Young Indian Entrepreneurs That Are Expected To Make Great Strides In 2023

India has witnessed a surge in the number of young entrepreneurs in recent years, and this trend is expected to continue in 2023.  With the availability of resources and support, coupled with the rise of the startup culture in India, more and more young people are venturing into the business world. These young entrepreneurs have made a mark in various fields, from healthcare to technology to e-commerce, defied age barriers, and have gone on to create successful businesses, challenging traditional norms and paving the way for a new generation of innovators. 

We have listed some of the young entrepreneurs in India who have established themselves in the startup ecosystem. Their innovative ideas and passion for making a positive impact in their respective fields have led them to start successful businesses. These startups are expected to make significant contributions to their industries and the overall economy of India.

Aadit Panchal, Zepto
Aadit Panchal, has already established himself as one of the richest entrepreneurs in India. Aadit, along with his friend Kaivalya was studying at US Stanford but left the course mid-way to start their 10-min delivery startup, Zepto. Within a month of its launch, the company gained a valuation of USD 200 Mn. The valuation grew to USD 570Mn within the next 5 months due to the massive success of its concept. Last year, the company hit a valuation of USD 900Mn.  He was “laughed out” of investor meetings when he pitched his quick commerce idea for 10-minute deliveries but the growth of the sector has now turned the tables for him. The growth in quick commerce has now made idea not only seem possible but extremely profitable. He is considered one of the rising stars of the Indian startup scene and has been recognized as one of Forbes' 30 Under 30 for Asia.

Pravas Chandragiri, Soptle
Pravas Chandragiri, was just 19 yrs old when he founded Spotle, a revolutionary a SaaS-led B2B retail commerce platform that enables FMCG manufacturers to digitize their workflow, day-to-day activities, and conduct their existing business in a more efficient manner and also increase sales to retailers in other geographies by enhancing their utilization capacity. Coming from a humble background, Pravas learned about the difficulties faced by local retailers and manufacturers at the early age of 12 yrs while managing a family-run Kirana store in the small town of Balasore, Orissa. While studying in 12th grade, he started his entrepreneurial journey with a venture which primarily focused on connecting regional manufacturers to retailers. There he connected 1200 Kirana stores across 9 districts of Odisha and successfully introduced 20+ regional brands from India to them. In 2021, he started Soptle which has onboarded more than 80,000 retailers and manufacturers on its platform, till now. He is inspiring many other young entrepreneurs of his age coming from small cities in India to dream big and remain committed to solving the problem they are passionate about. 

Arjun Deshpande, Founder, Generic Aadhaar
The ‘Robinhood of Indian Pharma’, Arjun Deshpande is the founder and CEO of the Mumbai-based startup, Generic Aadhaar. The company is India's first end-to-end online platform for generic medicine and aims to make high-quality medication affordable and accessible to everyone in India. Deshpande's entrepreneurial journey began during his college days when he observed the lack of access to affordable medicine for people in rural areas. He founded Generic Aadhaar in 2018, with the aim of solving this problem by sourcing high-quality generic medicine directly from manufacturers and selling them at a much lower cost than branded medicine. The company has quickly gained popularity and has disrupted the traditional pharmaceutical industry in India. In recognition of his efforts, Deshpande has been named among Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia and Fortune India 40 Under 40. His story has inspired many young people in India to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams and work towards making a positive impact on society.

Sreelakshmi Suresh, Founder eDesign Technologies
Sreelakshmi Suresh is a young Indian entrepreneur who has made a name for herself in the field of digital education. She is the founder of eDesign Technologies, a company that provides training in software development, web design, and other digital skills. Suresh started the company when she was just 19 years old and has since trained thousands of students in India and other countries. Her entrepreneurial journey began when she saw a need for practical, hands-on training in digital skills. Suresh's goal was to empower young people with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in the digital age. Apart from eDesign, she has also founded TinyLogo company. Her company offers services in web design, SEO, and other fields to many popular brands. She has been recognized for her innovative approach to education and has won several awards, including the National Child Award for Exceptional Achievement and the Youth Icon Award from the Government of Kerala.

Udit Singhal, Founder Glass2Sand
Udit Singhal is a 21-year-old entrepreneur who founded Glass2Sand, a startup that recycles glass waste into sustainable sand. Udit's passion for environmental sustainability and entrepreneurship led him to start his own venture. Glass2Sand aims to provide an eco-friendly solution to the growing problem of glass waste in India. The startup has received recognition and support from various sources, including the United Nations Environment Programme and the Indian government. Glass2Sand has recycled over 65,000 glass bottles into 39,000 kgs of industry-grade silica-rich sand, reducing 270,000 kg carbon emissions. The business, which uses a 550-strong volunteer network to collect glass bottles, has existing partnerships with 18 diplomatic missions. It has received interest from Peru, the Philippines, the US, and more, and has the capacity to reduce glass waste in landfills and mining of sand—already the most extracted resource after water—if adopted at scale. 

The rise of young entrepreneurs in India is a testament to the country's growing startup culture and the government's push towards entrepreneurship. These young entrepreneurs have shown that with the right mindset, determination, and support, anyone can create a successful business. As India continues to evolve and grow, we can expect to see more and more young entrepreneurs taking the leap and making their mark in the business world.