket Team brought together his love for sports, gaming, and technology. Harsh founded online fantasy sports in India, Dream11, and is completely focused on making sports better for sports fans all over the world. He is planning to make Dream11 go public in the near future after building a large user base for the sports technology company.

    FAQs

    Who is Dream11 owner?

    Harsh Jain and Bhavit Sheth are the co-founders, and CEO & COO respectively of Dream11 parent Dream Sports.

    What is Harsh Jain education?

    Harsh Jain studied IB from Sevenoaks High School for three years (2001-2003). He went to the University of Pennsylvania for five years (2003-2007) in Philadelphia to study Bachelor of Science in Engineering, Electric Engineering, Mathematics, and Economics.

    What is Harsh Jain date of birth?

    Harsh Jain was born in 1986. He is 34 years old.

    What is Dream11 net worth?

    Dream11 is valued at INR 65,000 crore as of 2024.

    What is Dream11 owner, Harsh Jain net worth?

    Harsh Jain’s net worth is $8 million approximately.

    Does Dream11 give real money?

    Dream11 gives you real money by playing fantasy games online. The site offers free and paid contests. You need to pay a certain fee to join a contest that lets you win real cash.

    What is the minimum amount to withdraw from Dream11?

    You can withdraw a minimum of INR 100 and a maximum of INR 2,00,000 in one go. IMPS withdrawals can take up to 3 workings days to get credited.

  • Vishakha Mulye: A Transformational Journey of ABCLā€™s First Women Director

    Vishakha Mulye is a trailblazer in Indiaā€™s financial sector. She has reached here with her transformative impact on the financial services industry, leadership, and strategic vision. Mulye has shattered glass ceilings for women in business. She is the first woman to join the Aditya Birla Management Corporation board. She has been on a roll of tremendous achievements since she started her career. She has come a long way from being a Chartered Accountant to becoming the CEO of Aditya Birla Capital. She is known for driving the company to grow, being digital and customer-first.

    This StartupTalker story explores Vishakha Mulye’s leadership journey, which has led her to where she is today. Weā€™ll examine how she built her legacy at ICICI Bank and discuss how she managed and transformed ABC into a tech-driven powerhouse.

    Vishakha Mulye’s story is one of resilience, a reputation for excellence, and vision. In this article, we will learn about her achievements, net worth, controversies, interesting facts, and more.

    Vishakha Mulye – Biography

    Name Vishakha Mulye
    Education Chartered Accountant
    Position CEO, Aditya Birla Capital
    Net worth $96 million
    Website Adityabirlacapital.com

    Vishakha Mulye – Career
    Vishakha Mulye – Aditya Birla
    Vishakha Mulye – Controversies
    Vishakha Mulye – Awards and Recognitions
    Vishakha Mulye – Interesting Facts

    Vishakha Mulye – Career

    Vishakha Mulyeā€™s stellar career demonstrates her exceptional leadership capacities and powerful strategic acuity in the Indian financial space. Mulye has been able to innovate and inspire excellence in the changing world of finance. This is possible only because of her foundational years at ICICI Bank and her transformative role at Aditya Birla Capital.

    Vishakha Mulye started her professional life at ICICI Bank. She reached the top because of her analytical skills and strategic sense. Having graduated as a chartered accountant, she executed her strategies and helped ICICI build its position in the banking ecosystem.

    She played key leadership roles in ICICI Bank. She was positioned as the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at ICICI Bank. Financial restructuring, corporate strategy, and operational improvements have been a part of her organizational growth.

    Mulye transformed the private equity arm of ICICI Ventures into a powerhouse as the Managing Director and CEO. Under her, it steered bold investments, diversified into new sectors, and put the stakeholderā€™s best interests front and center.

    ICICI Ventures sustained growth despite challenging economic conditions because Mulye identified high-potential opportunities. She introduced new investment strategies in ICICI. Moreover, she improved ties with global partners and defined the firm as the private equity leader.

    Vishakha Mulye, the general insurance arm of ICICI Bank, proved herself versatile. Beyond understanding financial risk management and operational excellence, her deep knowledge of the company contributed much to its market dominance.

    Her time at ICICI has allowed her to navigate regulatory landscapes. Moreover, she introduced technology-driven solutions and improved customer satisfaction.

    In 2022, Vishakha Mulye, the CEO of Aditya Birla Capital (ABC), led the company towards a new chapter. She became the financial services arm of the Aditya Birla Group, Aditya Birla Capital. This arm consists of businesses ranging from life insurance to asset management, private equity, and lending services.

    Mulye brought her experience, strategic vision, and leadership skills to strengthen ABC as a leader. Her charge was to steer the organization through a dynamic competitive landscape while focusing on sustainable growth and innovation.

    Transformative initiatives have characterised Vishakha Mulyeā€™s tenure at Aditya Birla Capital:

    • Mulye has been working on expanding ABC into India’s markets. Her plans include especially the underserved regions. She has championed inclusive financial products and services that reach a broader customer base.
    • Mulye knows that technology plays a vital role in modern finance. She has strived to digitize ABCā€™s operations to make its employees and customers happier. Sheā€™s taken ABC to the forefront of digital transformation, using advanced analytics and AI-driven customer solutions to achieve this.
    • Mulye has overseen ABCā€™s diversification of offerings. New products and increased emphasis on existing portfolios in life insurance and more were being offered.
    • She has transformed ABCā€™s core strategy to integrate sustainable and global best practices, with a keen eye on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles.
    • She also leads the ABC culture of excellence. She has invested in building talent, collaboration, and organization.

    ABC under Vishakha is not about numbers and financial performance. Sheā€™s one of the most respected leaders in the financial services industry. Thanks to her ability to inspire her teams and drive impactful results.

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    Vishakha Mulye – Aditya Birla

    Vishakha became CEO of ABCL in 2022. Since then, she has helped transform the companyā€™s course. ABCL, the Aditya Birla Groupā€™s financial services arm, is the conglomerateā€™s cornerstone. Moreover, under Vishakha’s leadership, it has undergone a complete turnaround.

    Her journey into leadership at ABCL has been a relentless focus on transformation. She planned to do all this by integrating data, digital capabilities, and technology. This strategic vision has accelerated growth momentum and increased profitability of the companyā€™s diverse business verticals, making it even more dominant in the market. Vishakha has reimagined the companyā€™s business model. Furthermore, she made ABCL a genuinely modern, customer-centric organization. Under her leadership, ABCL never failed to provide financial solutions precisely and efficiently.

    Vishakhaā€™s digital-first, customer-first approach leads this transformation. She has led the development and launch of Aditya Birla Capital Digital (ABCD). ABCD is an omnichannel D2C solution that combines the group’s full suite of financial services. This platform has grown with a massive investment of INR 100 crore. Moreover, this makes it a much-needed platform to unify the customersā€™ experience. The platform offers a single interface for loans, investments, insurance, and payments. The accompanying mobile app was built to be intuitive and user-friendly. Moreover, it mimics a seamless digital-first solution to meet evolving customer expectations.

