You may have heard of the DLF conglomerate, but definitely, with great chances you may not have any idea of who Kushal Pal Singh is. Of all the billionaires in our land, it was K.P. Singh, the billionaire real estate developer, who sat 8th spot at the top, according to Forbes Richest World’s Billionaires list in 2008. He ranks as India’s 12th richest person as per the Forbes India Rich List of 2024.
K.P. Singh has constructed many earthquake-proof apartments, shopping malls, office spaces, and other leisure facilities in Gurugram. When K.P. Singh was the Chairman of DLF Limited, the company floated an IPO in 2007, which was one of the largest IPOs in India, raising about $2.24 billion. With the increase in the market capitalization of the company to more than $25.15 billion (as of December 2024), Singh and his family became one of the richest families in the world.
In this article, learn more about real estate mogul Kushal Pal Singh, including his education, career, net worth, family, awards, and more.
Kushal Pal Singh Biography
Name
Kushal Pal Singh
Born
August 15, 1931
Birthplace
Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh, India
Nationality
Indian
Education
Graduated in Science from Meerut College, Aeronautical Engineering from the UK
Profession
Billionaire Real Estate Developer DLF Limited CEO and Chairman of DLF Limited
Military Career
Served in the Indian Army (1951-1960)
Unit
Deccan Horse
Rank
Captain
Spouse
Indira Singh
Children
Rajiv Singh (son) Renuka Talwar (daughter) Pia Singh (daughter)
K.P. Singh was born in August 1931 in Bulandshahr, UP in a typical Tewatia Jat family. His father, Chaudhary Mukhtar Singh, was a renowned lawyer in Bulandshahr. After pursuing his science degree from Meerut College, K.P. Singh pursued aeronautical engineering in the UK and was selected into the Indian Army by the British Officers Services Selection Board. He was commissioned to join the Deccan Horse in 1951. In 1960 he joined the American Universal Electric Company and once it merged with DLF Universal Limited in 1979 he became the MD.
Kushal Pal Singh – Family
K.P. Singh was married to Indira Singh, the daughter of Raghavendra Singh, the founder of DLF Limited. Singh lost his wife, Indira Singh, to cancer in 2018. He has one son Rajiv and two daughters, Renuka and Pia together with his wife.
Rajiv later succeeded K.P. Singh as the Chairman of the DLF Group in 2020. Kavita, wife of Rajiv, became an advisor to DLF Commercial Developers Ltd. in November 2002 and was also made Advisor to DLF Universal Ltd. in 2011. They have two daughters, who are working in the company.
K.P. Singh’s elder daughter is married to G.S. Talwar, a non-executive director in the company. They have a son Rahul who is also a part of DLF India Ltd, but as a management trainee. K.P. Singh’s youngest daughter Pia is a full-time Director on the board of DLF Limited.
In 1960, K.P. Singh joined the American Universal Electric Company where he gained invaluable insights into the world of business. Post which, in 1979 he joined as joint MD as the director of DLF Universal Limited with Chaudhury Raghuvender Singh, his father-in-law. Under their joint leadership, the company became a prominent player in the real estate industry.
He played a major role when it came to shaping the future of DLF Limited. In 1970, he set his ambitious plan into action and started buying and developing property in the Gurgaon area. He envisioned Gurgaon (now Gurugram) to be a satellite city where international companies would race to set up their operations. He acquired over 3500 acres of land in the area and with his prowess in the real estate field the company transformed the city of Gurugram into an up-and-coming business hub with multiple apartments, offices, shopping malls, and leisure spaces.
In the 1990s GE became one of the biggest international corporations to lease an office space in the area which now came to be known as DLF City. With India becoming the top outsourcing destination other international brands such as IBM, American Express, British Airways, and Nestle became the tenants of DLF.
With Singh at the helm of DLF, it expanded far beyond Gurugram with its shopping malls, apartments, and hotels. In 2007, under K.P. Singh’s leadership, DLF Limited launched an initial public offering (IPO) that raised approximately INR 9,188 crore (about $2.25 billion) by selling 17.5 crore shares at INR 525 each.
Kushal Pal Singh – Controversy
In 2016, K.P. Singh was one of the high-profile names that were leaked from the Panama Papers. These comprised 11.5 million confidential documents developed by the Panamanian corporate services provider Mossack Fonseca. Singh, his wife, son, daughter Pia, and her husband Timmy Sarna were all named as those who set up offshore companies in the British Virgin Islands.
Kushal Pal Singh – Awards and Recognition
Kushal Pal Singh Receiving Padma Bhushan Award
2000: The Samman Patra Award, conferred by the Government of India for being one of the top taxpayers of the Delhi region
2008: Recognition by Forbes magazine as the richest real estate baron and 8th richest person in the world
2008: A special award conferred by NDTV, at the Indian of the Year Award Function for his contribution towards the growth of the Indian economy
October 2010: Decoration of Officer of the Order of St. Charles, conferred by Prince Albert II of Monaco for his contributions as Honorary Consul General of Monaco in Delhi for the previous two decades.
January 2010: Padma Bhushan Award, Government of India.
Delhi Ratna Award by Delhi Government, for his valuable contribution to the development of Delhi.
2011: Entrepreneur of the Year award at The Asian Awards
2024: Singh and Aparna Jain’s book Why the Heck Not? was published
Kushal Pal Singh is an Indian billionaire real estate developer and the former chairman of DLF Limited. He is currently the Chairman Emeritus of DLF.
What is Kushal Pal Singh’s education?
K.P. Singh completed his science degree from Meerut College and then pursued aeronautical engineering in the UK.
What awards has Kushal Pal Singh received?
He received the Padma Bhushan in 2010, Forbes recognition as the 8th richest person in the world in 2008, the Entrepreneur of the Year award in 2011, and more.
For cricket lovers, Cricbuzz is an experience and a celebration of cricket and its power to bring people together. In India where fans live and breathe the sport, Cricbuzz ensures they never miss a moment. And for that, cricket lovers around the globe have Pankaj to thank.
Pankaj Chhaparwal, the CEO, Founder, and Managing Director of Cricbuzz, has completely changed how cricket fans consume the sport. His journey is a compelling story of how passion for cricket, combined with technological expertise, can create something extraordinary. Growing up in cricket-crazy India, Pankaj’s love for the sport was evident early on. Right from following live matches, memorizing player stats, or debating game strategies, cricket for him turned out to be a lot more than fun and leisure — as it became a way of life.
Alongside this love for cricket, Pankaj displayed a natural affinity for problem-solving and technology. These two interests eventually became the foundation for a venture that would reshape cricket fandom globally.
Pankaj Chhaparwal – Biography
Name
Pankaj Chhaparwal
Born
1977
Birth Place
India
Nationality
Indian
Education
BE from LD College of Engineering, Gujarat University
Pankaj’s academic journey began at LD College of Engineering at Gujarat University, where he pursued a Bachelor’s in Engineering from 1994 to 1998. This period honed his technical skills and shaped his entrepreneurial mindset. Armed with a strong engineering background, he entered the tech industry, gaining invaluable professional experience. His time in the corporate world gave him a front-row seat to the burgeoning opportunities in the digital-first scene.
It was during this phase that he identified a glaring gap — while cricket had a massive following in India, there was no single digital platform offering real-time updates, expert analyses, and engaging content for fans. Recognizing this as an untapped market, Pankaj began laying the groundwork for what would become Cricbuzz.
The Birth of Cricbuzz
In an era when smartphones and mobile internet were still gaining traction, Pankaj took a bold step and founded Cricbuzz. His vision was ambitious, to say the least, i.e. to create a one-stop platform for cricket lovers. Cricbuzz wasn’t merely about live scores. Instead, it was a genuine attempt to create an immersive cricket experience for fans, no matter where they were.
From its humble beginnings, Cricbuzz grew rapidly. The platform’s user-friendly interface, lightning-fast updates, and in-depth cricket coverage struck a chord with fans worldwide. Within a few years, Cricbuzz became one of the most downloaded cricket apps in India, with millions of active users during major tournaments like the IPL and ICC World Cup.
Under Pankaj’s leadership, Cricbuzz’s growth has been phenomenal. Today, the platform boasts over 100 million downloads on the Google Play Store, with an active user base that surges during peak cricketing seasons. During the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup, Cricbuzz recorded 2.6 billion page views in just one month, proof of its popularity among cricket enthusiasts.
This staggering success can be attributed to Pankaj’s ability to anticipate user needs and deliver a seamless experience. Right from ball-by-ball commentary, player statistics, auction tracker, or entertaining pre-match predictions, Cricbuzz keeps fans hooked.
Cricbuzz Financials
Leading Cricbuzz Through Transformative Partnerships
The turning point for Cricbuzz came in 2014 when Times Internet, the digital arm of the Times Group, acquired a majority stake in the platform. This partnership gave Cricbuzz access to Times Internet’s extensive resources and reach, allowing it to scale new heights. Despite the acquisition, Pankaj remained at the helm, ensuring the platform stayed true to its core mission of serving cricket fans.
