{"id":66460,"date":"2026-01-15T17:05:26","date_gmt":"2026-01-15T11:35:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thedailymetro.in\/index.php\/2026\/01\/15\/national-startup-day-2026-startups-and-founders-shaping-indias-growth-story\/"},"modified":"2026-01-15T17:05:26","modified_gmt":"2026-01-15T11:35:26","slug":"national-startup-day-2026-startups-and-founders-shaping-indias-growth-story","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thedailymetro.in\/index.php\/2026\/01\/15\/national-startup-day-2026-startups-and-founders-shaping-indias-growth-story\/","title":{"rendered":"National Startup Day 2026: Startups and Founders Shaping India\u2019s Growth Story"},"content":{"rendered":"
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National Startup Day 2026<\/b><\/p>\n

New Delhi [India], January 15: <\/strong>National Startup Day 2026 highlights the growing maturity of India\u2019s startup ecosystem, where founders are increasingly focused on execution, scale, and sustainable value creation. Across sectors such as technology, clean energy, education, healthcare, logistics, and financial services, Indian entrepreneurs are building businesses that address structural gaps, strengthen productivity, and generate employment. As policy support deepens and capital becomes more discerning, these founders are shaping India\u2019s next phase of economic growth through innovation backed by strong fundamentals and long-term business vision.<\/p>\n

1. Aayuush Ahuja: Founder & CEO of Zalon<\/strong><\/p>\n

Aayuush Ahuja is the Founder of\u00a0Zalon<\/a>, a B2B beauty-tech platform building digital and supply-chain infrastructure for India\u2019s fragmented salon industry. Founded in 2022, Zalon has scaled to over 18,000 salon partners across India within three years, achieving EBITDA positivity while maintaining disciplined unit economics. The company has recorded consistent double-digit month-on-month growth and operates with gross margins of 50\u201365% through its private-label beauty brand, Aurey.<\/p>\n

Aayuush\u2019s leadership philosophy prioritizes profitability, execution, and long-term value over short-term valuation narratives. Under his direction, Zalon has combined technology, distribution, and private-label manufacturing to create a scalable, capital-efficient business model that empowers salons to grow sustainably.<\/p>\n

\u201cBuilding a startup is not about chasing noise,\u201d Aayuush says. \u201cIt\u2019s about solving real problems, earning trust, and creating systems that can survive cycles.\u201d His approach reflects a new generation of Indian founders focused on resilience, impact, and durable enterprise creation in a volatile and evolving startup ecosystem.<\/p>\n

2. Dhwani Jain: Founder of Something Simple<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dhwani Jain has built a Jaipur-based demi-fine jewellery startup,\u00a0Something Simple<\/a>, focused on redefining everyday adornment through thoughtful, design-forward pieces. Crafted exclusively in sterling 925 silver and natural gemstones, the brand emerged from her insight into a clear market gap for functional, easy-to-wear jewellery suited to modern lifestyles.<\/p>\n

An alumna of NYU Stern School of Business, Dhwani began her career in New York City, where experience in structured, business-driven environments shaped her strategic approach to brand building and long-term growth. To strengthen product-led decision-making, she pursued formal gemological training and is a GIA-certified graduate gemologist, bringing expertise in gemstone quality, ethical sourcing, and material precision into the brand\u2019s design and production processes.<\/p>\n

A key differentiator for Something Simple is its convertible jewellery, offering multiple styling options from a single piece to meet evolving consumer preferences. Going forward, Dhwani aims to scale the brand as a strong omnichannel business, prioritising digital growth alongside curated retail partnerships and exhibitions.<\/p>\n

3. Dinesh Sain: Co-Founder of Drona Aviation<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dinesh Sain is an aerospace engineer, IIT Bombay alumnus, and Co-Founder of\u00a0Drona Aviation<\/a>, a pioneer in drone-based education in India. With a passion for innovation and hands-on learning, he has dedicated his career to making drones more than flying machines\u2014transforming them into\u00a0learning machines\u00a0that inspire curiosity, creativity, and problem-solving among students.<\/p>\n

Under his leadership, Drona Aviation has developed\u00a0Pluto, India\u2019s first DIY and programmable nano-drone platform, and established\u00a0Drone Labs\u00a0in schools and colleges across the country. These initiatives have empowered thousands of students to\u00a0build, fly, and code drones, equipping them with skills in robotics, drone, and technology while nurturing innovation from a young age.<\/p>\n

Dinesh\u2019s vision aligns strongly with national priorities such as Atmanirbhar Bharat, Digital India, and Skill India. With the belief that \u201cThe next India will not just fly drones\u2014it will build them,\u201d he aims to see a Drone Lab in every school and college in India, positioning the country as a global hub for drone innovation and education.<\/p>\n

