What makes an entrepreneur truly unforgettable? Is it the number of companies they build? The problems they solve? Or is it how deeply they impact everyday lives?

India is no longer merely a rising economy, it’s a nation of ideas, innovation, and courageous choices. From villages to cities, Indian entrepreneurs are no longer just starting businesses, they’re defining how India will think, work, and grow in the decades ahead.

In this piece, we tell the stories of 10 Indian entrepreneurs who are doing exactly that. Some are familiar names, others are working behind the scenes to change the future. But all of them share a common trait: they had the courage to dream big, and they didn’t give up when it became difficult.

Let us take you through the stories that are revolutionizing India’s business landscape—one idea at a time.

Table of Content:

• Introduction
• Why Indian entrepreneurship is on the rise
• Top 10 Indian Entrepreneurs 2025 to Watch
• Nithin Kamath – Zerodha
• Falguni Nayar – Nykaa
• Bhavish Aggarwal – Ola
• Byju Raveendran – BYJU’S
• Ritesh Agarwal – OYO Rooms
• Kunal Shah – CRED
• Ghazal Alagh – Mamaearth
• Peyush Bansal – Lenskart
• Deepinder Goyal – Zomato
• Harsh Jain – Co-founder, Dream11
• What we can learn from them
• Final thoughts

Why Indian Entrepreneurship Is On The Rise

India is now one of the most thrilling destinations for new ventures. Why? Because here the challenges are genuine, and so are the opportunities.

Millions of young Indians are now opting for passion over secure employment. Access to the Internet, growing digital literacy, and investor sentiment are enabling more individuals to convert ideas into enterprises.

Now, there are over 100 unicorns (startups valued at over $1 billion) in India. Behind them all is the tale of risk, determination, and thinking out of the box. This shows the strength and growth of the Indian startup ecosystem, a space powered by dreamers, doers, and risk-takers.

Let’s now meet the faces of some of India’s most influential businesses.

Top 10 Indian Entrepreneurs Shaping the Future

1. Nithin Kamath – Founder & CEO, Zerodha

When other stockbrokers were charging exorbitant fees, Indian entrepreneur Nithin Kamath did the opposite. He started Zerodha in 2010, a zero-brokerage platform that democratized investing.

Today, Zerodha is India’s largest stock brokerage firm in terms of volume. What sets Nithin apart is his emphasis on education, transparency, and putting the customer first. He showed that success doesn’t require big marketing, merely trust and value.

2. Falguni Nayar – Founder, Nykaa

Starting a beauty business at age 50, after a long corporate career? That’s what Falguni Nayar did, and she didn’t just succeed, she redefined online retail in India.

Nykaa began as a beauty e-commerce platform and quickly grew into a lifestyle giant. In 2021, it became India’s first woman-led unicorn to go public. Falguni’s journey is a strong reminder that women entrepreneurs in India are creating large-scale impact. She is one of the most inspiring Indian entrepreneurs stories in recent years.

3. Bhavish Aggarwal – Co-founder, Ola

Bhavish Aggarwal was stuck in a cab during a journey once. That inspired him to think: what if hailing a cab could be easy, quick, and secure?

And Ola was born in 2010. From ride-sharing to electric cars, Bhavish has always set new benchmarks. He’s now creating Ola Electric and wanting to make India a global EV leader. He continues to stand out among the entrepreneurs shaping India.

4. Byju Raveendran – Founder, BYJU’S

From a Kerala village to creating one of the world’s most valuable edtech firms, Byju Raveendran’s journey is based on one strong belief: learning must be enjoyable.

He began educating math to his friends, and then created an app that has revolutionized the way millions of kids learn. Despite BYJU’S having its own set of challenges, Byju’s passion for revolutionizing education continues to make ripples across the Indian startup ecosystem.

5. Ritesh Agarwal – OYO Rooms founder

At 19, Ritesh quit college with a vision to transform India’s budget hotel segment. That was the start of OYO, homogenizing stays, enhancing customer experience, and growing across continents.

Ritesh’s is a tale of premature hustle, strategic pivots, and international ambition. As one of the most well-known young Indian entrepreneurs to watch, he proves that age does not hamper vision, action does.

6. Kunal Shah – Founder, CRED

Kunal Shah is among the handful of startup founders in India to be as famous for philosophy as product. Having sold his initial startup FreeCharge, he is back with CRED, a members-only app that compensates consumers for paying their credit card bills early.

But beyond the app, it’s Kunal’s observations on India’s economy, trust models, and consumer behavior that continue to spark inspiration. He’s creating not only a brand, but a community of informed users and forward-thinking citizens.

7. Ghazal Alagh – Mamaearth Co-founder

What began as a personal quest to discover safe products for her baby became a thriving beauty brand. Ghazal and her husband Varun created Mamaearth on the promise of clean, natural products.

Their concept resonated with Indian parents and millennials who sought toxin-free skincare. Ghazal’s story also points to the rise of women entrepreneurs in India, and how they’re building emotional, relatable brands.

8. Peyush Bansal – Co-founder, Lenskart

Glasses used to be boring and pricey. Peyush Bansal disrupted that with Lenskart, a site that made shopping for glasses cool, cheap, and easy.

With home trials driven by technology, smart stores, and factory-first manufacturing, Lenskart became a household name. Peyush is one of those business leaders in India who solve everyday problems with innovation.

9. Harsh Jain – Co-founder, Dream11

When fantasy sports were still a niche concept in India, Harsh Jain saw an opportunity. He co-founded Dream11, a fantasy sports platform that allowed cricket and football fans to engage with their favorite games in a whole new way.

Under Harsh’s leadership, Dream11 became India’s first gaming unicorn and set the tone for the future of online gaming in the country. His journey is a great example of how understanding local passions can lead to massive business success. Harsh represents the new generation of business leaders in India who blend sports, tech, and community into scalable business models.

10. Deepinder Goyal – Zomato Co-founder

Ever waited too long for a meal and thought, “Why can’t this happen quicker?” That exasperation prompted Deepinder Goyal to create Zomato, today one of India’s largest food ordering and restaurant discovery platforms.

What began as a humble menu-sharing platform scaled up to become a technology-enabled logistics behemoth. Deepinder is admired for placing big bets, whether geographically or by making Zomato go public. He stands tall among the top Indian entrepreneurs who are constantly evolving.

What We Can Learn from Them

All of these entrepreneurs in India began with an issue, a question, or an annoyance. They didn’t wait for perfect timing or complete knowledge. They simply began.

Following are some lessons that are particularly prominent:

• Solve real problems – Personal experiences produce the best ideas.
• Be consistent – These successful entrepreneurs India didn’t become successful overnight. They persisted with the issue.
• Take risks – Either introducing a new product or disrupting an industry, they never shied away from taking the risk of failure.
• Build trust – Either in pricing, product quality, or customer service, trust is their greatest currency.
• Keep evolving – The majority of startup founders in India didn’t have only one idea. They evolved with the times.

Closure

India’s future won’t be dictated in boardrooms or from government chambers. It’s being charted by ordinary dreamers who pose hard questions, take risk-taking steps, and make value from zero.

These top Indian entrepreneurs featured here are not just the founders. They are hope-builders, norm-breakers, and new India champions.

Their journeys are inspiring Indian entrepreneurs stories that tell us success is not all about money and fame, it’s about impact, audacity, and deciding to start. They are truly Indian entrepreneurs changing the world.

If you are someone with an idea or a passion, perhaps today is the day to take that first step.

Because who knows, tomorrow, your name might just make it to this list of top 10 Indian entrepreneurs 2025.