In this article, we share success stories of Indian entrepreneurs across the country to inspire those wishing to become entrepreneurs. The success stories prove one thing over and over again: anything is possible if you have the willpower to succeed!
- Hari Menon, Big Basket CEO & Co-Founder
In 1996, he was born in Bandra West, Mumbai, into a middle-class family. Hari Menon is one of those Indian entrepreneurs who struggled a lot in his early life and in his entrepreneurial journey. BigBasket is the largest supermarket in India founded and run by Hari. Symphony Industrial AI was also founded by him.
Manipal Group and City & Guilds, UK’s joint venture for vocational education, was headed by Hari Menon. Prior to founding Big Basket, Hari Menon led several companies, such as Timeli, Tumri, and Serus Corporation. Alumnus of BITS Pilani. In the infotech business division of Wipro, he was a Business Head. Co-founder of one of India’s pioneers in the eCommerce and retail space, Fabmall, which performed the same functions as today’s Amazon, Shopclues, Pepperfry, Flipkart, Myntra.
- Radhakishan Damani – Founder of “D-Mart”, the mega-retail chain stores
The entrepreneur Radhakishan Damani is famous for launching the Indian grocery and retail chain D-Mart. Entrepreneur and billionaire investor RK Damani is based in Mumbai. The Damani retail business is dominated by Radhakishan. At the University of Mumbai, he dropped out. Radhakishan Damani started a stockbroking business when he was 32. Powai’s D-Mart, a chain of one-stop hypermarkets and supermarkets, was founded in 2000. Under one roof, D-Mart offers a wide variety of basic home products and personal care products.
A DMart supermarket stocks a wide range of home utility products – including beauty products, toys & games, bed and bath linen, home appliances, footwear, stationery, food, kitchenware, toiletries, garments, and more. D Mart Premia, D Homes, D Mart, D Mart MINIMAX, Dutch Harbour, etc are all brands owned by Avenue Supermarts Ltd. DMart today operates in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab, Telangana, the National Capital Region, Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh, and Rajasthan.
- Gautam Adani – CEO of Adani Group, A man who dreamt big and made it a reality
Gautam Adani is an Indian entrepreneur and billionaire industrialist who founded the Adani Group. The Adani Foundation is headed by Priti Adani, but Gautam Adani serves as its president. In India, he is involved in port development and operation. In 1988, he founded The Adani Group and diversified into energy, defense, agriculture, resources, and aerospace, among others. Gautam Adani began trading textiles, agro products, and metals in 1991.
A contract for management outsourcing of the Mundra Port was awarded to him by the Government of Gujarat in 1993. In 1995, he created its first jetty, which was operated by Mundra Port & Special Economic Zone. It has the capacity to handle more than 200 million tons of cargo per year. It is the largest private-sector port in India.
A Forbes estimate of his net worth in 2019 is $15.7 billion. According to India Today, Gautam Adani was ranked as the 3rd most powerful person in India in 2019. He owns 75% of Adani Enterprises, 66% of Adani Ports & SEZ Limited, 75% of Adani Transmission, and 73% of Adani Power.
- Kishore Biyani: Founder of the Future Group, Pantaloon, and Big Bazaar
He is one of the rare entrepreneurs who has developed an empire entirely on his own, without any help from his family, while carving out his own niche in the market.
An Indian entrepreneur, Kishore Biyani, works in the financial services industry. In addition to being chief executive officer (CEO) and founder of Future Group, he has founded a number of retail businesses including Pantaloon Retail and Big Bazaar. Kishore was not good at studies and was interested in only one subject, which was business. “Bansi Silk Mills” was a business owned by two older cousins and brothers of his. Being frustrated with it led him to leave the business.
The ‘Pantaloon’ brand was born from Platoon when he was 22.
In 1983, Kishore Biyani began manufacturing fashionable fabrics for garment manufacturers. Kishore Biyani established Manz Wear Private Limited after this. As well as launching his own brand, WBB is a fabric for men’s trousers. He then founded Big Bazaar in 2001. Future Group includes food bazaars, factories, home towns, fashion centrals, and ezones at Big Bazaar. Dedicated to his work and hard work are Kishore’s secrets to success.
- Anand Mahindra, Director of Mahindra & Mahindra,
Anand Mahindra is an Indian entrepreneur and the chairman of Mahindra Group, a Mumbai-based business conglomerate.
Mahindra & Mahindra co-founder Jagdish Chandra Mahindra is his grandfather. In addition to Harvard Business School, he is also an alumnus of Harvard University.
His net worth is approximately $1.6 billion as of January 2020. By Fortune Magazine, he is listed among the world’s 50 greatest leaders. The Padma Bhushan Award is the third-highest civilian award in India, given to Anand Mahindra.
Anand Mahindra is also the co-chairman of the World Economic Forum. He was named ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’ by Forbes (India) for 2013 and was chosen as one of Fortune Magazine’s ‘World’s 50 Greatest Leaders’. For his notable contribution to the business, Anand Mahindra was also honored with the Rajiv Gandhi Award.
From the American India Foundation, he received the Leadership Award, and from Auto Monitor, he received the Person of the Year Award. Mahindra & Mahindra Group is involved in aftermarket, aerospace, components, agribusiness, defense, energy, automotive, construction equipment, insurance, farm equipment, finance, industrial equipment, hospitality, information technology, leisure, logistics, and real estate.
- Baba Kalyani: Chairman and Managing Director of Bharat Forge
The full name of Baba Kalyani is Babasaheb Neelkanth Kalyani. He is an Indian entrepreneur who served as the managing director and chairman of the world’s second-largest forging manufacturer, Bharat Forge. He attended Rashtriya Military School in Belgaum for high school. He graduated from Massachusetts Institute of Technology with a Master’s degree. Kalyanan graduated with a BE (hons.) degree in Mechanical Engineering from BITS Pilani. Bharat Forge hired him in 1972. A hybrid solution is being developed by Bharat Forge Limited. The company manufactures solar energy equipment and is the flagship company of the Kalyani Group. Kaba Kalyani received the Padma Bhushan award for exemplary contributions to Trade and Industry.