Isha, Akash Ambani, Alakh Pandey among top young entrepreneurs in Hurun’s under-35 list

Isha, Akash Ambani, Alakh Pandey among top young entrepreneurs in Hurun’s under-35 list.

“The 2024 Hurun India Under 35s highlights 150 outstanding entrepreneurs under 35, recognising those with a minimum business valuation of USD 50 million for first-gen and USD 100 million for next-gen leaders,” said Hurun’s release. Isha Ambani, non-executive director at Reliance Retail, and Parita Parekh from Toddle have been recognised as the youngest women on the list.

At 32 years old, Isha Ambani’s role at Reliance Retail places her among India’s most influential business figures. Parita Parekh, also aged 32, has made her mark with Toddle, a platform for educators, signalling her leadership in education technology.

The 2024 Hurun India Under-35 list also features seven other women entrepreneurs, including Aneri Patel, Aneesha Tiwari, and Anjali Merchant, all aged between 33 and 34, continuing their family businesses. Saloni Anand, aged 34, was highlighted for her contributions to the hair care sector through her company, Traya Health.

Ghazal Alagh, aged 35, CEO of Mama Earth, was also recognised for her leadership in building a startup that has now gone public, setting an example for many aspiring female leaders in the startup ecosystem.

First-generation entrepreneurs dominate
One of the key highlights of the report is that 82% of the entrepreneurs listed are first-generation business leaders. Out of the 150 entrepreneurs, 123 have built their companies from the ground up, showcasing the entrepreneurial spirit that drives innovation and growth in India.

Ankush Sachdeva, 31, co-founder of ShareChat, has been named the youngest in this year’s list. ShareChat, a social media platform, has grown rapidly, cementing its position as one of India’s most popular apps. Akash Ambani, chairman of Reliance Jio Infocomm, stood at 32nd position on the list.

Cities leading in entrepreneurship
Bengaluru and Mumbai are the cities with the most entrepreneurs represented on the list, featuring 29 and 26 young business leaders, respectively. These cities continue to be the hubs of innovation and startups in India, with companies across a wide range of industries.

The financial services sector has the most representatives, with 21 entrepreneurs making the list, followed by the software and services sector, which has 14 entrepreneurs. This reflects the growing demand for digital solutions and the rise of fintech in India.