    Besides improving the individual customer experience, Vishakha has prioritized supporting the MSME sector. Moreover, she launched Udyog Plus, a pioneering digital B2B lending platform. This initiative provides seamless lending and value-added services to the specific needs of micro, small, and medium enterprises. Aditya Birla Group encompasses over 250 million customers across 14 ABCLs. Moreover, it is a trusted partner to businesses and individuals alike.

    Vishakhaā€™s managerial leadership has been focused on digital innovation and making significant strides in business growth and fundraising. Marquee investors who have invested in the company have bolstered its capital base. Her efforts have resulted in ABCL seeing its profitability improve across its operations. Moreover, its status as a market leader in the financial services sector is reinforced.

    Vishakha is a key figure in the Aditya Birla Group. Moreover, she is a member of the board of directors of ABCLā€™s operating companies. The ABCL’s operating companies include:

    • Aditya Birla Finance Limited
    • Aditya Birla Housing Finance Limited
    • Aditya Birla Sun Life AMC Limited
    • Aditya Birla Sun Life Insurance Company Limited
    • Aditya Birla Health Insurance Co. Limited

    She also leads the strategic direction at ABC Foundation and NPCI International Payments Limited.

    Vishakha launched ABCLā€™s omnichannel architecture, which reflects her commitment to digital reinvention. The company has blended the physical and digital by allowing customers to interact on their preferred channels. Moreover, this enables frictionless acquisition and retention of customers at scale. Her vision is born from a profound knowledge of the changing financial landscape. She is committed to delivering on customer needs with precision, simplicity, and innovation.

    Aditya Birla Capital has become an innovative and forward-looking organization under her leadership. Her strategic focus has revitalized ABCL, its customer-centric ethos, and bold initiatives. Moreover, she re-energized ABCL and established a benchmark for the financial services industry. Aditya Birla Capital is ready to take its journey as a leader in economic innovation. Furthermore, bringing unparalleled value to its customers and stakeholders under Vishakha’s leadership.

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    Vishakha Mulye – Controversies

    During Vishakha Mulye’s tenure as managing director and CEO of ICICI Venture, the private equity firm became controversial when investing in Subhiksha, a now-bankrupt South-based retailing company. The focus of scrutiny was this investment: It was a question of what due diligence and risk management processes were undertaken before committing capital.

    The widely discussed case in the Indian financial sector was of Subhiksha, whose financial collapse left creditors and investors with losses. The retail company went into insolvency, and its entire story is controversial. However, according to ICICI Venture, it made a financial profit from the transaction. The fallout, however, led to discussions over the obligations of venture capital and private equity firms when backing high-risk ventures.

    Vishakha Mulye, well known for her strategic leadership and clear-eyed approach to challenges, did not comment extensively on the Subhiksha matter, saying it was sub judice (under judicial consideration). Her stance on the matter was so reserved that it spelled out her adherence to legal and ethical propriety.

    From a philosophical point of view, Mulye looked at the whole venture capital private equity space and the fact that not all investments add net worth to the investor. She said that in the sector, for every five successful decisions, there could be one misstep, which is the nature of the business. Her pragmatic outlook revealed her to be more attentive to the volatility and complexities of financial markets.

    Although she never faced scrutiny regarding the Subhiksha controversy, she contributed brilliantly to ICICI Venture and the ICICI Group. She did many notable things during her time, such as navigating complicated financial environments and carrying out large fundraisings and mergers. In her illustrious career, the Subhiksha case was a learning moment about her ability to navigate difficult situations while always keeping her eye on long-term value creation.

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    Vishakha Mulye – Awards and Recognitions

    • Awarded with the title of Young Global Leader in 2007 by the World Economic Forum
    • ā€˜India CFO Awardā€™ in 2006 from IMA India for ‘Excellence in Finance in a Large Corporate’
    • ā€˜CA Corporate Leader Awardā€™ 2008 from the Institute of Chartered Accountants. 
    • ā€™Most Powerful Womenā€™ in Indian Businessā€™ by Business Today 
    • ā€˜Most Powerful Womenā€™ by Fortune India. 
    • Inducted into Business Todayā€™s ā€™Hall of Fameā€™ 
    • Received the ā€˜GR8! Women Awardsā€™ from the Indian Television Academy in 2012 
    • Received Mukta Sanman In 2019 at News 18 Lokmat’s award ceremony
    • Institute of Chartered Accountants of Indiaā€™s CA Corporate Leader Award, 2008
    • World Economic Forumā€™s Young
    • IMA Indiaā€™s CFO Award, 2006

    Vishakha Mulye – Interesting Facts

    • Vishakha Mulye is the first woman in the Aditya Birla Group. She joined the Aditya Birla Management Corporation board, the group’s apex decision-making body.
    • As a chartered accountant by trade, she brings expertise to her leadership positions. Before ICICI Bank, she worked on the front-end needs of different monetary territories. Moreover, she focused on domestic and foreign value-driven universal banking.

    FAQs

    Who is Vishakha Mulye?

    Vishakha Mulye is a prominent Indian business leader and the CEO of Aditya Birla Capital Limited. She has over three decades of experience in banking and finance.

    What is Vishakha Mulye net worth?

    Vishakha Mulye net worth is $96 million (December 2024).

    What was Vishakha Mulyeā€™s previous role before joining Aditya Birla Capital?

    Before joining Aditya Birla Capital as CEO, Vishakha Mulye served as an Executive Director at ICICI Bank.

  • Ashish Kacholia: The Astute Investor and Philanthropist Shaping India’s Financial Landscape

    Ashish Kacholia is the face of the Indian investment market. With his skills in finding growth opportunities in small and mid-cap companies, he has proven himself outstanding. A person with decades of experience in the financial market, he has become one of the household names of retail investors and an important figure in the Indian investment landscape. As a philanthropist, Kacholia is driven by a passion for helping underprivileged communities that need no comparison.

    Let’s look at the story of Ashish Kacholia. We will discuss his net worth, education, personal life, philanthropy, and more.

    Ashish Kacholia – Biography

    Full Name Ashish Kacholia
    Birthplace Mumbai, India
    Nationality Indian
    Education Bachelor’s degree in Production Engineering, Master of Business Administration (MBA)
    College Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Business Studies (JBIMS)
    Occupation Investor, Entrepreneur
    Known For Founder of Lucky Investment Managers
    Other Titles Co-founder of Hungama Digital
    Parents Ramesh Kacholia (father)
    Philanthropic Focus Education, Healthcare, Livelihoods, Wildlife Conservation, Sports
    Hobbies Golf, Music, Fitness

    Ashish Kacholia – Early Life
    Ashish Kacholia – Family
    Ashish Kacholia – Career Highlights
    Ashish Kacholia – Stock Investments
    Ashish Kacholia – Philanthropy
    Ashish Kacholia – Awards and Recognition
    Ashish Kacholia – Facts
    Ashish Kacholia – Legacy and Impact

    Ashish Kacholia – Early Life

    Ashish Kacholia was born into the Marwari family of a Mumbai business house. These people are known for being great businessmen. Ashish used to be very keen on numbers and analysis from his early days, which later defined his success in the financial markets.