Under his guidance, Cricbuzz expanded its offerings, introducing features like expert commentary, match predictions, and exclusive interviews with cricketing legends. The platform has also imbibed regional languages, catering to India’s diverse audience and solidifying its position as a truly inclusive cricketing destination.
Cricbuzz: The X Factor
Well, it has to be the content. The tone — informative yet conversational, professional yet engaging. This reflects Pankaj’s understanding of his audience. Cricket fans aren’t looking for blunt numbers. They want stories, insights, and that too with a dash of humor. Cricbuzz delivers all of this, making it much more than a cricket app, a true companion for every fan.
A Visionary with an Eye on the Future
Pankaj Chhaparwal’s journey has been incredible, to say the least. He has built a successful platform and instilled a legacy in a cricket-crazy country like India. His ability to adapt to changing digital trends and continuously innovate has been instrumental in Cricbuzz’s sustained success. For instance, the platform’s expansion into video content and its focus on social media engagement have kept it relevant in the digital depths of social media. As Cricbuzz looks to the future, Pankaj’s vision remains as sharp as ever. With cricket fans increasingly consuming content on mobile devices and social media, Cricbuzz is poised to lead the charge in redefining how the sport is experienced.
Beyond the Numbers: The Man Behind the Buzz
What makes Pankaj’s story so inspiring is his authenticity. At his core, he’s still a cricket fan: a fan who turned his love for the game into a gift for millions. His journey from a curious boy obsessed with cricket to the leader of one of the world’s most popular cricket platforms is an ode to what passion, persistence, and vision can achieve.
FAQs
Who is Pankaj Chhaparwal?
Pankaj Chhaparwal is the founder, CEO, and MD of Cricbuzz.
What is Cricbuzz?
Cricbuzz is an Indian cricket news website owned by Times Internet. It features articles, news, and live coverage of cricket matches. This includes scorecards, videos, text commentary, team rankings, and player stats. This website also provides a mobile app. Cricbuzz is one of the most popular mobile apps for cricket news and scores in India.
What is Pankaj Chhaparwal education?
Pankaj Chhaparwal did BE from LD College of Engineering, Gujarat University.
Who is Cricbuzz owner?
Pankaj Chhaparwal, Piyush Agrawal, and Pravin Hegde created Cricbuzz in 2004.
Social media has drastically changed the lives of everyone across the globe in the last twenty years. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat have connected people and brought them closer. The yawning gulf in terms of geography is now nearly non-existent.
Amidst a huge number of social media and video streaming platforms, YouTube has carved a league of its own as one of the oldest and leading video-sharing platforms. YouTube is also popularly hailed as the most visited website in the world after its parent organization, Google.
The founders of YouTube were Jawed Karim, Chad Hurley, and Steve Chan on February 14, 2005. They are also popularly known as the inventors of YouTube. Jawed Karim is an American software engineer and entrepreneur. He is of Bangladeshi and German descent. Jawed Karim was there with YouTube right from the first ever YouTube video uploaded, the revenue of which was last estimated to be over $29.20 billion in 2022. His contribution to the growth of YouTube is simply indispensable.
Anyone with internet connectivity would have seen videos on YouTube at least once in their life. YouTube is the platform that gave birth to many sensations; without the video-sharing website, there would have been no T-Series, Pewdiepie, CarryMinati, and thousands of other video creators. The current YouTube CEO is Susan Wojcicki, who became the CEO of the American online video-sharing and social media platform in February 2014.
Do you know that the first-ever video posted on YouTube was “Me at the Zoo,” which was uploaded by none other than Jawed Karim on April 23, 2005? The first video ever uploaded to YouTube has been watched over 224 million times as of March 2022.
Let’s look at the success story of the co-founder of YouTube, Jawed Karim. We will discuss his net worth, education, personal life, investments, and more.
Jawed Karim – Biography
Name
Jawed Karim
Born
28 October 1979 – Merseburg, East Germany
Net worth
$310 Million
Nationality
American/German
Parents
Naimul Karim, Christine Karim
Siblings
Ilias Karim
Education
University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign (BS), Stanford University (MS)
Occupation
Entrepreneur
Known for
Co-founder of YouTube, Uploader of the first video ever on YouTube
Jawed was born onOctober 28, 1979, in Merseburg, East Germany (Present-day Germany), to Christine Karim and Naimul Karim. His father is a researcher from Bangladesh who works at 3M, an American multinational conglomerate (originally known as Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company), which was founded in June 1902 and headquartered in Maplewood, Minnesota, United States. Karim’s mother is a German scientist associated with the University of Minnesota as a Research Professor of Biochemistry. He has one sibling, Ilias Karim, who is younger than Jawed.
Though he was born in Merseburg, Jawed Karim grew up in Neuss, West Germany. He had to cross the border of inner Germany along with his family in the early 1980s due to increasing xenophobia there. However, he had to face several other episodes of xenophobia in Neuss as well, which is why he again had to move with his family to Saint Paul, Minnesota, in 1992. It was from Saint Paul Central High School that Karim graduated in 1997.
Jawed enrolled at the University of Illinois in the Department of Computer Science. Jawed left the university before completing his graduation and joined PayPal; he was one of PayPal’s earliest employees. He later completed his graduation and obtained his degree in Computer Science in 2004. Jawed eventually joined Stanford University and earned his Master’s degree in Computer Science, but that was after YouTube was founded.
Jawed Karim – Career
Karim started his career in his university days with an Internship at Silicon Graphics, Inc. He had worked there on “3D voxel data management for very large data sets for volume rendering, which includes the data for the Visible Human Project“. However, he soon dropped out of college and joined PayPal, and it was there that he met Chad Hurley and Steve Chen, the future co-founders of YouTube, in 2002.
Jawed Karim – How he founded YouTube?
Founders of YouTube – Chad Hurley, Steve Chen, Jawed Karim
At PayPal, he met Steve Chen and Chad Hurley, the other two creators of YouTube. The absence of video clips of Super Bowl XXXVIII and the Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami gave Jawed the idea of a video-sharing platform. The controversial half-time segment of the Super Bowl with Janet Jackson was a rage at that time that everyone wanted to have a glimpse of. However, Hurley and Chen have mentioned the website Hot or Not, a rating site that allows users to rate the attractiveness of the photos submitted voluntarily by the users, as the motivation behind creating YouTube. These three people who made YouTube also stated that they had an online video version of a dating site in their minds when they decided to launch YouTube.
Now, if you are wondering whether YouTube was the first video-sharing website on the internet, then it was not the first of these sites. This is because Vimeo was launched in November 2004, before YouTube, but as it was a side project of the developers of the Los Angeles-based internet comedy company CollegeHumor, Vimeo failed to grow that fast.
YouTube as a Dating Site and Why it Didn’t Work Out!
YouTube, as mentioned before, was originally thought to be set up as an online video dating site, with “Hot or Not” as a major influence for the founders, but that didn’t work out well. The founders even tried to post on Craigslist and request attractive women to upload their videos on YouTube in exchange for $100 for each such video post. However, they failed to pivot on the same plan due to the lack of enough dating videos. The website’s founders then changed their plans and began to accept videos of all sorts. Whatever may have been the inspiration, we are glad to have YouTube today!
After the necessary measures and steps were in place, the ‘YouTube’ domain name was activated on 14th February 2005. After receiving the funding of $3.5 million from Sequoia Capital, they launched the YouTube beta site in May 2005.
A series of developments followed. The company eventually commenced as a venture capital-funded technology startup. YouTube then continued to receive funding from several other investors, including Sequoia Capital, which poured in $11.5 million, and Artis Capital Management, which funded the platform with another $8 million, the largest of the investors for YouTube then. These fundings massively helped YouTube to scale fast.
Initially, the company was headquartered in San Mateo, California, right above a pizzeria and a Japanese restaurant, before it expanded its headquarters in San Bruno.
The first YouTube channel was “Jawed,” which was created by Jawed Karim in 2005, and the first-ever video on YouTube was a video uploaded by him titled “Me at the Zoo.” This video was recorded by his high school friend, Yakov Lapitsky. The YouTube owner’s video featured Karim at the San Diego Zoo. The video has more than 343 million views as of December 2024.
First Ever YouTube Video – Me at the Zoo by Jawed Karim
Jawed Karim – Growth of YouTube
In 2005, YouTube got its first one million views video, a Nike advertisement featuring the legendary Brazilian soccer player Ronaldinho. The video showed Ronaldinho receiving his pair of “Golden Boots.” YouTube was launched officially on December 15, 2005, when the site was already receiving more than 8 million views a day. However, at the start of the platform, YouTube only accepted videos up to 100 megabytes, which are mostly limited to 30 seconds of video footage.
YouTube’s First One Million Views Video – Nike Advertisement
NBC-Universal’s Saturday Night Live broadcasted a skit named “Lazy Sunday” by The Lonely Island, which was during the same week of YouTube’s launch. Thus, it was Lazy Sunday, which quickly started to be unofficially uploaded on YouTube. This not only boosted the ratings and contributed to the long-term viewership of Saturday Night Live but also hugely helped YouTube gain recognition, turning it into one of the earliest viral videos on YouTube. The unofficial uploads of the skit on Youtube rose up to 5 million views when recorded in February 2006, after which it was eventually removed two months later following the request from NBCUniversal due to copyright issues. This paved the way for the Content Verification Program under YouTube’s policy. It allowed copyright holders to identify the infringements easily. After a few ugly spats, YouTube made a deal with NBC. This deal helped NBC enter the world of digital broadcasting. And this was just the beginning of YouTube’s several partnerships with industry bigshots.
