Let’s deep peep into the world of Top startups in India and how they are changing the startup culture. These are the most outstanding successful startups in India that have made a significant impact in their respective industries and are ones to watch out for in the coming years.
A Success Story: Tilak Mehta, born in 2006 in Aurangabad, Gujarat, emerged as one of India's youngest entrepreneurs by founding a successful company at the age of 13. His entrepreneurial journey began in 2018 when he faced challenges in obtaining same-day delivery for books needed for an exam. Recognizing a gap in the market for affordable and efficient courier services in Mumbai, he was inspired by the city's Dabbawalas, known for their reliable food delivery system. With the backing of his father, Vishal Mehta, who had experience in logistics, Tilak launched 'Paper n Parcels' (PNP).
The startup has successfully partnered with over 300 Dabbawalas, utilizing their expertise for last-mile delivery. During its beta testing phase, PNP managed approximately 1,000 to 1,200 deliveries daily. By 2021, the company achieved an impressive annual turnover exceeding Rs 100 crore, while Tilak's personal net worth reached Rs 65 crore. This remarkable success story highlights the potential of young entrepreneurs in addressing market needs and leveraging local resources.
Sreelakshmi Suresh – Young Tech Prodigy and Entrepreneur: Born in 1998 in Kozhikode, Kerala, Sreelakshmi began using computers at age 3, started designing by 4, and created her first website at just 6 years old. Entrepreneurship: At age 11, she founded eDesign Technologies, 2009, a web design firm now offering services in web development, SEO, and digital branding. Impact: As of 2025, she has designed 100+ websites for clients across India. Other Ventures: Co-founded TinyLogo, a logo-based search engine. Recognition: Recipient of the National Child Award for Exceptional Achievement in 2008, presented by Sonia Gandhi. Legacy: Sreelakshmi's journey from a child prodigy to a successful entrepreneur continues to inspire young innovators nationwide.
World's youngest web designers and entrepreneurs, Sreelakshmi Suresh, born in 1998 in Kozhikode, Kerala, began using computers at the age of 3, started designing at 4, and created her first website by 6. At 11, she founded her web design company, eDesign Technologies, in 2009. As of 2025, Sreelakshmi continues to lead eDesign Technologies, offering services in web design, SEO, and digital branding. She has designed over 100 websites for various institutions and organizations across India. In addition to eDesign, she co-founded TinyLogo, a logo-based search engine. Sreelakshmi's achievements have earned her numerous accolades, including the National Child Award for Exceptional Achievement in 2008. Her journey from a curious child to a successful entrepreneur serves as an inspiration to many aspiring young innovators.
Ritesh Agarwal, Tilak Mehta, Sreelakshmi Suresh, Trishneet Arora, Akhilendra Sahu, Divya Gandotra Tandon, Farrhad Acidwalla, Kavita Shukla, Ranveer Allahbadia and Suumit Shah are prominent young entrepreneurs who are inspiring budding generations to become entrepreneur increasingly.
Beacon of resilience and entrepreneurial success, Kalpana Saroj, born in 1961 in Akola, Maharashtra, into a Dalit family, faced early hardships, including child marriage at age of 12 years and domestic abuse. After escaping her abusive marriage, she moved to Mumbai, where she worked in a garment factory earning just ₹2 per day. Undeterred, she started a tailoring business with a government loan of ₹50,000, which laid the foundation for her future ventures.
Kalpana's most notable achievement is the revival of Kamani Tubes, a company that was on the brink of liquidation. In 2001, she acquired the company for ₹50 lakhs and transformed it into a profitable enterprise, generating revenues of ₹100 crores. Her net worth is now estimated at ₹917 crores. In recognition of her contributions to trade and industry, she was awarded the Padma Shri in 2013. Kalpana Saroj's journey from adversity to success continues to inspire many, demonstrating the power of determination and resilience.
Harbhajan Kaur, now 97 years old, continues to inspire as a testament to the idea that it's never too late to pursue one's dreams. Her entrepreneurial journey began at the age of 90 in Chandigarh, driven by a lifelong passion for cooking and a desire to earn her own income. Harbhajan's venture started with her signature besan ki barfi, crafted from a cherished family recipe over a century old. With encouragement from her daughter, she sold her first batch at a local organic market, earning ₹2,000—a moment she described as her first personal income.
