Who is Azhar Iqubal?
Azhar Iqubal, hailing from Kishanganj, Bihar, India, is a name that’s making waves in the world of entrepreneurship. He is the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Inshorts, a renowned news aggregation platform. Let’s dive into the story of Azhar Iqubal and his remarkable journey.
Azhar’s journey started when he entered the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi in 2009. However, his path took a different direction as he dropped out of IIT Delhi, driven by his fascination with startups and their growth. During this time, he closely observed the success of companies like Flipkart and even had the opportunity to meet various CEO, learning valuable insights about entrepreneurship.
How the thing get started.
One major issue Azhar identified during his observations was that despite having numerous media houses in the country, the distribution of news was not reaching people effectively. This realization was the birth of the idea for Inshorts.
To further nurture this idea, Azhar and his team were admitted to the startup accelerator program Tlabs, backed by the Times Internet Group. This experience provided them with a wealth of knowledge about entrepreneurship.
In September 2013, Azhar and his team launched their product, Inshorts. However, their journey had just begun. The biggest challenge was acquiring users, which they tackled through social media, word of mouth, and various other marketing methods. Their efforts paid off, as they reached a remarkable good amount of users.
When they get Funding.
In 2014, they secured their first round of funding, providing them with the resources needed to enhance their product. This step marked a turning point in their journey.
Azhar Iqubal’s net worth is estimated to be around 500 crore. While his Facebook following stands at approximately 3200, his influence extends far beyond social media platforms.
Excitingly, Azhar Iqubal has recently joined “Shark Tank India” Season 3 as a judge, reflecting his growing influence in the business world.
List of Awards
Azhar Iqubal’s exceptional achievements have not gone unnoticed. He has received numerous awards, including the Business World Young Entrepreneur Award, Most Enterprising Brands, Leader of Asia Award, Business World 40 under 40, Fortune India 40 under 40 in 2016, Forbes Asia 30 under 30 in 2017, and the Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2022. Additionally, he received the Aegis Graham Bell Award for Innovative Mobile App in 2022.
Azhar Iqubal’s primary business venture, Inshorts (which is news platform where we have news in 60 words), boasts over 10 million downloads on the Google Play Store and is reported to be valued at a staggering 3700 crore. They publish 80 to 100 news articles daily, catering to the fast-paced digital world.
Other Business
Beyond Inshorts, Azhar has ventured into the realm of public apps, with over 100 million active users. This app serves as a location-based social network platform, further showcasing his entrepreneurial prowess.
Azhar Iqubal’s journey from an IIT dropout to a successful entrepreneur and judge on “Shark Tank India” Season 3 is truly inspiring. His story is a testament to the power of determination, innovation, and the pursuit of one’s dreams.