Though most of the videos were taken down, the duplicate uploads failed to stop. Instead, they came pouring in, as they were, seemingly to popularize YouTube.
YouTube started to grow fast, and it was announced in July 2006 that the video-sharing platform was receiving over 65K new video uploads daily. Besides, YouTube also confirmed that it was receiving 100 million video views each day.
After launching YouTube, YouTube founder Jawed Karim became an informal adviser instead of an employee to the company as he wanted to complete his studies, subsequently joining Stanford University. Comparatively, he took a lower share in the company than other co-founders, Steve Chan and Chad Hurley.
Much of the time, he remained unrecognized by the general public until Google’s arrival. It was only when The people who created YouTubesold to Google for nearly $1.65 billion in 2006 that Karim was again back in the news and media.
This small share still proved large enough to let him receive close to 137,443 shares, worth around $64 million, at the closing of the famous Google acquisition of YouTube. Currently, Jawed Karim’s net worth is $310 million.
Jawed Karim delivered a lecture in the year 2006 at the annual ACM Conference of the University of Illinois on YouTube’s history, which was titled “YouTube From Concept to Hypergrowth.” Furthermore, Karim came back to the University of Illinois in May 2008, where he was again selected as the speaker, thereby becoming the 136th and the youngest Commencement Speaker in the history of the school.
Youtube “Broadcast Yourself”
After YouTube was acquired by Google, YouTube users and other content creators looked for another reliable option. Then, the other video-sharing sites tried coming to prominence and distinguishing themselves from YouTube, but they eventually failed to do that with the announcement of YouTube’s slogan “Broadcast Yourself.” This became the start of the Broadcast Yourself era of YouTube, which helped YouTube see another period of rapid growth. According to a Daily Telegraph report of 2007, YouTube consumed bandwidth that equals the entire bandwidth of the internet 2000. The company soon crossed the milestone of 14 billion video views by 2010 and boasted of holding a market share of 43%. To further boost the growth of YouTube, the platform simplified its interface in the same year, which aimed to increase the dwelling time of the viewers on YouTube.
YouTube crossed another milestone in 2011, namely, 3 billion videos being watched each day, where 48 hours’ worth of new videos were being uploaded each minute.
In 2013, Google made major changes to its policy. A user needed a Google+ account to post a comment on any YouTube video. The move faced backlash and was widely opposed by the YouTube community. To voice discontent against the new policy, an online petition was signed by several users.
The petition gained around 240,000 signatures. The YoutTube founder Karim, too, was not in favor of the policy change; to oppose the Google+ intervention, he updated the video description on his first video to “I can’t comment here anymore, as I don’t want a Google+ account.”
After the protests from the YouTube community, Google apologized for forcing Google+ users to use their real names, and subsequently, Google dropped the policy of integration of Google+ with YouTube. In 2018, Google permanently disabled Google+ services after it failed in both consumer and developer adoption.
Karim also criticized the recent move to remove the dislike count on YouTube. He expressed, “When every YouTuber agrees that removing dislikes is a stupid idea, it probably is. Try again, Youtube.”
Jawed Karim on YouTube Dislike Removal
Jawed Karim – Awards and Achievements
Young Alumni Achievement Award from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (2014) – The Young Alumni Achievement Award is given to recent graduates who have achieved outstanding career success.
GITA (Global Indus Technovator) Award (2008) – The GITA award is given to individuals who have made significant contributions to the technology field.
Jawed Karim – Investments and Partnerships
Jawed Karim has made 22 investments, with his most recent one being a seed round in Corgea on November 6, 2024, where Corgea raised $2.6 million.
Announced Date
Organization Name
Funding Round
Money Raised
Nov 6, 2024
Corgea
Seed Round – Corgea
$2.6M
May 1, 2024
Double
Seed Round – Double
$3.3M
Aug 1, 2023
Socket
Series A – Socket
$20M
Jan 31, 2020
Formatech
Seed Round – Formatech
$7M
Oct 23, 2019
Rocket Money
Series B – Rocket Money
$15M
Oct 3, 2018
Rocket Money
Series A – Rocket Money
$5M
Jan 10, 2017
Gustav
Seed Round – Gustav
$980K
Nov 20, 2015
Circle Medical
Seed Round – Circle Medical
$2.9M
Sep 30, 2015
Ambronite
Seed Round – Ambronite
$600K
May 18, 2015
Videopixie
Seed Round – Videopixie
$1.1M
Karim launched Youniversity Ventures (Y Ventures) in March 2008 in partnership with Kevin Hartz and Keith Rabois. In April 2009, he invested in the initial Seed round of Airbnb Inc. via Y Ventures, his last partner investment, Karim. Jawed became one of the initial investors of the company.
Name of the Company
Investment Date
Funding Round
Investor
Total Funding
Airbnb
April 1, 2009
Seed Round
Y Ventures
$600K
Jawed Karim’s other investments include stakes in:
Jawed Karim is now an investor and passionate about education. He completed his master’s in computer science at Stanford and co-founded Youniversity Ventures (Y Ventures), where he mentors and invests in startups like Airbnb and Reddit.
Conclusion
Jawed Karim’s story is an example of it coming down to identifying a niche and then working on it, and it is undoubtedly inspiring for the entrepreneurs of today. A video-sharing platform may be mainstream today, but that wasn’t the case in the early 2000s. When YouTube came into being, Karim would always be a prominent face of YouTube. Besides, Karim had a major say in many crucial YouTube decisions, including the one to collaborate with companies like Google and NBC, which can undoubtedly be marked as some of the most significant reasons behind the popularity that YouTube enjoys today. No one could fathom that a small video showing a guy introducing an elephant at the zoo would change video sharing and streaming forever!
FAQs
Who owns YouTube?
The parent company of YouTube is Google. Google purchased YouTube in November 2006 for $1.65 billion in stocks and is currently the company that owns YouTube.
Who is the founder of YouTube?
Jawed Karim, Chad Hurley, and Steve Chen are the founders of YouTube.
What was the first YouTube video?
Jawed Karim’s “Me at the Zoo” was YouTube’s first video that was uploaded on the social media platform.
When was YouTube founded, or when did YouTube start?
YouTube was launched on February 14, 2005. The popular social media platform was founded by Jawed Karim, Chad Hurley, and Steve Chen.
How much was YouTube sold for?
Google bought YouTube for $1.65 billion in stocks in November 2006.
Who are Steve Chen and Jawed Karim, and what are they known for?
Steve Chen and Jawed Karim are the co-founders of YouTube and are known for founding the popular video-sharing platform in 2005.
What is Jawed Karim’s net worth?
The net worth of YouTube founder, Jawed Karim is approximately $310 million as of 2024.
What is Jawed Karim age?
Jawed Karim, YouTube founder was born in October 1979 and is 45 years old.
How much is YouTube worth?
The brand value of YouTube stands at $31.7 billion in 2024.
Did YouTube begin as a dating site?
YouTube reportedly began as a video version of an online dating service, which was influenced by the James Hong and Jim Young-created rating site Hot or Not.
What is Chad Hurley net worth?
The net worth of YouTube founder, Chad Hurley stands around $800 million as of 2024.
What is Jawed Karim doing now?
Jawed Karim, co-founder of YouTube, is now an investor and passionate about education. He co-founded Youniversity Ventures (Y Ventures), where he mentors and invests in startups like Airbnb and Reddit.
For generations, men’s grooming has often been overshadowed by the spotlight cast upon women’s beauty rituals. However, in recent times, there has been a notable shift in this narrative. Men’s grooming has emerged from the shadows, taking a prominent place in the contemporary discourse surrounding personal care and self-presentation.
With an array of skincare products, hair styling tools, and grooming services gaining importance, men are exploring new avenues to enhance their appearance and boost their confidence.
Shantanu Deshpande is one among those who saw this opportunity and decided to bring a big overhaul to the Indian grooming industry for men. He decided to launch a company that is specifically directed towards men’s grooming.
In this article, explore more about the Bombay Shaving Company founder, Shantanu Deshpande, including his education, career, investments, podcast, and more.
Shantanu Deshpande Biography
Name
Shantanu Deshpande
Birthplace
Dallas, United States
Born
1987
Education
B.Tech, Computer Science (Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology, Nagpur) MBA (IIM, Lucknow)
Shantanu Deshpande is from a Maharashtrian family from Indore. He was born in Dallas, US. His father, Kiran Deshpande was working with the TCS in the US. Around 1997, Shantanu Deshpande’s family decided to come back to India, post which he continued his education in India. Growing up he was inspired by his father who built big companies from scratch.