    He had a Bachelor’s in Production Engineering from Mumbai University and later earned an MMS from Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies. It was during these periods of academic pursuit that his skills in analysis were enhanced well and the sound foundations for his entry into the finance business were developed.

    Ashish Kacholia – Family

    Ashish Kacholia is married to Sushmita Kacholia, and they have three children. Despite his professional commitments, he values family time and remains deeply rooted in his cultural traditions.

    In his free time, Kacholia can be found playing golf and listening to music besides regular fitness. A balanced life thus speaks of professional success blending into personal satisfaction.

    Ashish Kacholia – Career Highlights

    • Early Career: Kacholia began his career with Prime Securities, where he gained firsthand experience in investment banking and equity research. His journey continued at Edelweiss Capital, further refining his understanding of market dynamics and client management.
    • Co-founder of Hungama Digital: In 1999, he co-founded Hungama Digital with Rakesh Jhunjhunwala as a pioneering venture in the digital entertainment space of India. That demonstrated his innovative spirit and ability to spot emerging opportunities, which ultimately served as the bedrock for his success.
    • Lucky Investment Managers: He established Lucky Investment Managers, a proprietary investment firm specializing in small and mid-cap stocks. His investment philosophy lies in finding undervalued companies with strong fundamentals and great growth potential.
    • Investment Strategy: Kacholia’s portfolio runs very wide across sectors from chemicals and pharmaceuticals, to infrastructure, logistics and consumer goods. He is also known as “Big Whale” among the retail investors for the depth of his research and his acumen as an investor.

    Ashish Kacholia – Stock Investments

    Ashish Kacholia is known as the Big Whale thanks to his in-depth research and investor acumen. Here are some of the stocks he has invested in: 

    Company Sept 2024 Value Cr
    Agarwal Industrial Corporation Ltd. 4 75.2
    AMI Organics Ltd. 1.84 159.56
    Beta Drugs Ltd. 12.52 239.74
    Carysil Ltd. 3.52 75.09
    DU Digital Global Ltd. 9.15 40.77
    Faze Three Ltd. 5.42 55.81
    Fineotex Chemical Ltd. 2.74 103.47
    Inflame Appliances Ltd. 4.2 12.44
    Knowledge Marine & Engineering Works Ltd. 2.78 69.36
    Raghav Productivity Enhancers Ltd. 2.02 31.95
    Safari Industries (India) Ltd. 1.84 229.01
    Shaily Engineering Plastics Ltd. 5.83 391.77
    Stove Kraft Ltd. 1.75 48.64
    Xpro India Ltd. 3.67 119.67
    Yasho Industries Ltd. 4.17 96.13
    SG Finserve Ltd. 1.14 26.05
    Aeroflex Industries Ltd. 1.81 46.61
    Balu Forge Industries Ltd. 1.82 156.62
    BEW Engineering Ltd. 8.54 8.01
    Dhabriya Polywood Ltd. 6.67 27.8
    NIIT Learning Systems Ltd. 2.02 122.46
    Universal Auto Foundry Ltd. 8.32 9.85
    Vasa Denticity Ltd. 3.8 45.49
    Zaggle Prepaid Ocean Services Ltd. 2.37 153.12
    Basilic Fly Studio Ltd. 1.99 15.84
    Brand Concepts Ltd. 1.6 8.55
    Tanfac Industries Ltd. 1.19 34.29
    Updater Services Ltd. 1.5 37.88
    Awfis Space Solutions Ltd. 4.77 239.22
    Man Industries (India) Ltd. 2.1 43.16
    Megatherm Induction Ltd. 1.68 10.53
    Saakshi Medtech & Panels Ltd. 3.53 13.58
    Sanjivani Paranteral Ltd. 3.17 13.99
    Walchandnagar Industries Ltd. 3.17 51.05
    Advait Infratech Ltd. 2.67 44.64
    Aimtron Electronics Ltd. 1.11 12.75
    Bharat Parenterals Ltd. 1.98 19.93
    Cosmic CRF Ltd. 6.52 84.02
    Jyoti Structures Ltd. 2.52 63.38
    Radiowalla Network Ltd. 7.78 6.03
    TBI Corn Ltd. 4.22 14.04

    Ashish Kacholia – Philanthropy

    Ashish Kacholia is deeply involved in philanthropy, with a focus on:

    • Education: He has supported the development of educational institutions, notably contributing to the evolution of a private school for slum children in Tikiapara, Kolkata. The Samaritan Help Mission school, which began in a 350 sq. ft. space for 25 students, has transformed into a multi-storeyed structure providing digitized education to over 3,000 students up to Class X.
    • Healthcare: As a Super Donor of the Sankara Eye Foundation, Kacholia has played a pivotal role in advancing eye care and combating preventable blindness. His contributions extend to funding hospitals and organizing medical camps in underserved regions.
    • Livelihoods and Wildlife Conservation: Kacholia supports initiatives that promote sustainable livelihoods for rural communities and protect wildlife habitats. His philanthropic efforts reflect a holistic approach to societal and environmental well-being. 
    • Disaster Relief and Pandemic Response: During the COVID-19 pandemic, Kacholia actively contributed to relief efforts, funding healthcare supplies and supporting frontline workers. His timely interventions helped mitigate the crisis’ impact on vulnerable populations.

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    Ashish Kacholia – Awards and Recognition

    While specific awards and recognitions are not extensively documented, Kacholia’s investment prowess and philanthropic contributions have earned him respect and admiration within the financial community and beyond.

    Ashish Kacholia – Facts

    • He is being referred to as the “Big Whale” among retail investors because he has invested in very small and mid-cap firms.
    • Co-founder of Hungama Digital since 1999, when he was the first employee of Rakesh Jhunjhunwala.
    • Among such portfolios of Kacholia include chemicals, pharmaceuticals consumer packages, consumer goods metals and Steel infrastructure sectors, and Logistics.
    • He is a trustee at Plaksha University, which reflects his interest in promoting education in India.
    • Despite his substantial wealth and influence, Kacholia maintains a low public profile, focusing on his work and philanthropic activities.

    Ashish Kacholia – Legacy and Impact

    Ashish Kacholia is an inspiring story of the journey of a budding investor turning into a stalwart in India’s financial markets. His dual focus on wealth creation and societal betterment reflects financial acumen’s potential for social good. Kacholiaā€™s legacy is not only defined by his market successes but also by his unwavering commitment to uplifting communities and improving lives.

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    FAQs

    Who is Ashish Kacholia?

    Ashish Kacholia is a well-known Indian investor. He is famous for investing in small-cap and mid-cap stocks. Over time, he built a strong reputation for identifying high-growth companies early. Ashish Kacholiaā€™s stock portfolio is closely watched by investors for ideas and trends. He is also the founder of Lucky Investment Managers.

    What does Lucky Investment Managers do?

    Lucky Investment Managers is an investment firm founded by Ashish Kacholia. It focuses on managing equity investments, primarily in small-cap and mid-cap stocks. The firm is known for identifying high-growth companies and building long-term value for investors.

