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The Avendus Wealth – Hurun India U30 List 2026 recognises 102 exceptional young leaders aged 30 and under who are shaping the future of Indian enterprise
AHMEDABAD, 2 JULY:
Insights into the industries, geographies and founder profiles shaping the Avendus Wealth – Hurun India U30 List 2026:
- The list features 102 entrepreneurs, up 28% from 80 in 2025.
- The cumulative valuation of companies represented on the list stands at INR 2.9 lakh cr.
- The average age of the entrant on this year’s U30 list is 28.
- First-generation entrepreneurs account for 84% of this year’s cohort, slightly up from 83% in 2025.
- DeepTech and HardTech sectors account for 1 in 4 entrants on this year’s list, represented by 27 founders across AI & ML (8), EV & Auto Components (7), SpaceTech (6), Aerospace & Defence (4) and Cybersecurity (2).
- At just 20 years old, Onkar Singh Batra of Apolink, a SpaceTech startup and Dhravya Shah of Supermemory, an AI startup, are the youngest entrants this year. In comparison, the youngest entrants in 2025 were 22 years old.
- Anjali Sardana (23), founder of Pronto and Shreya Mittal (23) founder of Cava Athleisure, are the youngest women featured in this year’s U30 cohort.
- Aadit Palicha, with the highest LinkedIn following at 3.77 lakh, made it to this year’s U30 list.
- Neelakantha Bhanu Prakash (26), founder of Bhanzu, also known as the “World’s Fastest Human Calculator”, is among this year’s entrepreneurs.
- BatX Energies, co-founded by Utkarsh Singh (23) and Vikrant Singh (23), is the only lithium-ion battery recycling company represented on the list.
- The number of entrepreneurs from AI and Machine Learning ventures has nearly doubled this year, with 8 entrepreneurs representing 6 companies including Karan Vaidya (30) of Composio, Tanay Kothari (27) of Wispr AI, Nischal Nadhamuni (29) of Klarity and 20-year-old Dhravya Shah of Supermemory
- SpaceTech features as a standout sector this year with 6 entrepreneurs across three ventures – Awais Ahmed (28) and Kshitij Khandelwal (28) of Pixxel, Anirudh Sharma (27), Rahul Rawat (26) and Tanveer Ahmed (28) of Digantara and 20-year-old Onkar Singh Batra of Apolink.
- 4 founders from Drone and DefenceTech companies make their debut on this year’s list; including Naman Pushp (21) of Airbound, Om Prakash (30), Shuvam Dash (30) and Bodhisattwa Sanghapriya (29) of IG Defence.
- The Automobile & Auto Components sector grew from 3 entrants in 2025 to 7 in 2026, a 2x increase, with all new entrants focused on electric vehicles (EVs) or components.
- Bengaluru leads this year’s list with 21 entrants, up from just 7 in 2025.
- Non-metro cities account for 40 founders on this year’s list.
- BITS Pilani alumni representation grew from 7 to 11, cementing the college’s top undergraduate alma mater position for the second consecutive year.
- The top 10 U30-led companies have collectively raised over USD 3.5 bn, led by Zepto (USD 2.3 bn) and BharatPe (USD 650 mn).
- The number of seed-stage companies in this cohort increased to 13 from 5 last year.
- Collectively, the U30 entrepreneurs employ more than 75,000 people.
- From Y Combinator to Google, U30 founders have attracted backing from some of the world’s most respected investors, with Pixxel (at 34 investors), Zepto (at 30 investors) and Bold Care (at 26 investors).
| Avendus Wealth and Hurun India present the Uth Series 2026
Mumbai, India | July 01, 2026: Marking the second year of partnership, Avendus Wealth and Hurun India have launched the 2026 edition of the Avendus Wealth – Hurun India Uth Series. The Uth Series 2026 kicks off with the U30 List, that recognises 102 young leaders who are building and scaling businesses that are driving meaningful economic impact across India.
Apurva Sahijwani, MD & CEO, Avendus Wealth Management, said “When we launched the Uth Series with Hurun India last year, we set out to track a new generation of entrepreneurs shaping India’s future. One year on, what stands out is how much broader and more diverse that entrepreneurial landscape has become. The U30 List marks the beginning of this year’s series, with the U35 and U40 editions to follow in the coming months”.
Anas Rahman Junaid, Founder & Chief Researcher, Hurun India, said, “The Avendus Wealth – Hurun India U30 List 2026 is our most compelling edition yet and what makes it truly special is the sheer breadth of ambition it captures. These 102 young leaders, up 28% from 80 last year, are not just building companies, they are expanding businesses across sectors, generating employment and attracting international attention.
Large investments in several U30-led companies reflect investor confidence in their growth potential. With Zepto at USD 2,300 mn and BharatPe at USD 650 mn, the top 10 U30-led startups have collectively attracted over USD 3.5 bn in funding. But what truly sets this generation apart is not the scale of capital they have raised, it is the discipline with which they are deploying it. Over 50% of all funds raised are going directly into product development and market expansion.
There is a quiet revolution happening in India’s startup ecosystem and it is being led by people who are still in their 20s. On one end of this year’s list, you have 20-year-olds who have already built companies that are turning heads globally. On the other, you have founders like Devika Gholap of OptraSCAN, who has spent over a decade refining her craft, navigating setbacks and building something truly enduring, all before turning 30.
First-generation founders often face a different starting point: They are the first in their families to build a business, take an entrepreneurial leap, and navigate a path without the benefit of an established enterprise or network. Many began their journeys in their late teens, building from the ground up. Today, these founders lead companies that employ more than 75,000 people and have attracted capital from some of the world’s most respected investors.
This year’s U30 cohort carries a clear message that India’s young founders are no longer just building apps. 6 founders are developing electric vehicles, 4 are building drone technology for Defence, Logistics and Surveillance and several more are manufacturing physical products at scale. In all, one in four entrants this year comes from a DeepTech or HardTech venture — 27 founders spanning AI & ML, EVs, SpaceTech, Defence and Cybersecurity. This is a generation that is getting its hands dirty, competing in sectors that demand years of engineering rigour and capital discipline. That shift from software-first to deep-tech is perhaps the most significant structural change we have observed in this cohort and it speaks volumes about the ambition and range of India’s next generation of builders.
Bengaluru continues to anchor India’s startup ecosystem, but the most striking takeaway from the 2026 list is our rapidly expanding global footprint. From Lucknow to Udaipur, from Hubballi to Palo Alto, this cohort proves that young Indian founders are building for the world from day one. Scale is no longer limited to domestic markets or traditional hubs; it belongs to those who think globally. This worldwide ambition is the most powerful economic shift this list captures.
This year’s list is just as notable for the talent that narrowly missed the cut. The bar was so high that nearly 20 founders under 30 could easily have made it, building in sectors such as drones, AgriTech, clean energy, and electric mobility. To me, so much talent sitting just outside the list is the clearest sign of how deep this generation of Indian founders runs.
A list of this significance is only possible with partners who share a long-term vision for India’s entrepreneurial future and Avendus Wealth has been an unwavering pillar of that vision. As we celebrate the Class of 2026, one thing is abundantly clear: India’s startup story is no longer emerging. It has arrived and the world is taking note,” concluded Anas Rahman Junaid.
| 24 and under: India’s youngest disruptors
The ten youngest entrants on the Avendus Wealth – Hurun India U30 List 2026 are all aged 24 or under. At 20, Onkar Singh Batra, of Apolink and Dhravya Shah, of Supermemory, are the youngest on the list. They are featured along with other founders in their early twenties, including Zepto Co-founders Aadit Palicha and Kaivalya Vohra (23).