Shantanu Deshpande – Education
After coming back from the US, Shantanu did his schooling at Vikhe Patil School in Pune. He decided to pursue engineering in higher studies and finished his B.Tech in Computer Science at Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology (VNIT), Nagpur.
During the final year of college, Shantanu didn’t want to settle for any ordinary path for further studies. So, he decided to appear for many competitive exams like CAT, and GMAT, leading him to join IIM Lucknow to pursue an MBA.
After his MBA at IIM Lucknow, Shantanu was successful in getting a placement at McKinsey & Company. He is seen praising McKinsey to a great extent in many interviews. He even calls it his ‘Maika’ (Mom’s house).
About his time in the organization, he says, “For me, McKinsey helped in character building in so many ways, and I think a lot of who I am today, and I attribute to my time at the firm.”
However, after five years at McKinsey, he came up with some great ideas and decided that it was time to start his own company. So in 2016, he stepped into his entrepreneurial journey by co-founding Bombay Shaving Company along with Deepu Panicker, Raunak Munot, and Rohit Jaiswal.
In 2021, Shantanu became an External Advisor at McKinsey, where he focuses on digital commerce and consumer topics.
He also advises Advent International on consumer investments, hosts The BarberShop with Shantanu (his podcast) to make entrepreneurship easier to understand, and works as an ambassador for Olympic Gold Quest, helping India’s top athletes.
Shantanu Deshpande – Bombay Shaving Company
Bombay Shaving Company, founded in 2016 is a D2C high-end men’s grooming business that serves customers in India with premium goods. The company claims that its goal is to make the best grooming products available for men so they feel confident and look their best.
The product line includes- trimmers, razors, shave care, skin care, bath etc. Initially started as a men’s grooming business, it subsequently ventured into women’s skincare and body care too. In 2022, ‘Bombae’, a women’s hair removal and personal care brand, was launched which proved to be a great success.
The company also offers a subscription option for the purchase of the blades and creams.
It is remarkable that during the pandemic the company didn’t suffer much. That was because they sell directly to customers and focus strongly on their online presence, they were in a better position than many other similar companies to handle the tough times brought by the pandemic.
Bombay Shaving Company Revenue From Operations (FY20-FY23)
The Bombay Shaving Company Founder, Shantanu Deshpande has made 13 investments. His latest investment was in the Series A round of Ginglani Distillers on March 26, 2024, when the company raised INR 12.5 crore.
Announced Date
Organization Name
Lead Investor
Funding Round
Money Raised
March 26, 2024
Ginglani Distillers
–
Series A
₹12.5 crore
March 19, 2024
Relso
–
Pre-Seed Round
$840k
March 12, 2024
Fiona Diamonds
–
Seed Round
₹6 crore
August 9, 2023
All Is Well
–
Seed Round
₹2.07 crore
August 8, 2023
Go Zero
–
Seed Round
$1 million
March 29, 2023
Serigen Mediproducts
–
Seed Round
₹5.8 crore
October 11, 2022
Wishlink
–
Seed Round
$3 million
September 12, 2022
Beco
–
Series A
$3 million
August 24, 2022
Liquide
–
Pre-Seed Round
$2.2 million
May 12, 2022
The Legal Capsule
–
Seed Round
–
October 27, 2020
Treebo
–
–
₹10 crore
Shantanu Deshpande – Podcast
“The BarberShop with Shantanu” is the video podcast launched by Shantanu Deshpande.
While the first season of the show involves deep discussions with entrepreneurs, the second and third seasons bring together founders, CEOs, and business leaders. The show is quite popular and has crores of viewers. It also launched Razorpreneur 2.0, a content creation challenge where participants can win rewards, including a one-year contract with Bombay Shaving Company.
Shark Anupam Mittal REVEALS Investment Strategies, Breaks Down Indian Markets & More | Sneak Peek
Shantanu Deshpande – Controversy
In this digital world, almost every famous person makes headlines for being caught in some controversy or the other. Shantanu Deshpande is not an exception. Almost similar to Narayana Murthy of Infosys, Shantanu too was caught in a controversy over his social media post about the work culture among youngsters.
This was in 2022 when Shantanu was caught in a controversy related to his social media post advising freshers and young people to work 18 hours a day in the formative years of their careers. He was criticized by the netizens who said he was promoting a “toxic work culture”.
Following this criticism, he wrote, “Yikes, so much hate for 18-hour days. It’s a proxy for ‘giving your all and then some’.”
He also said, “I did not mean to put in 18 hours every day. My exaggeration to make a point was taken out of context. I just meant to give it my all,”.
More recently, in December 2024, Shantanu Deshpande raised concerns about India’s quick food delivery market in a LinkedIn post. He criticised the unhealthy, processed food and short cooking times involved in quick deliveries. Deshpande urged platforms like Zomato, Swiggy, and Zepto to offer healthier options and encouraged people to cook at home.
His comments sparked a debate online, with some agreeing with his concerns about food quality. Others, such as Jaikishan Bhatia manager at Cipla, called for regulatory measures, suggesting that a separate “preparation time” should be considered to avoid compromising food quality in the pursuit of speed.
Shantanu Deshpande – Awards and Recognitions
Shantanu Deshpande was enlisted under the best 40 under 40 of Fortune India, 2022.
Shantanu Deshpande – Interesting Facts
Shantanu Deshpande was a member of the college football team and was the sports secretary of the college.
He also loves music and used to play Tabla in his college band.
He serves as an ambassador for the Olympic Gold Quest.
Shantanu Deshpande – Quotes
If you are in a place where you are not learning or you are not feeling inspired or you are not having fun then you are in the wrong place. Change your work environment.
FAQs
Who is Shantanu Deshpande?
Shantanu Deshpande is the Co-founder and CEO of Bombay Shaving Company.
When was Bombay Shaving Company founded?
Bombay Shaving Company was founded by Shantanu Deshpande, Raunak Munot, Deepu Panicker, and Rohit Jaiswal in 2015.
What is the product category of Bombay Shaving Company?
Bombay Shaving Company offers a wide range of men’s grooming products which includes shaving, beard grooming, haircare, skincare, and bath care. They also offer women grooming products for skincare and body care.
What is Shantanu Deshpande education?
Shantanu Deshpande completed his B.Tech in Computer Science at Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology (VNIT), Nagpur, and went on to earn an MBA from IIM Lucknow.
Who is Shantanu Deshpande’s wife?
The Bombay Shaving Company Founder and CEO, Shantanu Deshpande’s wife, Sakshi Gudwani, is a Senior Program Officer at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
In today’s fast-paced world, Time has become one of the most valuable and fleeting resources. With the fast-paced lifestyle, people prefer everything quick and easy. Few entrepreneurs have managed to capture this essence of modern consumer needs and come up with extraordinary solutions to modern problems.
One such entrepreneur is Aadit Palicha, the Co-Founder and CEO of Zepto.
This article talks about his inspiring story of unparalleled success. Learn about Aadit Palicha, his education, career, family, net worth, Zepto, and more from this article.
Aadit Palicha – Biography
Name
Aadit Palicha
Born
2001
Birth Place
Mumbai
Education
IB Diploma at GEMS Education Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science at Stanford University (Dropped Out)
Aadit Palicha, born in Mumbai in 2001, has the credit of being one of the youngest CEOs in India. After completing his schooling, he got the opportunity to pursue higher education in Computer science at Stanford University, one of the world’s most prestigious institutions.
However, Palicha’s academic journey took an unconventional turn when he decided to drop out of Stanford. The decision was not out of failure but rather a deep-rooted belief that his time and energy could be better spent pursuing entrepreneurial dreams. He realized that India, with its rapidly growing digital economy, presented a golden opportunity for disruption.
While it will be hard for anyone to drop out of Stanford, Aadit not only took the courageous decision but also proved that it was worth the risk.
Kaivalya Vohra and Aadit Palicha – Co-founders of Zepto
At the age of as early as 17, Aadit began his business career by launching GoPool, a student carpool app in Dubai, before Zepto. Sadly, GoPool was unable to gain traction. Later, however, he and Kaivalya Vohra, his childhood friend founded KiranaKart, which ran for roughly ten months. But again, the two decided to shut down KiranaKart since they could not discover a solid product-market fit.
The duo did not sit back discouraged but took these setbacks as learnings and launched the now highly successful Zepto.
Aadit Palicha – The Birth of Zepto
This turning point in Palicha’s career came during the global COVID-19 pandemic. While many were grappling with uncertainty, Palicha identified a gap in the Indian market: the need for faster, more efficient delivery services.
Traditional eCommerce platforms, though effective, often took too long to fulfill orders, leaving a significant opportunity for quick commerce to thrive. This realization led Palicha and Kaivalya to launch Zepto in 2021. Zepto aimed to revolutionize how people shop for groceries and essentials by promising deliveries in 10 minutes—a feat that seemed impossible but became the company’s defining feature. The quick commerce sector was still in its infancy when Zepto was launched, and Palicha wasted no time in capturing the space.
His vision was simple: people shouldn’t have to wait for their everyday needs. Zepto’s hyper-local model, using micro-warehouses strategically placed in urban areas, allowed for fast deliveries, and it didn’t take long for the startup to gain traction. In just one year, Zepto managed to scale rapidly, attracting investors and customers alike.
