Discover the incredible journey of Azhar Iqubal, the co-founder and CEO of the revolutionary news application, Inshorts, who recently made waves as a “Shark” on Shark Tank India.
Azhar Iqubal, the dynamic entrepreneur, was born in Kishanganj, Bihar, in 1993. His journey from the small town to becoming a pioneer in the digital media landscape is nothing short of remarkable.
| Name | Azhar Iqubal |
|---|---|
| Born | 1993 in Kishanganj, Bihar |
| Education | IIT Delhi (Dropped out in 2012) |
| Co-founded | Inshorts (2013), Public App (2018) |
| Key Achievements | – Grew Inshorts to over 10 million users – Valuation of ₹3700 crore as of Oct 2023 – Director at Locvid Services Pvt Ltd – Honors like Forbes 30 Under 30 |
| Investments | Angel investor in 25+ startups |
| Awards | – Business World Young Entrepreneur Award<br>- Entrepreneur of the Year 2022 by Entrepreneur India |
| Interests | Traveling, adventure sports, skydiving, scuba diving |
| Net Worth | ₹500 Crore |
Contents
Academic Odyssey
Iqubal embarked on his educational journey with aspirations of cracking the prestigious IIT JEE. In 2009, he gained admission to the esteemed Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi), where he delved into computer science engineering. However, in 2012, he decided to take a daring leap of faith, dropping out of IIT to venture into the world of entrepreneurship.
From Facebook Page to Fame
During his college days, Azhar, along with his visionary comrades Deepit Purkayastha and Anunay Pandey, embarked on a journey that would change the way people consume news. They created a Facebook page, “News In Shorts,” recognizing that traditional news outlets failed to provide succinct, accessible content.
On this page, they shared trending news in bite-sized summaries, all designed to be read in under a minute. With unwavering determination, Azhar urged friends and family to share their page, and the results were astounding – a growing legion of followers.
TLabs and a New Beginning
As students at IIT Delhi, Azhar, Deepit, and Anunay were granted the privilege of attending entrepreneurial seminars hosted by TLabs, an initiative of the Times Internet group. Here, they had the chance to interact with established entrepreneurs and secured an impressive ₹10 lakh against a 10% equity stake for their vision.
Seeing the likes of Snapdeal and Flipkart flourish by raising funds, Azhar’s entrepreneurial spirit was ignited. Favorable government policies further fueled his ambition to break new ground in the business world.
Inshorts: The Game-Changer
In 2013, Azhar Iqubal took the bold step of leaving IIT Delhi to concentrate fully on building his startup. On September 4, 2013, they launched the News In Shorts mobile app, delivering trending news in sixty words or less – a format that could be consumed in just thirty seconds. Their app rapidly gained popularity, prompting Azhar to hire professional writers and monetize the platform through advertisements.
By 2014, the team secured significant investment during the C round funding in New Delhi. In 2015, they rebranded the app as “Inshorts” and expanded to iOS, cementing their place as a prominent player in the digital news space.
Expanding Horizons
What began as publishing 80 to 100 news articles a day burgeoned into over 500 daily. In April 2016, recognizing the potential to reach tier-two cities, Azhar introduced the Hindi version of Inshorts. In 2021, Inshorts secured investments totaling $60 million, making it one of the most downloaded news apps in India with over 10 million downloads, and an estimated valuation of ₹3,700 crore as of October 2023.
Diversifying Ventures
Azhar’s enterprising spirit didn’t stop at Inshorts. In 2019, he assumed the role of director at Locvid Services Private Limited, focusing on accounting, book-keeping, auditing, tax consultancy, market research, public opinion polling, business, and management consultancy services. Additionally, Azhar, along with Deepit and Anunay, launched the social media app, “Public,” connecting local communities in India.
Accolades Galore
Azhar Iqubal’s astounding success has garnered him a slew of awards and accolades, including the Business World Young Entrepreneur Award, The Most Enterprising Brands Award, Leaders of Asia Award, and a spot on Forbes India 30 under 30 and Forbes Asia 30 under 30 lists in 2018. In 2022, he was honored as the Entrepreneur of the Year (Media) by the Entrepreneur India Magazine.
Beyond Business: Personal Insights
Azhar’s interests and passions extend beyond the boardroom. He’s an ardent traveler, adventure enthusiast, and an advocate of experiencing life to the fullest. From skydiving to scuba diving, he embraces life’s thrilling moments.
Read: Azhar Iqubal: The Latest Judge on Shark Tank India Season 3
Azhar Iqubal’s journey from an IIT student to the co-founder of Inshorts and a judge on Shark Tank India is a testament to his unwavering determination, innovation, and visionary thinking. His contributions have revolutionized the way people consume news and inspired countless budding entrepreneurs.
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