Zepto’s Founders Top In Hurun India U30 List 2025

The Hurun India U30 List 2025, released in collaboration with Avendus Wealth, marks a defining moment in India’s entrepreneurial journey. Featuring 79 dynamic entrepreneurs aged 30 or below, the list celebrates a generation of self-starters who have built ventures with significant valuations, job creation, and global impact. From quick commerce to AI and digital microfinance, this young cohort represents the pulse of a new India—innovative, risk-taking, and globally connected.

Background

Launched as part of the broader “Uth Series” by Hurun and Avendus, this is the first edition focused exclusively on under-30 founders. Entrepreneurs featured must have founded or co-led ventures with a valuation of over $25 million (first-generation) or $50 million (next-generation leaders). The initiative reflects a growing recognition of youth-led economic transformation and India’s evolving startup landscape, driven by early success and deep investor interest.

Key Highlights and Trends

Significance of the List

This list is more than a ranking—it is a statement of generational change in Indian entrepreneurship. With a sharp focus on first-generation founders (66 of 79), the list celebrates the rise of self-made success stories. These entrepreneurs are not only attracting funding but also creating socially relevant, employment-generating businesses. Startups such as Zepto, Perplexity, and Svatantra Microfin are reshaping industries with disruptive models rooted in technology, inclusion, and speed.

Diversity and Women Leadership

Six women entrepreneurs made it to the list, including Devika Gholap (OptraSCAN), the youngest woman at 28, and Ananyashree Birla, who has led Svatantra Microfin for over a decade. These women leaders represent both cutting-edge innovation and long-standing commitment to inclusive economic participation, highlighting a welcome trend of rising gender diversity in entrepreneurship.

Objectives and Impact

The Hurun U30 List aims to,

• Recognize young leaders making large-scale impact early
• Celebrate innovation and job creation across sectors
• Inspire aspiring entrepreneurs to pursue ventures fearlessly
• Highlight funding and institutional trends shaping the startup landscape
• The collective impact of these founders includes $5.2 billion in equity, $270 million in debt raised, and over 64,000 jobs created. These metrics are a testament to the tangible economic contribution made by youth-led startups.

Education and Regional Trends

Institutions like BITS Pilani, IIT Roorkee, and IIT Delhi emerged as key incubators of entrepreneurial talent. Geographically, Mumbai led with 15 honorees, followed by Bengaluru (7) and Delhi/Jaipur (4 each), reaffirming Maharashtra’s dominance as India’s entrepreneurial heartland.