Today, with around 150 locations across 11 Indian cities, Zepto is still expanding. Among its competitive rivals, it has shown itself to be a huge success.
Aadit Palicha hails from a supportive and entrepreneurial family. His father, Kavit Palicha, is an engineer and also a stakeholder in Zepto, while his mother, Urvashi Palicha, is the CEO of Search Point. Aadit Palicha’s parents have always been supportive and are important figures in his journey.
Aadit has always shown a passion for public speaking and debate. He was a national-level debater during his school years and served as the valedictorian of GEMS Modern Academy in Dubai.
Despite his young age and immense success, Aadit Palicha remains grounded. His life outside of work reflects a deep commitment to continuous learning and self-improvement.
Aadit Palicha – Challenges and Growth
The road to success has not been without hurdles for Palicha. His decision to leave Stanford was not without its challenges, but Palicha has always been firm in his belief that real-world experience can sometimes be the best teacher.
Palicha faced skepticism from many who believed that such rapid growth and aggressive targets were unsustainable. However, his strategic thinking, combined with a strong team and investor backing, allowed Zepto to meet and surpass expectations. His resilience in facing these challenges is a testament to his entrepreneurial spirit.
Palicha has also been vocal about the need for young entrepreneurs to be adaptable. He often speaks about how important it is to iterate and pivot quickly in the fast-moving world of startups.
Aadit Palicha – Controversy
Zepto CEO Aadit Palicha recently found himself in the middle of a controversy after a viral Reddit post accused the company of having a toxic work culture, including 2 a.m. meetings and long working hours. In response, Palicha posted on X (formerly Twitter), “I have nothing against work-life balance. In fact, I recommend it to all our competitors.” Palicha later clarified that the statement was a quote from Indian-origin CEO Daksh Gupta of Greptile, an AI startup, who had also sparked controversy for supporting 84-hour workweeks.
While the claims are unverified, the controversy has sparked questions about workplace practices in fast-growing startups like Zepto.
FYI, not my quote – read it from an interview of Daksh Gupta.
Aadit Palicha maintains a low profile on social media, focusing more on his business ventures rather than his personal life. His LinkedIn profile reflects his professional journey, including his role as the co-founder and CEO of Zepto, and highlights his achievements in the startup world.
Despite his youth, he has gained significant attention and followers, particularly from aspiring entrepreneurs and industry professionals who admire his success in quick commerce.
However, he does not appear to be highly active on other platforms like Instagram or Twitter (now X), keeping his social media presence more business-oriented.
Palicha’s achievements have not gone unnoticed. His work with Zepto has earned him several accolades and awards, both within India and internationally.
Some of the famous recognitions that he has received:
He was enlisted in the Forbes India 30 under 30, 2024
He was also in the Economic Times 40 under Forty, 2024
He is also the second youngest to be featured in the Hurun India Rich List in 2024.
Beyond individual awards, Palicha has also been recognized for his contribution to the startup ecosystem. He has been invited to speak at numerous industry events, sharing his insights on scaling a business, leadership, and the future of quick commerce.
End Note
Palicha’s story is of great inspiration to many young entrepreneurs across the country. From his early decision to leave behind a conventional academic path to building a billion-dollar company in record time, Palicha embodies the spirit of modern entrepreneurship. With many more years ahead of him, Palicha is undoubtedly a name to watch as he continues to shape the future of business in India and beyond.
Aadit Palicha is the co-founder and CEO of Zepto, a quick commerce platform.
What is Aadit Palicha age?
Aadit Palicha is 23 years old. He was born in 2001.
Which college did Aadit Palicha drop out from?
Aadit Palicha dropped out of the prestigious Stanford University.
What is Zepto net worth?
Zepto’s valuation is $5 billion as of December 2024, after raising $340 million, as it gears up for an IPO possibly in 2025.
What is Aadit Palicha education?
Zepto CEO, Aadit Palicha’s education includes an IB Diploma in Mathematics and Computer Science from GEMS Education. He then joined Stanford University to study Computer Science but later dropped out to build Zepto.
Who is Aadit Palicha father?
Aadit Palicha’s father, Kavit Dilip Palicha, is an engineer and a stakeholder in Zepto.
What is Aadit Palicha net worth?
Aadit Palicha has a net worth of INR 4,300 crore and was the second youngest on the Hurun India Rich List 2024.
If you have ever had a burger at KFC or pizza at Domino’s, then you have savored the tasty sauces that Veeba has created. But how many of us know about this Indie brand? Well, Veeba is the brainchild of Viraj Bahl, an innovative young entrepreneur with a passion for food. Viraj was born into a long line of entrepreneurs. He wanted to prove to his father that he could be more than just his son.
Viraj had a lifelong passion for working in the food industry. Viraj began with his father’s business, Fun Foods. However, he had to prove to his father that he was worthy of the role. After several trials and tribulations, Viraj was finally allowed to join the family business, but a few years later, the brand was sold entirely.
After this, Viraj decided to start on his own, and that gave birth to Veeba. From a failed restaurant business to building an INR 1,000 crore brand and becoming a new panelist on Shark Tank India, discover the remarkable journey of Viraj Bahl, a visionary entrepreneur whose passion for food turned into a national success. With much hard work, along with a few roadblocks, today Veeba stands as one of the largest homegrown sauce and condiments brands in India.
In this article, explore more about Viraj Bahl’s education, career, and the secrets behind his success.
Viraj Bahl started his journey in the food industry in 2002 but his interest peaked before when he would visit his father’s factory and the Fun Foods stall at Aahar Delhi. Slowly his passion for business grew and he informed his father about his desire to join the food industry. His father, Rajiv Bahl, insisted that he needed to prove himself to his family. Viraj decided to pursue food technology but sadly did not have the marks for it.
After completing his Board exams, he came across an ad for a marine engineering course. Viraj studied hard, cleared the entrance exam, and was among 46 students to be selected. He completed the 3.5-year course in Industrial Marine Engineering from Singapore Polytechnic and secured a high-paying job, which finally convinced his father about his dedication.
Viraj Bahl – Family
Viraj Bahl was born in 1980 and comes from a family of entrepreneurs. Born to parents Rajiv Bahl and Vibha Bahl, the founders of Fun Foods, one of the popular brands of food products in India.
Currently, Viraj is married to Ridhima Bahl and they have two sons – Rajvir and Ranvir. The family prefers to keep their personal life private and away from the media. Despite having a very busy schedule, Viraj understands how important both work and family life is, and he always makes time for his family.
Viraj Bahl – Career
In 2002, Viraj joined his father’s food processing business, Fun Foods. Under his father’s leadership, the brand grew rapidly, and Viraj had quite a significant role in shaping the brand into what it is today. But, despite Viraj’s passion and attachment to Fun Foods, in 2008 the company was sold to Germany’s Dr. Oetkar for INR 110 crore. This decision left Viraj in a lurch as he still had to figure out what he wanted to do next. This moment proved pivotal in Viraj’s entrepreneurial journey.
Restaurant Dreams
In 2009, Viraj jumped into the restaurant business and invested in a path that would help him regain his footing and help him continue working with food. However, this venture did not turn out to be as successful as he planned. By 2013, his restaurant was grappling with losses and he faced a difficult issue – keep the restaurant open or close it?
The Birth of the Brand, Veeba
Facing mounting losses, Viraj made the decision and sold off his family home for a sum of INR 50 Lakhs. This bold and heartwrenching choice was not just a financial transaction for him, but a symbolic moment where he traded his security for that of his dream. With the money, Viraj joined the food processing industry and in 2013 founded Food Services in Neemrana, Rajasthan. He named it Veeba after his mother. His experience in Fun Foods laid the foundation for his new venture. But his struggles were far from over.
Veeba’s early days remained highly uncertain. Viraj focused more on B2B sales by supplying sauces and condiments to fast food chains. The initial six months were difficult with less demand and no financial support. But, just when everything seemed lost, he gained an investment from Deepak Shahdadpuri, of DSG Consumer Partners.
Slowly, Veeba started gaining popularity, and major fast food giants like KFC and Domino’s placed orders from them. What started as a simple B2B venture, soon blossomed into one of India’s leading retail sauces and condiments brands.
Viraj’s persistence paid off and by 2023, Veeba became one of the largest homegrown sauce brands in India with a revenue growthof INR 1,000 crore in the fiscal year 2023-24 (FY24). Starting with only a few fast-food chains, Veeba now operates in over 700 cities, with more than 1.5 lakh retail points and a portfolio of more than 80 products across 14 categories.
Veeba’s revenue is mostly retail, with 92% of income being generated from this sector. The company has expanded its range to more than sauces and condiments to suit the evolving tastes of Indian consumers. Viraj’s vision does not stop at only the domestic market – Veeba now has a presence in Singapore, Australia, China, and even the USA.
Viraj Bahl is currently the Founder and Managing Director of Veeba.
