India’s economic and innovation landscape is being redefined by visionary leaders driving transformative change. From pioneering startups to steering industry giants, these ten trailblazers are not just building businesses—they’re shaping the nation’s future through innovation, sustainability, and inclusive growth, setting benchmarks for the next generation of leadership.
1. Sudheer Kanumalli, Founder & CTO, CyberMindr
Sudheer Kanumalli, the founder and CTO of CyberMindr is redefining cybersecurity for Indian businesses by addressing the real challenges faced by CISOs and security teams. Moving beyond noise, the platform emphasizes clarity and actionable insights. Its proactive defense technology is based on MITRE Framework and uses real attack techniques to exploit and identify genuine threats, enabling organizations to fix what matters the most. Sudheer’s vision is to empower companies in India and the world to stay secure and build digital trust.
2. Mr. Arun Kumar Rai, Director of Everfast Freight Forwarders Pvt.Ltd
Mr. Arun Kumar Rai is a seasoned leader with over 35 years of experience in logistics Industry, having started his career with traditional tramp shipping industry and he is widely regarded as one of the pioneers in this field, he has played a crucial role in establishing and strengthening some renowned freight forwarding companies across North India as well in Chennai. As a first-generation entrepreneur, Mr. Rai co-founded Ever fast Freight Forwarders Pvt Ltd. In 1997 along with Mr. Sunil Kumar. Together, they built the company from the ground up, transforming it into one of India’s most reputed freight forwarding brands.
3. Dhruv M. Bagla, Founder, Rackonnect
Dhruv M. Bagla, Founder of Rackonnect, is a Business & Management graduate from the University of London and a passionate sports enthusiast. He is transforming India’s racket sports scene with 15 premium badminton academies across North India and a tech-enabled platform for court bookings, coaching, and tournaments. Taking innovation further, he launched REPPP, India’s largest Padel Pickle Park, introducing a global sport to Indian audiences. With plans to expand REPPP nationwide, Dhruv aims to build an inclusive, world-class sporting ecosystem accessible to players of all ages.
4. Kumar Rahul Naman, visionary Architect, Entrepreneur
Kumar Rahul Naman is a visionary architect, entrepreneur, and content creator transforming India’s healthcare and infrastructure sectors. From leading his family hotel business to founding TR Life science Pvt. Ltd., he has delivered 25+ hospital projects. He also launched KRN Consultant & Infra LLP and Ninti Hospitals, advancing cardiac care in Bihar. Host of The KRN Show podcast, he promotes innovation and skill development. Honored with “30 Under 30” and Entrepreneur of the Year, he now ventures into fashion with the launch of LABELNATA, debuting this month as a bold new brand.
5. Dr. Nivedita Shrivastava – CEO, Thought2Design
Dr. Nivedita Shrivastava leads Thought2Design, a deep-tech startup at IIT Delhi’s Research & Innovation Park, focused on building AI-assisted CAD and simulation tools for India’s drone and electronics ecosystem. Unlike expensive, closed-source platforms, Thought2Design offers ML-powered design, integrated simulation, and GenAI optimization—affordable, secure, and easy to adopt for startups and MSMEs. A PhD from IIT Delhi and Gold Medalist from NIT Raipur, Dr. Shrivastava’s work spans secure AI hardware and system design. Under her leadership, the team also delivers high-impact consulting in AI, CAD pipelines, and enterprise-grade HPC systems.
6. Sachin Kapoor, Founder & CEO of Fielmente and Eazotel Technologies
Sachin Kapoor, Founder & CEO of Fielmente and Eazotel Technologies is reshaping India’s hospitality sector with tech-driven innovation. With over a decade of expertise and academic foundations at LPU and WGSHA, Manipal, he leads Eazotel in delivering AI-powered marketing solutions—performance marketing, AI chatbots, booking engines, CRM, and digital tools for hotels and Airbnb’s. Partnering with 300+ hotels across India, USA, Canada, Dubai, and Oman, his global impact is evident. Guided by Vision 2030, Sachin champions digital transformation to elevate Indian hospitality worldwide.
7. Priyanka Jain, Co-founder and Director of Marketing, Snow World Entertainment and Prasuk Jain Hospitality
Priyanka Jain, Co-founder and Director of Marketing at Snow World Entertainment and Prasuk Jain Hospitality, is redefining India’s hospitality and entertainment sectors. With expertise in brand development, integrated marketing, and event strategy, she’s built standout ventures like The Game Palacio, KOA, and Amazonia. Her leadership style blends creativity with compassion, fostering a collaborative and inclusive workplace. A trailblazer in the F&B industry, Priyanka goes beyond concept creation to shape strategy, experiences, and teams. Her visionary approach continues to inspire innovation and deliver exceptional customer journeys across all her brands.
8. Atique Bandukwala – Founder & CEO, Vidopix
Atique Bandukwala is the Founder & CEO of Vidopix, an India-first AI video-intelligence platform helping brands optimize content before it goes live—testing ads, films, and influencer videos to predict performance. He scaled his family business from ₹50 crore to ₹110 crore, then spent 8+ years building data-driven products. At ByteDance India, he led TikTok and Helo’s Global Business team in Karnataka. He’s collaborated with top agencies, SSPs like Google, and brands including Unilever, Disney Star, and Tata Motors. With strong roots in India, Vidopix is now going global.
9. Hitesh Agrawal – Founder & Managing Director, Them Consulting
Hitesh Agrawal, Founder & Managing Director of Them Consulting, is transforming how BFSI, fintech, and enterprises embrace design-led innovation. With 20+ years of experience, he has led 150+ global digital transformation programs. Under his leadership, Them has delivered India’s first Municipal Bond platform, a national ESG ratings framework, and major banking overhauls. Hitesh believes design should drive measurable business growth—merging empathy-driven UX with strategic KPIs. Today, Them Consulting is a trusted partner, helping businesses anticipate user needs and deliver impact through future-ready, human-centered digital experiences.
10. Ritwik Dang, Founder & CEO of Outliners India
Ritwik Dang, Founder & CEO of Outliners India, started with FunctionMania, scaling it into a multi-crore venture. He then launched Outliners, now one of India’s Top 100 creative agencies, working with 500+ brands across four continents. Known for viral content and disruptive digital strategy, Outliners has built brands from the ground up. Ritwik also invests in early-stage ventures and mentors founders, driving innovation and Make in India growth. During the pandemic, he trained over 500 students, making mentorship a core mission alongside his entrepreneurial journey.