1: Top 10 youngest entrepreneurs featured in the U30 list*
| Sr. No. | Name | Age | Company | City of Residence | Debut Year |
| 1 | Onkar Singh Batra | 20 | Apolink | Palo Alto | 2026 |
| 2 | Dhravya Shah | 20 | Supermemory | San Francisco | 2026 |
| 3 | Naman Pushp | 21 | Airbound | Bengaluru | 2026 |
| 4 | Aadit Palicha | 23 | Zepto | Mumbai | 2025 |
| 5 | Kaivalya Vohra | 23 | Zepto | Bengaluru | 2025 |
| 6 | Siva Arul Durai Suraj Kannaa | 23 | Saravana Stores Elite | Chennai | 2026 |
| 7 | Shreya Mittal | 23 | Cava Athleisure | Bengaluru | 2026 |
| 8 | AVR Shree Smaran | 23 | AVR Swarna Mahal Jewellers | Salem | 2025 |
| 9 | Anjali Sardana | 23 | Pronto | Gurugram | 2026 |
| 10 | Arjun Deshpande | 24 | Generic Aadhaar | Mumbai | 2025 |
Source: Hurun Research Institute, Avendus Wealth – Hurun India U30 List 2026
*The 10 youngest entrepreneurs are determined based on their birth month
| India’s U30 women to watch
Six women entrepreneurs aged between 23 and 29 feature on this year’s U30 List: Anjali Sardana (Pronto), Shreya Mittal and Ria Mittal (Cava Athleisure), Devika Gholap (OptraSCAN), Devanshi Kejriwal (Skillmatics) and Suramya Jain (RAS Luxury Skincare).
Representing four cities, Gurugram, Bengaluru, Mumbai and San Jose, 4 of the 6 are first-time entrants.
2: Women featured in the Avendus Wealth – Hurun India U30 List 2026
| Sr. No. | Name | Age | Company | City of Residence | Debut Year |
| 1 | Anjali Sardana | 23 | Pronto | Gurugram | 2026 |
| 2 | Shreya Mittal | 23 | Cava Athleisure | Bengaluru | 2026 |
| 3 | Ria Mittal | 26 | Cava Athleisure | Bengaluru | 2026 |
| 4 | Devika Gholap | 29 | OptraSCAN | San Jose | 2025 |
| 5 | Devanshi Kejriwal | 29 | Skillmatics | Mumbai | 2025 |
| 6 | Suramya Jain | 29 | RAS Luxury Skincare | Mumbai | 2026 |
Source: Hurun Research Institute, Avendus Wealth – Hurun India U30 List 2026
| U30 geographic footprint: Bengaluru takes the lead
Bengaluru moves into first place this year with 21 entrants, adding 14 entrepreneurs in a single year. The city’s cohort includes Kaivalya Vohra, Shivam Agarwal and Awais Ahmed, among others.
Mumbai follows in second place with 16 entrants, after topping the rankings in 2025. Entrepreneurs from the city include Aadit Palicha, Saurabh Runwal and Subin Mitra, among others.
Gurugram ranks third with 12 entrants, a gain of 9, led by Shashvat Nakrani, Anjali Sardana and Jivesh Gupta. New Delhi (10), Hyderabad and Kolkata round out the top five cities with 5 entrants each.
3: Top represented Indian cities by U30 entrepreneurs
| Rank | City of Residence | No. of Entrants | Change | Notable Entrants (Age) |
| 1↑ | Bengaluru | 21 | +14 | Kaivalya Vohra (23), Shivam Agarwal (29), Awais Ahmed (28) |
| 2↓ | Mumbai | 16 | +1 | Aadit Palicha (23), Saurabh Runwal (30), Subin Mitra (28) |
| 3↑ | Gurugram | 12 | +9 | Shashvat Nakrani (27), Anjali Sardana (23), Jivesh Gupta (29) |
| 4↓ | New Delhi | 10 | +6 | Rohan Gupta (27), Anirudh Singla (27), Om Prakash (30) |
| 5* | Hyderabad | 5 | New | Sashank Gujjula (29), Alluru Uday Kiran (27), Devulapalli Lakshmi Prachotan (27) |
| 5↓ | Kolkata | 5 | +1 | Sheetij Agarwal (27), Chaitanya Jalan (28), Vedant Modi (26) |
| 7- | Chennai | 3 | – | Siva Arul Durai Suraj Kannaa (23), Shree Ram Ravichandran (29), Gobinath Pandurangan (29) |
| 7↓ | Noida | 3 | – | Sarim Khan (28), Aryan Sisodia (28), Vaibhav Kaushik (28) |
| 9* | Salem | 2 | New | AVR Shree Smaran (23), AVR Siddhanth (27) |
| 9* | Udaipur | 2 | New | Ankit Jain (29), Narayan Lal Gurjar (27) |
| 9↓ | Ahmedabad | 2 | -1 | Kanishka Patel (29), Shaan Shah (28) |
| 9↓ | Jaipur | 2 | -2 | Rakesh Yadav (30), Rishiraj Sharma (28) |
Source: Hurun Research Institute, Avendus Wealth – Hurun India U30 List 2026
↑ Rank increase YoY, ↓ Rank decrease YoY, – No Rank change YoY, * New to Top 10
| Karnataka leads as the U30 map is redrawn
Karnataka claims first place in the state rankings with 22 entrants, adding 12 new entrepreneurs. Awais Ahmed, Anirudh Sharma and Tanveer Ahmed lead the cohort.
Maharashtra ranks second with 18 entrants, three fewer than last year. Haryana places third with 13 entrants, a gain of 9 from 2025. Delhi (10), with Tamil Nadu, Telangana and West Bengal on 5 each, complete the top five.
4: Top represented Indian states by U30 entrepreneurs
| Rank | State of Residence | No. of Entrants | Change | Notable Entrants (Age) |
| 1↑ | Karnataka | 22 | +12 | Awais Ahmed (28), Anirudh Sharma (27), Tanveer Ahmed (28) |
| 2↓ | Maharashtra | 18 | -3 | Jai Malpani (30), Devanshi Kejriwal (29), Mayank Kale (30) |
| 3↑ | Haryana | 13 | +9 | Sohail Nath (29), Neetu Yadav (30), Deepansh Goyal (27) |
| 4↑ | Delhi | 10 | +6 | Om Prakash (30), Bodhisattwa Sanghapriya (29), Devansh Jain Nawal (27) |
| 5↓ | Tamil Nadu | 5 | -1 | Siva Arul Durai Suraj Kannaa (23), AVR Siddhanth (27), AVR Shree Smaran (23) |
| 5* | Telangana | 5 | New | Krishnakanth JSS (28), Neelakantha Bhanu Prakash (26), Sashank Gujjula (29) |
| 5↓ | West Bengal | 5 | +1 | Madhav Kejriwal (30), Parthiv Vikram Neotia (30), Chaitanya Jalan (28) |
| 8↓ | Uttar Pradesh | 4 | -2 | Sarim Khan (28), Hrituraj Singh (28), Aryan Sisodia (28) |
| 8↓ | Rajasthan | 4 | -5 | Rakesh Yadav (30), Rishiraj Sharma (28), Narayan Lal Gurjar (27) |
| 10↓ | Gujarat | 2 | -2 | Kanishka Patel (29), Shaan Shah (28) |
| 10- | Punjab | 2 | -1 | Kushal Mittal (29), Rahul Rawat (26) |
Source: Hurun Research Institute, Avendus Wealth – Hurun India U30 List 2026
↑ Rank increase YoY, ↓ Rank decrease YoY, – No Rank change YoY, * New to Top 10
| BITS Pilani tops the undergraduate ranking
11 BITS Pilani alumni feature on this year’s list, increased by 57% from last year. Notable names include Rishabh Shekhar, Siddhant Dangi and Mohit Yadav.
IIT Delhi holds second place with 8 alumni, while IIT Roorkee follows with 6 and Visvesvaraya Technological University with 4. IIT Bombay and Jadavpur University share fifth place with 3 alumni each.
