Top 25 Most Emerging Entrepreneurs in 2024
The entrepreneurial landscape is constantly evolving, welcoming new talents and innovative ideas with each passing year. As we step into 2024, the business landscape is set to see a new wave of emerging entrepreneurs who are poised to make a significant impact in their respective industries. From private equity investment to e-commerce ventures, these individuals embody the spirit of innovation, sustainability, and inclusivity. In this article, we delve into the profiles of the top 25 most emerging entrepreneurs in 2024, showcasing their diverse backgrounds and highlighting the transformative impact they are making within their industries. The article aims to recognize the achievements and potential of these emerging entrepreneurs and shed light on the trends and developments driving entrepreneurship in 2024.
- Brennan Spellacy
Brennan Spellacy is the CEO and co-founder of Patch, a platform dedicated to negative emissions that actively contributes to the future carbon market. Spellacy is a McGill University graduate with a background in various product and engineering roles at Sonder and Shopify. Spellacy is widely recognized for his contributions and was featured on Forbes' 30 Under 30 list for energy. Spellacy's commitment to leveraging technology to address climate change, coupled with his engineering and product development background, has influenced his impactful work at Patch. Patch was founded in 2020 and serves as a climate-tech solution, facilitating the browsing and purchasing of carbon credits from a diverse range of climate projects. Under Spellacy's leadership, Patch has secured substantial funding and garnered support from over 400 companies. Notably, he launched an operating system in April, streamlining the management of carbon credits on the platform, which is currently handling 440 million tons of credits.
- Shiv Bhakta
Shiv Bhakta is the co-founder of Active Surfaces, a solar panel startup dedicated to advancing renewable energy utilization. As a first-generation college student, he pursued an MS/MBA at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Active Surfaces, based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, pioneers lightweight solar panels designed for challenging surfaces like warehouse roofs. The company's innovative approach has garnered accolades, including first place at the MIT 100K and Harvard Climate Symposium, as well as the Sustainable Investment Prize at the Rice Business Plan Competition. With significant non-dilutive capital from MIT and accelerators like V4C, ACCEL at Greentown Labs, and Cleantech Open, Active Surfaces is a frontrunner in the transition to sustainable energy solutions. Bhakta's commitment to climate solutions earned him recognition on Forbes' 30 Under 30 list for energy. His experiences at MIT and dedication to combating climate change have shaped his leadership at Active Surfaces. Bhakta's expertise in business development, coupled with his passion for environmental sustainability, positions him as a prominent figure in the renewable energy sector.
- Michael Happe
Michael Happe is the president and CEO of Winnebago Industries, a manufacturer of outdoor lifestyle products. He was appointed to this position in January 2016 and has been recognized for his leadership in transforming the company's growth and fostering an entrepreneurial spirit across the organization. Happe has been honored as the Entrepreneur of the Year® 2023 National Overall Award winner by Ernst & Young LLP (EY US) for his significant contributions to the company's success and its expansion into a premium portfolio of outdoor lifestyle brands. Under his leadership, Winnebago Industries has experienced substantial growth and has expanded its product portfolio. Happe has also been instrumental in implementing safety protocols, establishing an employee stock ownership plan, and leading a focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion at Winnebago Industries. His commitment to employee engagement, ownership culture, and long-term investments have solidified the company's future in the outdoor lifestyle products space.
- Samir Goel
Samir Goel is a seasoned entrepreneur with expertise in finance, strategy, investments, and risk management. He is the co-founder of Esusu, a financial technology company that helps people build credit by reporting tenants' on-time rent payments to credit bureaus. Along with his co-founder, Wemimo Abbey, Goel has been recognized for their work in bridging the racial wealth gap and empowering underserved communities. Goel's vision and mission are rooted in his personal experiences and a lifelong passion for helping others, as he witnessed his parents struggle with financial and cultural burdens after immigrating to the U.S. Esusu's vision is to unleash the power of data to bridge the racial wealth gap, and they work towards this through the fulfillment of their mission to dismantle barriers to housing. Esusu has grown to be the leading financial technology platform for empowering residents and supports the reporting of rental payment data to credit bureaus for more than 1 million renters. Before Esusu, Goel co-founded Transfernation, a nonprofit redirecting excess food from events to underserved communities in New York City. His contributions have earned him recognition, including the 2023 Founder of the Year by AFROTECH, inclusion in the 2020 Forbes 30 Under 30 list, and honors as a WEF Global Shaper, Global Good Fund Fellow, Dalai Lama Fellow, and Resolution Fellow. Additionally, he received the Jefferson Awards Foundation National Public Service Award.
