The surge in market capitalization of Zomato, Policybazaar, MamaEarth, EaseMyTrip, TBO, and Ixigo signals a bright future for Indian startups eyeing public listings. This upward trajectory has not only enriched shareholders, retail investors, and founders but has also propelled several entrepreneurs into the billionaire echelon. Recently, Deepinder Goyal, co-founder of Zomato, attained billionaire status as his food tech company surpassed a market cap of Rs 2,00,000 crore ($24 billion).
This article explores the holdings and current valuations of startup founders who have successfully taken their companies public in India.
Leading the pack is Falguni Nayar of Nykaa and her family, who collectively own over 50% of the company, amounting to an impressive $3.25 billion in value. Following closely is seasoned entrepreneur Sanjeev Bikhchandani, whose shares in Info Edge are valued at $3.24 billion, driven by early investments in Zomato, Policybazaar, and other startups.
Deepinder Goyal’s journey to becoming a billionaire through Zomato underscores the significant value of his stock holdings, exceeding $1 billion. Rashmi and Rakesh Verma, founders of MapMyIndia, hold a combined $830 million in stocks, while Varun and Ghazal Alagh of Mamaearth follow with $657 million.
Despite challenges post-IPO and regulatory hurdles, Vijay Shekhar Sharma of Paytm holds stocks worth $319 million, and Alok Bansal of PolicyBazaar’s holdings are valued at $129 million.
Ixigo, recently listed and achieving unicorn status, has seen its founders Aloke Bajpai and Rajnish Kumar accumulate a combined value of $81.5 million. While these net worth figures reflect their stake values in their companies, many founders have diversified their portfolios across other startups, benefiting from favourable founder compensations and options over the past decade.
In a market driven by liquidity-driven asset prices, caution is advised to avoid conspicuous excesses that could potentially impact public perception negatively. Self-made startup founders are encouraged to contribute visibly and effectively to society, setting examples of responsible wealth management and philanthropy.