5: Most represented undergraduate universities
| Rank | University | No. of Entrants | Change | Notable Alumni (Age) |
| 1- | BITS Pilani | 11 | +4 | Rishabh Shekhar (28), Siddhant Dangi (27), Mohit Yadav (30) |
| 2- | IIT Delhi | 8 | +5 | Rakesh Yadav (30), Neetu Yadav (30), Ankit Jaipuria (28) |
| 3↓ | IIT Roorkee | 6 | +2 | Sambhav Anand Jain (28), Kush Taneja (28), Sarim Khan (28) |
| 4↑ | Visvesvaraya Technological University | 4 | +1 | Suhas Rajkumar (30), Tanveer Ahmed (28), Ujjwal Sukheja (25) |
| 5* | IIT Bombay | 3 | New | Karan Vaidya (30), Soham Ganatra (30), Sashank Gujjula (29) |
| 5* | Jadavpur University | 3 | New | Rajit Bhattacharya (28), Ankit Das (28), Aisik Paul (28) |
Source: Hurun Research Institute, Avendus Wealth – Hurun India U30 List 2026
↑ Rank increase YoY, ↓ Rank decrease YoY, – No Rank change YoY, * New to Top 5
| E-commerce & AI gain ground among U30 founders
Software Products & Services remains the largest sector on the list with 14 founders, represented by companies such as Groyyo, Vapi and Pronto.
E-Commerce ranks second with 9 founders, with companies including Zepto, Swish and Culture Circle.
Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning debuts as the third-largest sector with 8 founders, followed by Automobile & Auto Components and FinTech with 7 each. Meanwhile, Consumer Goods declined from 13 entrants in 2025 to 6 this year.
6: Top industries represented
| Rank | Industry | No. of Entrants | Change | Notable Companies |
| 1- | Software Products & Services | 14 | -7 | Groyyo, Vapi, Pronto |
| 2* | E-commerce | 9 | New | Zepto, Swish, Culture Circle |
| 3* | Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning | 8 | New | Wispr AI, Klarity, Composio |
| 4↑ | Automobile & Auto Components | 7 | +4 | Ramkrishna Forgings, Simple Energy, Baaz Bikes |
| 4* | FinTech | 7 | New | BharatPe, FamApp by Trio, FloBiz |
| 6↓ | Consumer Goods | 6 | -7 | Skillmatics, Bold Care, Beco |
| 6* | Space Technology | 6 | New | Pixxel, Digantara, Apolink |
| 8↓ | Education & EdTech | 5 | – | NxtWave, Bhanzu |
| 9↓ | Real Estate | 4 | +1 | RMZ, Sattva Group, Runwal Realty |
| 9* | Textiles, Apparel & Accessories | 4 | +1 | Vedant Fashions, ZYOD, Cava Athleisure |
| 9↓ | Aerospace & Defence | 4 | -3 | IG Defence, Airbound |
Source: Hurun Research Institute, Avendus Wealth – Hurun India U30 List 2026
↑ Rank increase YoY, ↓ Rank decrease YoY, – No Rank change YoY, * New to top 10
| Self-starters vs successors
Of the 102 leaders featured on the 2026 list, 86 are first-generation entrepreneurs, accounting for 84% of the cohort, slightly up from 83% in 2025. The remaining 16 represent family businesses across generations, including 6% second-generation, 8% third-generation and 2% fourth-generation or later entrepreneurs.
7: Generational breakdown of first-gen founders and next-gen leaders
Source: Hurun Research Institute, Avendus Wealth – Hurun India U30 List 2026
| India’s most seasoned U30 entrepreneurs
Ranked by years of entrepreneurial experience, Devika Gholap, Co-founder of OptraSCAN, leads this year’s U30 List with 11 years of building businesses. Devanshi Kejriwal of Skillmatics follows with 10 years.
8 entrepreneurs each have nine years of experience: Rishabh Shekhar and Anirudh Singla (both of Pepper), Nikhil Venkatesh (Botsync), Suramya Jain (RAS Luxury Skincare), Nischal Nadhamuni (Klarity), AVR Siddhanth (AVR Swarna Mahal Jewellers), Subhashis Kar (Techbooze Consultancy Services) and Kanishka Patel (WeHear).
8: India’s most seasoned U30 leaders
| Rank | Name | Company | Years in the Business |
| 1 | Devika Gholap | OptraSCAN | 11 |
| 2 | Devanshi Kejriwal | Skillmatics | 10 |
| 3 | Anirudh Singla | Pepper | 9 |
| 3 | Rishabh Shekhar | Pepper | 9 |
| 3 | AVR Siddhanth | AVR Swarna Mahal Jewellers | 9 |
| 3 | Nikhil Venkatesh | Botsync | 9 |
| 3 | Nischal Nadhamuni | Klarity | 9 |
| 3 | Subhashis Kar | Techbooze Consultancy Services | 9 |
| 3 | Suramya Jain | RAS Luxury Skincare | 9 |
| 3 | Kanishka Patel | WeHear | 9 |
Source: Hurun Research Institute, Avendus Wealth – Hurun India U30 List 2026
| The most followed minds of India’s U30
Aadit Palicha has the largest LinkedIn following among entrepreneurs on the U30 List, with 3.77 lakh followers. Tanay Kothari ranks second with 93,000 followers.
Shashvat Nakrani places third with 86,000 followers, while Anirudh Singla, Arjun Deshpande and Kaivalya Vohra also feature among the top 10 most-followed entrepreneurs on the list.
9: LinkedIn following of U30 leaders
| Rank | Name | Company | LinkedIn Followers (In Thousands) |
| 1 | Aadit Palicha | Zepto | 377 |
| 2 | Tanay Kothari | Wispr AI | 93 |
| 3 | Shashvat Nakrani | BharatPe | 86 |
| 4 | Anirudh Singla | Pepper | 76 |
| 5 | Arjun Deshpande | Generic Aadhaar | 52 |
| 6 | Kaivalya Vohra | Zepto | 47 |
| 6 | Aniket Shah | Swish | 47 |
| 8 | Anjali Sardana | Pronto | 38 |
| 9 | Aditya Ruia | Beco | 35 |
| 10 | Sambhav Anand Jain | FamApp by Trio | 33 |
Source: Hurun Research Institute, Avendus Wealth – Hurun India U30 List 2026
| Bengaluru remains the leading hub for U30-led companies
Bengaluru is home to 18 company headquarters this year, up from 14 in 2025. Mumbai follows with 9 headquarters, while Gurugram ranks third with 8.
San Francisco places fourth with 6 company headquarters, up from 4 in 2025. Kolkata completes the top five with 5 headquarters, led by a number of large listed industrial companies.
10: Top locations of headquarters
| Rank | City of Headquarters | No. of Companies | Change |
| 1- | Bengaluru | 18 | +4 |
| 2- | Mumbai | 9 | -1 |
| 3- | Gurugram | 8 | +1 |
| 4- | San Francisco | 6 | +2 |
| 5- | Kolkata | 5 | +2 |
Source: Hurun Research Institute, Avendus Wealth – Hurun India U30 List 2026
↑ Rank increase YoY, ↓ Rank decrease YoY, – No Rank change YoY, * New to Top 5
| The largest U30 employers
The 5 largest employers on this year’s list account for more than 70% of the cohort’s total workforce, a cumulative employee growth of 21% from 2025. Shyam Metalics & Energy is the largest employer with 25,592 employees, followed by Electrosteel Castings with 14,326 and Zepto, NxtWave and Hindustan Syringes & Medical Devices rounding out the top 5.
11: Top 5 largest U30-led employers
| Rank | Company | No. of Employees |
| 1 | Shyam Metalics & Energy | 25,592 |
| 2 | Electrosteel Castings | 14,326 |
| 3 | Zepto | 5,212 |
| 4 | NxtWave | 4,971 |
| 5 | Hindustan Syringes & Medical Devices | 4,500 |
Source: Hurun Research Institute, Avendus Wealth – Hurun India U30 List 2026
| Valuation spectrum of U30-led companies
U30-led companies on the list span a wide range of valuations, from emerging ventures to some of India’s most valuable young-led businesses.
12: Valuation spectrum of the companies
| Sr. No. | Valuation (USD mn) | No. of Companies |
| 1 | 25-50 | 25 |
| 2 | 51-100 | 11 |
| 3 | 101-200 | 15 |
| 4 | 201 & above | 18 |
Source: Hurun Research Institute, Avendus Wealth – Hurun India U30 List 2026
| From Seed to Public Markets
A majority of the U30-led companies are in their growth phase, 21 ventures at Series A, including Wispr AI, Vapi and NxtWave. A further 15 companies are in Series B, while BharatPe and Zepto have reached Series E and H, respectively. 8 companies on the list are already publicly listed, including Shyam Metalics & Energy, Ramkrishna Forgings and Vedant Fashions.
