Skip to content
All about technology.

Youthful Innovator Kaivalya Vohra Leads India's U30 List of Young Disruptors, with Svatantra Microfin, Ananyashree Birla's Venture, Standing as the Top Employer

Large-scale employment provider in the U30 sector, Svatantra Microfin, spearheaded by Ananyashree Birla, champions financial inclusion and demonstrates the significant social impact created by youth-led initiatives.

,   and  Administrator
3 min read
At 22 years old, Kaivalya Vohra, head of Zepto, tops the list of India's Young Disruptors Under 30
At 22 years old, Kaivalya Vohra, head of Zepto, tops the list of India's Young Disruptors Under 30

Youthful Innovator Kaivalya Vohra Leads India's U30 List of Young Disruptors, with Svatantra Microfin, Ananyashree Birla's Venture, Standing as the Top Employer

A new generation of dynamic young entrepreneurs is making waves in India's startup ecosystem, as evidenced by the Avendus Wealth – Hurun India U30 List 2025. This inaugural edition highlights 79 promising entrepreneurs under the age of 30 who are driving innovation and redefining business success across various sectors.

The list, part of the Avendus Wealth–Hurun India Uth Series 2025, features two categories of entrepreneurs: first-generation founders who have built ventures valued at over USD 25 million and next-generation leaders spearheading family-owned enterprises with valuations exceeding USD 50 million.

Among the notable young entrepreneurs on the list are Aadit Palicha and Kaivalya Vohra, the 22-year-old co-founders of Zepto, a quick commerce platform. They are recognised as the youngest and among the most successful on the list, having secured USD 1.95 billion in funding and employing around 3,000 people.

Other notable entrepreneurs include Mihir Menda, a 25-year-old from Boston associated with RMZ, a real estate company; Shashwat Nakrani, a 26-year-old from Delhi involved with BharatPe, a financial services company; Chaitanya Jalan, a 27-year-old from Kolkata associated with Ramkrishna Forgings in the automobile and automotive components sector; and Ananyashree Birla, a seasoned entrepreneur at 30, founder of Svatantra Microfin, the largest employer in the U30 cohort with over 23,000 employees.

Together, these young leaders have raised USD 5.2 billion in equity and USD 270 million in debt, employing over 64,000 people across India. They have created over 64,000 jobs collectively and are not just transforming business but also redefining what entrepreneurship means in a digital-first India.

The Avendus Wealth – Hurun India U30 List 2025 celebrates 79 exceptional young changemakers building high-impact companies across the country. Institutions like BITS Pilani and IIT Delhi continue to serve as launchpads for these leaders, with BITS alumni accounting for the highest representation.

These young founders are entering the arena early, scaling faster, and driving innovation across sectors. They are pushing the quick-commerce model into mainstream consumer behaviour, building globally recognised tools in AI-powered search, and transforming cancer diagnostics through AI-driven pathology.

Arjun Deshpande, founder of Generic Aadhaar, started at 16 and is making essential medicines more accessible. Vohra has stated that their focus was on building reliability, not just speed. Shashvat Nakrani, co-founder of BharatPe, is an active angel investor with stakes in over 19 startups.

Speed only matters if people can trust it, according to Kaivalya Vohra. Vrushali Prasade, co-founder of Pixis, is using AI to drive intelligent marketing automation for global clients. Devika Gholap, co-founder of OptraSCAN, is transforming cancer diagnostics through AI-driven pathology.

Maharashtra has the highest number of entrepreneurs on the list, with 21 in total. Mumbai hosts 15 featured entrepreneurs on the Avendus Wealth – Hurun India U30 List 2025.

According to Arjun Deshpande, MD and CEO of Avendus Wealth Management, these founders represent a generational leap. They are reshaping India's startup ecosystem and setting new standards for entrepreneurial success.

This year's edition of the U30 List features 66 first-generation founders. The article is published by Staff India, an international franchise of our brand name Media. These young entrepreneurs are redefining the future of business in India.

  1. These 79 young entrepreneurs, as highlighted in the Avendus Wealth – Hurun India U30 List 2025, are driving innovation and redefining business success across various sectors in India.
  2. The co-founders of Zepto, Aadit Palicha and Kaivalya Vohra, are amongst the most successful entrepreneurs on the list, having secured significant financing and employing thousands.
  3. Other notable entrepreneurs included in the list are Mihir Menda, Shashwat Nakrani, Chaitanya Jalan, and Ananyashree Birla, who have raised billions in equity and debt collectively and employed tens of thousands.
  4. These young leaders are not just transforming businesses but also redefining what entrepreneurship means in a digital-first India, with ventures spanning sectors such as quick commerce, real estate, financial services, automobile components, and microfinance.
  5. Some examples of groundbreaking innovation by these entrepreneurs include pushing the quick-commerce model into mainstream consumer behaviour, building globally recognized tools in AI-powered search, and transforming cancer diagnostics through AI-driven pathology.
  6. Institutions like BITS Pilani and IIT Delhi continue to serve as launchpads for these young entrepreneurs, with many of them creating high-impact companies that are reshaping India's startup ecosystem and setting new standards for entrepreneurial success.

Read also:

    Related

    Latest