Forbes India – 30 Under 30: What’s The 30 Under 30 Class Of 2021 Upto? – FilmyVoice

Harshit Gupta, co-founder of Gramophone, noticed revenues improve three-fold
Picture: Akashdeep Verma For Forbes India

Breakout Stars

Harshit Gupta
Co-founder, Gramophone
Gramophone grew 3x in revenues, doubled its group, and closed a sequence B spherical of $10 million in October. It really works with farmers, serving to them with recommendation and details about crop cycles and options to different agricultural issues to make farming extra environment friendly. Regardless of the challenges of the lockdowns, its post-harvest enterprise, which it began solely final yr, has additionally seen good development, claims Harshit Gupta.Forbes India Influence: “At any time when my vendor companions, like manufacturing corporations who provide us merchandise, see our title in Forbes India, our credibility will increase and they’re extra wanting to associate with us. The identical goes for traders and clients.”

Keerthi Reddy Kotta
Co-founder and COO, StaTwig
Over the previous yr, StaTwig solid partnerships with corporations, together with Tech Mahindra and GMR Hyderabad Air Cargo, amongst others, to trace vaccine provide chains. VaccineLedger, the corporate’s signature providing, permits end-to-end tracing of vaccines from producers to finish clients, offering monitoring potential to all stakeholders by means of blockchain, recording, and offering real-time tamper-proof knowledge to enhance transparency.

Forbes India Influence: “It opened quite a lot of doorways for StaTwig. We grabbed quite a lot of curiosity from varied pharmaceutical corporations, authorities departments, enterprise capitalists and channel companions. Forbes India has put our startup on the roadmap for higher success.”
Mudit Dandwate and Gaurav Parchani
Co-founders, CEO and CTO, Dozee
Over the previous yr, Dozee has seen its group energy develop by 4 occasions, and has expanded its options to 25 cities. The corporate additionally raised $16 million, and intends to develop and launch new merchandise along with partnering with over 1,000 hospitals throughout India to assist them improve crucial care infrastructure by means of distant affected person monitoring.
Forbes India Influence: “Making it to the Forbes India 30 Beneath 30 is a good validation that we’re shifting in the suitable course. It retains us true to our goal and motivates us to do extra.”
Mukul Rustagi and Bhaswat Agarwal
Co-founders, Classplus
Prior to now yr, Classplus enabled a digital identification to over 100,000 educators and content material creators who’re utilizing apps powered by the platform to succeed in greater than 25 million college students throughout 3,000-plus cities around the globe.
Forbes India Influence: “An honour like this reminds us that we’re heading in the right direction and evokes us to maintain working in the direction of our mission of empowering educators by means of expertise with much more zeal,” say the co-founders.
Niharika Kapoor
APAC lead, Shorts Scaled Partnerships, YouTube Shorts
If energy brings in accountability, recognition doubles it. That’s the story of Niharika Kapoor. Late final yr, alternative knocked on her doorways when she was requested to steer the newly launched YouTube Shorts group for APAC (Asia-Pacific), which is an enormous focus for YouTube globally. Kapoor embraced the brand new function and the problem to nurture the Shorts group and construct Superstars. “From being India’s youngest to the youngest lead in APAC, excited for 2022 and past,” she beams.
Forbes India Influence: “It strengthened the idea in my talents to tackle new challenges and expanded duties.”
Priyanka Das Rajkakati
Co-founder and GNC engineer, The Exploration Firm
In 2021, Priyanka Das Rajkakati gained the Karman Fellow award for area, completed her PhD and co-founded The Exploration Firm, a startup that goals to construct a lunar area car. She additionally continued her work as an artist, collaborating in a couple of artist residencies and exhibitions, in addition to supporting the Moon Gallery initiative which might be flying to the ISS (Worldwide Area Station) in a couple of months.
Forbes India Influence: “With the ability to be productive within the midst of a world pandemic implies quite a lot of privilege. The Forbes India 30 underneath 30 offered me that privilege throughout a slightly tough yr, serving to me keep motivated and opening a number of doorways for collaborations.”

Confirmed Performers

Aaquib Wani
Founder and artistic director, Aaquib Wani Design
For AaquibWani, it was a yr of diversifying into architectural and inside areas with three experiential shops being constructed and designed from scratch. Other than this, many distinctive branding tasks which pushed the realm of graphics together with three Tedx talks, designing sneakers for cricketer Rohit Sharma and designing the Actual Kashmir FC jersey have been a number of the highlights of 2021.
Forbes India Influence: “Being featured in Forbes India is a dream come true. Being self-taught, the backing of one thing this large has given me extra confidence and introduced with it a form of legitimacy to our observe which sits nicely with extra shoppers.”

