Entrepreneur Stories
Startups That Rose From The Dust To Become Diamonds
Published
7 years agoon
The biographies and stories of successful entrepreneurs all over the world are entertainingly interesting. Inspired by them, we read lengthy articles, watched multiple videos, follow them on social media and try to follow in their footsteps. Here are 10 short, brief and extremely awe inspiring stories of the major tech entrepreneurs to set the fire in your belly ablaze.
1.Google
Two PhD students, 1 research project and a garage.
Today, Google is worth more than $200 billion with 73K+ employees all over the world.
American multinational technology company that specializes in Internet related services and products was started in a garage as a research project. The first Google computer storage was built with Legos and Larry Page and Sergey Brin received their first contribution of $100,000 from Andy Bechtolsheim. At one point of time, Yahoo turned down the offer to buy Google for $ 1 million. Today, Google is worth more than $200 billion. Larry Page and Sergey Brin with a contribution from Andy Bechtolsheim, set up a system that checked backlinks to estimate the importance of a site.
2. Oyo Rooms
College dropout who handled 1 hotel in Gurgaon set up OYO (On Your On) Rooms.
From Oravel to Oyo Rooms, Ritesh Agarwal now runs a $ 25 billion company.
At the age of 17, Ritesh Agarwal was an irritated traveller not satisfied with the accommodation business in India and founded OYO Rooms for budget travellers offering affordable and standardized accommodation. Ritesh Agarwal is considered to be one of the youngest entrepreneurs of India.
3. Alibaba
Thirty Rejections. Never wrote a single line of code. Now worth $ 40.2 billion.
Alibaba founder, Jack Ma, was rejected from 30 jobs, even from KFC before he founded one of the largest e commerce platforms in the world. Jack Ma founded Alibaba in his apartment and without a single outside investment. Now, Jack Ma is the wealthiest persons in China and Alibaba now stands second only after Walmart in terms of revenue generated through sales. Alibaba now gives stiff competition to other platforms like Amazon and Zomato, with a large foothold on the ecommerce front.
4. Uber
Was sued, and had to file for bankruptcy. Now has cabs all over the world
Travis Kalanick wanted to be a spy growing up. He founded three different companies before Uber came into existence. He even had to file for bankruptcy under Chapter 11. Now, Uber is one of the largest cab providers and operates all over the world with professional ease.
5. Swiggy
Started off with a global goal. Failed to succeed. Excelled locally
Swiggy was founded by three aspiring individuals, Sriharsha Majety, Rahul Jaimini and Nandan Reddy, in an attempt to bridge the gap between customers and restaurants. Ordering food has always been a hassle. Swiggy was created as a means to solve this hassle. Today, it stands as one of the strongest competitors to Zomato, an international food ordering platform.
6. Instagram
Two Founders, 2 Users. Now, more than 1 billion users.
Instagram, the photo sharing app was created in the year 2010 and from then, it boasts of having over 400 million registered users and around 600 million daily app visitors. More than 80 % of users are outside of the US and around 18 million are in the United Kingdom alone. In fact, the Instagram logo has become so popular, it has now become synonymous with “pop culture.”
7. Pinterest
3 friends launch a flop app, relaunch Pinterest in 2010. Now, one of the largest online museums.
The idea for Pinterest started way back when Ben Silbermann was growing up in Iowa. Ben used to keep a collection of dried leaves on a wall and this became the foundation for Pinterest. Eight years after founding Pinterest, a website for virtual collectors, Ben Silbermann and Evan Sharp are the youngest tech innovators to join the Forbes Billionaires list.
8. LinkedIn
A serial entrepreneur. A vision. Now stands at a personal worth of $ 3.2 billion
Fondly known as the founder of LinkedIn, Reid Garrett Hoffman is an active entrepreneur, venture capitalist and author. The reason for its vast popularity is the fact that LinkedIn adopted the multi sided platform, a system which lets people use the service depending on the different categories. Through network intelligence and by understanding individual needs, LinkedIn has managed to become one of the most widely used platforms.
