Bhavish Aggarwal (born 28 August 1985) is an Indian entrepreneur and one of the leading figures in India’s startup ecosystem. He is best known as the co-founder of Ola (now Ola Consumer), and the founder of Ola Electric and Krutrim AI — India’s first AI unicorn. With a net worth of around $2.3 billion, he is one of the youngest self-made billionaires in the world. In 2018, he was featured in TIME’s list of 100 Most Influential People.
Early Life & Education
Bhavish Aggarwal was born and raised in Ludhiana, Punjab, India. He completed his B.Tech in Computer Science at IIT Bombay in 2008. After graduation, he worked at Microsoft Research India, where he contributed to multiple patents and research papers before moving into entrepreneurship.
areer & Entrepreneurship Journey
Ola Consumer (formerly Ola Cabs)
The idea for a cab-hailing startup was inspired by a bad taxi experience, leading Bhavish and his college friend Ankit Bhati to launch Ola in 2010. The company quickly expanded across India as one of the country’s most successful mobility platforms.
During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Ola faced a massive business impact, with a 95% revenue decline and enforced layoffs. Despite the challenges, Aggarwal emphasized innovation and future-focused mobility models like car rental and subscription services.
In April 2022, he stepped away from day-to-day operations at Ola to focus on electric mobility and future technologies. In 2024, Ola was rebranded as Ola Consumer, expanding beyond cabs into broader consumer services.
Ola Electric — Building India’s EV Revolution
Bhavish launched Ola Electric to accelerate the country’s shift toward sustainable transportation. The company has invested heavily in EV production, battery innovation, and gigafactories, making it one of India’s top electric vehicle brands.
Krutrim AI — India’s First AI Unicorn
In 2024, his AI startup Ola Krutrim became India’s first AI unicorn, valued at over $1 billion. The company is focused on developing Indian-made LLMs and AI infrastructure.
Personal Views & Controversies
Bhavish Aggarwal is known for his bold leadership style, which has drawn both praise and criticism.
Work Culture Opinions
- Advocates strong work ethic and long working hours
- Supports N. R. Narayana Murthy’s viewpoint on 70-hour work weeks
- Criticizes the western concept of “work–life balance” and two-day weekends
Several reports have accused him of harsh behavior at work, which he describes as a reflection of his passion and commitment to building unique companies.
Views on Gender Pronouns
In May 2024, he criticized preferred gender pronouns, calling them a “western illness.” The remarks sparked strong backlash online and led to LinkedIn removing his posts. Following this, Ola Consumer shifted its cloud infrastructure away from Microsoft.
Awards & Achievements
- TIME 100 Most Influential People (2018)
- One of the world’s youngest self-made billionaires
- Founder of India’s first AI unicorn — Krutrim AI
- Leading figure in India’s EV transformation
