Pulkit Agrawal
Pulkit Agrawal is an Indian entrepreneur best known as the co-founder and former CEO of Trell, one of India’s leading social commerce platforms. Through Trell, Agrawal helped bridge the gap between content creation and e-commerce, empowering creators and enabling discovery-led shopping for millions of users.[1]
| Pulkit Agrawal | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Alma mater | Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay |
| Occupation | Entrepreneur |
| Known for | Co-founder and former CEO of Trell |
Early Life and Education
Pulkit Agrawal graduated from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay with a degree in engineering. During his time at IIT, he cultivated a deep interest in technology, digital behavior, and entrepreneurship—areas that would define his future career in India’s startup ecosystem.[2]
Founding of Trell
In 2017, Agrawal co-founded Trell alongside Bimal Kartheek Rebba, Prashant Sachan, and Arun Lodhi. The platform initially began as a community-driven travel recommendation app, encouraging users to share visual stories and trip reviews.
However, as short-form video consumption exploded in India—fueled by cheaper internet and growing smartphone adoption—Trell evolved into a full-fledged lifestyle and social commerce platform. It allowed creators to post short videos on fashion, skincare, fitness, and cooking, integrating shoppable links and product recommendations.[3]
Growth and Success
Under Agrawal’s leadership, Trell became one of India’s top lifestyle platforms:
- Crossed 100 million downloads on the Google Play Store.
- Supported content in multiple vernacular languages, democratizing digital commerce.
- Enabled creators to monetize their influence via brand collaborations and product promotion.
- Partnered with D2C and FMCG brands for influencer-led product discovery.
Trell’s user-first design and focus on video-based commerce made it particularly popular in Tier-2 and Tier-3 Indian cities.[4]
Challenges and Controversies
In 2022, Trell faced governance and financial reporting issues, leading to scrutiny from investors. Allegations of financial irregularities emerged, triggering internal investigations and a management reshuffle. Amid the turbulence, Pulkit Agrawal stepped down from his role as CEO.
The platform also faced increasing competition from other social commerce and video apps, including Meesho, Flipkart’s Shopsy, and Amazon’s influencer network.
Legacy and Future Outlook
Despite Trell’s challenges, Agrawal is credited with being an early visionary in the creator-led commerce space. His work demonstrated the viability of merging influencer content with online shopping, paving the way for future content-to-commerce models in India.
Post-Trell, Agrawal is expected to continue contributing to India’s startup and technology landscape, potentially through investments, advisory roles, or new ventures.[5]
Conclusion
Pulkit Agrawal is a pioneering figure in India’s social commerce revolution. His journey with Trell reflects the rapid rise of vernacular content, creator monetization, and video-driven shopping in India’s digital economy. While his startup faced setbacks, Agrawal’s influence on the intersection of content and commerce remains significant, and his entrepreneurial path continues to inspire India’s next generation of digital innovators.
References
- ↑ https://www.cnbctv18.com/business/companies/why-did-trell-co-founder-send-an-angry-note-to-investors-what-we-know-so-far-12946852.htm
- ↑ https://inc42.com/buzz/will-not-take-a-hit-lying-down-trell-cofounder-sends-seething-note-to-investors/
- ↑ https://yourstory.com/2021/10/techsparks-2021-trell-pulkit-agarwal-social-commerce-opportunity
- ↑ https://www.adgully.com/trell--s-users-are-spending-over-40-min-on-the-platform-consuming-content-pulkit-agrawal-97385.html
- ↑ https://yourstory.com/2021/09/brands-of-india-trell-founder-d2c-brands-social-commerce-strategy