13: Funding round stages
| Sr. No. | Funding Round | No. of Companies | Change | Notable Companies |
| 1 | Seed | 13 | +8 | SuperPe, Generic Aadhaar, Anthriq |
| 2 | Series A | 21 | +1 | Wispr AI, Vapi, NxtWave |
| 3 | Series B | 15 | +5 | Pixxel, Klarity, Simple Energy |
| 4 | Series E | 1 | New | BharatPe |
| 5 | Series H | 1 | New | Zepto |
| 6 | Listed | 8 | +1 | Shyam Metalics & Energy, Ramkrishna Forgings, Vedant Fashions |
Source: Hurun Research Institute, Avendus Wealth – Hurun India U30 List 2026
| Most funded U30 startups by number of rounds
BharatPe ranks first by number of funding rounds, having raised capital across 18 rounds. Simple Energy and Zepto follow with 15 rounds each. Pixxel ranks fourth with 11 funding rounds, while Baaz Bikes completes the top five with 9.
14: Top U30-led startups by number of funding rounds
| Rank | Company | Total Funding Rounds | Founders (Age) |
| 1 | BharatPe | 18 | Shashvat Nakrani (27) |
| 2 | Simple Energy | 15 | Suhas Rajkumar (30), Shreshth Mishra (30) |
| 2 | Zepto | 15 | Kaivalya Vohra (23), Aadit Palicha (23) |
| 4 | Pixxel | 11 | Awais Ahmed (28), Kshitij Khandelwal (28) |
| 5 | Baaz Bikes | 9 | Abhijeet Saxena (29), Anubhav Sharma (29), Karan Singla (29), Shubham Srivastava (30) |
| 6 | RAS Luxury Skincare | 8 | Suramya Jain (29) |
| 7 | Nawgati Tech | 7 | Vaibhav Kaushik (28), Aryan Sisodia (28), Aalaap Nair (28) |
| 7 | Botsync | 7 | Nikhil Venkatesh (29) |
| 9 | Powerplay | 6 | Shubham Goyal (30) |
| 9 | Data Sutram | 6 | Aisik Paul (28), Ankit Das (28), Rajit Bhattacharya (28) |
| 9 | Airbound | 6 | Naman Pushp (21) |
Source: Hurun Research Institute, Avendus Wealth – Hurun India U30 List 2026
| Most funded U30-led startups
Zepto is the most funded startup on this year’s list, having raised USD 2.3 bn to date. FinTech leader BharatPe follows with USD 650 mn, while Clean Mobility player Simple Energy ranks third with USD 99 mn.
The allocation of capital extends across SpaceTech and emerging tech ventures, with Pixxel having raised USD 96 mn, Klarity securing USD 90 mn and Wispr AI raising USD 81 mn. Beyond these, Digantara, Swish and Triomics have also secured USD 67 mn, USD 54 mn and USD 51 mn, respectively.
15: Top U30-led startups by total funding raised
| Rank | Company | Total Funding Raised (USD mn) | Founders (Age) |
| 1 | Zepto | 2,300 | Kaivalya Vohra (23), Aadit Palicha (23) |
| 2 | BharatPe | 650 | Shashvat Nakrani (27) |
| 3 | Simple Energy | 99 | Suhas Rajkumar (30), Shreshth Mishra (30) |
| 4 | Pixxel | 96 | Awais Ahmed (28), Kshitij Khandelwal (28) |
| 5 | Klarity | 90 | Nischal Nadhamuni (29) |
| 6 | Wispr AI | 81 | Tanay Kothari (27) |
| 7 | Digantara | 67 | Anirudh Sharma (27), Rahul Rawat (26), Tanveer Ahmed (28) |
| 8 | Swish | 54 | Aniket Shah (26), Saran S (25), Ujjwal Sukheja (25) |
| 9 | Triomics | 51 | Hrituraj Singh (28), Sarim Khan (28) |
| 10 | FloBiz | 44 | Rakesh Yadav (30) |
Source: Hurun Research Institute, Avendus Wealth – Hurun India U30 List 2026
| Fund allocation by U30-led startups
Funding deployed by companies on the Avendus Wealth – Hurun India U30 List 2026 is primarily directed towards growth and expansion. Product Development & Expansion accounts for the largest share at 27%, followed by Market & Geographic Expansion at 26%. Together, these two categories account for 53% of capital allocation.
Channel & Distribution Growth stood 11%, followed by Research & Development at 10%, with Capital Expenditure and Talent Acquisition accounting for 9% each. The remaining capital is allocated equally to Brand Marketing & Awareness (4%) and Other initiatives (4%).
16: Funding allocation
| Rank | Use of Funds | Allocation (%) |
| 1 | Product Development & Expansion | 27% |
| 2 | Market & Geographic Expansion | 26% |
| 3 | Channel & Distribution Growth | 11% |
| 4 | Research & Development | 10% |
| 5 | Capital Expenditure | 9% |
| 5 | Talent Acquisition | 9% |
| 7 | Brand Marketing & Awareness | 4% |
| 7 | Other | 4% |
Source: Hurun Research Institute, Avendus Wealth – Hurun India U30 List 2026
| The most investor-backed U30 startups
Pixxel leads the chart with 34 investors, backed by Blume Ventures, Lightspeed Venture Partners and Google, highlighting strong interest in SpaceTech innovation. Close behind, Zepto commands 30 investors including Y Combinator and Nexus Venture Partners, while Bold Care follows with 26 investors.
Notable names such as EF Polymer, Botsync, Beco, Loop Health, Pepper, NAKAD, LogX and Data Sutram also feature prominently, reflecting the broad and growing investor confidence across sectors in India’s U30-led startup ecosystem.
17: Companies with the highest number of investors
| Rank | Company | Total No. of Investors | Notable Investors |
| 1 | Pixxel | 34 | Blume Ventures, Lightspeed Venture Partners, Google |
| 2 | Zepto | 30 | Y Combinator, Nexus Venture Partners, Stride Ventures |
| 3 | Bold Care | 26 | 4point0 Health Ventures, MGA Ventures, Rainmatter Capital |
| 4 | EF Polymer | 23 | Beyond Next Ventures, MTG Ventures, Yosemite |
| 4 | Botsync | 23 | Seeds Capital, Artesian Capital Management, AngelHub |
| 6 | Beco | 22 | Titan Capital, Better Capital, Rukam Capital |
| 7 | Loop Health | 21 | Y Combinator, Soma Capital, Sierra Ventures |
| 8 | Pepper | 19 | Titan Capital, Lightspeed Venture Partners, Bessemer Venture Partners |
| 9 | NAKAD | 16 | Accel, Z47, Matrix Partners |
| 10 | LogX | 15 | Coinbase Ventures, Sequoia, #Hashed |
| 10 | Data Sutram | 15 | B Capital, Lightspeed, 100x Ventures |
Source: Hurun Research Institute, Avendus Wealth – Hurun India U30 List 2026
| India, UK and China: A comparison of Hurun’s U30 lists
Across India, China and the UK, 331 entrepreneurs under the age of 30 have been featured, with 147 from China, 102 from India and 82 from the UK.
The UK tops the list for first-generation entrepreneurs at 96%, followed by India at 84% and China at 58%. On gender representation, China leads with 27 women, followed by the UK with 21 and India with 6.
The headquarters cities are Bengaluru in India, Shenzhen in China and London in the UK. Software Products & Services is the leading industry in both India and China, while BioTech and Food & Beverages lead in the UK.