Abhiraj Rajadhyaksha (proper) and Niyati Mavinkurve imagine in optimistic content material
Picture: Arpit Jain for Forbes India

Abhiraj Rajadhyaksha and Niyati Mavinkurve
Digital content material creator
The duo hit a brand new milestone by reaching 2 million subscribers on YouTube final December. In 2021, additionally they launched a YouTube video to combat blood most cancers, inspiring 25,000 individuals to register as stem cell donors. They even managed to lift funds to rehabilitate the victims of the Uttarakhand floods. Not too long ago they have been featured in a ebook on digital creators titled Booming Digital Stars.
Forbes India Influence: “After we began our journey, individuals informed us optimistic content material has no scope, and no one will care. That’s why having a stamp of recognition from Forbes India about our content material and imaginative and prescient is so particular. It has inspired us to do larger and higher issues,” says Rajadhyaksha.
Akash Sinha
CEO and co-founder, Cashfree Cost
The digital funds agency had a busy yr because it employed for management roles throughout engineering, product administration, technique and development groups. In June 2021, it raised an undisclosed quantity from the State Financial institution of India, valuing the agency at round $200 million. That is the fifth spherical of capital elevating for the agency. It now leads the majority payouts markets and caters to over 1 lakh retailers throughout industries. It has served over 120 million financial institution accounts.
Forbes India Influence: “I imagine we’re on the suitable path as this recognition from Forbes India is a validation of our efforts and the results of our laborious work.”
Amandeep Panwar and Rishabh Choudhary
Co-founders, CEO and CTO, BharatRohan Airborne Improvements
Although the final two years have been difficult, they’ve entered two new geographies—Rajasthan and Gujarat—and have on-boarded greater than 2,000 farmers. The startup has invested in bettering its drone/UAV-based spectral imaging expertise to supply alerts and forewarning to seed spice growers as nicely incentivise them for pesticide residue-free cultivation.
Forbes India Influence: “Being listed on Forbes India 30 underneath 30 has helped us construct credibility and belief within the business. Furthermore, it has helped us get recognised by potential companions, traders and different stakeholders,” says Panwar.
Ashish Chanchlani
Digital content material creator
He turned the second Indian YouTuber to cross greater than 27 million subscribers on his channel, Ashish Chanchlani Vines. In 2021, he accomplished seven years of content material creation and has experimented with a number of codecs of manufacturing humorous, relatable content material, together with a brief movie known as Aakhri Safar. Chanchlani’s movies in 2021 had an elevated give attention to highlighting social messages. An avid Marvel fan, he additionally represented India on the premiere of Spiderman: No Manner Dwelling.
Forbes India Influence: “Being featured on the checklist is among the largest achievements of my life. It’s probably the most valuable feather added to my cap. It has motivated me and my group to work on content material that isn’t simply entertaining but additionally has refined social commentary.”

Aurko Bhattacharjee, director, CXO Workplace, Oyo Resorts & Properties has moved to Europe
Picture: Debarshi Sarkar For Forbes India

Aurko Bhattacharjee
Director, CXO Workplace, Oyo Resorts & Properties
Since that includes on the 30 Beneath 30 checklist, Aurko Bhattacharjee has moved from India to the UK to steer key provide development initiatives for Oyo’s European trip houses. He has additionally arrange foundations for pilot tasks focusing on new income streams. Moreover, he has supported defining the organisation’s ESG matrix and medium- to long-term sustainability objectives.
Forbes India Influence: “It’s an amazing recognition for the worth I’ve been capable of create to date and has bolstered a way of enthusiasm to proceed pushing boundaries. It’s helped me distinguish myself inside my discipline and therefore amplify attain and influence. At a private degree, it feels you may obtain something.”

