Sabeer Bhatia
Sabeer Bhatia is an Indian-American entrepreneur and technology innovator best known as the co-founder of Hotmail, the world’s first web-based email platform. Hotmail revolutionized global communication and was later acquired by Microsoft, marking a pivotal moment in the early days of the internet.[1]
| Sabeer Bhatia | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | December 30, 1968 Chandigarh, India |
| Nationality | Indian-American |
| Alma mater | BITS Pilani, Caltech, Stanford University |
| Occupation | Entrepreneur, technologist |
| Known for | Co-founding Hotmail |
| Spouse | Tanya Sharma (div. 2013) |
| Children | 1 |
Early Life and Education
Sabeer Bhatia was born on December 30, 1968, in Chandigarh, India, and raised in Bangalore. His father worked with the Indian Army and the Ministry of Defence, while his mother was employed at the Central Bank of India.
He completed his early education at St. Joseph’s Boys’ High School, Bangalore, and began his undergraduate studies at BITS Pilani. In 1988, he transferred to the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), earning a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering. He went on to pursue a Master’s in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University, graduating in 1993.[2]
Career Beginnings
After Stanford, Bhatia worked at Apple Inc. and Firepower Systems Inc., where he developed technical and entrepreneurial insights that would later help shape his startup ambitions.
Founding Hotmail
In December 1995, Sabeer Bhatia and Jack Smith co-founded Hotmail. The idea was to offer a web-based email service that users could access from anywhere in the world, bypassing ISP-based email systems.
Hotmail was launched on July 4, 1996, symbolizing “freedom” from traditional email constraints. It quickly attracted millions of users and caught the attention of Microsoft, which acquired it in December 1997 for an estimated $400 million. Hotmail eventually evolved into Outlook.com under Microsoft.[3]
Post-Hotmail Ventures
JaxtrSMS
In 2008, Bhatia launched JaxtrSMS, a messaging platform designed to send SMS over data networks for free. Despite initial traction, the platform didn’t achieve the scale of Hotmail.
ShowReel
In 2021, Bhatia co-founded ShowReel, an AI-driven learning and networking platform that uses short videos to help job seekers and entrepreneurs showcase their skills and connect with opportunities.[4]
Personal Life
Bhatia married Tanya Sharma in 2008. They have one daughter, Arianna. The couple filed for divorce in 2013 citing irreconcilable differences.[5]
Legacy and Impact
Sabeer Bhatia is widely regarded as a pioneer of web-based communication. His creation of Hotmail marked a significant shift in the way people interacted online, opening the doors for cloud-based communication services.
His legacy includes:
- Revolutionizing email with the launch of Hotmail.
- Inspiring a generation of Indian and global entrepreneurs.
- Advocating for digital innovation, AI, and tech-enabled learning.
References
- ↑ https://www.hindustantimes.com/business/iit-academia-stuck-in-the-past-hotmail-co-founder-sabeer-bhatia-says-innovation-comes-from-doing-not-just-studying-101741327176037.html
- ↑ https://www.businesstoday.in/latest/trends/story/could-have-been-built-for-20-million-hotmail-founder-sabeer-bhatia-says-13-billion-wasted-on-aadhaar-463954-2025-02-09
- ↑ https://www.business-standard.com/india-news/hotmail-founder-sabeer-bhatia-criticises-aadhaar-calls-it-1-billion-misstep-125021101039_1.html
- ↑ https://www.indiatoday.in/business/story/hotmail-co-founder-sabeer-bhatia-critisises-aadhaar-and-upi-in-a-podcast-2678145-2025-02-11
- ↑ https://www.deccanherald.com/india/rs-11385-cr-ill-spent-on-aadhaar-project-couldve-been-done-with-rs-136-cr-claims-hotmail-co-founder-sabeer-bhatia-3398158