MAM
Five start-up founders who leveraged tech to disrupt
Mumbai: Earlier this year, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) had highlighted in its report how Indian startups are likely to create 50 million new jobs and add $1 trillion to the economy by 2029-30 (FY30). The technological advancements witnessed in the last decade are proof of this projection, as they continue to help founders disrupt the industry with innovative solutions. From mobility to hospitality and even sectors such as media, gaming and entertainment, technological innovations have helped entrepreneurs claim new heights of success, from very early on.
Harnessing cutting-edge technologies, these young entrepreneurs have unlocked new benchmarks of success, building enterprises that deliver immense public value. We look at five such startup founders whose entrepreneurial passion has broken all barriers, and that too, early on in their lives.
Ritesh Agarwal: Founded OYO Rooms in 2013 at the age of 19
Ritesh’s extensive travel across India exposed a significant gap in the market—budget hotels that offered both affordability and quality service were hard to come by. This insight led to the creation of OYO in 2013. What began as a solution to a personal problem quickly evolved into one of the world’s largest hotel chains, now over 1.5 million rooms in more than 80 countries.
By leveraging advanced technology, OYO has made booking affordable and quality accommodations effortless and accessible. Agarwal’s story is an inspiring example of turning a simple, idle observation into a global business. His other key achievements include being the youngest Shark on Shark Tank India Season 3 and getting featured in the Hurun Rich List with an estimated net worth of $1.1 billion, among others.
Dilsher Malhi: Founded Zupee in 2018 at the age of 23
Dilsher Malhi is the founder and CEO of Zupee, a skill-based gaming company, known for its flagship game Zupee Ludo. For Dilsher, the journey started in 2018, when after graduating with a B. Tech degree in Chemical Engineering from IIT Kanpur, he went on to pursue his passion with entrepreneurship and gaming. His technology-led innovation and gamification approach took him to create Zupee, which has become a leader in gaming innovation in the fiercely competitive online gaming industry. Dilsher and his team reinvented skill-based Ludo in an online avatar to empower users with learning and joy. In the process, Zupee did not only own a category, they actually established the category. Under his leadership, Zupee has 100 mn users associated with them. Featured on Forbes 30 under 30 Asia, 2021, the story of Dilsher goes on to prove that with passion and vision, everything is possible.
Bhavish Aggarwal: Founded Ola in 2010 at the age of 25
Bhavish Aggarwal is the co-founder and CEO of Ola, a ride-hailing platform. His journey began in 2010, when, after earning a B. Tech degree in Computer Science and Engineering from IIT Bombay, he decided to transform the transportation industry in India. Bhavish’s vision was to leverage technology to create a convenient and affordable solution to the country’s chaotic commuting challenges. What started as a small operation in Mumbai quickly expanded into a nationwide network, offering services in over 250 cities. Under his leadership, Ola has grown into a diversified mobility platform, branching into electric vehicles, food delivery, and financial services. Bhavish’s relentless pursuit of innovation has not only disrupted the traditional taxi industry but has also made Ola a household name across India
Pavan Guntupalli (24), Aravind Sanka (25), and SR Rishikesh: Co-founded Rapido in 2015
Within 9 years of its inception, Rapido undertook technology and business innovation to foray into all three verticals of ride hailing services, including Rapido Bike-taxis, Auto rickshaw, and cabs. Rigged with technology, the app connects commuters with bike taxis for an easy and pocket-friendly way of getting around cities quickly. Services are now available in more than 100 cities. Rapido is expanding its ride offerings in more cities, looking to further strengthen its position as a ride-hailing leader with its zero-commission model.
Azhar Iqubal: Co-founded Inshorts in 2013 at the age of 22
Azhar Iqubal is the Co-founder and CEO of Inshorts, a cutting-edge content discovery platform that has revolutionised how news is consumed in the digital age. At 22, Azhar recognised the need for a more efficient way to access information, especially in a world where attention spans are shrinking. Leveraging his technical expertise and an understanding of user behaviour, he co-founded Inshorts in 2013. The platform uses algorithms to curate and summarize news into 60-word snippets, delivering concise and relevant content to millions of users daily. Azhar’s tech-driven approach streamlined news consumption and also set a new standard in the media industry. Under his leadership, Inshorts has become a go-to source for quick, reliable news, proving that innovation in technology can fundamentally make a difference in how information is disseminated and consumed.
Brands
Big Bowl appoints Lyxel & Flamingo as social and media partner
QSR brand eyes next growth phase after crossing Rs 100 crore ARR milestone
MUMBAI: Big Bowl, one of India’s largest bowl-format quick service restaurant brands from Lenexis Foodworks, has appointed Lyxel & Flamingo (L&F) as its social and media partner as it prepares for its next phase of growth.
The partnership comes after the brand crossed the Rs 100 crore annual recurring revenue milestone in 2025 and aims to help accelerate its journey towards Rs 150 crore ARR in its fifth year since launch.
Big Bowl currently operates more than 250 kitchens across 50 cities and has emerged as a major player in India’s organised bowl-format food segment. Built around hearty portions and delivery-first convenience, the brand offers a wide mix of Indian, Chinese and fusion bowls designed for quick, affordable and portable consumption.
As urban consumers increasingly gravitate towards easy-to-carry and value-driven meal formats, the company sees the bowl category as a scalable format aligned with modern eating habits.
With the appointment of Lyxel & Flamingo, Big Bowl plans to consolidate its social media and digital media operations under a single partner. The move is intended to sharpen its digital reach, strengthen youth-focused storytelling and improve performance marketing outcomes.
Lyxel & Flamingo, one of India’s largest independent digital-first agencies, manages more than 350 brands and oversees advertising spends exceeding $100 million across its network.
Under the mandate, the agency will handle Big Bowl’s social media strategy, content development, digital performance marketing, media planning and buying, as well as campaign amplification across platforms.
Commenting on the partnership, Lenexis Foodworks founder and director Aayush Madhusudan Agrawal said, “Big Bowl has scaled rapidly to cross Rs 100 crore ARR and established itself as one of the largest bowl-format brands in the country. As a delivery-first, digitally native brand, our next phase of growth will be driven by sharper performance systems and stronger brand storytelling. Consolidating social and media with Lyxel & Flamingo allows us to integrate data, creativity and media precision as we scale towards our next revenue milestone.”
Lenexis Foodworks marketing head Vikas Iyer, added that the delivery-led category requires content, media and performance marketing to work closely together.
“With Lyxel & Flamingo, we aim to build a sharper social voice, stronger acquisition systems and measurable impact, ensuring the brand scales not just in presence but also in precision,” he said.
Lyxel & Flamingo chief executive officer Dev Batra, said the agency will combine data-driven marketing with creative storytelling to support Big Bowl’s growth. “Big Bowl brings the flavour, and L&F brings the fire. Our strategy combines data-led performance with engaging storytelling to help build a strong digital brand presence while delivering measurable business results,” he said.
With this partnership, Big Bowl is looking to strengthen its position as a digitally driven QSR brand, blending brand-building with performance marketing as it scales within India’s rapidly growing organised food delivery market.