Biraaj Dodiya’s works have been showcased at
a number of distinguished galleries
Picture: Arpit Jain for Forbes India

Biraaj Dodiya
Artist
The final yr was lively and creatively charged for Biraaj Dodiya. She continued her portray and sculpture-based visible observe, and took part in group exhibitions with distinguished Indian galleries—Experimenter, Kolkata and Vadehra Artwork Gallery, New Delhi, says Biraaj Dodiya. Her work was proven at a number of vital artwork festivals around the globe, in Artwork Dubai, Frieze New York and Artwork Basel, Switzerland.
Forbes India Influence: “Being included within the 30 Beneath 30 checklist opened up my work to new audiences, individuals who don’t essentially come from the artistic world. This has sparked new conversations, which is vital for an artist,” she says.
Ishaan Preet Singh and Mikhil Raj
Co-founders, FrontRow
In 2021, FrontRow continued so as to add programs from consultants in a number of classes, and raised extra funding too. Began two years in the past, the corporate raised $14 million in sequence A funding led by Eight Roads and GSV Ventures, the Bengaluru startup introduced in September 2021. Lightspeed India and Elevation Capital joined in as nicely. Early traders embrace actress DeepikaPadukone’s household workplace.
Karan Torani
Founder and artistic director, Torani India
The yr 2021 was nothing wanting a curler coaster trip for the label. The largest leap was the transfer of the manufacturing unit to an space unfold over 24,000 sqft, six occasions bigger than the earlier working area. The group energy elevated from 120 to 200, and really senior job roles like enterprise head, ecommerce head and manufacturing heads have been added. Nevertheless, these coincided with the second wave of Covid-19 they usually needed to shut down for 2 months after the shift in April and restart in June.
Forbes India Influence: “Being featured in 30 underneath 30 empowers you in a social setting the place individuals acknowledge your perseverance. However for me it has been a private reminder to by no means quit… of a self-check alone energy shifting ahead.”

Actor Keerthy Suresh has an thrilling lineup in 2022
Picture: Harsha Vadlamani For Forbes India