This success led to the establishment of her brand, Harbhajan's – Made with Love, featuring the tagline “Bachpan yaad aajaye”. Harbhajan's presence extends to social media, with her Instagram account, @harbhajansmadewithlove, showcasing her culinary creations and behind-the-scenes glimpses of her kitchen. Her products are available for purchase online, making her traditional recipes accessible to a broader audience. Harbhajan Kaur's journey underscores the power of resilience and the importance of pursuing one's passions, regardless of age. Her dedication to her craft and the love infused in her recipes continue to resonate with customers and aspiring entrepreneurs alike.
India's startup ecosystem has emerged as a significant driver of the nation's economic growth, innovation, and employment. GDP Impact: Startups contributed approximately $140 billion to India's GDP in FY23. Projections indicate this could rise to $1 trillion by 2030, accounting for a substantial portion of the nation's economic output.
Venture Capital Inflow: In 2024, Indian startups attracted $30.4 billion in funding, a slight decline from the previous year but still indicative of robust investment activity.
Fund Launches: The year 2024 saw the launch of 81 new funds, raising over $8.7 billion, marking a 55% increase from 2023. Early-stage startups were significant beneficiaries, with 40 funds totaling $1.94 billion dedicated to them.
IIT Bombay’s Eureka, is Asia's Largest Business Model Competition aimed to fast-track the journey of an innovative idea to commercial success. Eureka! prides itself on providing a 360-degree holistic experience over a 5-month period, which offers a comprehensive experience that includes personalized mentorship, opportunities for pitching and funding, exciting cash prizes, and more.
Eureka! provides a wide range of support to help participants develop their ideas and bring them to market. During Eureka 2024, the final round of which was held during February 1 – 2, 2025, during its 27th edition, established new records receiving overwhelming response from across stakeholders received 18000+ entries, 300+ mentors, 7 tracks, 50+ VCs, offered prizes of more than Rs 2 Crores.
Startup Mahakumbh 2025, held from April 3–5, at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, emerged as India's largest startup event, uniting over 3,000 startups, 1,000 investors, and 50,000+ business visitors from more than 50 countries. Organized by leading industry bodies like FICCI, ASSOCHAM, NASSCOM, and TiE, with support from DPIIT, the event aimed to propel India's vision of becoming a global innovation hub by 2047.
India now hosts 172,000+ DPIIT-recognized startups across 800 districts, making it the 3rd largest startup ecosystem globally, after the US and China. These startups span diverse sectors like fintech, agritech, deep tech, and space. Presently India boasts 119 unicorns, 300+ soonicorns, valued at US $350B+
7,000+ active women-led startups are operational and 73,000+ startups have at least one-woman directors. In 2024, women-led startups secured $1.43 billion in equity and debt funding, marking a 30% increase over 2023. Collectively, women-led startups in India have raised $26.4 billion in funding to date, positioning India second globally after the United States in terms of total funding for women-led tech startups. Major hubs for women-led startups include Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Delhi-NCR, with emerging activity in Tier II and III cities such as Jaipur, Indore, and Coimbatore.
The Indian government has implemented several schemes to support women entrepreneurs including Alternative Investment Funds, AIFs, Invested ₹3,107.11 crore in 149 women-led startups, Startup India Seed Fund Scheme, SISFS, Approved ₹227.12 crore for 1,278 women-led startups, Credit Guarantee Scheme for Startups, CGSS, Facilitated ₹24.6 crore in loans for women-led ventures.
The increasing number of women entrepreneurs in India signifies a positive shift towards a more inclusive startup ecosystem. Prominent women entrepreneur is Falguni Nayar, Founder of Nykaa, a leading beauty and wellness e-commerce platform, Ghazal Alagh – Co-founder of Mamaearth, a prominent personal care brand, Divya Gokulnath – Co-founder of BYJU's, a major edtech company, Vineeta Singh – Co-founder and CEO of Sugar Cosmetics, a fast-growing cosmetics brand. The focus is shifting toward profitability, global scale, and innovation, aligned with national missions like Digital India and Atmanirbhar Bharat.
Backed by the Startup India initiative, state policies, 1100+ academic / industry-led incubators across India, governments are extending benefits include funding support, simplified compliance, and tax reliefs, rise of deep tech, EV/clean tech, space tech, and wider spread of startups in in tier-II/III cities.
Despite progress, startups face challenges such as limited access to funding, societal biases, and balancing professional and personal responsibilities. Continued support and targeted interventions are essential to sustain and accelerate this growth.
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