Innovation, motivation, curiosity, creativity, passion, vision, adaptability, leadership, willingness to take risks….all this and more make an entrepreneur.
Entrepreneurship Essentials, from Harvard Business School, defines entrepreneurship as “the pursuit of opportunity beyond the resources currently controlled.” It notes that entrepreneurs—either individuals or teams—actively scan the environment “for opportunities, or discover them as they live and work. They form hypotheses about what customers want or need and how they can deliver value to the customer”.
India seems to be winning the startup game with its entrepreneurs. The country is home to the third largest startup ecosystem in the world, with thousands of startups emerging every year. With the country set on an exponential growth trajectory, here are the 15 entrepreneurs set to make a mark in 2024:
Jayant & Akanksha, Ala Mode
Akanksha and Jayant Sethi are the dynamic siblings behind Alamode By Akanksha, a trailblazing fast fashion brand in India. Since its inception in 2016, Alamode has blended innovative designs with affordability. Akanksha’s creative genius and Jayant’s business acumen have helped create a brand that resonates with the modern woman. Their unwavering dedication to quality and style has made Alamode a household name. As visionary entrepreneurs to watch in 2024, Akanksha and Jayant continue to redefine the fashion landscape with their passion and ingenuity.
Gopesh Khandelwal, Founder & CEO,Grocket
Gopesh Khandelwal is a seasoned entrepreneur, fractional CMO, and marketing strategist at Grocket with more than eight years of experience. Launching his first venture at 17, Khandelwal has since collaborated with over 200 companies worldwide, transforming diverse industries with bespoke strategies. Specialising in personal branding, content marketing, and performance marketing, his strategic acumen has helped him excel in D2C branding. Khandelwal’s unique blend of brand vision, creative thinking, and digital expertise has enabled him to build high-performing teams, develop scalable strategies, and drive constant growth.
Vikas Sharma, Founder, MyPerfectPack
In the dynamic world of entrepreneurship, Vikas Sharma, the trailblazing founder of MyPerfectPack, a brand under Ekennis Software Service Limited, stands out. In under three years, he established and listed MyPerfectPack, achieving remarkable global growth. MyPerfectPack revolutionises the printing and packaging industry with No MOQ (Minimum Order Quantity) solutions, serving clients in 190 countries. This groundbreaking approach makes high-quality, customisable printing accessible to businesses of all sizes, from startups to enterprises, enabling efficient, cost-effective scaling. Sharma’s visionary leadership and relentless innovation have positioned MyPerfectPack as a pivotal player in the global market, addressing unique needs with comprehensive services.
Sanjeev Kathuria, Founder & CEO, Torbit Consulting
Sanjeev Kathuria, Founder and CEO of Torbit Consulting, is a renowned entrepreneur with over three decades of experience in the real estate sector. Under his leadership, Torbit Consulting’s marketing, sales, and construction verticals have achieved inventory sales exceeding Rs 15,000 crore, including the successful completion and sale of stalled premium housing project, ‘The Grande Meerut’. Kathuria has significantly contributed to industry knowledge through Torbit Realty, Torbit Property, the Torbit Consulting website, and the Torbit YearBook, establishing a strong presence in the industry and solidifying his reputation as a visionary leader.
Kapil Vaishnani, Founder, Litmus Branding
Established in 2001, Litmus is an Ahmedabad-based core designing, branding and digital marketing agency. It stands on a foundation of strategic thinking and creative excellence, having built a diversified portfolio of solutions in brand strategy, asset development, and marketing. Under Vaishnani, the agency blends traditional values and modern perspectives, reflecting its strong, long-term partnerships with SMEs & large corporate clients across sectors such as education, technology, building & construction, FMCG, etc. Litmus aims to be an intellectually-driven and continually-growing organisation.
Aman Chainani, Founder & MD, Pacific Hospitality
Aman Chainani is changing things up in Hyderabad with his brands, showcasing excellence in the hospitality industry through NOHO and AIDU. A dynamic entrepreneur and F&B business leader, he began his culinary journey with a vision to redefine dining experiences in his city. After extensive research and a stint at Zomato, Chainani introduced a new brand in Hyderabad when he was 23 years old. Despite pandemic challenges, he launched three new brands, including RAAHI in Bangalore and Proxy in Hyderabad. Chainani aims for global recognition with curated cuisine and craft cocktails, and is eyeing substantial business growth.
