Top 10 Indian Entrepreneurs

Over the years, India has seen a notable increase in entrepreneurship. From IT giants to inspirational leaders, the nation has produced a skilled group of people who have turned concepts into profitable businesses, such personalities are known as “Entrepreneurs”. Entrepreneurs are defined as risk-taking people who tend to convert an idea into a full-fledged profit-generating business. Mukesh Ambani, Ratan Tata, Narayan Murthy, etc. are some of the remarkable entrepreneurs, defining the status of entrepreneurship in India. In this article, we are going to learn the list of top 10 entrepreneurs in India, along with each of their respective achievements and impact on the industries.

List of Top 10 Indian Entrepreneurs

The list of top 10 entrepreneurs in India is decided based on various criteria such as the impact of their businesses on the economy, innovation, their companies’ market value, personal wealth, and influence in their respective industries. Rankings can also be influenced by their visibility in the media, awards, and recognitions received. Here is the list of top 10 entrepreneurs in India,

Rank	Name	Company/Enterprise	Industry
1	Mukesh Ambani	Reliance Industries	Petrochemicals, Refining, Oil, Telecom, Retail
2	Ratan Tata	Tata Sons	Conglomerate (Automotive, IT, Steel, Telecom, and more)
3	Narayana Murthy	Infosys	Information Technology, Consulting
4	Azim Premji	Wipro Limited	Information Technology, Consulting
5	Lakshmi Mittal	ArcelorMittal	Steelmaking
6	Shiv Nadar	HCL Technologies	Information Technology, Consulting
7	Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw	Biocon Limited	Biopharmaceuticals
8	Vijay Shekhar Sharma	Paytm	Financial Services, Mobile Payments
9	Bhavish Aggarwal	Ola Cabs	Ridesharing, Vehicle for Hire, Food Delivery
10	Byju Raveendran	BYJU’S	Ed-Tech, Online Learning

1. Mukesh Ambani

One of the most well-known businessmen in India is Mukesh Ambani, who serves as Reliance Industries’ chairman and major shareholder. Under his direction, Reliance has grown to be the biggest company in India. Reliance Jio was founded as a result of Ambani’s goal for digital transformation, completely changing the telecom sector in India. After the launch of Jio, Ambani has admitted the growth of more than 350%+ in the market.

• Industry: Petrochemicals, refining, oil, telecommunications, and retail.
• Achievements:
  • Chairman and largest shareholder of Reliance Industries, India’s most valuable company by market value.
  • Pioneered the Jio telecom network, significantly impacting India’s telecommunications landscape by offering affordable 4G services nationwide.
  • Expanded Reliance into retail, digital services, and renewable energy sectors.
• Impacts:
  • Played a key role in India’s digital revolution, making internet services accessible to millions.
  • His vision for Reliance as a global powerhouse in various sectors has significantly contributed to India’s economic growth.

2. Ratan Tata

The former chairman of Tata Sons, Ratan Tata, is well-known for his moral leadership and business sense. The Tata Group grew internationally and diversified into a number of industries under his direction, including information technology, steel, and the automobile industry. Tata’s charitable endeavors have made a big difference in society as well. In all the sectors, Tata Group has invested a huge amount of money for the growth of Indian nation. Every year, there are more than 10,000+ hirings across India in Tata Group.

• Industry: Conglomerate (automotive, IT, steel, and more)
• Achievements:
  • Served as the chairman of Tata Sons, overseeing the global expansion of the group.
  • Instrumental in key acquisitions like Tetley, Jaguar Land Rover, and Corus, which positioned Tata as a global brand.
• Impacts:
  • Known for his philanthropic efforts, directing 66% of the group’s charitable trusts.
  • His leadership style and ethical business practices have been widely admired and emulated.

3. Narayana Murthy

The renowned cofounder and retiring chairman of the Indian IT behemoth Infosys, in which he still has a small ownership, is N.R. Narayana Murthy. After thirty years with the company, Murthy resigned as chairman in 2011, but he came back in 2013 to help appoint a qualified CEO to take over as CEO in 2014. Murthy made headlines in 2017 when he voiced worries about Infosys’ purported corporate governance failings, which the company refused. Following the issue, the CEO resigned, and retired cofounder Nandan Nilekani was reinstated as non-executive chairman following a board shuffle.

