Ankur Warikoo
Ankur Warikoo | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | August 25, 1980 Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Alma mater | Michigan State University |
| Occupation |
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| Spouse(s) | Ruchi Budhiraja |
| Children | 2 |
Ankur Warikoo (born August 25, 1980) is an Indian entrepreneur, content creator, motivational speaker, angel investor, and online educator.[1][2] He is the founder of Nearbuy.com and has served as the founding CEO of Groupon India.[3] Warikoo is recognized for his contributions to entrepreneurship, personal development, and online education in India.[4][5]
Early Life and Education
Warikoo was born in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India, into a Kashmiri Pandit family. He completed his schooling at Don Bosco School in New Delhi. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Physics from Hindu College, University of Delhi. Subsequently, he pursued a Master of Science in Astronomy and Astrophysics at Michigan State University but left the Ph.D. program midway. He later obtained an MBA in Finance from the Indian School of Business (ISB), Hyderabad, where he was awarded the Young Leader Award.
Career
Early Career
Warikoo began his professional journey as a consultant at NIS Sparta in 2004. He then joined A.T. Kearney as a management consultant, working across Delhi, Dubai, and New York.[6][7][8][9]
Entrepreneurial Ventures
In 2008, Warikoo co-founded Accentium Web, which developed websites such as Gaadi.com and SecondShaadi.com. Gaadi.com was later acquired by Goibibo in 2010. In 2011, he became the founding CEO of Groupon India and later served as the Head of Groupon APAC Emerging Markets, overseeing operations in countries including India, Indonesia, Thailand, and the Philippines.[10][11][12]
In 2015, Warikoo and his team acquired Groupon India and rebranded it as Nearbuy.com, an online marketplace for local services.[13] He served as CEO until 2019 and continues to be associated with the company as a board member.[14][15]
Content Creation and Online Education
Since 2019, Warikoo has focused on content creation and online education. He produces content on entrepreneurship, career management, and personal growth across platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and LinkedIn, amassing over 15 million followers.[16][17]
He has authored several bestselling books, including:
Angel Investment and Mentorship
An active angel investor since 2014, Warikoo has invested in over 30 startups in the internet and technology sectors.[20] He is known for mentoring first-time entrepreneurs and contributing to the startup ecosystem in India.[21][22][23][24]
Personal Life
Warikoo is married to Ruchi Budhiraja, and the couple has two children. He often shares insights from his personal life and experiences in his content to inspire and educate his audience.
Recognition
Warikoo has received several accolades for his work, including:
- Fortune India’s "40 Under 40" list (2014)
- LinkedIn India’s Top Voices (2018, 2019, 2020)
- Forbes India’s Top 100 Digital Creators (2022)
References
- ↑ "Ankur Warikoo's financial advice for people in their 20s". NDTV Profit. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
- ↑ "Feeling lost? How Ankur Warikoo rebuilt his life after ditching a free PhD program in the US". The Economic Times. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
- ↑ "Ankur Warikoo reveals the traits of a founder's mindset". Entrepreneur India. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
- ↑ "'She's lying': Ankur Warikoo responds to ghostwriter's claim of writing his book". NDTV. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
- ↑ "I draw a salary of...: Ankur Warikoo reveals how much he earns annually". Business Today. 12 November 2024. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
- ↑ "Ankur Warikoo shows off toned physique, says he is 'almost vegetarian' who eats eggs". The Indian Express. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
- ↑ "Ankur Warikoo reveals his annual revenue for 2024: 'Look at how much money I make'". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
- ↑ "Want a better 2025? Ankur Warikoo suggests a 2-week test for real habit change". The Economic Times. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
- ↑ "Ankur Warikoo's weight loss journey: How entrepreneur lost 10 kgs with almost vegetarian diet, chole bhature and more". India.com. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
- ↑ "Ankur Warikoo denies viral claim that his books are ghostwritten: 'Lying in her post'". The Times of India. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
- ↑ "Dhanteras: 5 ways to boost income opportunities from Ankur Warikoo's 'Make Epic Money'". The Times of India. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
- ↑ "Ankur Warikoo reveals his annual salary while seeking credit card advice: 'I draw a salary of Rs…'". The Economic Times. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
- ↑ "Ankur Warikoo's ghostwriter claims she wrote his second book, content creator's cheeky reply: 'Lying in her post'". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
- ↑ "How to make your parents understand your life choices: Ankur Warikoo talks to young adults". Scroll.in. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
- ↑ "Ankur Warikoo's motivational post impresses social media, LinkedIn community reacts". LiveMint. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
- ↑ "SIP or stock trading? Ankur Warikoo on India's biggest money battle". The Economic Times. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
- ↑ "Who is Nistha Gehija? Meet the ghostwriter who was the brains behind two of Ankur Warikoo's best-selling books". The Economic Times. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
- ↑ "Ghostwriter? Ankur Warikoo admits 'Do Epic Shit' wasn't written by him; Netizens react". LiveMint. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
- ↑ "What is the biggest trap in any relationship? Ankur Warikoo's answer leaves internet divided". The Economic Times. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
- ↑ "'All my books written by someone else?' Do Epic Shit author Ankur Warikoo responds to viral ghostwriting claim". The Economic Times. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
- ↑ "Don't make money to spend: Ankur Warikoo shares advice for people in 20s". LiveMint. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
- ↑ "Ghostwriter claims she wrote Ankur Warikoo's second book, but he says she is lying". India Today. 6 January 2025. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
- ↑ "Ankur Warikoo's 2024 earnings revealed: Here's the breakdown". The Economic Times. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
- ↑ "Ankur Warikoo's no-social-media travel rule is something we all need". NDTV. Retrieved 19 April 2025.