    What is Ashish Kacholia net worth?

    Ashish Kacholia net worth is INR 3,166.6 crore as of December 2024.

  • Pradeep Dadha: The Visionary Behind Netmeds and a Pioneer in Digital Healthcare Accessibility

    Pradeep Dadha is amongst the most prominent Indian entrepreneurs with a massive mark in both eCommerce and pharmaceutical business. He is the CEO and founder of Netmeds and plays a pivotal role in bridging between healthcare and technology to make medicines accessible to millions throughout India. As he came from the well-known Dadha family, whose business in pharmaceuticals had spanned a century, Pradeep made his family’s heritage shift and transformed the way Indians have health care products. Netmeds has acquired the nickname “India’s Pharmacy” with a focus on customer service, a range of products, and digital innovation.

    Let’s look at the story of the founder and CEO of Netmeds, Pradeep Dadha. We will discuss his net worth, education, personal life, philanthropy, and more.

    Pradeep Dadha – Biography

    Full Name Pradeep Dadha
    Birthplace Royapettah, Chennai, India
    Nationality Indian
    Occupation Entrepreneur
    Known For Founding Netmeds
    Other Titles Founder of Vitalic Health Pvt. Ltd.
    Family Legacy Pharmaceutical retail and manufacturing since 1914
    Hobbies Business innovation, technology integration, and philanthropic initiatives

    Pradeep Dadha – Early Life
    Pradeep Dadha – Family
    Pradeep Dadha – Career Highlights
    Pradeep Dadha – Philanthropy
    Pradeep Dadha – Awards and Recognition
    Pradeep Dadha – Facts

    Pradeep Dadha – Early Life

    Pradeep hails from Chennai and grew up surrounded by the pharmaceuticals and healthcare industry. He has always been exposed to his family business since his early years, which fueled his interest in innovation and entrepreneurship. While records regarding his educational background are not readily available, it is quite apparent that Pradeep has a good background in business and management that he could apply to his ventures later. His early years were marked by observing the challenges in pharmaceutical distribution, which inspired his future endeavors in digital healthcare solutions.

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    Pradeep Dadha – Family

    A descendent of the legendary lineage of Dadha, whose family has been in the pharmaceutical business for decades, hails Pradeep Dadha. His grandfather set up the family’s pharmacy retail business in 1914. His father branched out into manufacturing at Tamil Nadu Dadha Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (TDPL) in 1972. The Dadha family is one of the most revered in Chennai for its contribution to healthcare and commitment to the betterment of quality medicine access.

    Pradeep Dadha – Career Highlights

    Pradeep initially served in his family’s business. Dadha & Company, which was the giant leader in pharmaceutical retailing at the time, engaged him where he learned firsthand, about the supply chain and all the business activities along with customer relations.

    In 2010, Pradeep discovered the untapped potential of eCommerce in healthcare. To fill this gap, he established the subsidiary Netmeds under Vitalic Health Pvt. Ltd., to provide the online pharmacy service. The idea was simple yet revolutionary: to allow a customer to place an order for medicines online and have them delivered to the doorstep.

    It wasn’t long before the popularity of Netmeds started to pick up, mostly because of its easy interface, large product portfolio, and reliable delivery network. The innovative approach ensured that prescription medicines, over-the-counter drugs, healthcare devices, and wellness products all were found under one roof, namely Netmeds.

    Under the guidance of Pradeep, Netmeds was one of India’s most trusted online pharmacy stores, garnering huge investments, and eventually, in 2020, it was acquired by Reliance Industries Ltd., as a strategic buy to further consolidate its presence in the market.

    Pradeep believes that technology must be leveraged to solve the problems of real life. In Netmeds, his vision was not only creating a business but also addressing all the critical healthcare gaps in India. Through the AI-driven solutions and the logistics network in place, he made sure that even the remotest parts of the country could access Netmeds.

    Netmeds Financials

    In FY21, Netmeds’ revenue from operations amounted to Rs 13,423.42 lakh and decreased to Rs 10,776.96 lakh in FY22. Simultaneously, the company’s profit surged from Rs 104.77 lakh in FY21 to Rs 1,057.69 lakh in FY22.

    Netmeds – Leading Indiaā€™s Online Pharmacy Segment
    Reliance has acquired majority stake in online pharmacy Netmeds for $83 million. Netmeds is one of the top online pharmacy in India founded in 2010, founded by Pradeep Dadha. Read about the Success Story of Netmeds, Founders, Funding, Business Model
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    Pradeep Dadha – Philanthropy

    Pradeep Dadha has been very active in philanthropy, particularly in the domains of health and community welfare. Though much of his philanthropy is integrated into his work at Netmeds and the broader healthcare ecosystem, some notable contributions include:

    1. Enhancing Healthcare Accessibility: Pradeep Dadha’s vision for Netmeds was based on the need to address healthcare inequities in India. He has, in a way, indirectly contributed to public welfare by ensuring that medicines are available to people at affordable prices who reside in remote and inaccessible areas. This initiative has particularly benefited rural populations where physical pharmacies are scarce.

    2. Helping the Underprivileged: Pradeep has participated in initiatives that deliver free or reduced-cost drugs to families of low income. These initiatives, typically in collaboration with NGOs and health service providers, have assisted families who could not afford drugs.

    3. Promoting Preventive Healthcare: Pradeep has collaborated with healthcare professionals and organizations to back campaigns for preventive healthcare. This has included lifestyle disease awareness drives, vaccination programs, and health camps in rural areas.

    4. Disaster Relief: Under Pradeep, Netmeds has been the lifeline that has delivered medical supplies at the right time during disasters. Be it natural calamities or pandemics, Netmeds has ensured critical medicines and healthcare essentials reach affected regions at the right time. For instance, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Netmeds was instrumental in delivering medicines and healthcare products, easing the burden on healthcare infrastructure.

    5. Empowering Women and Children: Pradeep has supported initiatives for health improvement for women and children, as well as other health-enhancing programs. He included nutritional supplement distribution, support for maternal health, and medicines for pediatric care in such activities.

    6. Innovation in HealthCare: Pradeep’s leadership at Netmeds and Vitalic Health encouraged research and development of technologies in healthcare. It helps indirectly improve public health through encouraging innovative solutions for the management of diseases and health delivery.

    7. Charity Drives: Pradeep has supported many charity drives, mainly concerning free medical check-ups, eye camps, and essential medicines to be dispensed to the needy population.

    8. NGOs Partnerships: Pradeep has actively partnered with a few non-profits to scale healthcare services in rural and semi-urban areas. Such partnerships helped to bridge the gap between health service providers and patients who usually are not reached by the formal health system.

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    Pradeep Dadha – Awards and Recognition

    For Netmeds

    • NDTV Unicorn Start-up Award (2016): Was featured as one of the best start-up companies in India.
    • Asia’s Most Promising Brand 2018: For innovative and exponential growth in the healthcare e-commerce segment.
    • Best Digital Healthcare Start-up by ET Now World Health and Wellness Congress (2019)
    • Emerging Company of the Year, Zee Business Dare to Dream Award 2018
    • Digital Healthcare Company of the Year, Economic Times, 2019

    For Pradeep Dadha

    • Game Changer of India, 2018: A recognized person by the Economic Times for his contribution towards e-commerce.
    • Business Innovator of the Year 2018: Global Adjustments’ India Living Awards gave this to him for innovative work in the health industry.