- Jason MacGowan
Jason MacGowan is the co-founder and CEO of Crumbl Cookies, a fast-growing cookie company known for its innovative and community-oriented approach. Alongside his cousin Sawyer Hemsley, MacGowan established Crumbl to unite people over high-quality cookies. Overcoming initial setbacks, including a failed first batch of cookies, they developed a unique franchise model that propelled remarkable growth. MacGowan's journey, from school dropout to successful entrepreneur, reflects his determination and creativity. Under his guidance, Crumbl has expanded to over 800 bakeries across 50 states and internationally, making it the fastest-growing cookie company in the U.S. His commitment to community engagement and franchising innovation has earned him recognition, including the Entrepreneur of the Year® US National Award.
- Harshita Arora
Harshita Arora is the co-founder of AtoB, a technology startup based in the Bay Area, established in 2019. AtoB specializes in modernizing the payment infrastructure for the trucking industry, offering the AtoB Fuel Card as its flagship product, designed for fleets of all sizes. AtoB's mission is to enhance commercial transportation efficiency and payment processes through telematics, geolocation technology, and a suite of tools, including the AtoB Fuel Card, which provides significant discounts and advanced analytics for improved security and efficiency. Additionally, AtoB offers instant direct-deposit payroll, access to bank accounts, and savings tools tailored to fleet managers' needs. Through partnerships with companies like Mastercard, AtoB is committed to delivering modern payment solutions and enhancing the trucking industry's operational efficiency and driver experience. With over 24,000 American trucking companies utilizing its software, AtoB aims to rebuild the global transportation payments system. Arora's contributions at AtoB have earned recognition within the industry, and she is an active member of the Forbes Technology Council. Previously, Arora developed a cryptocurrency-related app that was featured on the App Store and later acquired. She maintains a personal website at vignanv.com and has contributed to innovative payment solutions for the transportation and logistics sectors.
- Shervin Dehmoubed
Shervin Dehmoubed is the founder and CEO of EcoPackables, a sustainable packaging company that exclusively uses recyclable or compostable materials. He is a seasoned entrepreneur with a diverse background in finance and sustainability, having founded and led successful ventures across various industries. Dehmoubed, a graduate of Yale University, has a passion for sustainability and environmentalism, which has driven his career to develop innovative solutions to help businesses become more environmentally friendly. His company, EcoPackables, offers a wide range of eco-friendly products and packaging solutions for businesses, with a focus on compostable materials made from corn starch and PBAT, a bio-based polymer. His commitment to social responsibility and environmental sustainability has made him a respected leader in the industry. Additionally, EcoPackables won the Startup Yale 2021 Prize, further highlighting the company's innovative and impactful approach to sustainable packaging.
- Jacqueline McManus
Jacqueline McManus is the CEO and founder of KJ Media, a full-service agency specializing in streamlining and optimizing the driver recruitment process for trucking businesses. With a background in the trucking industry, McManus identified a gap in driver recruitment and founded KJ Media in 2012 to address this challenge. The agency provides customized recruiting and retention solutions, enhancing lead generation, improving lead quality, and increasing conversion rates for clients throughout the recruiting process. KJ Media has successfully executed strategic lead-generation campaigns for national trucking companies and assembled a team of digital marketing experts. McManus's expertise and dedication to client success have positioned KJ Media as a trusted partner in the trucking industry. She actively contributes to the trucking community by participating in industry panels and events, further solidifying her reputation as a leader in the field.
- Nikhil Kamath
Nikhil Kamath is an Indian entrepreneur known for his role as the co-founder and CFO of Zerodha, one of India's largest retail stockbroking platforms. Alongside his brother Nithin Kamath, Nikhil has been instrumental in establishing Zerodha as a prominent brokerage firm known for its low-cost and technology-driven approach to stock trading and investment. With over a decade of experience, Nikhil specializes in modeling sophisticated long-term investment strategies and portfolios, and he oversees investments and risk management at Zerodha. Despite dropping out of school after the 10th grade, Nikhil's entrepreneurial journey has been notable for its success, influencing Zerodha's expansion and impact on the Indian stock market. Born on September 5, 1986, in Karnataka, India, Nikhil Kamath's contributions have earned him recognition as a key figure in the Indian business landscape.
- Aadit Palicha
Aadit Palicha is an Indian entrepreneur and the co-founder of Zepto, an e-grocery platform that rapidly achieved unicorn status. Born in 2001 in Mumbai, Palicha began his entrepreneurial journey at the age of 17 with his startup, GoPool, before heading to Stanford University in the US to study computer engineering. However, he dropped out of the program to launch Zepto, which was introduced in 2021 and quickly gained significant traction, delivering 10 lakh orders in its first year of operation. The company's valuation soared to $570 million within five months of its launch, and it became India's first unicorn in 2023. Zepto's success, co-founded by Palicha and Kaivalya Vohra, has been notable, with the platform achieving a monthly revenue of $50–60 million and reducing its cash burn by 70% within two years. Palicha's entrepreneurial journey and the rapid growth of Zepto have garnered significant attention and recognition within the business and startup communities.