• Industry: Information Technology and Consulting
• Achievements:
  • Co-founded Infosys in 1981, growing it into one of the largest IT services companies globally.
  • Introduced the Global Delivery Model, which became the foundation for the IT services outsourcing industry.
• Impacts:
  • His vision and entrepreneurial spirit have made significant contributions to India’s position as a global IT hub.
  • Advocates for corporate governance and social responsibility.

4. Azim Premji

Wipro Limited’s founder, Azim Premji, is renowned for turning a small vegetable oil business into a major player in the worldwide IT industry. He has received recognition for his commercial tactics and dedication to corporate social responsibility. It is admirable that Premji, through the Azim Premji Foundation, has made a lot of contributions to Indian education. Multiple scholarships are being awarded by the Foundation every year, to various meritorious students.

• Industry: IT, Consulting, and Business Process Services
• Achievements:
  • Transformed Wipro from a hydrogenated cooking fats company into a global IT leader.
  • Known for his commitment to philanthropy, having donated billions to education through the Azim Premji Foundation.
• Impacts:
  • His leadership has been pivotal in Wipro’s rise as a global technology leader.
  • Significant contributions to improving the Indian education system through his foundation.

5. Lakshmi Mittal

The world’s largest steel and mining corporation by output, ArcelorMittal, has $80 billion in revenue. Lakshmi Mittal is the chairman of the board. ArcelorMittal’s 2022 net income of $9.3 billion was 38% less than its $15 billion 2021 profit, mostly from disruptions brought on by the crisis in Ukraine and decreased steel shipments. The $5.9 billion purchase of Essar Steel, which was formerly under the ownership of billionaires Shashi and Ravi Ruia, was finalized in 2019 by Arcelor and Nippon Steel.

• Industry: Steel
• Achievements:
  • CEO of ArcelorMittal, the world’s largest steelmaking company.
  • Known for his role in consolidating the global steel industry through numerous mergers and acquisitions.
• Impacts:
  • His strategies have often been studied as a model for global business expansion and consolidation.
  • Played a significant role in the development of the steel industry globally.

6. Shiv Nadar

In 1976, Shiv Nadar, an Indian IT pioneer, cofounded HCL with five buddies in a garage to produce microprocessors and calculators. His $12.6 Billion in revenue HCL Technologies is one of the biggest software service providers in India today. He handed over the chairmanship of HCL Technologies to his daughter, Roshni Nadar Malhotra, in July 2020. He is currently a strategic advisor and chairman emeritus.

• Industry: Technology and IT
• Achievements:
  • Founded HCL in the mid-1970s, initially focusing on microcomputers and later expanding into software services.
  • His vision led HCL to become a global technology enterprise.
• Impacts:
  • Contributions to education through the Shiv Nadar Foundation, which aims to create leaders in rural India.
  • His entrepreneurial journey is a testament to innovation and perseverance in the technology sector.

7. Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw

The founder and chair of Biocon Limited, a well-known biotechnology business in India, is Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw. She has been instrumental in reshaping the biotech sector and enabling millions of people to have cheap healthcare. Mazumdar-Shaw has won multiple honors and recognition because of her tenacity and inventiveness.

• Industry: Biopharmaceuticals
• Achievements:
  • Founded Biocon in 1978, and under her leadership, it has become a major player in biopharmaceuticals globally.
  • Recognized for her efforts in biotechnology and for making affordable medicine accessible to many.
• Impacts:
  • Her work in healthcare and research has contributed significantly to the biotech industry, both in India and internationally.
  • Advocates for affordable healthcare and supports various philanthropic activities.

8. Vijay Shekhar Sharma

The creator and CEO of Paytm, the top digital payments and financial services platform in India, is Vijay Shekhar Sharma. Despite having few resources at first, he persisted with his entrepreneurial endeavors and made Paytm a household name. Digital transactions in India have been changed by Sharma’s vision of a cashless economy. And this technology, got the amazing boost in the phase of COVID with around 400-500% increase of customers.

• Industry: Financial Services and Technology
• Achievements:
  • Founded Paytm, India’s leading digital wallet and financial services platform, revolutionizing digital payments in India.
  • His vision has significantly contributed to financial inclusion and the digitization of payments in India.
• Impacts:
  • Under his leadership, Paytm has expanded into banking, wealth management, and e-commerce.
  • A key figure in India’s startup ecosystem, inspiring a new generation of entrepreneurs.

9. Bhavish Aggarwal

The CEO and co-founder of Ola Cabs, the biggest cab-hailing service in India, is Bhavish Aggarwal. Aggarwal had modest beginnings when he started his business, but Ola expanded quickly because of its outstanding marketing strategies and justifies rates as per the customers. Ola now has operations in several nations and has expanded into electric vehicle solutions.

