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In a remarkable testament to India’s dynamic entrepreneurial landscape, the recently released Hurun India Top 200 Self-Made Entrepreneurs of the Millennia 2024 edition, in collaboration with IDFC FIRST Private Banking, highlights the diverse age range and innovation that define the nation’s business ecosystem.
The list celebrates the achievements of nearly 400 founders across 200 companies, revealing an impressive age spectrum: the youngest entrepreneur is just 21 and the oldest is 81, spanning a 60-year gap.
Leading the younger entrepreneurs is Kaivalya Vohra, 21, founder of Zepto, a fast grocery delivery service that has transformed e-commerce in India. Founded in 2021, Zepto meets the growing demand for fast and reliable grocery deliveries, becoming a household name in urban India. Vohra is joined by his 22-year-old co-founder, Aadit Palicha, making Zepto a symbol of youth-driven innovation.
At the other end of the spectrum is Ashok Soota, 81, founder of Happiest Minds Technologies, which he founded in 2011 after a successful stint as CEO of Mindtree. Happiest Minds focuses on digital transformation services and Soota’s leadership continues to inspire, proving that age is no barrier to business success.
Top 10 Youngest Self-Made Entrepreneurs (2024)
| RANGE | FOUNDER | COMPANY NAME | AGE | FOUNDING YEAR | HEADQUARTERS |
1 | Kaivalya Vohra | Zepto | 21 | 2021 | Bombay |
2 | Aadit Palicha | Zepto | 22 | 2021 | Bombay |
3 | Shashvat Nakrani | bharatpe | 26 | 2018 | New Delhi |
4 | Dilsher Malhi | zupee | 28 | 2018 | New Delhi |
4 | Karan Mehta | That? | 28 | 2015 | Bombay |
6 | Siddhant Saurabh | zupee | 29 | 2018 | New Delhi |
7 | Ritesh Agarwal | Oyo | 30 | 2012 | Gurugram |
8 | Rajan Bajaj | Slice | 31 | 2016 | Guwahati |
8 | Ankush Sachdeva | sharechat | 31 | 2015 | Bengaluru |
8 | Sardinian neetish | Smart jobs | 31 | 2016 | Gurugram |
Top 10 Oldest Self-Made Entrepreneurs (2024)
| RANGE | FOUNDERS | COMPANY NAME | AGE | FOUNDING YEAR | HEADQUARTERS |
1 | Ashok Soota | Technologies of the happiest minds | 81 | 2011 | Bengaluru |
2 | Naresh Trehan | global health | 78 | 2004 | Gurugram |
3 | Kirti Mehta | Corona Remedies | 77 | 2004 | Ahmedabad |
4 | Shiv Prakash Mittal | Greenpanel Industries | 75 | 2017 | Gurugram |
5 | Munuswamy Anandan | Aptus Value Housing Financing India | 74 | 2009 | Chennai |
6 | Ashwin Desai | ether industries | 73 | 2013 | Surat |
7 | ashok boob | Clean science and technology | 72 | 2003 | Pune |
7 | Sajjan Bhajanka | star cement | 72 | 2001 | Calcutta |
7 | Jaithirth Rao | Home India’s First Financial Company | 72 | 2010 | Bombay |
10 | Devi Shetty | Narayana Hrudayalaya | 71 | 2000 | Bengaluru |
This year’s list underlines the diversity of India’s entrepreneurial talent, with Bengaluru, Mumbai and Gurugram emerging as hubs of innovation. The average age of founders is 45 years, and a third of them are under 40 years old, demonstrating the vibrant youth-led momentum of India’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Meanwhile, 33 entrepreneurs aged 60 and older underscore the lasting power of experience in shaping industries.