    Pradeep Dadha – Facts

    • From successful e-pharmacy models of Western countries, but in the context of problems prevailing in the Indian market and to be adapted.
    • He actively participates in the access to healthcare initiatives that cater to underprivileged communities.
    • Pradeep is passionate about emerging technologies like AI and blockchain and their applications in healthcare.
    • Despite his very tight schedule, Pradeep is very much close to his family’s culture and values.

    FAQs

    Who is Pradeep Dadha?

    Pradeep Dadha is an Indian entrepreneur and the founder of Netmeds, an online pharmacy. Netmeds provides medicines, healthcare products, and wellness items.

    When was Netmeds founded?

    Netmeds was founded in 2010. It was later acquired by Reliance Retail in 2020.

    What does Netmeds do?

    Netmeds is one of the top online pharmacies in India that deals with a wide range of healthcare products like high-quality prescription medicines, over-the-counter pharmaceuticals, general healthcare products, Ayurvedic medicines, and homeopathic medicines. It has delivery facilities across India.

    What is Pradeep Dadha net worth?

    Pradeep Dadha’s net worth as of 2023 is between $6-9 million.

  • Success Story of Vineeta Singh: Founder of Sugar Cosmetics

    Prior to the development of the D2C and e-commerce section of India, the Indian market was hugely dominated by the giants, leaving less or no space for the newbies. In the last decade, work done by startups, namely, WOW Skin, Plum, Nykaa, and Sugar, and their reach, cannot be overlooked. Today these options are at the top of the go-to list of Indian customers. The service provided by them, and the quality of the products are nowhere less than those of the cosmetic giants.

    One of the top premium cosmetic brands in India, Sugar Cosmetics has a cult following among millennials. Thanks to its clutter-breaking attitude, distinctive low-poly attractive packaging, and bestsellers, Sugar is the cosmetics brand of choice for strong, independent women who reject any boundaries or parameters they are being fit into. With a cruelty-free collection that is strong in design and high in quality, the company is committed to creating products that are a perfect fit for every Indian skin tone throughout the seasons and throughout the calendar, which is a rare sight.

    Vineeta, the co-founder of Sugar and a strong independent woman who’s an inspiration to many little girls out there, established Sugar by making it accessible, inexpensive, and ideal for Indian skin. The company’s products and excellent marketing methods have elevated the brand to the top of the list of Indian women’s preferences.

    Read this article further, to learn about the life story of Vineeta Singh starting from her early life, her education, her entrepreneurial journey, her struggles her current state, and much more.

    Vineeta Singh Biography

    Name Vineeta Singh
    YOB 1984
    Nationality Indian
    Spouse Kaushik Mukherjee
    Home Town Delhi, India
    Occupation Entrepreneur
    Educational Qualification Post Graduate
    Alma Mater IIT Madras(BTech), IIM Ahmedabad(MBA)

    Vineeta Singh – Early Life, and Education
    Vineeta Singh – Family
    Vineeta Singh – Career
    Vineeta Singh – Sugar Cosmetics
    Vineeta Singh – Shark Tank India
    Vineeta Singh – Personal Life
    Vineeta Singh – Investments
    Vineeta – Awards and Recognitions

    Vineeta Singh – Early Life, and Education

    Vinita Singh was born in Delhi, India, in 1991. She finished her schooling at the Delhi Public School, R.K. Puram, in Delhi.

    Vineeta received her undergraduate degree in the course of Electrical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology Madras in 2005. Later, she got herself into IIM Ahmedabad to pursue her MBA in 2007.

    Vineeta Singh – Family

    Tej Singh, Vineeta Singh’s father, was a scientist at the “All India Institute of Medical Sciences.” Her father is highly passionate about his work. There is no doubt that her parents had a significant impact on her and helped shape who she is today. Her post-graduate MBA program introduced her to Kaushik Mukherjee, whom she married shortly after graduating in 2011.

    Sugar Founder - Vineeta and Kaushik
    Founders of Sugar – Vineeta and Kaushik

    Kaushik, Sugar Cosmetics’ President, and Chief Operating Officer is both her business and life partner. The couple is known as the “Ironman couple” because they completed the world’s longest race. The couple has two sons, Vikrant and Ranveer.

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    SUGAR Cosmetics is a cruelty-free, performance-driven, and stylish makeup brand. Hereā€™s the Company Profile, Founders, Funding, Business model, Revenue, information about Sugar Cosmetics and more.
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    Vineeta Singh – Career

    Vineeta Singh is the co-founder and CEO of SUGAR and Fab Bag. FabBags is a grooming subscription service that was established in 2012. Nykaa Cosmetics, Kay by Katrina, and Starlust are the other companies that compete in the cosmetics market along with Sugar Cosmetics.

    Her first summer job at Deutsche Bank was as a student in 2006. Vineeta Singh’s extensive experience in the banking and financial industry has earned her the position of Director for Quetzal Verify Private Limited. Her tenure in that position, however, was for five years.

    Vineeta Singh founded Sugar after failing to launch two previous firms and turning down a job offer of “one crore” from a multinational investment company. That’s correct. Instead of creating something for others, she desired to do something for herself. Singh founded her third startup Sugar, alongside her husband, Kaushik Mukherjee.

    Back then, the behemoths, LakmĆ©, L’OrĆ©al, and MAC Cosmetics controlled the Indian cosmetics industry. Then, in 2012, SUGAR was created, defeating a slew of national and global competitors to become India’s fastest-growing cosmetics brand. Sugar has become India’s fastest-growing cosmetics brand in only five years. The company has over 2500 branded locations in over 130 cities and generates more than 100 crores in sales.

    A cosmetic brand established by the artisans of German, Italian, Indian, American, and Korean cities, Sugar Cosmetics, is presently winning across the spectrum. Revenues increased by a huge margin from INR 57 crores in 2020 to INR 104 crores in FY21, with a 15% rise in sales globally.

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    Vineeta Singh – Sugar Cosmetics

    Sugar Cosmetics is a cult favorite among millennials and one of India’s fastest-growing premium cosmetic firms. Sugar, with its clutter-breaking attitude, distinctive minimal packaging, and distinctly good products, is the cosmetics of choice for courageous independent women who refuse to be stereotyped by stereotypes. Bestsellers in the Lips, Eyes, Face, Nails, and Skin categories are sent all over the world from the brand’s cutting-edge facilities in Germany, Italy, India, the United States, and Korea.

    ā€œMy savings were diminishing; Iā€™d hardly ever go out because I was on a strict budget. But I pushed on. I even started a venture, but it didnā€™t work as planned. After a year, I felt brave enough to give entrepreneurship another shot with Fab Bag, a beauty subscription company. But after research, I realized the need for quality cosmetics for Indian womenā€“thatā€™s how Sugar Cosmetics was born.”