Viraj Bahl – Shark Tank India
Viraj Bahl, Founder and Managing Director of Veeba – Shark Tank India Judge
Shark Tank India is all set to return with the 4th season in January 2025. Viraj Bahl will join the show as a panelist as he leads one of the fast-growing FMCG brands in India, and it would be interesting to see his business acumen and skill on the show.
As a part of Shark Tank India, Viraj will be mentoring the next generation of entrepreneurs and encouraging more young people to take the big step in their entrepreneurial journey. As a panel member, it would really bring out his passion to motivate and support the next generation of business leaders.
Ever wondered how a simple idea can transform urban travel? Meet Aravind Sanka, one of the masterminds behind Rapido, India’s go-to bike taxi service, valued at $1.1 billion in 2024.
A seed of an idea for what eventually became Rapido was likely sown in Aravind’s mind several years before the company was born. On X (formerly Twitter), the entrepreneur shared, “Back in the early days of work, I had realized that sharing a bike ride to work with my friend helped me save quite a bit of money, time, and effort. We beat the traffic every time and discovered shortcuts meant only for the bikes!”
Buckle up as we explore the twists and turns of his life and the lightbulb moment that sparked Rapido’s creation. It’s not just a success story; it’s a rollercoaster ride of innovation, perseverance, and a dash of entrepreneurial magic.
In this tell-all article, we’ll walk you through Sanka’s fascinating journey, from his early days to becoming a game-changer in the transport world.
Aravind Sanka – Biography
Name
Aravind Sanka
Born
31 January
Education
Bachelor of Technology (B. Tech) in Mechanical Engineering at IIT Bhubaneswar
Aravind Sanka hails from a small village, Tirur, in Andhra Pradesh. “I’d never tasted pizza till I came to IIT,” he once shared in an interview.
Grade 9 was a life-defining period when Aravind’s parents recommended that he move out of the village for better opportunities. It was then that Aravind heard of the term “IIT Coaching.” Little did he know then that this bold step would soon change the trajectory of his life. Although he’d never aspired to be an entrepreneur, the stars seemed aligned in that direction. As the first batch of IIT Bhubaneswar, Sanka was a part of many “firsts” – defining campus culture, organizing the first college fest and raising money for it, and finding his own mentors from other IITs like IIT Kharagpur. Later, almost serendipitously, he was to be one of the first batch of Flipkart hires. These experiences, in a way, gave him a taste of what it’s like to set up something from scratch.
Aravind completed his Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) in mechanical engineering at IIT Bhubaneswar from 2008 – 2012. He also worked as a summer intern at Tata Motors for three months in 2011.
After a brief stint at Flipkart as a Supply Chain Finance Business Partner, where he was involved in the financial planning and expansion of the logistics of Ekart, Sanka co-founded theKarrier in November 2015, with two other IIT alumni, Pavan Guntupalli, and SR Rishikesh. theKarrier was an intra-city truck and goods transport vehicle aggregator, which combined technology and a network of owners to connect drivers and customers in a hitherto unregulated industry.
When they launched Rapido, they knew they were up against Ola and Uber which had monopolized the market. But the trio were convinced that the masses in India couldn’t always afford to book a cab and needed rideshare.
Aravind Sanka- Personal Life
Outside of work, Sanka is an enthusiastic footballer. In a LinkedIn post, he said, “I feel playing football and managing a company have more in common than what catches the eye. Both activities require identifying the key strengths of players and trusting them to deliver on them. Each one is empowered with responsibility and authority, and the team collectively works together to achieve the goal(s).”
An avid traveler and lifelong learner, on an Instagram post he shared “I truly believe that traveling is the best kind of learning. It makes you modest and prepares you for the world.”
He also gives back to the entrepreneur community by sharing nuggets of wisdom for budding entrepreneurs. He talks about the importance of having a positive mindset and financial discipline when managing funds. Sankha also emphasizes having work experience before starting your own venture as a way to find networking opportunities and identify the best practices for your business.
Rapido pioneered the bike taxi concept in India in 2015, offering a faster and more cost-effective alternative to traditional taxis and auto-rickshaws for short distances.
The service excels in providing last-mile transportation, addressing a critical gap in urban mobility, especially in congested areas and provides income opportunities for the thousands of bike owners who become “Captains” (drivers) on their platform.
A user-friendly app allows for easy booking, real-time tracking, and cashless payments; this makes Rapido a convenient choice for riders. The company has placed an emphasis on safety with measures like helmet provision, speed limits, and thorough background checks for drivers. Rapido also potentially reduces traffic congestion and lowers carbon emissions compared to car-based services by promoting shared rides on two-wheelers.
After the breakout of the COVID-19 pandemic, Rapido expanded its logistics operations, providing last-mile delivery of goods for local businesses and e-commerce companies. In October 2020, Rapido launched on-demand auto rickshaw hailing services.
Rapido achieved unicorn status in January 2022 after raising $180 million in a funding round. Today, Rapido operates in over 100 Indian cities. The startup’s growth and operations have influenced discussions and policies around bike taxis in various Indian states, contributing to the evolving regulatory landscape for this sector.
In October 2018, several Rapido bikes were seized in Coimbatore as the company was operating without a permit from the transport department. The next year, in July 2019, Rapido’s operations across Tamil Nadu were banned by Madras High Court. The App Store removed the Rapido iOS application for violating local laws.
In December 2022, Rapido Co-Founder Aravind Sanka and Legal Advisor Shantanu Sharma were co-accused in a case registered by Pune city police for cheating the Maharashtra state government and the regional transport office (RTO) by operating illegal bike taxis and not paying relevant taxes.
Aravind Sanka – Awards and Recognitions
Startup of the Year 2021: Awarded at the Startup2021 Awards organized by BusinessEx Entrepreneur, and Franchise India.
30 Under 30 award (Travel category): Awarded by HT City, Hindustan Times, for being one of the young achievers of 2021.
Young Entrepreneur Award: Awarded at Business World Young Entrepreneur Award 2020.
Mobility Startup of the Year: Awarded at the Entrepreneur Awards 2020.
Aravind was possibly the first IITian from his small town in Andhra Pradesh.
When Sanka and his co-founders decided to launch Rapido, they were close to raising Series A funding for theKarrier. Investors were keen to raise the next round. But behind the scenes, all three were in turmoil: they had growth but a sense of purpose was missing. The company pivoted from being B2B logistics (theKarrier) providers to B2C (Rapido) almost overnight.
FAQ
Who is the CEO of Rapido?
The CEO of Rapido is Aravind Sanka.
What is the education of Aravind Sanka?
Aravind Sanka holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering from IIT Kharagpur.
Who is the brand ambassador of Rapido?
Rapido’s brand ambassadors are Ranveer Singh and Allu Arjun.
Lalit Modi became a monster who would swallow the well-established veteran officials of the game. This was in the year 2010 when he fled away from the country to escape arrest in the money laundering case. However, the former cricket administrator hit the headlines when he introduced actor Sushmita Sen as her better-looking partner.
Modi was at the peak of his career; he was the founder, first chairman, and commissioner of the IPL. Moreover, he ran tournaments for three straight three years. The head of the Champions League, the Cricket Association, and the second in command of the BCCI and Punjab Cricket Association crashed down in the year 2010.
In this StartupTalky story, we will explore how Lalit Modi, the cricket Czar, had a controversial fall from grace.
Lalit Modi – Biography
Name
Lalit Modi
Born on
November 29, 1963
Birth Place
New Delhi India
Education
Bishop Cotton School in Shimla St. Joseph’s College in Nainital Pace University in New York Duke University in North Carolina
Lalit Modi, the influential businessman, was born on November 29, 1963. He is not only the founder but also the first chairman and league commissioner of IPL. He was born into one of the leading families of India and is the elder son of Krishan Kumar Modi.
His grandfather, Gujar Mal Modi, founded the business conglomerate Modi Group, which has interests in chemicals, education, and consumer goods. This entrepreneurial lineage had meant early exposure to the principles of business and leadership for Lalit.
Lalit had spent his formative years in India. Modi joined the Bishop Cotton School in Shimla in the year 1071 and was later admitted to St. Joseph School. He was a charismatic and outspoken man. However, he had his share of school years. Lalit was a rebellious kid and had disciplinary issues, and that’s why he was shifted between institutions.
Lalit moved to the US for his higher education in 1983. He first studied at Pace University in New York for 2 years. Then he took admission at Duke University in North Carolina to complete his education. While abroad pursuing his academic journey, Lalit was able to fully embrace the wild world of global business and sports culture. In management and marketing strategies, he became keen on sports and entertainment. His exposure to cricket administration was set in place for his future innovations.
At Duke, Lalit studied electrical engineering and business administration. His time in the U.S. was transformative, though he didn’t finish his degree. He constructed an influential network of connections and absorbed ideas that would eventually shape his revolutionary way of doing business in the world of cricket.
The first part of Lalit’s life and education are a combination of privilege, difficulties, and exposure to diverse cultures. These experiences formed his entrepreneurial spirit and bold vision.
In 1986, Modi returned to India and joined his family business. Moreover, he was announced as the president of the International Tabacco Company Limited, Godfrey Philips India. He was able to show his leadership and management ability within the family business framework.