Dr Vassundara Nattes, Co-founder & MD, Aeliuscity HR Solutions
Vassundara Nattes sees every single day as a learning opportunity. As Co-founder and MD of Aeliuscity HR Solutions, she has transformed the company into a significant player in India’s HR outsourcing and upskilling sectors since 2018. Beyond Aeliuscity, Nattesserves as an independent business consultant and a proactive social activist. She excels in various domains, including technical recruitment, market strategy, and performance marketing. Recognised in Forbes’ 40 under 40 and chosen as Times of India’s 15 Promising Entrepreneurs of 2023, Nattes’s journey is a testament to her entrepreneurial spirit.
Ravi Prakash Gupta, Chief Product Officer, Uppwise
With more than two decades of experience, Ravi Prakash Gupta, Chief Product Officer at Uppwise and Co-founder of Tritv65, is a visionary leader in IT and SaaS innovation. His expertise in cloud-based products, particularly in project and portfolio management, has driven substantial growth and innovation at Uppwise. As a co-founder of Tritv65, Gupta is dedicated to developing cutting-edge B2B solutions that address modern business challenges. Beyond product development, he mentors tech professionals, fostering a culture of continuous learning and innovation.
Ankur Chawla, Co-Founder, Responsible Whatr
Ankur Chawla dons many hats with elan: passionate entrepreneur, award-winning sommelier, author, and speaker. He is the co-founder of Responsible Whatr, India’s first company that packages natural spring water from the Himalayas in recyclable aluminium cans with the intention of reducing the single-use plastic problem. He is also the founder of ScopeBev, a leading F&B consulting company.
Kamalkar Devaki, Co-founder & CEO, SandLogic
Kamalakar Devaki is the Co-founder and CEO of Bangalore-based SandLogic, a full-stack AI company offering an advanced LLM Studio platform offering role-based data access for secure enterprise AI deployment. Under his leadership, SandLogic developed the ExSLerate AI co-processor chip, achieving scalable performance up to 10 TOPS for robust on-device intelligence. These innovations significantly advance the AI landscape by ensuring security, efficiency, and power in AI applications, positioning Kamalakar Devaki as a pivotal figure in AI technology in 2024.
Manisha Chaudhary, Managing Partner, UKCA and Partners
Manisha Chaudhary, Managing Partner at UKCA and Partners, holds the principles of the law in the highest regard, while also believing that justice must have a deeper significance. “I believe in anticipating potential challenges and providing legal assistance that aligns with business strategies and commercial insight,” Chaudhary says. She has diligently built a firm where client interests are central, upholding a commitment to quality and integrity. Her firm emphasises innovation, efficiency, and expertise to deliver outstanding results. Recognised across various niche practice areas, UKCA and Partners has earned numerous accolades and awards.
Abhinav Mathur, CEO & Managing Director, Kaapi Machines
A visionary leader with over 20 years of experience, Abhinav Mathur transformed Kaapi Machines into a trailblazing coffee consulting and innovation powerhouse. Since joining Kaapi Machines in November 2017, he has introduced cutting-edge equipment and comprehensive services, and been the driving force behind the company’s remarkable growth trajectory. Mathur’s passion for coffee drives innovation, making Kaapi Machines a one-stop solution for top coffee businesses nationwide.
Vikram Goel, MD, UNOX India
With over 25 years of experience, Vikram Goel excels in setting up organisations from scratch and defining sales, marketing, and service structures. As MD, he develops proactive sales networks and client retention programmes, and adapts to market dynamics. Goel’s expertise lies in creating brands using cost-effective yet efficient offline and online marketing tools. He drives results while fostering personal and professional development, connecting individual drivers with business objectives to cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset among employees.
Aarushi Singhal, Founder, Blend it Raw Apothecary
Blend It Raw Apothecary was launched in 2017 with the goal of becoming India’s leading zero-waste store for pure, raw ingredients that catered to natural beauty, herbalism, aromatherapy, and wellness enthusiasts. Aarushi Singhal, the Founder of Blend It Raw believes in the power of nature to heal everything. “Blend It Raw Apothecary began with the goal of unearthing the power of nature to help with self-care. Starting with just a DIY Hair Mask kit, we gradually expanded into the diverse product range you see today,” she says.
Sunita Lad Bhamray, author and playwright
Sunita Lad Bhamray, a former educator, is a prolific author, playwright, and screenwriter. She has five books to her credit, including the recent bestseller Kalee and the Mysterious Twins. Bhamray has captivated young audiences through her YouTube channel featuring enchanting children’s short stories like Foodle’s café and Ah Chang the Trishaw Man. Her well-received plays have complemented her successful short films, Nirjhari and Sahaasi; Dateline Singapore. An ardent environmentalist and nature enthusiast, her work intertwines elements of nature, animals, plants, and people, leaving a lasting impact on readers and viewers alike.