• Industry: Transportation and Mobility
• Achievements:
  • Co-founded Ola Cabs, transforming urban mobility in India with a range of services from ride-hailing to electric vehicles.
  • His vision extends to electric mobility, aiming to make Ola Electric a global leader in this space.
• Impacts:
  • Ola’s innovative business model has significantly impacted urban transportation in India and inspired similar models globally.
  • Advocates for sustainable mobility solutions.

10. Byju Raveendran

BYJU is one of the top online learning platforms in India, founded by Byju Raveendran. His individualized learning programs and creative approach to teaching have made BYJU’S a top choice for students all over the nation. Raveendran wants to change the way students study and increase access to high-quality education. Recently, mtuliple stages funding has been raised from various investors to establish the company’s authority once again in the market.

• Industry: Education Technology
• Achievements:
  • Founder of BYJU’S, a leading global ed-tech company offering personalized learning programs.
  • His approach to using technology for education has transformed learning for millions of students worldwide.
• Impacts:
  • BYJU’S has become synonymous with quality education through technology, making learning accessible and engaging.
  • His work has had a profound impact on the ed-tech sector, encouraging innovation and growth.

FAQs – Top 10 Indian Entrepreneurs

Name the Top 10 Indian Entrepreneurs.

The top 10 Indian entrepreneurs include:

• Mukesh Ambani
• Ratan Tata
• Narayana Murthy
• Azim Premji
• Lakshmi Mittal
• Shiv Nadar
• Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw
• Vijay Shekhar Sharma
• Bhavish Aggarwal
• Byju Raveendran

Who is India’s No 1 Entrepreneur?

India’s No. 1 entrepreneur is often considered to be Mukesh Ambani, the chairman of Reliance Industries.

Name the Top 10 Entrepreneurs in World.

The top 10 entrepreneurs globally include:

1. Jeff Bezos – Founder of Amazon
2. Elon Musk – CEO of SpaceX and Tesla
3. Bill Gates – Co-founder of Microsoft
4. Mark Zuckerberg – Co-founder and CEO of Facebook (now Meta)
5. Warren Buffett – CEO of Berkshire Hathaway
6. Larry Page – Co-founder of Google
7. Sergey Brin – Co-founder of Google
8. Bernard Arnault – Chairman and CEO of LVMH
9. Steve Jobs (1955-2011) – Co-founder of Apple
10. Jack Ma – Founder of Alibaba Group

What are Examples of Social Entrepreneurship in India?

Examples of social entrepreneurship in India include:

• Amul – A dairy cooperative movement aimed at empowering farmers.
• Selco India – Provides sustainable energy solutions to under-served communities.
• Goonj – Focuses on disaster relief, humanitarian aid, and community development.
• Araku Coffee – A coffee brand that empowers tribal communities in Andhra Pradesh.
• Barefoot College – Educates women in rural areas to become solar engineers.

Name Top Young Entrepreneurs in India.

Here are some of the top young entrepreneurs in India:

1. Ritesh Agarwal – Founder of OYO Rooms, a hospitality chain of leased and franchised hotels, homes, and living spaces.
2. Bhavish Aggarwal – Co-founder of Ola Cabs, an Indian ridesharing company.
3. Vijay Shekhar Sharma – Founder of Paytm, India’s leading digital wallet and financial services company.
4. Byju Raveendran – Founder of BYJU’S, an ed-tech company offering personalized learning programs.
5. Nithin Kamath – Founder of Zerodha, India’s largest stockbroker by active retail clients.
6. Deepinder Goyal – Founder of Zomato, a global restaurant aggregator and food delivery company.
7. Sachin Bansal and Binny Bansal – Co-founders of Flipkart, one of India’s largest e-commerce platforms (listed together due to their joint venture).
8. Kunal Bahl – Co-founder of Snapdeal, an Indian e-commerce company.
9. Ankit Bhati – Co-founder of Ola Cabs, alongside Bhavish Aggarwal.
10. Shradha Sharma – Founder of YourStory, a media technology platform for entrepreneurs

6. Name some Famous Entrepreneurs in India.

Some famous entrepreneurs in India include:

• Mukesh Ambani
• Ratan Tata
• Narayana Murthy
• Azim Premji
• Lakshmi Mittal
• Shiv Nadar
• Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw
• Vijay Shekhar Sharma
• Bhavish Aggarwal
• Byju Raveendran