    Products of Sugar
    Products of Sugar

    With a cruelty-free range that is excellent in appearance and strong in functionality, the brand is dedicated to developing products that are a wonderful fit for every Indian skin tone throughout the seasons and across the calendar. Sugar Cosmetics is rapidly extending its powerful presence, to reach the doorsteps of every cosmetics consumer in the country by 2021, supported by the trust of marquee investors and the enthusiasm of millions of beauty devotees.

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    Vineeta Singh – Shark Tank India

    Shark Tank India introduced us to a plethora of individuals who are responsible for the success of major companies. Vineeta Singh, the co-founder of Women’s Favorite Sugar Cosmetics, is one such name. This woman has set a terrific example for aspiring female entrepreneurs. She has not only earned success for herself, but she also serves as an inspiration to many aspiring enterprise founders.

    She invested in several of the firms featured on the show. Some of them are as below:

    1. Skippi Ice Popsicles
    2. CosIQ
    3. BluePine Foods
    4. Booz
    5. NOCD
    6. Heart Up My Sleeves
    7. Sunfox Technologies
    8. The Quirky Naari
    9. Humpy A2 Milk & Organic Farms
    10. Wakao
    11. Kabaddi Adda
    12. Jain Shikanji Masala
    13. Nomad Food Project
    14. Get-A-Whey

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    Vineeta Singh – Personal Life

    Vineeta Singh, Co-Founder, and CEO of SUGAR Cosmetics was an outgoing child. At 23, she learned how passionate she had been about fitness while studying at IIM-Ahmedabad. She had never raced more than a kilometer before until she was challenged to compete in the Mumbai Full Marathon, and she ended up signing up for the 42-kilometer marathon. She gained so much from the experience that the CEO became obsessed with the concept of becoming a lifetime runner.

    Vineeta’s running resume includes 20 marathons, ultramarathons, and roughly a dozen half-marathons. She has also participated in various triathlons, the most notable of which being the renowned Ironman, which she finished in Austria in 2017. The Ironman, popularised in India by Milind Soman, consists of a 3.8-kilometer swim, a 180-kilometer bicycle ride, and a 42-kilometer full marathon. This is not something you decide to do one morning. But that’s not all; she also ran the 89-kilometer Comrades Ultramarathon from 2012 to 2014.

    Even though her life is slowly returning to normal following quarantine, she still makes it a point to devote an hour each day to her training program. She works out in the morning to get the day started well and to get in a workout before the stressful hours catch up with her. Vineeta gets the ‘me-time’ she needs to relieve mental tension while also enhancing productivity and optimism throughout the day with an hour of exercise.

    Vineeta is a huge supporter of any exercise or sport that takes her outside, and in addition to jogging, she swims and bikes whenever she has the chance. Another activity she enjoys is badminton; she competed in several tournaments during her undergrad and B-school years.

    “When it comes to nutrition, I never was one to follow a strict diet or restrict myself, when it comes to nutrition. I’m not a fan of diet fads so I stick to everyday home food at regular intervals. I make it a point to always stay hydrated and do simple portion control while eating,” says Vineeta.

    In April 2024, Vineeta Singh denied false rumors about her death and arrest. She shared her frustration on X, showing a fake news screenshot. Singh reported it to Meta and filed a complaint with Mumbai Cyber Police. She said the hardest part was people calling her mother in panic. She also mentioned facing paid PR spreading these false stories.

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    Vineeta Singh – Investments

    Below are the details of the investments made by Vineeta Singh. Her most recent investment was Seed Round-P-Tal, having raised $120k on April 3, 2024.

    Date Organization Name Round Amount
    April 3, 2024 P-Tal Seed $120K
    March 23, 2024 Farm Didi Angel $12K
    March 19, 2024 Nema AI Angel $48.2K
    May 10, 2022 Josh Talks Series A ā‚¹270M
    Jan 31, 2022 Humpy Farms Angel Round ā‚¹10M
    Dec 28, 2021 Skippi Ice Pops Seed Round ā‚¹10M
    Dec 23, 2021 CosIQ Seed Round ā‚¹5M

    Vineeta – Awards and Recognitions

    • Vineeta was an academic gold medalist between 1993 and 2001. She is also an excellent athlete.
    • She won two gold medals and two silver medals in the IIT Madras Badminton Tournament.
    • She received the Dulari Mattu Award for the finest female all-rounder at IIM Ahmedabad in 2007.
    • In 2012 and 2013, she received back-to-back medals from the Comrades Marathon Association for completing both the Ups and Downs (89 km) and Comrades Back-to-Back (89 km), South Africa’s highest Ultra-Marathon.
    • In 2020, she was named one of India’s 40 Under Forty business leaders by the Economic Times.
    • According to Forbes India, she was one of India’s most powerful women in 2021.
    • Amitabh Bachchan’s most successful show, Kaun Banega Crore Pati (KBC), featured her as an expert, in the context of one of the questions.
    • Furthermore, for more than a decade now, Vineeta has been manufacturing best-selling cosmetic products, making millions of dollars in sales each year.

    FAQs

    Who is Vineeta Singh?

    Vineeta Singh is the co-founder and CEO of Sugar Cosmetics and a judge on Shark Tank India. She is a successful entrepreneur and business leader.

    What is Vineeta Singh’s net worth?

    The net worth of Vineeta Singh is about INR 300 crore as of 2024.

    How many companies did Vineeta Singh Co-found?

    Vineeta Singh is a co-founder of 2 companies; Sugar Cosmetics & Fab Bags.

    Is Sugar Cosmetics a Unicorn?

    No, Sugar Costemics is not a Unicorn yet.

    What is Vineeta Singh education?

    Vineeta received her undergraduate degree in the course of Electrical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology Madras in 2005. Later, she got herself into IIM Ahmedabad to pursue her MBA in 2007.

    What is Vineeta Singh age?

    Vineeta Singh was born in 1983. She is approximately 43 years old.

    What is Sugar Cosmetics net worth?

    Sugar Cosmetics is valued at INR 4100 crore as of 2024.

  • Azhar Iqubalā€™s Inspiring Journey from IIT Dropout to Shark Tank India Judge

    For the Millennials and Gen Z, it has always been tedious and boring to sit with the elders at home and watch the monotonous news channels. We have always searched for a way to escape that situation. The biggest constraint was the lack of time and the content’s length and mass. But then came the savior- Inshorts.

    Inshorts, with its brevity and simplicity, brought about a massive change in how the youth consume news.

    We live in a world where we are flooded with information all around us. Also, from Instagram reels to YouTube shorts, only short forms of entertainment have gained popularity. That being the scenario, Azhar Iqubal, had foreseen this almost a decade ago and co-founded Inshorts, an app that delivers the latest news in less than 60 words.

    Let’s look at the story of the co-founder and chairman of Inshorts, Azhar Iqubal. We will discuss his net worth, education, personal life, investments, challenges, and more.