Keerthy Suresh
Actor
She starred in 4 movies in 2021 of which the Telugu comedy-drama Jathi Ratnalu turned a blockbuster on the field workplace. The motion movie, Annaatthe, was a business success too. The Mahanati star has an thrilling lineup for 2022, together with Sarkaru Vaari Paata with famous person Mahesh Babu.
Maalavika Manoj AKA Mali
Singer, songwriter, composer
In 2021, Maalavika Manoj launched her debut full-length album—Warning to the Wind—which she claims has obtained quite a lot of reward. She additionally carried out in assist of The Beatles and India documentary in Spain, and began a consultancy for younger artistes trying to make a foray into the indie music business.
Forbes India Influence: “Being on the checklist was a benchmark of validation and one other reminder that I simply have to maintain at it, and that there’s extra to sit up for.”
Mohit Jain, Saurabj Singhal, Vaishali Gupta
Co-founders and head of brand name advertising (Gupta), mCaffeine
The primary devoted caffeine skincare maker in India noticed its gross sales ramp up in 2021 with the launch of 13 new product classes and opening up of latest community channels. The net-first model is now engaged on partnering with offline shops in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Punjab and Gujarat, amongst others. The startup expects its offline gross sales to strengthen to round 30 % of revenues over the following few years. Whereas it didn’t do a contemporary spherical of fund elevating, it expects its FY22 gross revenues to be practically ₹300 crore.
Forbes India Influence: “Recognition from Forbes India has been an enormous achievement and motivation for mCaffeine clients, group and companions. The model has grown larger and beneficial amongst our companions and opened a brand new community,” says Gupta.
Nishita and Nikita Baliarsingh
Co-founders, CEO & COO, Nexus Energy
The twins who use bio-mimicry to make biodegradable fast-charging batteries from crop residue have constructed a number of prototypes within the final yr and are preparing for market trials and testing that’s due for 2022. Getting on the 30 Beneath 30 checklist helped them in receiving a number of grants and incentives from the central authorities and the federal government of Odisha for the expertise and innovation. They’ve additionally utilized for a number of patents and are in course of for extra such patents throughout India and the US.
Nitin Jayakrishnan
Founder & CEO, PandoCorp
In 2021, amid the Covid pandemic, PandoCorp added extra clients, together with Zydus Wellness. The 2 corporations introduced a deal in November the place Zydus would use Pando’s Networked TMS platform to digitalise its provide chain and logistics operations. This may assist Zydus scale back freight prices, get higher visibility of shipments on a unified platform, make audits, reconciliation and funds simpler, and deploy knowledge analytics.
Neelam Jain and Nishant Agarwal
Co-founders, Periferry
Regardless of the Covid influence, Periferry, which works on making training and careers accessible to India’s transgender group, continued to see development: Much more organisations reached out, and it crossed 260 placements and began its first residential coaching centre in Bengaluru. There was a gentle year-on-year improve in revenues, and Periferry estimates a mean of about 90 % development this yr as nicely.
Forbes India Influence: “For lots of our companions, it got here throughout that we’re working with a model that’s heading in the right direction,” says Jain.
Piyush Verma
Founder and CEO, Manush Labs
In 2021, Manush Labs concluded its first accelerator programme that noticed participation from over 40 startup founders throughout 30 cities, with greater than 100 traders. Piyush Verma acquired funding from philanthropist Desh Deshpande, and signed MoUs with academic establishments, together with IIT-Bombay and the Indian College of Enterprise.
Forbes India Influence: “This recognition has helped by giving me entry to a bigger viewers, together with college students and budding entrepreneurs, to share my concepts, experiences and learnings.”
Ritviz Srivastava
Musician
Ritviz Srivastava continues to be one of many most-streamed impartial artistes in India with the discharge of the album Baaraat in collaboration with the Indian digital frontrunner Nucleya. The electronic-pop music producer and singer additionally launched the singles ‘ThandiHawa’, ‘Pran’ and ‘Khamoshi’.
Forbes India Influence: “Being featured on the checklist validates all of the work that I’ve put in for the final 10 years. The checklist is sort of a stepping stone for me… it’s just the start, there may be a lot extra to do.”
Santanu Agarwal
Deputy CEO, Paisalo Digital
The corporate noticed development in its mortgage ebook and profitability in 2021 aside from increasing its attain throughout India. Paisalo’s loans and advances grew to ₹2,282 crore within the September-ended quarter from ₹2,046 crore a yr earlier and earnings rose to ₹380 crore from ₹369 crore in the identical interval. It acquired Punjab Nationwide Financial institution as an extra co-lending associate, moreover the present State Financial institution of India. The corporate expanded to 138 branches in 2021 from 125 branches a yr earlier.
Forbes India Influence: “There was elevated model consciousness, so it turned simpler to rent expertise. We obtained analysts to trace our firm efficiency and there was elevated curiosity from traders too.”
Satanik Roy
Co-founder and chief product officer, hyperXchange
Within the final one yr, hyperXchange has remodeled from a list mannequin to an asset-light market mannequin. Its ARR (annual recurring income) grew from $8 million in 2021 to $50 million in 2022. The corporate has scaled its distribution on-line—with main marketplaces and its personal web site and cellular software—and offline, with prime retail chains and with its personal franchise community.
Forbes India Influence: “This recognition feels nice, however it simply makes me hungrier to work more durable and push our firm to be the place I do know it may be,” says Roy.
Sidharth Oberoi
Founder, LetsShave
The direct-to-consumer grooming startup took three big leaps final yr. First, the online-first model made its offline debut and is now out there throughout retail shops in Delhi-NCR, Haryana and Punjab. Second, it claims to have doubled its revenues in 2021. And it entered new classes equivalent to trimmers, which has seen a brisk uptick.
Forbes India Influence: “30 Beneath 30 is a booster dose for the credibility of the model and respect for the entrepreneur.”
Shefali Vijaywargiya
Model supervisor, Amul Kool
Shefali Vijaywargiya found ‘founder’s mentality’. “I realised the concept entrepreneurship isn’t just about beginning up… it’s a few spirit which might be demonstrated at the same time as knowledgeable,” says the 29-year-old. Final yr, Vijaywargiya added to her function within the organisation. From diversifying into aerated beverage class with the launch of Seltzer vary underneath the Amul Kool umbrella to associating as official beverage associate with sporting occasions, together with the Indian Premier League, it was an eventful yr for her.
Forbes India Influence: “The Forbes India recognition turned part of my identification.”

Cricketer Shubman Gill has had a blended yr
Picture: Mexy Xavier; Jacket: Emporio Armani All-Over Emblem Bomber Jacket

Shubman Gill
Cricketer
For the younger batter, 2021 was a yr of accidents—one forcing him to return from the sequence in England and one other conserving him out of the year-ending away sequence in opposition to South Africa. In between, he’s proven occasional flashes of brilliance with two Check 50s and some nearly-theres, regardless that his total efficiency could be considerably underwhelming in comparison with his head-turning Check debut throughout India’s historic 2020-21 sequence win in opposition to Australia. However, whereas that century nonetheless eludes Gill, given his class and temperament, it may solely be a matter of time.
Triptii Dimri
Actor
She turned one of many first actors to affix filmmaker Karan Johar’s new enterprise, Dharma Cornerstone Company, which promotes budding expertise. Her upcoming tasks embrace the Netflix movie Qala alongside Babil I Khan and Swastika Mukherjee, and Animal, directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga and starring Ranbir Kapoor.