From Zero to CEO: 5 Successful Founders Who Built Empires from Scratch
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India is considered home to some of the successful entrepreneurs across the globe. Young entrepreneurs in India are rewriting business with their latest ideas. Moreover, with access to technology and digital tools, they are transforming their ideas into reality faster than ever.
Despite having to endure numerous challenges, these business owners have found success by persisting and innovating. From e-commerce to technology, these entrepreneurs have made their mark in a variety of industries.
Here are the top 5 inspiring Indian entrepreneurs’ success stories that will surely motivate you to achieve your goals and become a successful entrepreneur like other inspiring entrepreneurs in India.
Top 5 Founders Who Started from Zero and Built Multi-Billion Dollar Companies
Top 5 Founders Who Started from Zero and Built Multi-Billion Dollar Companies
Dhirubhai Ambani – From INR 50,000 to India’s Biggest Empire
Dhirubhai Ambani, born in Chorwad, Gujarat, in 1932, started small by selling bhajias to pilgrims and dreaming big. After working in Aden, Yemen, as a gas station attendant and oil company clerk, he returned to India in 1958 with just INR 50,000 to start a textile trading business.
That modest start became Reliance Industries, today India’s largest private-sector company and the first Indian firm to enter the Forbes 500 list. Ambani also pioneered India’s equity culture, making stock investing popular among the middle class.
“If you don’t build your dream, someone else will hire you to help build theirs.” — Dhirubhai Ambani
His story is the ultimate rags-to-riches tale of a man who turned ambition into an empire. Honored as the Entrepreneur of the 20th Century by FICCI, Dhirubhai passed away in 2002, leaving behind a legacy that still drives India’s business dreams.
Sachin Bansal & Binny Bansal – Flipkart
When two IIT-Delhi graduates quit their comfortable jobs at Amazon, few imagined they would change India’s shopping habits forever. In 2007, Sachin Bansal and Binny Bansal started Flipkart from a small apartment in Bengaluru with just INR 4 lakh and a dream to make online shopping accessible for everyone.
In the early days, the duo personally delivered books, built the website themselves, and handled everything, from SEO to supply chain, without any external help. Their relentless hustle paid off when Walmart acquired Flipkart for $16 billion in 2018, marking one of India’s biggest startup exits.
“‘No’ is a very difficult word, and more so in our culture… But a ‘no’ which makes your business and customer say ‘yes’ is worth the while.” — Sachin Bansal
Flipkart began with books but soon expanded to become India’s largest e-commerce platform, offering everything from electronics to lifestyle products. Over time, the company also acquired Myntra for INR 2,000 crore and joined the elite $11 billion valuation club, as reported by The Wall Street Journal.
Even after exiting Flipkart, Sachin didn’t stop building. Through his new venture, Navi Technologies, he continues to back bold ideas in fintech and technology.
“For an entrepreneur, work is not seen as work — it’s passion. You like it, you want to do it.” — Binny Bansal
Bhavish Aggarwal – Ola Cabs
An IIT Bombay alumnus, Bhavish Aggarwal, left his secure job at Microsoft to chase a bold idea: making cab rides simpler and more affordable for Indians. What began as frustration over an overpriced taxi ride turned into Ola Cabs, one of India’s biggest mobility startups.
“All of us have an entrepreneur in us. Entrepreneurs are not driven by fear; they are driven by the idea to create impact.” — Bhavish Aggarwal
Starting in 2010 with co-founder Ankit Bhati, Ola made booking a cab as easy as tapping a phone. Within a few years, it grew from a small startup to a multibillion-dollar enterprise with millions of daily users across India’s cities and towns.
By 2015, Bhavish became one of the youngest entrepreneurs to feature on Forbes’ list of India’s wealthiest, proving how innovation and local insight can transform an industry dominated by global giants.
Today, Ola is not just about cabs; it’s expanding into electric mobility and AI-driven transportation, with Bhavish leading India’s push toward sustainable travel.
Ashwini
Karsanbhai Patel – The Man Behind “Sabki Pasand Nirma”
In 1969, Karsanbhai Patel, a chemistry teacher from Gujarat, began making detergent powder in the backyard of his home. He packed and sold it door-to-door at just INR 3 per kg, while multinational brands sold theirs for INR 13. His affordable pricing and quality promise soon made Nirma a household name.
“Give your consumer what he wants, when he wants, where he wants, and at the price he wants, selling will be done quite automatically.” — Karsanbhai Patel
What started as a one-man operation became an INR 52,500 crore empire, challenging giants like Hindustan Unilever. Nirma’s catchy jingle, “Sabki Pasand Nirma”, became the sound of middle-class India in the 80s and 90s.
Patel’s story is proof that understanding your customer better than anyone else can turn a humble home business into a billion-dollar brand.
Nandan Reddy, Rahul Jaimini & Sriharsha Majety – Swiggy
In 2013, Sriharsha Majety and Nandan Reddy started with a logistics idea called Bundl, but soon realized India needed faster, more reliable food delivery. With Rahul Jaimini joining them, Swiggy was born — a startup that turned ordering food into a habit for millions.
“Growth is about learning and evolving with the different variables and moving parts.” — Sriharsha Majety
At a time when food delivery was chaotic, Swiggy built its own network, ensuring orders arrived hot and on time. What began as a small Bengaluru venture is now a unicorn valued in the billions, expanding beyond meals into quick commerce and groceries through Swiggy Instamart. Today, Swiggy operates in hundreds of cities, handling millions of daily orders, and continues to expand into quick commerce and groceries with Swiggy Instamart.
Conclusion
These stories of India’s most inspiring entrepreneurs prove that big dreams often start small. Each of them turned challenges into opportunities and built something extraordinary within a short span of time.
As India’s startup ecosystem continues to soar, now is the perfect time to take inspiration from its journeys. Whether you’re an aspiring founder or already running a business, let these success stories remind you that with vision, persistence, and courage, anything is possible.
Sarika Anand
FAQs
Who are the most inspiring entrepreneurs in India?
Some of the most inspiring Indian entrepreneurs who started from scratch include Dhirubhai Ambani (Reliance Industries), Sachin Bansal & Binny Bansal (Flipkart), Bhavish Aggarwal (Ola Cabs), Karsanbhai Patel (Nirma), and Sriharsha Majety, Nandan Reddy & Rahul Jaimini (Swiggy).
How did Bhavish Aggarwal start Ola Cabs?
Bhavish Aggarwal, an IIT Bombay graduate, left his job at Microsoft to start Ola Cabs in 2010 after a bad taxi experience. He aimed to make cab rides simple and affordable, and today, Ola is a global mobility leader with a strong focus on electric vehicles and AI-driven transportation.
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