    Azhar Iqubal Biography

    Name Azhar Iqubal
    Born 7th October 1992
    Birthplace Bihar, India
    Nationality Indian
    Education Mathematics and Computer Science, IIT Delhi (Dropped out)
    Position Co-founder and Chairman, Inshorts
    Net worth INR 500 crore (March 2024)

    Azhar Iqubal – Early Life
    Azhar Iqubal – Career
    Azhar Iqubal – Personal Life
    Azhar Iqubal – Inshorts
    Azhar Iqubal – Shark Tank India
    Azhar Iqubal – Journey So Far
    Azhar Iqubal – Challenges Faced
    Azhar Iqubal – Investments
    Azhar Iqubal – Awards and Recognitions

    Azhar Iqubal- Early Life

    Born and raised in India, Azharā€™s early life, marked by curiosity and a passion for information, laid the foundation for his journey. He joined IIT Delhi to pursue his bachelor’s in Mathematics and computer science.

    As he navigated through college, his hunger for knowledge and innate entrepreneurial spirit began to blossom. Soon, he dropped out of IIT to co-found what is today a multi-million dollar business.

    Azhar Iqubal – Career

    In 2013, Azhar Iqubal, his IIT Delhi classmate Anunay Pandey, and IIT Kharagpur student Deepit Purkayastha established the News in Shorts Facebook page.

    It instantly attracted users’ interest because it included summaries of news items together with links to the actual stories.

    They were accepted into the Times Internet-backed TLabs startup accelerator some months later.

    Azhar Iqubal’s journey from those formative years to the inception of Inshorts is a testament to the power of curiosity, resilience, and a vision to make information accessible to all.

    Following the success of Inshorts, he also established a Public App in 2019 with the goal of bringing together Indian local communities on a digital platform.

    Azhar Iqubal, who served Inshorts as CEO for 11 years stepped down from his position in April 2024 after 11 years. He is now the company’s new chairman, while fellow co-founder Deepit Purkayastha took over as the new CEO.

    ā€œAfter leading the company for 11 years as chief executive, I have decided to step into the role of chairman of the company. My co-founder, Deepit, who has been an instrumental part of our journey from the beginning, will take charge as the chief executive of the company and I am excited to see him lead our company to greater heights,” Azhar Iqubal said in a statement.

    Success Story and Business Model of Inshorts

    Azhar Iqubal – Personal Life

    Azhar Iqubal hails from the state of Bihar and currently lives in India. He is fond of driving and traveling. He also loves to go on road trips with his friends.

    Being one of the most successful young entrepreneurs in India, he is followed by thousands of his young fans.

    Azhar Iqubal – Inshorts

    Inshorts Landing Page
    Inshorts Landing Page

    Inshorts provides daily 60-word summaries of news updates to its customers at just a click away. While, according to Inshorts owners, in December 2014, there were just 100,000 users, currently the count has risen to nearly three million.

    Also, over the years, the company has created numerous creative advertising concepts that have assisted them in bringing on more than 250 brands. Working with household names like Vodafone, OnePlus, Mercedes, Netflix, Amazon Prime, Myntra, and others helped Inshorts become operationally viable within five years after its inception.

    Public App is a platform that allows users to engage with their community through verified updates from media organizations, lawmakers, authorities, and content producers. The Public App gained more than 50 million active members in the first year after its inception, making it the largest location-based social network in India.

    Inshorts Startup Story – Business Model, Revenue Model, Competitors and more
    Inshorts is an mobile news application that offers news stories summarised in 60 words or less. Lets look at its business model, revenue model and more.
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    Azhar Iqubal – Shark Tank India

    Shark Tank India Judges- Peyush Bansal, Namita Thapar, Azhar Iqubal, Amit Jain, Anupam Mittal
    Shark Tank India Judges – Peyush Bansal, Namita Thapar, Azhar Iqubal, Amit Jain, Anupam Mittal

    In the latest, Shark Tank India, a business reality television series, has announced that Azhar Iqubal would be one of the judges along with the other latest entrants, OYOā€™s CEO Ritesh Agarwal and Zomatoā€™s CEO Deepinder Goyal, in the third season of the show.

    As the news was announced, it created a wave of excitement and inspiration among the young entrepreneurs.

    Azhar Iqubal wrote on his social media,

    ā€œOn Shark Tank India Season 3, I want to tell the youth of India that where you come from and whether you have a degree or not does not matter; what matters is whether you have hunger, discipline, and focus. And if you have it in you, I am here to support you in fulfilling your entrepreneurial dream.ā€

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    Azhar Iqubal – Journey So Far

    From being the co-founder of Inshorts, which has evolved to be India’s top-rated English news app and has maintained that ranking on Android since January 2014, to being a judge on Shart Tank India, Iqubalā€™s journey has stood as an example of sheer dedication and hard work.

    To quote Azhar Iqubal about his journey,

    ā€œDreaming big or later achieving is not that much difficult, but convincing people around you certainly is. I was not taken seriously or, should I say was mocked for my zeal. Once, when I was born in the village Sadogoda of Kochadhaman, Kishanganj, I wanted to get through IIT, which I achieved eventually as IITD. Later, people around ā€˜cautionedā€™ me the same way when I decided to drop out of IITD in 2012. Not listening to their concerns, which they raised of sincerity and affection to me, made me founding a company of 150 Crore Investment. Believing in you is the first step to achieving a goal, small or big, though I have yet to set my goals.ā€

    Azhar Iqubal – Challenges Faced

    During the pandemic, though, just like every other business, Inshorts faced a lot of challenges; the zeal and adaptability of Azhar and his team not only kept the business running but made Inshorts one of the top three applications that were suggested by the Play Store for reliable updates on COVID-19.

    Also, the Public App experienced significant growth as users began to rely on it for all authenticated local updates in real-time, including information about nearby grocery stores, hospitals, and quarantine policies.

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    Azhar Iqubal – Investments

    Azhar Iqubal invested in QuickReply.ai in April 2023. Below are the details of this investment:

    Announced Date Organization Name Lead Investor Funding Round Money Raised
    April 27, 2023 QuickReply.ai – Seed Round – QuickReply.ai $1.14 Million

    Azhar Iqubal – Awards and Recognitions

    Here are the prominent awards and recognitions of Azhar Iqubal:

    • Business World 40 under 40
    • Fortune India 40 under 40
    • Business World Young Entrepreneur Award
    • The Most Enterprising Brands
    • Leaders of Asia Award
    • Forbes India 30 under 30
    • Forbes Asia 30 under 30

    FAQs

    Who is Azhar Iqubal?

    Azhar Iqubal is an Indian entrepreneur and Co-founder and Chairman of Inshorts. He is one of the sharks in the Shark Tank India.

    Where is the headquarters of Inshorts?

    Inshorts was founded in 2013 and is headquartered in Noida, Uttar Pradesh.

    Who are Inshorts founders?

    The co-founders of Inshorts are Azhar Iqubal, Anunay Pandey, and Deepit Purkayastha.

    Who is Inshorts CEO?

    Deepit Purkayastha is the CEO of Inshorts. He is also one of the co-founders with Azhar Iqubal and Anunay Pandey.

    What is Azhar Iqubal education?

