Ankush Sachdeva, the CEO and Co-Founder of ShareChat, is one of India’s youngest entrepreneurs at 31. Under his leadership, ShareChat has grown to include 15 Indian languages and reached a $5 billion valuation. Sachdeva’s vision focuses on enabling users to connect and share stories in their native languages, fostering stronger communities.
Neetish Sarda, another young entrepreneur, is the Managing Director and founder of Smartworks. The company operates over 8 million sq. ft.
of office space across 13 cities and 41 centers in India. Sarda, who holds a bachelor’s degree in science from the University of London, oversees key operations and drives the company’s sales, business development, and technology teams. Akshit Jain, also 31, is a key figure at Goldmedal Electricals, a leading brand in the consumer goods sector.
Under his leadership, the company has gained prominence for its innovative electrical products and solutions. These young leaders have transformed their respective industries and become role models for aspiring entrepreneurs globally. They exemplify the potential of youth in the business world by driving change and growth at a young age.
Isha Ambani, daughter of Mukesh and Nita Ambani, is quickly establishing herself as a significant figure in India’s retail and business sectors. She is known for her pivotal role in driving the rapid growth of Reliance Retail. Isha holds key positions within Reliance Industries, including directorships in Reliance Retail and Reliance Jio.
Bengaluru and Mumbai top rankings
Since joining the boards in 2014, her leadership has been crucial in expanding the business in the retail and telecom sectors. Reliance Retail reported a gross revenue of Rs 3.06 lakh crore (approximately $36.8 billion) for the financial year ending March 31, 2024, marking a growth of 17.8% compared to the previous year.
At Reliance Industries’ Annual General Meeting (AGM), Isha announced an ambitious goal to double the retail business within the next three to four years. She stated, “With the strong foundation we have built, I am confident that we will achieve our goal of doubling our retail business in the next 3-4 years.”
Isha was also behind the launch of AJIO, Reliance Retail’s multi-brand e-commerce platform, which offers a mix of Western and traditional Indian fashion. AJIO has become a successful addition to Reliance’s retail portfolio and continues to grow.
Apart from her role in expanding Reliance Retail, Isha is deeply involved in various philanthropic initiatives under the Reliance Foundation. One of her key focuses is promoting digital education across rural India, providing resources and training for teachers and students to bridge the digital divide. Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Delhi are the top three cities with the highest number of entrepreneurs under 35 years old, according to the ‘2024 Hurun India Under 35’ list.
Bengaluru ranks first with 29 young entrepreneurs, followed by Mumbai with 26 and Delhi with 21. Maharashtra leads the list among states with 33 entrants, followed by Karnataka with 30 and Delhi with 21. Hurun India highlighted that 37 percent of these young entrepreneurs are concentrated in Bengaluru and Mumbai.
The inaugural list features a total of 150 young entrepreneurs from 41 cities. Ankush Sachdeva, 31, from Sharechat, stands out as the youngest entrepreneur on the list. Parita Parekh of Toddle and Isha Ambani of Reliance Retail, both aged 32, are the youngest women featured.
Hurun India emphasized that the list showcases 123 first-generation entrepreneurs, making up 82 percent of the total entrants.