18: India, China and the UK Comparison
| Category | India U30 | China U30 | UK U30 |
| Total number of individuals featured | 102 | 147 | 82 |
| Total number of women featured | 6 | 27 | 21 |
| Number of first-generation individuals | 86 (84%) | 85 (58%) | 79 (96%) |
| Number of next-generation individuals | 16 (16%) | 48 (33%) | 3 (4%) |
| Average jobs created by self-made companies | 338 | 100 | 22 |
| City of headquarters | Bengaluru | Shenzhen | London |
| Leading industry | Software Products & Services | Software Products & Services | BioTech and Food & Beverages |
Source: Hurun Research Institute, Avendus Wealth – Hurun India U30 List 2026, Hurun China U30s 2025, Hurun UK U30s 2024
| Avendus Wealth – Hurun India U30 List 2026 Honourees
The 102 young leaders featured are listed below:
| Sr. No. | Name | Age | City of Residence | Category* | Company | Main Industry | Debut Year |
| 1 | Parthiv Vikram Neotia | 30 | Kolkata | A | Ambuja Neotia Group | Real Estate | 2025 |
| 2 | Shashvat Nakrani | 27 | Gurugram | A | BharatPe | FinTech | 2025 |
| 3 | Madhav Kejriwal | 30 | Kolkata | A | Electrosteel Castings | Industrial Products | 2026 |
| 4 | Sohail Nath | 29 | Faridabad | A | Hindustan Syringes & Medical Devices | Healthcare | 2026 |
| 5 | Jai Malpani | 30 | Pune | A | Imagicaaworld Entertainment | Media & Entertainment | 2026 |
| 6 | Nischal Nadhamuni | 29 | San Francisco | A | Klarity | AI & ML | 2026 |
| 7 | Awais Ahmed | 28 | Bengaluru | A | Pixxel | Space Technology | 2025 |
| 8 | Kshitij Khandelwal | 28 | Bengaluru | A | 2025 | ||
| 9 | Chaitanya Jalan | 28 | Kolkata | A | Ramkrishna Forgings | Automobile & Auto Components | 2025 |
| 10 | Mihir Menda | 27 | Boston | A | RMZ | Real Estate | 2025 |
| 11 | Saurabh Runwal | 30 | Mumbai | A | Runwal Realty | Real Estate | 2025 |
| 12 | Siva Arul Durai Suraj Kannaa | 23 | Chennai | A | Saravana Stores Elite | Jewellery | 2026 |
| 13 | Shivam Agarwal | 29 | Bengaluru | A | Sattva Group | Real Estate | 2026 |
| 14 | Rohan Gupta | 27 | New Delhi | A | SG Finserve | Financial Services | 2025 |
| 15 | Sheetij Agarwal | 27 | Kolkata | A | Shyam Metalics & Energy | Metals & Mining | 2026 |
| 16 | Nikhil Gupta | 26 | San Francisco | A | Vapi | Software Products & Services | 2026 |
| 17 | Vedant Modi | 26 | Kolkata | A | Vedant Fashions | Textiles, Apparel & Accessories | 2025 |
| 18 | Tanay Kothari | 27 | San Francisco | A | Wispr AI | AI & ML | 2026 |
| 19 | Kaivalya Vohra | 23 | Bengaluru | A | Zepto | E-commerce | 2025 |
| 20 | Aadit Palicha | 23 | Mumbai | A | 2025 | ||
| 21 | Rahul Rawat | 26 | Phagwara | B | Digantara | Space Technology | 2025 |
| 22 | Anirudh Sharma | 27 | Bengaluru | B | 2025 | ||
| 23 | Tanveer Ahmed | 28 | Bengaluru | B | 2025 | ||
| 24 | Kush Taneja | 28 | Bengaluru | B | FamApp by Trio | FinTech | 2025 |
| 25 | Sambhav Anand Jain | 28 | Bengaluru | B | 2025 | ||
| 26 | Subin Mitra | 28 | Mumbai | B | Groyyo | Software Products & Services | 2025 |
| 27 | Sashank Gujjula | 29 | Hyderabad | B | NxtWave | Education & EdTech | 2025 |
| 28 | Anjali Sardana | 23 | Gurugram | B | Pronto | Software Products & Services | 2026 |
| 29 | Shreshth Mishra | 30 | Bengaluru | B | Simple Energy | Automobile & Auto Components | 2025 |
| 30 | Suhas Rajkumar | 30 | Bengaluru | B | 2025 | ||
| 31 | Devanshi Kejriwal | 29 | Mumbai | B | Skillmatics | Consumer Goods | 2025 |
| 32 | Aniket Shah | 26 | Bengaluru | B | Swish | E-commerce | 2025 |
| 33 | Saran S | 25 | Bengaluru | B | 2025 | ||
| 34 | Ujjwal Sukheja | 25 | Bengaluru | B | 2025 | ||
| 35 | Neetu Yadav | 30 | Gurugram | C | Animall Technologies | Agriculture and Allied Industries | 2026 |
| 36 | Deepansh Goyal | 27 | Gurugram | C | Anthriq | AI & ML | 2026 |
| 37 | Siddhant Dangi | 27 | Bengaluru | C | 2026 | ||
| 38 | AVR Shree Smaran | 23 | Salem | C | AVR Swarna Mahal Jewellers | Jewellery | 2025 |
| 39 | AVR Siddhanth | 27 | Salem | C | 2025 | ||
| 40 | Kushal Mittal | 29 | Bathinda | C | BCL Industries | Food & Beverages | 2026 |
| 41 | Alluru Uday Kiran | 27 | Hyderabad | C | Bhanzu | Education & EdTech | 2026 |
| 42 | Devulapalli Lakshmi Prachotan | 27 | Hyderabad | C | 2026 | ||
| 43 | Krishnakanth JSS | 28 | Hyderabad | C | 2026 | ||
| 44 | Neelakantha Bhanu Prakash | 26 | Hyderabad | C | 2026 | ||
| 45 | Karan Vaidya | 30 | San Francisco | C | Composio | AI & ML | 2026 |
| 46 | Soham Ganatra | 30 | San Francisco | C | 2026 | ||
| 47 | Aisik Paul | 28 | Mumbai | C | Data Sutram | Software Products & Services | 2026 |
| 48 | Ankit Das | 28 | Mumbai | C | 2026 | ||
| 49 | Rajit Bhattacharya | 28 | Mumbai | C | 2026 | ||
| 50 | Rakesh Yadav | 30 | Jaipur | C | FloBiz | FinTech | 2025 |
| 51 | Arjun Deshpande | 24 | Mumbai | C | Generic Aadhaar | Healthcare | 2025 |
| 52 | Mayank Kale | 30 | Mumbai | C | Loop Health | Financial Services | 2025 |
| 53 | Jivesh Gupta | 29 | Gurugram | C | One Impression | Software Products & Services | 2025 |
| 54 | Devika Gholap | 29 | San Jose | C | OptraSCAN | Healthcare | 2025 |
| 55 | Anirudh Singla | 27 | New Delhi | C | Pepper | Software Products & Services | 2025 |
| 56 | Rishabh Shekhar | 28 | Wilmington | C | 2025 | ||
| 57 | Rishiraj Sharma | 28 | Jaipur | C | ProjectDiscovery | Cybersecurity | 2025 |
| 58 | Jayesh Gadewar | 27 | Mumbai | C | Scrut Automation | Cybersecurity | 2025 |
| 59 | Rishabh Jain | 29 | Bengaluru | C | SuperPe | FinTech | 2026 |
| 60 | Hrituraj Singh | 28 | Amroha | C | Triomics | HealthTech | 2025 |
| 61 | Sarim Khan | 28 | Noida | C | 2025 | ||
| 62 | Naman Pushp | 21 | Bengaluru | D | Airbound | Aerospace & Defence | 2026 |
| 63 | Onkar Singh Batra | 20 | Palo Alto | D | Apolink | Space Technology | 2026 |
| 64 | Abhijeet Saxena | 29 | New Delhi | D | Baaz Bikes | Automobile & Auto Components | 2026 |
| 65 | Anubhav Sharma | 29 | Gurugram | D | 2026 | ||
| 66 | Karan Singla | 29 | Gurugram | D | 2026 | ||
| 67 | Shubham Srivastava | 30 | New Delhi | D | 2026 | ||
| 68 | Utkarsh Singh | 30 | Gurugram | D | BatX Energies | Sustainability & ESG | 2026 |
| 69 | Vikrant Singh | 29 | New Delhi | D | 2026 | ||
| 70 | Aditya Ruia | 30 | Mumbai | D | Beco | Consumer Goods | 2025 |
| 71 | Mohit Yadav | 30 | Bengaluru | D | Bold Care | Consumer Goods | 2025 |
| 72 | Rahul Krishnan | 29 | Mumbai | D | 2025 | ||
| 73 | Rajat Jadhav | 30 | Mumbai | D | 2025 | ||
| 74 | Nikhil Venkatesh | 29 | Bengaluru | D | Botsync | AI & ML | 2026 |
| 75 | Ria Mittal | 26 | Bengaluru | D | Cava Athleisure | Textiles, Apparel & Accessories | 2026 |