    Azhar Iqubal studied at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi, where he pursued a degree in Mathematics and Computing. However, he dropped out before completing his degree to focus on building his startup, Inshorts.

    What is Azhar Iqubal birthplace?

    Azhar Iqubal was born in Bihar on 7th October 1992. His hometown is Kishanganj. The Inshorts owner age is 32.

    What is Public App?

    Public App is an Indian social network app for local news, with updates on nearby events, business, employment opportunities, and classified ads, among other things.

    What is Azhar Iqubal business?

    Azhar Iqubal is the co-founder of Inshorts, a popular news aggregator platform that delivers short news summaries. It was launched in 2013 to provide quick, easy-to-read news updates.

    He is also the co-founder of Public, a location-based social network app launched in 2019. Public allows users to share updates, local news, and events within their communities.

  • Radhakishan Damani: Founder of DMart

    Radhakishan Damani is an Indian businessman who is known for establishing DMart. He founded DMart in May 2002 and is owned and operated by Avenue Supermarts Limited (ASL). He is an active Investor and manages his portfolio through his investment firm, Bright Star Limited. He is also a retailer and has actively taken an interest in the stock market. As of September 2024, Forbes ranked him the 6th richest man in India with a net worth of $31.5 billion.

    Radhakishan Damani – Biography

    Name Radhakishan Shivkishan Damani
    Born January 1954
    Birthplace Bikaner, Rajasthan, India
    Nationality Indian
    Current city Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
    Education University of Bombay
    Profession Businessman, Investor
    Position Founder of DMart
    Net worth $31.5 billion (September 2024)
    Father Shivkishanji Damani
    Siblings Gopikishan Damani
    Marital Status Married
    Children 3

    Radhakishan Damani – Personal Life
    Radhakishan Damani – Education
    Radhakishan Damani – Professional Life
    Radhakishan Damani – Stock broker
    Radhakishan Damani v/s Harshad Mehta
    Radhakishan Damani – Founder of DMart
    Radhakishan Damani – Bright Star Investments Private Limited
    Radhakishan Damani – Investments
    Radhakishan Damani – Awards & Achievements

    Radhakishan Damani – Personal Life

    Radhakishan was born to a Marwari family and lives in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. His father, Shivkishanji Damani worked as a broker in Dalal Street, which is an address of the Bombay Stock Exchange. He also took an interest in stock brokerage.

    His wife and brother assist him in his business errands. He has three daughters, one of whom, Manjri Chandak, is the manager of his company, DMart.

    He likes to keep a low profile and rarely gives any interviews. He mentored some stock trading techniques to Indian billionaires, Dipesh Bhandari and Rakesh Jhunjhunwala.

    Radhakishan Damani – Education

    Radhakishan studied Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Bombay. After one year, he dropped out of college to start his own business.

    Radhakishan Damani – Professional Life

    Radhakishan Damani the owner of DMart, initially worked for his ball-bearing production business. He then worked as a stockbroker and an investor. He had made investments in several companies, holding a substantial stake in those firms.

    He established a chain of hypermarkets in India called DMart in 2002, and the company rapidly grew and today, it has a strong audience base in India. The company went public when the IPO was issued in 2017 with the name Avenue Supermarket.

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    Radhakishan Damani – Stock broker

    After the death of his father, he became a stock market broker and an investor. He made profits by short-selling stocks that were inflated by illegal means by the Indian stockbroker, Harshad Mehta in the 1990s.

    In 1995, he individually became the largest shareholder of HDFC Bank after it went public. After the famous Harshad Mehta Scam came into the spotlight in 1992, there was a considerable rise in Radhakishan’s income.

    In 1999, he operated a franchise of Apna Bazaar. He led the business of the cooperative department store. However, he was “unconvinced” by its business model. He decided to quit the stock market in 2000 to start his hypermarket chain, DMart.

    Radhakishan Damani v/s Harshad Mehta

    Radhakishan combated Harshad Mehta, one of the most powerful traders of Dalal Street at that time. There was a dark phase in the Indian stock market from the late 1980s to the early 1990s. Radhakishan made a group with two of his friends and named it the triple-R’s.

    Harshad and the Triple R’s invested in an Indian company called Apollo Tyres. They both battled over the company’s shares for 2 years. Eventually, Radhakishan finally won the battle and established his prominence in the stock market. Even after bidding high valuations, Harshad lost the battle as he was accused of a huge scam in 1992.

    Radhakishan Damani – Founder of DMart

    DMart Logo

    In 2002, Radhakishan established the first store of DMart in Powai, Mumbai. By 2010, the company already had 25 stores and the company elevated to new heights after it went public in 2017. As of September 2024, DMart has 377 stores in 12 states and union territories in India.

    The company became public after the IPO listing as Avenue Supermarkets Limited. It eventually made a record opening on the market on the National Stock Exchange.

    Radhakishan Damani – Bright Star Investments Private Limited

    Radhakishan or RK Damani was appointed as the Director of Bright Star Investments Private Limited on 15 March 1996. The company was incorporated on 20 September 1989, based in Mumbai. It is classified as a private firm and operates as a financial service firm.

    The company is basically a service provider that provides investment, equity, commodities, mutual funds, and other financial services. The operating investment range of Bright Star is INR 1 crore to 100 crore for the financial year ending on 31 March 2019.

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    Radhakishan Damani – Investments

    Radhakishan holds a stake in a substantial range of companies, including the tobacco firm VST Industries and cement producer company India Cements.

    He holds a 1% stake in Andhra Paper. He also has a 15% stake in India Cements which increased to 19.89% in May 2020. In June 2024, he and his younger brother sold their shares in India Cements to billionaire Kumar Birla.

    His investment portfolio displayed 13 stocks with a total value of INR 159,030.9 crore (INR 80,000 Crore) in 2024.

    He eventually became one of the leading stock market investors in the country. Some investment stocks from his portfolio include the logistics service provider Blue Dart Express Ltd., the beer maker United Breweries, and Sundaram Finance.

    Radhakishan Damani – Awards & Achievements

    Radhakishan Damani has won many awards:

    • Padma Shri (2021): The Government of India gave him this award for his work in business and trade.
    • Hurun India’s Top 200 Self-made Entrepreneurs (2023): He was ranked first among self-made entrepreneurs.
    • Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year (2017): He received this award for his success as a businessman.
    • Forbes India Business Leader of the Year (2016): He was honored as a top business leader.
    • Economic Times Businessman of the Year (2015): He was named the best businessman of the year.

    FAQs

    Who is Radhakishan Damani?

    Radhakishan Damani is an Indian businessman who is known for establishing DMart. He is an active Investor and manages his portfolio through his investment firm, Bright Star Limited.

    Who is the owner of DMart?

    Radhakishan Damani is the founder of the DMart.

    What is DMart owner net worth?

    Radhakishan Damani net worth is $31.5 billion as of September 2024 according the Forbes.

    What is D-Mart owner native place?

    Radhakishan Damani, DMart owner was born in Bikaner, Rajasthan. Presently, he stays in Mumbai.

    What is D Mart full form?

    The full name of D Mart is Damani Mart.