9. Amazon
Tried taking down Ebay. Failed! Now runs one of the largest ecommerce platforms.
Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, realised early on in life there was a serious dearth of the kind of things available over the internet. He started off by making a list and very soon realised that books were the obvious choice to sell first. It instantly became a success and at present, Amazon has the monopoly over the online retail market with a hand in every different thing it sells.
10. Facebook
A college dropout. Started Facebook in a dorm room. Now, over 2 billion people use it daily.
Ever since he was a child, Mark had a huge and extensive need to study computers. Facebook came into play when Mark was in his sophomore year at Harvard and since then, there was absolutely no turning back. At present, Facebook is one of the largest social media platforms. By buying out Instagram and WhatsApp, Facebook is currently used by over 2 billion people all over the world.
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Entrepreneur Stories
CCI Approves Merger Between Reliance and Disney
Published
2 weeks agoon
August 29, 2024Competition Commission of India (CCI) has granted approval for the merger between Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) and The Walt Disney Company’s Indian media assets, valued at approximately ₹70,000 crore (or $8.5 billion). This significant development was announced on August 28, 2024, and is set to create the largest entertainment
conglomerate in India, encompassing 120 television channels and two streaming services.
The merger involves RIL, Viacom18 Media Private Limited, Digital18 Media Limited, Star India Private Limited, and Star Television Productions Limited. Following the deal, Reliance will hold a 63.16% stake in the new joint venture, while Disney will retain 36.84%. The CCI’s approval comes after previous concerns regarding the merged
entity’s potential dominance in cricket broadcasting rights, which could adversely affect competition and advertisers in the market.
The CCI noted that the approval is contingent upon the compliance with certain “voluntary modifications,” although specific details of these modifications have not yet been disclosed. The merger is expected to be completed by the end of 2024 or early 2025, with Nita Ambani appointed as the Chairperson and Uday Shankar as Vice
Chairperson of the joint venture.
This merger positions the new entity to compete vigorously against major players such as Sony, Netflix, and Amazon, leveraging a vast content library and extensive distribution capabilities. The merger agreement also includes provisions for Disney’s films and productions to be distributed in India through the new joint venture, which is anticipated to significantly enhance its market presence and operational efficiency in the competitive entertainment landscape.
Entrepreneur Stories
Inside T-Hub: India’s Launchpad for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Published
4 months agoon
May 8, 2024By
AlveerImagine a building that’s not just a structure but a buzzing ecosystem. A space where startups, corporations, universities, and investors come together to create the future. This isn’t science fiction; it’s T-Hub, India’s largest innovation hub, and it’s rewriting the rules of entrepreneurship.
T-Hub isn’t just about workspaces. It’s a launchpad for ambitious dreams. They’ve empowered over 2,000 startups, turning ideas into thriving businesses. Think funding woes? T-Hub’s got your back, connecting entrepreneurs with angel investors and government grants. Need a mentor to guide you through the rough patches? T-Hub boasts a network of 2,000 mentors ready to share their wisdom.
T-Hub’s vision extends beyond startups. Here’s a glimpse into what makes T-Hub special:
- From Seed to Scale: Whether you’re a budding entrepreneur with a bright idea or a scaling startup ready to take on the world, T-Hub has programs to support you. From the “seed-accelerator stage” Lab32 program to the “early-stage technology startups” RubriX program, T-Hub provides the tools and guidance needed to thrive.
- Corporate Muscle: Innovation isn’t just for startups. T-Hub bridges the gap between startups and established corporations like Facebook, Uber, and Boeing. This collaboration allows startups to tap into corporate expertise and resources, while corporations benefit from the agility and fresh perspectives that startups bring.
- Funding Powerhouse: T-Hub is more than just an idea incubator; it is also a reality maker. Through initiatives like T-Angel and the Digital India Scaleup Program, T-Hub connects startups with high-net-worth individuals, angel investors, and government funding sources.
- Global Ambitions: Thinking Beyond Borders? T-Hub has you covered. With partnerships across the globe, from the UK government to La Trobe University, T-Hub helps Indian startups access international markets and provides foreign startups with a foothold in India.