4. Manoj Pipersania: Founder and CEO of SoftServ<\/strong><\/p>\n

Manoj Pipersania is a seasoned technology leader with over 25 years of experience in building and scaling global digital solutions. A Mining Engineer from MBM Engineering College, Jodhpur, with an M.Tech. in Information Technology, he brings a strong foundation of engineering discipline and modern technology expertise to his entrepreneurial journey. After spending eight years in the United States working with organizations such as EDS and UnitedHealthcare, Manoj returned to India in 2014 to establish SoftServ in Jaipur, Rajasthan, with the vision of creating a globally competitive technology firm.<\/p>\n

Today,\u00a0SoftServ<\/a>\u00a0employs 250+ professionals delivering IT and KPO services across healthcare, cybersecurity, power, HSE, and the automotive sector, with recognized expertise in low-code and no-code platforms and products like blackBAR, barquode, and SnapFingr. Reflecting on National Startup Day 2026, Manoj believes India\u2019s startup ecosystem has matured from experimentation to execution, where sustainable growth, strong fundamentals, and purpose-driven innovation are shaping the nation\u2019s long-term economic future.<\/p>\n

5. Prasad Tataaverrty: Founder & Director of\u00a0DataAIJobs.com &\u00a0AnalyticsHiring.com<\/strong><\/p>\n

Prasad Tataverty is the Founder of\u00a0DataAIJobs.com\u00a0<\/a>and\u00a0AnalyticsHiring.com<\/a>\u2014specialist platforms built for skills-first hiring across\u00a0Data Science, Data Engineering, Analytics, AI\/ML and GenAI.\u00a0AnalyticsHiring.com\u00a0combines an exclusively data and AI Leadership hiring agency, helping employers cut through the noise of generic agencies. He has worked large MNC handling global portfolios and later built\u00a0DataAIJobs.com and AnalyticsHiring.com,\u00a0giving him a front-row view of why data roles break traditional hiring methods. His approach is shaped by\u00a025+ years\u00a0of recruiting experience and hiring across\u00a020+ countries, partnering with global organizations to close executive and niche technology roles. That performance-led, multi-market hiring exposure enables sharper role scoping, realistic benchmarking, and stronger skill validation, so employers can shortlist faster, reduce mis-hires and build high-performing Data & AI teams with confidence.<\/p>\n

6. Rupanjana Samanta \u2013 Founder & CEO of INMYO<\/strong><\/p>\n

Rupanjana Samanta is the Founder and CEO of INMYO, an AI-powered intimacy and sexual wellness platform addressing India\u2019s long-standing gaps in sex education, emotional wellbeing, and relationship health. She holds an MBA in Environment Management from IISWBM, which shaped her systems-level understanding of sustainability, governance, social impact, and long-term value creation combined with hands-on execution, enables her to build INMYO not merely as a digital product, but as a responsible and scalable ecosystem.<\/p>\n

Before founding\u00a0INMYO<\/a>, Rupanjana built and worked with multiple businesses and collaborated closely with startup founders in Founder\u2019s Office roles, contributing to strategy, operations, ESG frameworks, and business analytics. The idea of INMYO emerged from her lived experiences observing the lack of education & awareness in Indian society. Especially the stigma and misinformation faced by young adults.<\/p>\n

The platform provides non-judgmental, fully encrypted wellness conversations, doctor consultations and expert guidance focusing on male and female sexual health, a marketplace for doctor-verified intimate hygiene and wellness products, and expert-led sex education courses. With these offerings, Rupanjana aims to normalize open, informed conversations about sexuality in Indian society, which is the platform\u2019s core mission, redefining intimacy education for India and beyond.<\/p>\n

7. Shivani Singh-Kapoor and Sanjeeva Shivesh: Co-founders of\u00a0<\/strong>ThinkStartup<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cArchitects of India\u2019s Entrepreneurship Revolution in Schools\u201d<\/p>\n

Shivani Singh-Kapoor and Sanjeeva Shivesh are the visionary co-founders of\u00a0ThinkStartup<\/a>, India\u2019s leading platform dedicated to fostering entrepreneurship among school and college students. Shivani, a serial entrepreneur and IIT Delhi alumna, is passionate about instilling entrepreneurial thinking from an early age. She believes that equipping young minds with creativity, problem-solving skills, and confidence is key to nurturing the next generation of innovators and job creators. Sanjeeva Shivesh, a former civil servant turned entrepreneur, brings a wealth of experience in innovation projects, mentorship, and ecosystem building, making him a driving force in India\u2019s entrepreneurship landscape. Together, they combine their strengths to create impactful educational experiences for youth.<\/p>\n

