40 Under 40: The Shining Stars

In today’s India, startups have emerged as a powerful engine of innovation and growth. With a renewed emphasis on entrepreneurship, future-ready individuals are now in the driver's seat, poised to navigate the dynamic and ever-evolving world of business. These young visionaries, equipped with innovative solutions and a keen eye for emerging trends, are providing solutions for a plethora of challenges facing the nation.

The bygone year was one of the toughest for startups. However, promoters with the right mindset and sticking to the fundamental tenets of business could sail through the turbulent times. As far as funding is concerned, it fell to its lowest in seven years.

Fueling the entrepreneurial surge is relentless digitalisation, which has paved the way for a wave of tech-focused startups, disrupting traditional industries and creating new opportunities for both entrepreneurs and consumers. From fintech solutions to edtech platforms, these digital ventures are transforming the way we live, work and interact with the world around us.

The Initiative
To recognise and acknowledge the trailblazing entrepreneurs, BW Disrupt in association with BW Businessworld organised the seventh edition of the 40 Under 40 summit, a platform that brings together professionals and organisations involved in various domains of the startup ecosystem. The summit fosters discussions and collaborations focused on the development of the entire ecosystem.

The Process
BW Businessworld reached out to over 500 industry leaders and received more than 150 entries. Subsequently, after a second level of deliberations, 80 nominees were shortlisted and invited to present before an esteemed jury panel. The nominees were presented before the jury to share their company’s journey, financial health, goals and ambitions.

The nominations received for the BW Disrupt 40 Under 40 2023 underwent a meticulous multi-tier screening and shortlisting procedure to identify the most deserving winners. The winners were evaluated strictly on merit. The process adhered to a specific set of parameters for evaluating the entries, including major accomplishments, key contribution in the organisation, strategies for brand growth, leadership journey, weakness and strength and the rationale behind each nominee's potential win. 

The Jury
The distinguished jury panel comprised notable members including, Sudhakar Rao, Director - ICFAI Group of Educational Institutions; Nikhil Bhandarkar, Founding Partner, Panthera Peak Capital; Anup Jain, Leading Early Stage Investor; Ashish Singla, Co-Founder & Managing Partner, N+1 Capital; Rohit Rajput, Partner, Intersection Ventures; Jyoti Khetarpal, Entrepreneur-in-Chief (Founder), Briskcheck Solutions; Tej Kapoor, Managing Partner, IvyCap Ventures, Tariq Aboobaker, Managing Director, Amicorp Trustees (India) and Dr. Annurag Batra, Chairman & Editor in Chief, BW Businessworld and Founder, exchange4media.