And it doesn’t stop there. T-Hub 2.0, their new colossal campus, is a testament to their ambition. This behemoth is not just the world’s largest technology incubator; it’s a microcosm of innovation itself. Universities find a home here, churning out future tech leaders. Foreign partnerships open doors to international markets for Indian startups. It’s a melting pot of ideas, cultures, and expertise, all focused on creating a brighter tomorrow.
T-Hub’s story is far from over. They’re aiming to empower a staggering 20,000 startups in the next five years. With their focus on internationalization and capacity building, they’re poised to become a global hub for innovation. So, if you’re an entrepreneur with a dream, T-Hub might just be the launchpad that takes you to the stars.
The workplace has undergone massive changes in the last century. At the turn of the Industrial Revolution, any workplace was dominated by men while the women were delegated to run the homes. However, with the advent of the internet and new and exciting technologies, workplaces have undergone a tectonic shift. Women are no longer comfortable staying at home and are instead opting to lead teams and organisations. As every year passes, we get closer to true gender equality, women have proven time and again that they are equally capable to get the job done if not better in some instances. Names like Wolfe Herd (Bumble founder,) Kylie Jenner (Kylie Cosmetics founder,) Masaba Gupta (Masaba clothing label founder) are just some of the names who are known for leading world famous brands with their unique style of leadership.
As the world celebrates International Women’s Day, we bring to you five women founders who run world famous and successful startups.
1) Upasana Taku-MobiKwik
If you are an Indian and are used to doing online shopping, more often than not at the time of payment, you would be directed to a payment gateway. One of these gateways would normally be MobiKwik. The startup is a well known name in the digital payments and digital wallet space. MobiKwik was founded by Upasana Taku in 2009, who prior to founding MobiKwik used to work with PayPal. Today Upasana Taku is also in charge of bank partnerships, business operations, and talent acquisition at MobiKwik.
2) Richa Kar-Zivame
An enthusiastic MBA student, Richa Kar, developed an online lingerie shopping platform in the year 2011. Currently, Zivame is India’s leading online lingerie store with a valuation of more than $ 100 million. The brilliant idea for her own lingerie business came to light when Richa tracked Victoria’s Secret’s sales, who was one of her clients when she was working at SAP. She observed the lingerie sales figures reached peaks overseas but, Indian women were not provided with the similar innerwear. While Richa was studying the Indian lingerie market, she realized the social embarrassment in India surrounding lingerie shopping. Today Richa Kar could be credited with destigmatising the uneasiness surrounding lingerie shopping in India.
3) Falguna Nayar-Nykaa
After a long stint as an investment banker, Falguni Nayar founded Nykaa.com in the year 2013. An online one stop shop for beauty products from Indian and international brands, Nykaa changed the world of online shopping. Who would have ever thought buying makeup online would be so easy? Falguni Nayar proved many critics wrong and created a brand new place for people who love experimenting with styles, designs and colors.
ALSO READ: Zivame: Founding Story
4) Sabina Chopra-Yatra.com
Yatra.com is a popular Indian website for making flight and hotel bookings. Sabina Chopra was instrumental in identifying the potential for travel commerce in India and people moving towards cheaper or easier travel. By the time, people started looking to make bookings, Sabina made sure Yatra.com was already in place. Sabina was the former Head of India Operations of eBookers, which is also an online travel company based in Europe. Along with this, she was also working with Japan Airlines which further adds to her experience in the travel industry.
5) Rashmi Sinha-SlideShare
SlideShare allows people to upload and access their presentations online. While this feature is presently available everywhere, SlideShare was one of the first players in making this happen. Rashmi Sinha was one of the founders of the presentation sharing platform SlideShare. The company became so successful that in 2012, LinkedIn acquired the company for an amount of $100 million.
Let us know in the comments if you know any other wonderful women who have become leaders of their right or have started up and are doing extraordinary things. We at Startup Stories wish a wonderful Women’s Day to all the women in the world who are changemakers.
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