Through ThinkStartup, Shivani and Shivesh have launched transformative initiatives like\u00a0Youth Ideathon, India\u2019s largest entrepreneurship competition for school students, attracting over 2 lakh participants each year. The\u00a0eHub Entrepreneurship Curriculum, adopted by leading schools, provides practical, real-world learning, while\u00a0U18 Launchpad, India\u2019s first startup accelerator for school students, offers hands-on prototyping, mentorship, and investor access. Another exciting initiative,\u00a0The Kid Company, supports student innovations by enabling young entrepreneurs to showcase and sell their market-ready products, while also raising funds for further innovation.<\/p>\n

Their mission is clear: to integrate entrepreneurship into mainstream education, inspiring young Indians to innovate, take risks, and contribute to building a self-reliant, dynamic India.<\/p>\n

8. Sridhar Samudrala: Founder & CEO of Hecta<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sridhar Samudrala founded\u00a0Hecta Proptech<\/a>\u00a0to improve recovery of bad loans. Leveraging AI-driven technology, Hecta accelerates recoveries by curating and marketing the underlying mortgaged properties, enabling financial institutions to redeploy capital faster, lend more aggressively, and support economic growth.<\/p>\n

These are usually referred as \u2018bank auction properties\u2019 and are typically available at a discount. They generate strong demand from both end-users and investors for flipping. The access to these assets was opaque and Hecta is streamlining the access and transaction support required for increased buyer participation.<\/p>\n

Hecta is a collect-tech platform recognized by the RBI Innovation Hub and has been awarded among the\u00a0Top 10 Technology Innovators by HDFC Capital<\/a>.<\/p>\n

To scale the business from its early stage to the next phase of growth, Hecta is backed by a seasoned leadership team\u2014Naren Ramakrishnan, with 25 years of expertise in technology and AI; Rohit Aneja, with over 20 years of experience at EY and Deloitte; and Pawan Garg, with 25 years of experience as a CFO and Insolvency Resolution Professional (IRP).<\/p>\n

9. Vaibhav Kumar:\u00a0Co-founder &\u00a0CTO of Traqo.ai<\/strong><\/p>\n

Vaibhav Kumar Driving Traqo\u2019s Technology-Led Growth. Vaibhav Kumar, Chief Technology Officer and Co-founder at\u00a0Traqo<\/a>, is a visionary technologist and a key architect behind the startup\u2019s rapid growth. An alumnus of IIT BHU, he brings a strong academic foundation in engineering along with deep expertise in scalable software systems and cloud architecture. As a Co-founder, Vaibhav has led the design and deployment of Traqo\u2019s core platforms, enabling data-driven decision-making, enhanced system reliability, and improved operational efficiency for enterprises. Under his leadership, Traqo has achieved nearly 2.5x year-on-year revenue growth, onboarded 100+ enterprise clients, doubled its team strength, expanded into Africa, and scaled its product offerings across FTL, PTL, and EXIM solutions.<\/p>\n

Sharing his vision, Vaibhav says, \u201cAt Traqo, our focus has always been on building technology that solves real operational challenges and scales with our customers\u2019 growth. Innovation, agility, and purpose-driven execution remain at the core of our journey.\u201d His leadership reflects India\u2019s startup spirit of innovation, resilience, and scalable impact.<\/p>\n

10. Vikas Saxena: \u00a0Co-founder & CEO of Caleedo<\/strong><\/p>\n

Vikas Saxena\u00a0is a visionary technology leader committed to redefining how the built environment supports human well-being, safety, and sustainability. With almost three decades of experience in intelligent buildings, automation, and digital transformation, his work is guided by a belief that technology should go beyond automation to\u00a0actively enhance human experience and decision-making.<\/p>\n

As Co-founder & CEO of\u00a0Caleedo,<\/a>\u00a0Vikas is driving a shift from reactive infrastructure to living, sensing environments powered by IoT and data intelligence. His vision centers on workplaces that can continuously listen, learn, and respond\u2014anticipating risks, improving health outcomes, and strengthening operational resilience. Under his leadership, Caleedo is developing integrated digital platforms that unify air quality, hygiene, safety, and environmental intelligence, enabling organizations to move beyond compliance toward predictive, measurable, and outcome-driven performance.<\/p>\n

A respected industry voice and keynote speaker, Vikas actively contributes to national forums and thought leadership initiatives, inspiring audiences to see buildings not as static assets, but as\u00a0active partners in productivity, wellness, and resilience.<\/p>\n

Disclaimer: <\/strong>This listicle has been provided by Nandish Communication.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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