In February 1992, he became Executive Director, and he was in that position until August 2010. Godfrey Phillips India’s expansion into the market was under his leadership, and this was a huge contribution to the Modi family’s industrial conglomerate.
Modi Entertainment Networks
Modi entered the realm of the media and entertainment industry in 1993 when he founded Modi Entertainment Networks (MEN). Initially, MEN partnered with Walt Disney Pictures under a ten-year joint venture to bring Disney content, including Fashion TV, to Indian audiences.
ESPN secured a 10-year contract worth $975 million, and MEN later became the pan-India distributor for ESPN. Modi collected revenue from cable operators for broadcasting rights to them. However, the relationship with ESPN ended badly after allegations of underreported revenues. MEN lost its association with fashion TV broadcasters as a result of disagreements between its founders. Despite these setbacks, Modi’s ventures led to his introduction to the commercial dynamics of the entertainment industry.
In 2002, Modi dabbled in the lottery business by launching an online lottery platform, ‘Sixo’ in Kerala. This was a short-lived initiative, but it showed that he was able to explore many different business opportunities.
Modi Enterprises
Modi’s career took another turn when he joined Modi Enterprises, the family’s industrial conglomerate, as the president and managing director. His leadership brought stability and growth to the business, and he continued to grow the company all over the spectrum.
Cricket and Political and Administrative Aspirations
Lalit Modi craved for more than business. He pitched his new idea of a 50 over tournament to BCCI in the year 1995. However, the BCCI initially turned down his proposal. Modi desired to change Indian cricket, which gave him a foothold in the BCCI’s structure.
He was elected to the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association, an important body in BCCI, in 1999. But his attempts to wrest control of the association proved futile, and he was later expelled by the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh. And Modi’s political connections remained central to his career. In 2004, he was elected as vice president of the Punjab Cricket Association, which was under Inderjit Singh Bindra.
Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) leadership
Modi, with the support of his close friend named Vasundhra Raje, was elected as the Chief Minister of Rajasthan. In 2005, he was elected President of the RCA, defeating incumbent Kishore Rungta by a narrow margin of one vote, after a strategic move to reform the Rajasthan Sports Act.
Modi was the RCA President who undertook major changes at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur, spending INR 20 crore on its renovation. Along the way, he also built a state-of-the-art cricket academy and shuffled the financials of the stadium, almost doubling revenue by charging higher rates for corporate box seats and other advertising spots.
BCCI, Indian Premier League (IPL) Role
Modi helped Sharad Pawar, the National Congress Party leader, defeat Jagmohan Dalmiya in the BCCI presidential elections. This benefitted Modi as he was appointed as the vice president of BCCI. Being heavily involved in the commercial side of BCCI, Modi made a revenue of almost $1 billion.
Lalit Modi was the man behind the IPL concept, which was eventually based on Twenty20 cricket. The IPL moves in Africa were engineered by him in the year 2009 after the clash of dates with the Indian general election and Union Minister of Home Affairs. IPL’s worth is now over $12 billion and it has grown into one of the world’s biggest sports leagues.
IPL’s Success
Under Modi’s leadership, the IPL became a huge commercial success, and the game got lots of attention around the globe. But his involvement in the financial dealings behind the league was curious. But Modi’s family and close associates, including his brother-in-law Suresh Chellaram and childhood friend Jay Mehta, reaped financial gain from their stakes in IPL franchises.
Suspension from BCCI
In 2010, Kochi franchises filed a complaint with the BCCI alleging that Lalit Modi had threatened to relinquish the franchise. Lalit Modi was dismissed from the BCCI on 22 counts, including money laundering and betting, a day after the complaint was submitted. The accusations of improper financial practices led to an investigation into his dealings with the IPL. Modi’s suspension was a devastating setback both for his career and his standing in world cricket administration.
Lalit Modi moved to London after the suspension and expanded his family business in Europe. He managed to stay in the international business community despite the legal troubles.
Dr. Krishan Kumar Modi was an accomplished industrialist, highly spoken about as the founder of the Modi Enterprises group, active in textiles, agriculture, and chemicals—a business his father actively engaged himself in establishing. His mother, Bina Modi, was also a businesswoman and social worker who came to be known for her notable social projects. Lalit hails from an established family. From a young age, he was exposed to business and luxury.
He has two siblings, a sister and a brother respectively. Both of them individually follow their professional careers. Lalit’s family background instilled entrepreneurial skills in him. He often attributes business thinking to his father who has guided him to that point.
Minal Modi had been a significant part of the life of Lalit Modi before her demise in the year 2018. The couple had two children: Ruchir Modi and Aliya Modi, a son and a daughter. Lalit was very much a part of Minal Modi’s life, and her sudden passing in 2018, after a hard-fought battle with cancer, was devastating for him. Speaking publicly, Lalit has talked about his deep sorrow after her death and how it affected his both personal and professional life.
Although Lalit was born and grew up in India, he now mostly lives in London, United Kingdom. A base from which he controls his worldwide business ventures, his luxurious London residence ranks amongst the best. It’s also a hub for the international elite, which fits the profile of Modi’s taste for high society.
Lalit Modi’s lifestyle is by no means normal in terms of commuting. A luxury that a man with his status has, he is often travelling by private jet. He regularly shares his travels to exotic places from business jets on social media.
Lalit Modi’s lifestyle is one of luxury, art, business, and sports. His social media presence gives you a little taste of this world, with some occasional pictures of his travels, high-profile events, and leisurely activities.
He is impeccable with his dressing, always ushered in tailored suits adorned with some high-end brand clothes. He frequently posts pics of himself from such events as the Monaco Grand Prix and charity galas on his social media. Lalit’s attendance at these venues is usually an international celebrity and high-profile person, signifying a state of the art in the global elite.
Lalit is also an art collector with a special interest in contemporary and modern art. His collection is full of works by prominent artists, and he is often visible at art auctions or exhibitions.
Lalit Modi’s social media presence provides us a window into who he is when he is not on his job. He posts his life on Instagram and Twitter. For example, his Instagram account has photos of him travelling, his family, his luxury cars, and his social circle. He even shares images from high-end events to portray his attendance at elite gatherings.
His posts often feature his business ventures and philanthropy. Let’s take his charitable posting as an example: he’s shared about how he’s helped out with education and healthcare.
By 2009, tension between Lalit Modi and N. Srinivasan had fuelled rumours of rivalry. Part of Modi’s downfall was because of their differing views on IPL governance.
IPL Expansion Controversy (2009–2010)
Modi managed the bidding process in 2009, and he added two new clubs to the IPL, as well as two new stipulations. The terms required bidders to have a net worth of $1 billion and a $100 million bank guarantee. These critics argued these conditions were in favour of groups like Adani and Videocon. The BCCI changed the ITT after just two bids, removing the net worth clause and lowering the guarantee requirement, ruffling feathers for accusations of bid manipulation.
Kochi Tuskers Kerala Franchise Controversy
Lalit Modi claimed that Sunanda Pushkar, linked to politician Shashi Tharoor, was among them. Pushkar reportedly claims that Modi gave him the shares as a gift to Tharoor. Tharoor said he had only acted in an advisory role and denied involvement.
If you have heard of the Ambani family, possibly the most famous person among them would not be either Mukesh Ambani or his children. The figure is actually his wife, Nita Ambani. A well-known figure in business and philanthropic circles, Nita is the chairperson of the Reliance Foundation and a director at the Dhirubhai Ambani International School. She is one of the co-owners of Reliance Industries and also runs the Mumbai Indians cricket team.
Till 2024, the estimated net worth of Nita Ambani is around INR 2340-2510 crore. This reflects her own contribution to the running and management of all the family businesses along with her philanthropic involvement.
Born to middle-class Gujarati parents in the person of Ravindrabhai and Purnima Dalal in November of 1964, Nita Ambani is an original Mumbaikar and even holds a college degree from the Narsee Monjee College of Commerce and Economics. She is a trained Bharatnatyam dancer and has proven her dancing talent several times.
Nita Ambani was spotted by Dhirubhai Ambani and Kokilaben Ambani at a dance show, where she later met her family with a marriage proposal for the eldest son, Mukesh Ambani. Their marriage was planned after dating for a couple of months back in the year 1985.
After her marriage, she would teach at school for several more years but soon ventured into the family business. She is very close to Dhirubhai Ambani who used to question her on world events every evening. It is her father-in-law whom she attributes to becoming the woman she is today.
Nita and Mukesh Ambani had their twins, Akash and Isha, via IVF seven years after their marriage. But Anant was naturally conceived three years after the twins were born. She is also a grandmother of four little toddlers.
Nita Ambani – founder and chair of Reliance Foundation
Nita Ambani is also the founder and chair of Reliance Foundation, and she is the corporate social responsibility arm for the company, Reliance Industries. She was elected to the Board in 2014 and resigned in August 2023. She preferred to put in all her efforts towards the Reliance Foundation. Nita Ambani still continues to attend all the Reliance Industries Board meetings as a permanent invitee.
