MAM
Forbes India 30 Under 30 Class of 2024: Celebrating a decade of excellence in India’s youth
Mumbai: For a decade now, Forbes India has been shining a spotlight on 30 extraordinary individuals across various industries through the 30 Under 30 initiative. The honourees of the 2024 list, marking the programme’s tenth year, continue to exemplify exceptional talent and achievement.
In 2014, Forbes India introduced the 30 Under 30 list, featuring names that resonate even today, such as Bhavish Aggarwal of Ola, actor Rajkummar Rao, Pooja Dhingra of Le15, and the innovative duo Shivan Bhatiya and Narresh Kukreja of Shivan and Narresh, alongside cricketer Cheteshwar Pujara, among others.
Over the years, the 30 Under 30 winners have reflected emerging talents and businesses, adapting to the evolving landscape. The categories have expanded from 14 in 2014 to 19 in 2024, demonstrating a commitment to staying attuned to emerging trends.
As the program celebrates its tenth year, the Forbes India 30 Under 30 alum club boasts a formidable 300 members, including notable success stories like Nikhil Kamath of Zerodha and the Postman co-founders Abhinav Asthana, Abhijit Kane, and Ankit Sobti. These individuals have made significant contributions to their respective fields and have become influential figures on the global stage.
The impact of the 30 Under 30 extends beyond business into entertainment and sports. Alums such as Tahir Raj Bhasin, Taapsee Pannu, Bhumi Pednekar, Vicky Kaushal, Mithila Palkar, Vijay Deverakonda, and Sai Pallavi continue to represent the esteemed list in the entertainment industry. In sports, the likes of Anirban Lahiri, Dipa Karmakar, Aditi Ashok, Jasprit Bumrah, Harmanpreet Kaur, Neeraj Chopra, Smriti Mandhana, and Hima Das have earned international acclaim, putting India on the global map.
The Class of 2024, comprising 30 achievers across 19 categories, selected by expert juries, promises to follow in the footsteps of their accomplished predecessors. From Climate Change & Clean Energy to various sectors, these individuals are poised to make a lasting impact on the dynamic Indian market. The youngest honourees, at just 21, embody a forward-thinking generation dedicated to solving pressing global issues.
Forbes India editor Brian Carvalho emphasised, “The 2024 Forbes India 30 Under 30 roster honours individuals with a bold and innovative spirit, fearlessly embracing uniqueness and challenging established norms.”
Discover the Class of 2024 — they are only at the beginning of their journey, much like many of our esteemed alums in their time!
Digital
Anthropic eyes $900bn valuation in new funding round ahead of IPO: Reports
Claude maker may surpass OpenAI as investor interest heats up sharply
SAN FRANCISCO: Anthropic is exploring a fresh funding round that could value the company at more than $900 billion, potentially making it the world’s most valuable artificial intelligence startup, according to Bloomberg reports.
Citing sources familiar with the matter, Bloomberg News reported that the Claude maker is in early-stage discussions with investors and is entertaining offers at more than double its current valuation. No deal has been finalised yet.
The interest marks a sharp jump from February this year, when Anthropic raised $30 billion at a valuation of $380 billion. Since then, investor appetite appears to have intensified, with multiple pre-emptive offers on the table.
According to TechCrunch, the company has received proposals to raise around $50 billion at valuations ranging between $850 billion and $900 billion. A decision is expected to be taken at a board meeting in May.
If the deal goes through at the upper end of that range, Anthropic would overtake OpenAI, which was valued at $852 billion in March, to become the most valuable AI startup globally.
The potential fundraise also comes against the backdrop of a possible initial public offering, which could be launched as early as October, the Bloomberg report noted.
The company counts tech heavyweights such as Amazon and Google, part of Alphabet, among its key backers. Both firms have continued to deepen their ties with Anthropic through multi-billion-dollar, performance-linked investments.
Interestingly, earlier reports had suggested that Anthropic was cautious about raising funds at valuations of $800 billion or more. The latest developments, however, indicate that market enthusiasm for advanced AI models and infrastructure may be shifting those thresholds quickly.
As the race for AI dominance accelerates, Anthropic’s next move could set a new benchmark for startup valuations, and signal just how high investors are willing to bet on the future of artificial intelligence.