| 76 | Shreya Mittal | 23 | Bengaluru | D | 2026 | ||
| 77 | Ackshay Jain | 28 | Gurugram | D | Culture Circle | E-commerce | 2026 |
| 78 | Devansh Jain Nawal | 27 | New Delhi | D | 2026 | ||
| 79 | Ankit Jain | 29 | Udaipur | D | EF Polymer | Chemicals | 2026 |
| 80 | Narayan Lal Gurjar | 27 | Udaipur | D | 2026 | ||
| 81 | Shaan Shah | 28 | Ahmedabad | D | Freakins | E-commerce | 2026 |
| 82 | Divyam Jain | 25 | Gurugram | D | Home Essentials | Consumer Durables | 2026 |
| 83 | Tanishq Jain | 25 | Gurugram | D | 2026 | ||
| 84 | Bodhisattwa Sanghapriya | 29 | New Delhi | D | IG Defence | Aerospace & Defence | 2026 |
| 85 | Om Prakash | 30 | New Delhi | D | 2026 | ||
| 86 | Shuvam Dash | 30 | New Delhi | D | 2026 | ||
| 87 | Akshit Bordia | 29 | Dubai | D | LogX | FinTech | 2026 |
| 88 | Gobinath Pandurangan | 29 | Chennai | D | Modulus Housing | Construction & Engineering | 2026 |
| 89 | Shree Ram Ravichandran | 29 | Chennai | D | 2026 | ||
| 90 | Sambhav Jain | 28 | Chandrapur | D | Nakad | FinTech | 2025 |
| 91 | Aalaap Nair | 28 | Mumbai | D | Nawgati Tech | Software Products & Services | 2026 |
| 92 | Aryan Sisodia | 28 | Noida | D | 2026 | ||
| 93 | Vaibhav Kaushik | 28 | Noida | D | 2026 | ||
| 94 | Shubham Goyal | 30 | San Francisco | D | Powerplay | Software Products & Services | 2025 |
| 95 | Suramya Jain | 29 | Mumbai | D | RAS Luxury Skincare | Consumer Goods | 2026 |
| 96 | Akshay Gulati | 29 | Bengaluru | D | Slikk | E-commerce | 2026 |
| 97 | Dhravya Shah | 20 | San Francisco | D | Supermemory | AI & ML | 2026 |
| 98 | Subhashis Kar | 29 | New Delhi | D | Techbooze Consultancy Services | Services (Other) | 2026 |
| 99 | Vedant Nandwana | 30 | Mumbai | D | Vakrangee | Software Products & Services | 2026 |
| 100 | Shiva A. Sankeshwar | 24 | Hubballi | D | Vijayanand Travels | Transportation & Logistics | 2025 |
| 101 | Kanishka Patel | 29 | Ahmedabad | D | WeHear | Consumer Durables | 2026 |
| 102 | Ankit Jaipuria | 28 | Gurugram | D | ZYOD | Textiles, Apparel & Accessories | 2025 |
Source: Hurun Research Institute, Avendus Wealth – Hurun India U30 List 2026
*Category-wise valuation thresholds for U30 eligibility based on founder type and business scale multiplier
(As outlined in the methodology).
| U30 Entrepreneur Profiles
Parthiv Vikram Neotia (30) | Ambuja Neotia Group
As Executive Director of Ambuja Neotia Group, Parthiv Vikram Neotia brings a fresh generational perspective to one of the country’s most diversified real estate conglomerates, covering residential, commercial, hospitality and healthcare.
Neelakantha Bhanu Prakash (26), Devulapalli Lakshmi Prachotan (27), Alluru Uday Kiran (27) and Krishnakanth JSS (28) | Bhanzu
Neelakantha, Devulapalli, Alluru and Krishnakanth co-founded Bhanzu, an EdTech platform that transforms mathematics from a source of dread into a live, interactive experience.
Shashvat Nakrani (27) | BharatPe
Shashvat Nakrani has been central to ensuring India’s small merchants aren’t left behind by the digital economy. As Co-founder and COO of BharatPe, he has helped put payment and financial tools in the hands of the country’s everyday retailers.
Soham Ganatra (30) and Karan Vaidya (30) | Composio
Soham and Karan co-founded Composio and jointly steer the company’s growth and direction. Composio is a developer platform that enables AI agents to seamlessly integrate with over 250 external tools and APIs.
Rahul Rawat (26), Anirudh Sharma (27) and Tanveer Ahmed (28) | Digantara
Digantara, founded by Rahul Rawat, Anirudh Sharma and Tanveer Ahmed, operates in the space situational awareness sector. The firm is building a commercial space-based sensor network to track orbiting satellites and space debris.
Madhav Kejriwal (30) | Electrosteel Castings
Madhav Kejriwal is helping keep India’s water flowing. As Whole-Time Director at Electrosteel Castings, he plays a key role at one of the country’s leading manufacturers of ductile iron pipes, infrastructure that delivers clean water to millions across the country.
Kush Taneja (28) and Sambhav Anand Jain (28) | FamApp by Trio
Kush Taneja and Sambhav Anand Jain think teenagers deserve a real bank account, not just pocket money. Together, they built FamApp by Trio, a neo-banking platform offering young people smart debit cards and financial literacy tools.
Rakesh Yadav (30) | FloBiz
Rakesh Yadav is putting better financial tools in the hands of India’s small business owners. As Co-founder and CEO of FloBiz, he has built a platform that takes the chaos out of running an SME, handling invoicing, payments and financial operations so owners can focus on the business itself.
Subin Mitra (28) | Groyyo
As Co-founder and CEO of Groyyo, Subin Mitra runs a B2B platform linking international labels with verified factories across South and Southeast Asia, bringing structure and visibility to a supply chain that has long operated on relationships and guesswork.
Sohail Nath (29) | Hindustan Syringes & Medical Devices
Sohail Nath serves as a Whole-time Director at Hindustan Syringes & Medical Devices. A company that supplies healthcare systems around the world and is one of the largest manufacturers of syringes and needles on the planet.
Jai Malpani (30) | Imagicaaworld Entertainment
Jai Malpani is Managing Director of Imagicaaworld Entertainment. He oversees India’s premier theme park destination, working to make a truly immersive day out an experience families across the country can enjoy and remember.
Nischal Nadhamuni (29) | Klarity
Nischal serves as Co-founder & CTO at Klarity, building an AI platform that automates the reading, reviewing and compliance-checking of legal and financial documents, work that used to take lawyers and finance teams hours of careful, painstaking effort.
Sashank Gujjula (29) | NxtWave
Sashank co-founded NxtWave, a company delivering industry-ready software courses in regional languages, opening doors in the digital economy to students who might otherwise never have had a way in.
Devika Gholap (29) | OptraSCAN
Devika Gholap is bringing AI into the pathology lab. As Co-founder and CPO of OptraSCAN, she is developing whole slide imaging solutions that make diagnostics faster and more accurate.
Awais Ahmed (28) and Kshitij Khandelwal (28) | Pixxel
Awais and Kshitij co-founded Pixxel and serve as CEO & CTO, respectively. They are building a constellation of hyperspectral satellites that give governments, scientists and businesses an extraordinary new lens on the planet.
