Determined to create a billion-dollar company swiftly, Nirmit Parikh made the bold choice to leave his lucrative position at Apple and return to India.
Despite holding a high-paying position at the world’s largest company, Nirmit Parikh made the courageous decision to relinquish it and return to India with the ambitious goal of creating a unicorn startup in a remarkably short timeframe. As the founder and CEO of Apna, a platform specializing in blue-collar jobs, Nirmit Parikh achieved a remarkable feat during the Covid-19 pandemic. Apna emerged as India’s youngest billion-dollar startup, solidifying its place in the business landscape.
While stationed at Apple’s headquarters in Cupertino, USA, Nirmit Parikh conceived the idea of establishing a dedicated employment portal for the unorganized blue-collar sector. Recognizing the potential of this business concept, he made the pivotal decision to return to his homeland shortly before the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. In an effort to gain firsthand insights into the lives of blue-collar workers and comprehend the intricacies of their job environment, Nirmit even went undercover as a factory worker. This immersive experience allowed him to truly understand the challenges and dynamics of the sector, further fueling his drive to build a platform that caters to their needs.
In an impressive timeframe of only 21 months, Nirmit Parikh spearheaded Apna’s extraordinary journey to achieve a valuation of $1.1 billion (over Rs 9000 crore as of May 2023). Fueled by a vision to foster a “radical cultural and social change” through the power of ubiquitous technology, his business idea experienced rapid growth, expanding at an exceptional rate of 125 percent within just two years. Today, Apna serves as a vital platform for over 1.5 lakh firms in India, boasting renowned names such as Shadowfax, Zomato, Delhivery, G4S Global, and Burger King among its user base.
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With a remarkable impact on the job market, Apna has facilitated over 10 crore interviews and boasts an impressive user base with over 1 crore downloads of its Android app. In 2021, the company achieved a valuation of $1.1 billion following a successful $100 million Series C round of funding, spearheaded by Tiger Global. While the success of Apna has garnered significant attention, it is worth noting that Nirmit Parikh had previously embarked on entrepreneurial ventures, demonstrating his innate entrepreneurial spirit and experience.
Embarking on his first entrepreneurial venture at the young age of 21 in 2009, Nirmit Parikh founded Incone Technologies, a company focused on flood management. His dedication and innovative mindset earned him recognition, and he was invited to participate in the World Economic Forum as a Global Shaper. Subsequently, he ventured into Cruxbox, a startup that he successfully developed and later sold to Intel. This achievement propelled him to a leadership position as the director of data analytics within Intel, providing him with the opportunity to immerse himself in the thriving startup ecosystem of Silicon Valley. Nirmit Parikh holds a degree in engineering from the esteemed Nirma Institute of Technology and further pursued his education by earning an MBA from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business in the United States.