Jamnagar Township Project
In 1997, Nita Ambani was working on the company township for the employees who are part of the Reliance refinery in Jamnagar. The project included the construction of environmentally friendly houses for over 17000 residents.
Mumbai Indians
She and her husband are co-owners of the Indian Premier League team-the Mumbai Indians. There are more than 5 titles under their belt currently (2013, 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2020). Not limited to this, she initiated the ‘Education and Sports for All (ESA)’. The initiative was that in return to society, as being made mandatory by Mumbai Indians under their banner, ESA has seen that over 100,000 underserved children have been approached to create awareness concerning education through various digital avenues.
IOC Membership
In 2016, Ambani was one of the eight candidates nominated as a member of the International Olympic Committee by the Swiss panel. The elections for these members took place at the 129th IOC Session in August 2016. Nita Ambani was the first Indian woman to be elected as an IOC member.
Her Circle
The ‘Her Circle’ is a digital platform for women who compete with its own discussion panels and social networking app. Nita Ambani’s Reliance Foundation launched the ‘Her Circle’ app on International Women’s Day in March 2022. This new initiative helps empower women with modern digital tools. Launched for Indian women, but extended to women overseas, the tool provides ladies with a ‘joyful and safe space for interaction, engagement, collaboration, and mutual support.’ As per Nita Ambani, the platform helps women lean on women and their shared experiences help end problems and improve triumphs for each other.
Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre (NMACC)
Located in the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre, it was the first to be inaugurated within the Jio World Centre, Mumbai, in March 2023. The idea for this centre was to focus on community problems such as outreach programs and competitions, award functions, in-residency Guru-Shishya sessions, and literacy programs for adults. The four-storied building has over 16,000 sq ft of space and over three theatres. The biggest of these is a 2000-seat Grand Theatre that has a lotus-themed chandelier with over 8400 Swarovski crystals.
There are more than three dedicated spaces for performance art centres – The Grand Theatre, The Cube, and The Studio Theatre. The centre also has an Art House with a four-story space for both international and Indian artists.
Nita has received multiple awards and accolades for her work in sports, philanthropy, and CSR. These include:
2015: Entrepreneur of the Year – From All India Management Association (AIMA)
2016: Asia’s 50 Most Powerful Women – From Forbes Magazine
2017: Honored by the Metropolitan Museum of Art – From the Metropolitan Museum of Art
2017: Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Award – For promoting grassroots sports
2018-2019:Best Corporate Supporter of Indian Sports – From Times of India
2023: Global Leadership Award for Philanthropy and CSR – From the USA-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF)
Pravinchandra V Gandhi Award for Excellence in Public Life – From the Rotary Club of Bombay
Global Philanthropist and the Leader of the Year Award – From the Vogue India Magazine
2023: Rotary Citizen of Mumbai Award – From the Rotary Club of Bombay
2024: Nita Ambani was awarded the “Outstanding Contribution to Brand India” at CNBC-TV18’s IBLA in Mumbai.
Nita Ambani is also a part of multiple commissions such as the Public Affairs and Social Development through the Sports Commission, the Olympic Channel Commission, and the Olympic Education Commission.
Nita is a trained Bharatanatyam dancer, which played a pivotal role in her introduction to Mukesh Ambani. Dhirubhai Ambani, Mukesh’s father, saw this performance and later proposed the alliance.
As chairperson of the Reliance Foundation, Nita led efforts in these four areas, namely education, health, rural development, and disaster response.
She owns the IPL cricket team called Mumbai Indians, and she bagged several IPL titles with that very team.
Nita formed a great setup of the Reliance Foundation Young Champs initiative, bringing grassroots football across India to its notice.
She was the first Indian lady to win membership in the International Olympic Committee in 2016.
She founded Dhirubhai Ambani International School one of India’s foremost international schools.
She resides at Antilia, one of the pricey private homes available in this world, in Mumbai.
She is known for her exquisite taste and has a collection of customized tea sets, reportedly valued at ₹1.5 crore, and Hermès Birkin bags.
Nita has been vocal about her fitness transformation. After battling weight issues, she adopted a healthier lifestyle, including yoga and a balanced diet.
Nita is an avid collector of Indian and international art. The Ambani family is known for supporting the arts and culture extensively.
Her sense of style and grace often make headlines. She frequently dons creations by top Indian and international designers.
Despite her immense success, Nita Ambani emphasizes the importance of family and often talks about her close bond with her children—Akash, Isha, and Anant—and her husband Mukesh.
Rekha Jhunjhunwala is the second richest woman in the country in terms of wealth. When it comes to her fortune, the estimated net value is above INR 72,000 crore, and her very strategically picked shares, account for close to INR 30,000 crore in stock portfolio valuation. Her taste, no wonder, runs after luxury on the basis of this realty investment.
She claims to enjoy an unhindered panoramic view of the Arabian Sea sitting in her residence. Her ability to make strategic acquisitions and maintain her high-profile stocks has helped highlight her exceptional financial acumen. So let’s dive into her life, investments, and actual wealth.
Rekha Jhunjhunwala – Early Life, Education and Family
Rekha Jhunjhunwala – Early Life, Education and Family
Rekha was born in September 1963 and earned her Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Mumbai. She married Rakesh Jhunjhunwala in 1987 who started their financial journey with the setting up of self as a significant stock investor. He is often regarded as the Indian Warren Buffet for his investment savvy, and Rekha has stood by him through thick and thin. But, despite holding a rich level of property, they always keep themselves low profile. Rekha and Rakesh have three children, twin boys, Aryaman and Aryaveer, and a daughter Nishtha.
Rekha’s real estate portfolio investments reflect her taste and status. Her main residence, RARE Villa, is a 14-storey mansion located on Malabar Hills. This residential property was known as Ridgeway Apartments and had been purchased in two phases from 2013-2017 for a sum of INR 370 crores. Spread over 70,000 sq. ft, it is in one of the prime locales of Mumbai. But when the nearby Rockside CHS went up for redevelopment, it posed a threat to her precious sea view. To ensure that her panoramic view stayed the same she bought nine flats for INR 118 crore.
Other than the nine Rockside CHS apartments in 2023 Rekha also bought five commercial properties in the Bandra Kurla Complex and Chandivali in Andheri East for INR 739 crore. These properties collectively cover 1.94 lakh sq. ft. and are a significant part of her investment plan.
Rekha Jhunjhunwala’s stock list is a testament to her financial prowess and currently stands at a value of INR 37,831 crore. Her investments provide substantial returns with a dividend income of INR 224 crore for a quarter. The list of the prominent stocks she owns are:
In Nov 2024, two of Rekha’s portfolio stocks earned over INR 105 crore in the first 10 minutes only. Those from the portfolio stocks are Titan Company and Metro Brands. Titan’s share price surged to INR 20.90 per share whereas Metro Brands’ share price gained INR 3.90 per share in the stock market.
Titan’s share price opened with an upside gap of INR 3310 per share on the NSE today and touched a high of INR 3360 per share. But it touched INR 3330 per share in the first ten minutes of the stock market opening and recorded an INR 20.90 per share.
Similarly, Metro Brands’ share price opened at INR 1177.10 per share in the NSE and touched INR 1180.95 apiece in the first ten minutes with a record of INR 3.90 per share.
Rekha currently holds 4,57,13,470 shares in Titan, and with a rise in the first ten minutes, her stocks got her a jump of INR 95.54 crore in one single jump. Again, Rekha holds 2,61,02,394 shares for Metro Brands’ and her net worth rose by INR 10.18 crore.
Rekha Jhunjhunwala – Facts
Rekha Jhunjhunwala made her latest buy in Tata Motors Ltd., increasing her stake by 0.02%.
Sold shares in Aptech Ltd., lowering stake by -2.31%.
Rekha Jhunjhunwala-backed Inventurus Knowledge Solutions announced its IPO launch on December 12, 2024, aiming to raise INR 2,497.92 crore by offloading 1.88 crore shares held by promoters and other shareholders.
The most valuable listed holding in the portfolio is watch and jewelry maker Titan, part of the Tata conglomerate.
Has been associated with 4 companies as of 2022. These include Jalaram Baba Children’s Nest Education Private Limited, Minosha Digital Solutions Private Limited, Ohm Educom Foundation Private Limited, and Rare Family Foundation.
The stock brokerage firm by her husband, Late Rakesh Jhunjhunwala, RaRe Enterprises, formed in 1992, is a combination of both their names – Ra from Rakesh and Re from Rekha.
Late Jhunjhunwala’s early bets on Star Health Allied Insurance and Metro Brands paid off when both companies were listed in 2021.
Her husband was one of the investors in a new low-budget airline that began flying in August 2022, just before he passed away.
FAQ
Who are the children of Rekha Jhunjhunwala?
Rekha Jhunjhunwala’s children are Nishtha, Aryaman, and Aryavir Jhunjhunwala.
What is the education of Rekha Jhunjhunwala?
Rekha Jhunjhunwala holds a degree in Commerce from the University of Mumbai.
How much is Rekha Jhunjhunwala worth?
As of 2024, Rekha Jhunjhunwala’s net worth is estimated to be around $8.8 billion.
Nitin Konde