Rishiraj Sharma (28) | ProjectDiscovery
Rishiraj is the Co-founder & CEO of ProjectDiscovery. He leads an open-source cybersecurity company helping security teams find and fix vulnerabilities before the wrong people do; an essential toolkit for those who keep the internet safe.
Anjali Sardana (23) | Pronto
Anjali Sardana, Founder and CEO of Pronto is solving the problem every busy household knows too well: There are never enough hours in the day. Her platform, Pronto, takes cleaning, laundry and household chores off people’s plates on demand.
Chaitanya Jalan (28) | Ramkrishna Forgings
Chaitanya Jalan is forging the components that keep India’s industries moving. As Whole-time Director at Ramkrishna Forgings, he drives strategy at one of the country’s leading manufacturers of rolled, forged and machined parts for the automotive and industrial sectors.
Mihir Menda (27) | RMZ
As a Member of the Supervisory Board at RMZ, Mihir Menda contributes to one of the country’s largest commercial real estate developers, a company building the premium office spaces and mixed-use developments that define India’s changing urban skylines.
Saurabh Runwal (30) | Runwal Realty
As Associate Director at Runwal Realty, Saurabh Runwal helps shape the future of one of Mumbai’s oldest developers, carrying a proud legacy forward.
Siva Arul Durai Suraj Kannaa (23) | Saravana Stores Elite
At 23, Siva Arul Durai Suraj Kannaa is carrying forward one of Chennai’s most beloved retail institutions. As Additional Director at Saravana Stores Elite, he guides a premium jewellery chain that has long been the first stop for gold, diamond and platinum shoppers across the city.
Shivam Agarwal (29) | Sattva Group
As Vice President of Strategy at Sattva Group, Shivam shapes the direction of a real estate developer whose portfolio stretches across residential towers, commercial complexes and data centres.
Rohan Gupta (27) | SG Finserve
Rohan Gupta is focused on making credit work for those who need it most. As Chairperson and Director at SG Finserve, he leads a non-banking financial company that extends credit and financial services to underserved businesses and individuals.
Sheetij Agarwal (27) | Shyam Metalics & Energy
Sheetij Agarwal, as Whole-time Director at Shyam Metalics & Energy, is helping build India from the inside out. He contributes to an integrated metal manufacturing company that produces steel, ferroalloys and energy products that underpin the country’s industrial growth.
Suhas Rajkumar (30) and Shreshth Mishra (30) | Simple Energy
Suhas Rajkumar and Shreshth Mishra, Co-founders of Simple Energy, want to put India on two electric wheels. Simple Energy develops high-performance scooters that are affordable for the Indian market.
Devanshi Kejriwal (29) | Skillmatics
The formula that parents everywhere are hunting for, learning that kids actually want to do, is what Devanshi Kejriwal has spent years refining. As Co-founder and CPO of Skillmatics, she creates educational games and activity products that have found their way into homes across the world, turning playtime into something a little more purposeful.
Rishabh Jain (29) | SuperPe
Buy now, pay later has become standard on major e-commerce platforms. Rishabh Jain thinks the corner store deserves the same tools. As Founder and CEO of SuperPe, he has built a FinTech platform that enables retailers to offer credit and flexible payment options at the point of sale.
Saran S (25), Ujjwal Sukheja (25) and Aniket Shah (26) | Swish
Saran, Ujjwal and Aniket co-founded Swish, a quick-commerce platform that delivers freshly prepared meals from hyperlocal cloud kitchens within 10 minutes.
Nikhil Gupta (26) | Vapi
Nikhil Gupta is giving AI a voice. As Co-founder and CTO of Vapi, he has built a developer platform to build and scale AI-powered voice agents, making it far easier for companies to automate customer conversations without them feeling like a call with a machine.
Vedant Modi (26) | Vedant Fashions
As Chief Revenue Officer at Vedant Fashions, the company behind the Manyavar brand, Vedant Modi drives the growth of India’s most recognised ethnic wear label, keeping it relevant for a new generation without losing what made it the default choice for the last.
Tanay Kothari (27) | Wispr AI
Tanay Kothari is making the keyboard optional. He co-founded Wispr AI to build a voice dictation tool that lets people write anywhere on their devices with remarkable accuracy, a transformative shift in how humans interact with technology, one spoken word at a time.
Kaivalya Vohra (23) and Aadit Palicha (23) | Zepto
Kaivalya Vohra and Aadit Palicha were teenagers when they decided to build grocery delivery startup, Zepto, which has grown into one of India’s most talked-about quick-commerce companies, delivering in under 10 minutes through a network of dark stores.
Neetu Yadav (30) | Animall Technologies
Neetu Yadav is digitising one of India’s oldest livelihoods. As Co-founder and CEO of Animall Technologies, she runs a platform that connects dairy farmers across rural India to buy and sell cattle, bringing the convenience of a digital marketplace to communities that have long relied on word of mouth.
Siddhant Dangi (27) and Deepansh Goyal (27) | Anthriq
The duo co-founded Anthriq, a foundational bio-signal infrastructure that enables other companies to build applications that actually respond to the human body. A quiet but potentially enormous leap in how technology understands us.
AVR Shree Smaran (23) and AVR Siddhanth (27) | AVR Swarna Mahal Jewellers
Smaran and Siddhanth, together, lead AVR Swarna Mahal Jewellers, steering one of South India’s most trusted jewellery retail chains into the future, carrying decades of craftsmanship forward while writing a new story of their own.
Kushal Mittal (29) | BCL Industries
Kushal serves as Joint Managing Director of BCL Industries, overseeing the company’s overall operations and long-term strategic goals. BCL Industries is a company that touches everything from cooking oil to construction.
Rajit Bhattacharya (28), Ankit Das (28) and Aisik Paul (28) | Data Sutram
Rajit Bhattacharya, Ankit Das and Aisik Paul have turned location data into a competitive superpower for enterprises by founding Data Sutram. A platform that helps companies make sharper business decisions by layering geospatial intelligence and AI over the places that matter most to their customers.
Arjun Deshpande (24) | Generic Aadhaar
Arjun Deshpande is making healthcare affordable, one prescription at a time. As Founder and CEO of Generic Aadhaar, he is building a pharmacy chain that brings high-quality generic medicines within reach for patients across India.
Mayank Kale (30) | Loop Health
Health insurance at most companies is a form employees fill out during onboarding and never think about again. Mayank Kale thinks it should be more than that. As Co-founder and CEO, he built Loop Health to bring group insurance and integrated healthcare services together.
Jivesh Gupta (29) | One Impression
Jivesh Gupta is connecting brands with the creators their audiences actually trust. As Co-founder and COO of One Impression, he runs a global influencer marketing platform that matches companies with the right voices across Instagram, YouTube and beyond.
Anirudh Singla (27) and Rishabh Shekhar (28) | Pepper
Anirudh Singla and Rishabh Shekhar solved a problem that every growing business runs into i.e., finding good writers, reliably. Their platform, Pepper, connects companies with vetted freelance creators at scale, turning content production from a constant scramble into something dependable.
Jayesh Gadewar (27) | Scrut Automation
Jayesh Gadewar is taking the pain out of compliance. As Co-founder and CTO of Scrut Automation, he has built a cloud security platform that automates the process of achieving certifications like SOC 2 and ISO.
Hrituraj Singh (28) and Sarim Khan (28) | Triomics
Hrituraj Singh and Sarim Khan are using AI to speed up the fight against cancer. Together they built Triomics, a platform that pulls structured clinical data out of oncology records automatically, cutting the administrative load on researchers so more time goes toward the science.
Naman Pushp (21) | Airbound
As Co-founder and CEO of Airbound, Naman is developing autonomous drone systems for mid-mile and medical deliveries, building the kind of aerial logistics that could one day make geography irrelevant for critical supplies.
Onkar Singh Batra (20) | Apolink
Keeping satellites reliably connected is a problem most engineers spend careers working on. At 20, Onkar Singh Batra is already at it. As Founder and CEO of Apolink, he is developing continuous broadband infrastructure for low Earth orbit.
