Meet Bhavish Aggarwal: Founder of 3 Unicorn Startups

Bhavish Aggarwal Success Story

Bhavish Aggarwal is a well-known entrepreneur in India, renowned for founding three highly successful companies, each valued at over a billion dollars.

His first major success was Ola, a popular ride-hailing service.

He then launched Ola Electric, focusing on electric vehicles, and his latest venture, Krutrim AI, is making significant strides in artificial intelligence.

Bhavish Aggarwal’s story exemplifies how determination and innovative ideas can lead to remarkable achievements.

Let’s delve deeper into his journey and discover how he built these incredible companies.

Education And Career

He completed a bachelor’s degree in computer science and engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay in 2008.

He started his career with Microsoft Research India as a research intern and was later reinstated as an assistant researcher.

He worked at Microsoft for two years, filed two patents, and published three papers in international journals.

Ola Cabs: First Unicorn by Bhavish Aggarwal

After a bad experience with a taxi, Aggarwal and Ankit Bhati decided to start Ola Cabs in 2010.

The company quickly became a leader in ride-hailing services, changing how people traveled in India.

In May 2020, Ola Cabs faced a tough time and had to lay off around 5,000 employees due to the impact of COVID-19.

The company lost about 95% of its revenue. During a webinar for Bennett University, Bhavish Aggarwal said the pandemic might speed up new technologies and lead to more car rentals and subscription-based car ownership.

In April 2022, Aggarwal stepped down from daily operations to focus on Ola’s new projects in electric vehicles and quick-commerce.

Ola Electric: Second Unicorn by Bhavish Aggarwal

Building on the success of Ola Cabs, Bhavish Aggarwal launched Ola Electric in 2017, his second unicorn startup.

With a vision to revolutionize the electric vehicle (EV) landscape, Ola Electric aims to accelerate the adoption of electric mobility through a range of products, including electric scooters and charging infrastructure.

The company quickly gained attention for its innovative approach to sustainable transportation, setting ambitious goals to reduce carbon emissions and promote clean energy.

Krutrim AI: Third Unicorn by Bhavish Aggarwal

In January 2024, Bhavish Aggarwal launched Krutrim, an artificial intelligence startup that swiftly achieved unicorn status with a valuation of $1 billion after raising $50 million in funding.

Krutrim is notable for being India’s first AI unicorn and the fastest to reach this milestone, just 40 days after its inception.

The startup focuses on developing a comprehensive AI computing stack tailored to Indian languages and needs, utilizing a large language model (LLM) trained on extensive Indian data.

Aggarwal’s vision for Krutrim includes creating advanced AI solutions for various sectors, including education and business communications.

The company plans to release a beta version of its chatbot and APIs for developers soon, further solidifying its presence in the AI landscape.

Bhavish Aggarwal: Personal Life

Bhavish Aggarwal was born on 28 August 1985 and grew up in Ludhiana, Punjab. He is 38 years old.

Aggarwal loves technology and entrepreneurship. Even with his busy schedule, he makes time for his family and close friends. He likes to keep his personal life private and out of the public eye.

He is married to Rajalakshmi Aggarwal, who has been very supportive of his work.

They prefer to stay out of the media and focus on their own lives. Both share an interest in technology and innovation.

Bhavish enjoys staying fit. He likes running and often takes part in marathons. This helps him stay balanced and healthy while managing his successful companies.

To discover more inspiring stories of amazing founders like Bhavish Aggarwal, visit our platform, Startup Forte.

Let’s continue celebrating the journeys of determination and success together!

Muskan, a passionate storyteller and social media manager at Startup Forte. With a talent for sharing impactful founder stories, she invites you to explore inspiring journeys with us.

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