Deepinder Goyal, co-founder of Eternal – Zomato’s parent company – became India’s number one solopreneur in 2025 with the award ₹3.2 lakh crore, ahead of Avenue Supermarts’ Radhakishan Damani.
IDFC FIRST Private Banking and Hurun India released the third edition of its 2025 list on Wednesday, December 17, ranking India’s top entrepreneurs who founded their companies after 2000. The list highlights the founders behind the country’s most valuable next-generation businesses.
Here is a complete list of top 10 self-made entrepreneurs in India with a detailed description of their awards and the cities they are based in.
1. Deepinder Goyal – ₹3.2 million: The founder of Gurugram-based food delivery platform Eternal has topped IDFC FIRST Private & Hurun India’s Top 200 Millennium Entrepreneurs 2025 list for the first time.
2. Radhakishan Damani – ₹3 jobs: The seasoned investor behind Avenue Supermarts is second on the list. Damani founded DMart in 2000 and built India’s largest supermarket chain, which is widely known for its low-cost and highly efficient model.
3. Rahul Bhatia and Rakesh Gangwal – ₹2.2 million: The co-founders of InterGlobe Aviation entered the top three this year. InterGlobe Aviation, the parent company of IndiGo, dominates the Indian aviation market with a domestic market share of over 65%.
4. Abiay Soi – ₹1.1 lakh crore: The promoter, chairman and managing director of Max Healthcare Institute climbed to the fourth position in the list. Abhay Soi is based in Gurugram.
5. Sriharsha Majety & Nandan Reddy – ₹1.06 lake: The co-founders of Swiggy are at number five on the list. The Bengaluru-based platform has expanded its business beyond food delivery to quick commerce through Swiggy Instamart, food and essentials.
6. Deep Kalra & Rajesh Magow – ₹94,500 million: The co-founders of MakeMyTrip are ranked sixth in the list. Headquartered in Gurugram, MakeMyTrip continues to lead India’s online travel booking sector, offering flights, hotels, holidays and corporate travel services.
7. Yashish Dahiya and Alok Bansal – ₹80,300 million: The founders of Policybazaar have built the company since its inception in 2008 with a mission to simplify insurance policy comparison and reduce mis-selling. More recently, the Gurugram-based platform has expanded into digital debt settlement and broader financial services, including loans and mutual funds.
8. Vijay Shekhar Sharma – ₹72,900 million: The founder of Paytm made a significant jump to the eighth position, marking a 67% increase from last year. Headquartered in Noida, Paytm is one of India’s leading digital payments and financial services ecosystems.
9. Falgui Nayar, Adwaita Nayar Nykaa – ₹67,500 million: The founders of Nykaa maintained their position in the top ten this year as well. The Mumbai-based company has grown into one of the country’s leading beauty and fashion retail platforms, offering over 2,400 brands across makeup, skin care, hair care and wellness.
10. Peyush Bansal, Amit Chaudhary, Neha Bansal & Sumeet Kapahi – ₹67,000 million: The co-founders of Gurugram-based eyewear retailer Lenskart took a significant leap to secure the 10th position for the first time, with a 60% increase in valuation from last year.