Abhijeet Saxena (29), Anubhav Sharma (29), Karan Singla (29) and Shubham Srivastava (30) | Baaz Bikes
This quartet is electrifying India’s last mile. With Abhijeet, Anubhav, Karan and Shubham collectively driving the mission, Baaz Bikes builds durable, affordable e-bikes designed specifically for delivery fleets.
Vikrant Singh (29) and Utkarsh Singh (30) | BatX Energies
Vikrant Singh and Utkarsh Singh are the Founders of BatX Energies, a company that recycles lithium-ion batteries from electric vehicles. The company processes these end-of-life batteries and repurposes them into stationary energy storage systems.
Aditya Ruia (30) | Beco
Aditya Ruia is making the sustainable option the obvious one. As Co-founder of Beco, he has built a consumer goods brand offering eco-friendly alternatives to everyday household and personal care products.
Mohit Yadav (30), Rahul Krishnan (29) and Rajat Jadhav (30) | Bold Care
Mohit Yadav, Rahul Krishnan and Rajat Jadhav are opening up a conversation that Indian men have long avoided. Together, they founded Bold Care, a men’s sexual and reproductive health brand offering science-backed supplements and wellness products.
Nikhil Venkatesh (29) | Botsync
Nikhil co-founded Botsync, a company that builds AI-powered autonomous mobile robots to handle the heavy lifting in industrial environments, making warehouse automation smarter and more accessible than ever.
Shreya Mittal (23) and Ria Mittal (26) | Cava Athleisure
Shreya and Ria Mittal, together, co-founded Cava Athleisure, a premium brand designing clothes that move with women through workouts and beyond, without compromise.
Devansh Jain Nawal (27) and Ackshay Jain (28) | Culture Circle
Devansh Jain Nawal and Ackshay Jain are putting trust back into sneaker resale. Their platform, Culture Circle, is a marketplace for authenticated sneakers and streetwear where buyers can be confident the product is what it says it is.
Ankit Jain (29) and Narayan Lal Gurjar (27) | EF Polymer
Ankit and Narayan co-founded EF Polymer, a company that turns crop residue into organic, water-absorbing polymers that help soil retain moisture. EF Polymer puts a low-cost tool in farmers’ hands to deal with increasingly unreliable rainfall.
Shaan Shah (28) | Freakins
Shaan Shah has been the marketing engine for Freakins, a trend-driven, affordable denim brand for young Indians. As Co-founder and CMO, he has helped build a direct-to-consumer label that moves as fast as the audience it’s built for, one that’s made it clear it won’t settle for clothes that lag behind the moment.
Divyam Jain (25) and Tanishq Jain (25) | Home Essentials
Divyam and Tanishq Jain are curating the way India decorates its homes. Their D2C brand, Home Essentials, offers a carefully curated range of home decor, kitchenware and lifestyle products directly to consumers.
Bodhisattwa Sanghapriya (29), Om Prakash (30) and Shuvam Dash (30) | IG Defence
This trio is building India’s indigenous defence capability from the ground up. With Bodhisattwa, Om and Shuvam each serving as Co-founder, IG Defence develops unmanned systems and counter-drone solutions for the Indian armed forces.
Akshit Bordia (29) | LogX
Akshit Bordia is building financial infrastructure for the on-chain generation. As Co-founder of LogX, he has created a decentralised finance superapp that makes perpetual trading seamless for DeFi users.
Gobinath Pandurangan (29) and Shree Ram Ravichandran (29) | Modulus Housing
Gobinath Pandurangan and Shree Ram Ravichandran are rethinking how homes get built by founding Modulus Housing. The company uses modular and prefabricated construction methods to deliver affordable, sustainable homes faster than conventional approaches.
Sambhav Jain (28) | NAKAD
Sambhav co-founded NAKAD, a supply chain financing platform that gives SME vendors early access to their receivables. He is ensuring India’s small suppliers don’t have to wait months to get paid.
Vaibhav Kaushik (28), Aryan Sisodia (28) and Aalaap Nair (28) | Nawgati Tech
Vaibhav, Aryan and Aalaap are bringing order to one of India’s most chaotic everyday experiences of fuel station queues. Their platform, Nawgati Tech, offers queue management and congestion monitoring solutions for fuelling stations.
Shubham Goyal (30) | Powerplay
Shubham Goyal is digitising the construction site clipboard. As Co-founder and CTO of Powerplay, he has built a project management app designed specifically for contractors and site teams, giving them a simple, mobile-first way to track tasks, materials and timelines on projects that can’t afford to fall behind.
Suramya Jain (29) | RAS Luxury Skincare
As Co-founder and CMO of RAS Luxury Skincare, Suramya built a premium farm-to-face skincare brand that crafts botanical formulations for consumers who want to know exactly what goes on their skin and where it came from.
Akshay Gulati (29) | Slikk
Akshay Gulati is bringing the speed of quick commerce to fashion. As Co-founder and CEO of Slikk, he has built a platform that lets consumers order clothing and accessories for rapid delivery.
Dhravya Shah (20) | Supermemory
Dhravya Shah is tackling the most universal problem of the digital age: saving everything but remembering nothing. As Founder and CEO of Supermemory, he built an AI-powered personal knowledge tool that helps users actually find, organise and act on the information they’ve stored.
Subhashis Kar (29) | Techbooze Consultancy Services
Subhashis Kar is the navigator startups call when they need to raise capital and chart their next move. As Founder and CEO of Techbooze Consultancy Services, he runs a growth advisory platform that helps early-stage companies secure funding and develop strategic banking relationships to accelerate their journey.
Vedant Nandwana (30) | Vakrangee
As Managing Director of Vakrangee, Vedant oversees a technology-led company delivering banking, insurance, e-governance and logistics to the corners of the country that mainstream networks routinely overlook.
Shiva A. Sankeshwar (24) | Vijayanand Travels
Shiva A. Sankeshwar is at the helm of a company that moves India. As Managing Director of Vijayanand Travels, he oversees one of the country’s largest intercity bus operators.
Kanishka Patel (29) | WeHear
Kanishka Patel is making hearing aids feel nothing like hearing aids. As Founder and CEO of WeHear, she has pioneered bone-conduction audio technology to create patented, non-surgical devices that help people hear better.
Ankit Jaipuria (28) | ZYOD
Ankit Jaipuria is making on-demand fashion production a global reality. As Co-founder of ZYOD, he has built a B2B FashionTech platform that connects international brands with India’s best apparel manufacturers.
| Methodology
The Avendus Wealth – Hurun India U30 List 2026 is an exclusive compilation highlighting 102 remarkable entrepreneurs in India who are 30 years old or younger. This list honours first-generation entrepreneurs and next-generation leaders who have exhibited outstanding merit and excellence in their respective ventures.
To qualify, individuals must be 30 or younger, with a minimum business valuation of USD 25 mn for first-generation entrepreneurs and USD 50 mn for those from second-generation backgrounds and beyond. This distinction underscores the significant achievements of young entrepreneurs shaping the future of India’s business landscape.
Employee figures have been obtained through a combination of company annual reports, media coverage and reputable data platforms. The cut-off date for the list is May 25, 2026.
| U30 Eligibility for First-generation Founders and Next-generation Leaders
| Entrants | Minimum Company Valuation (USD mn) |
| First-generation Founders | 25 |
| Next-generation Leaders | 50 |
| U30 Category Matrix: Category-wise valuation thresholds
Eligible entrepreneurs are placed in one of four categories (A–D) based on a ‘Criteria Multiple’, the number of times their company’s valuation exceeds the qualifying threshold, ranging from 10x for Category A down to 1x for Category D. For next-generation leaders, the company valuation threshold (USD mn) is twice that of first-generation founders.
| Category | Criteria Multiple | First-generation Founders Company Valuation Thresholds (USD mn) | Next-generation Leaders Company Valuation Thresholds (USD mn) |
| A | 10x | 250 | 500 |
| B | 5x | 125 | 250 |
| C | 2x | 50 | 100 |
| D | 1x | 25 | 50 |
(Disclaimer: The information provided here is investment advice only. Investing in the markets is subject to risks and please consult your advisor before investing.)
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