Ankush Sachdeva
| Ankush Sachdeva | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 1992 Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, India |
| Education | IIT Kanpur (B.Tech, Computer Science) |
| Occupation | Entrepreneur, CEO of ShareChat and Moj |
| Known for | Co-founding ShareChat and Moj |
Ankush Sachdeva is an Indian entrepreneur, co-founder, and CEO of ShareChat and Moj, two of India's leading social media platforms focused on regional language content. His journey from facing multiple startup failures to building a multibillion-dollar enterprise is widely regarded as an inspiring example of innovation and resilience in the Indian startup ecosystem.[1]
Early Life and Education
Ankush Sachdeva was born in 1992 in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, India. He completed his schooling at Somerville School, Noida, and pursued a B.Tech in Computer Science from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur between 2011 and 2015. During his college years, he actively participated in the Programming Club, serving as its coordinator. He also completed an internship at Microsoft in Hyderabad.[2]
Entrepreneurial Journey
After graduating, Sachdeva co-founded Mohalla Tech Pvt Ltd along with his IIT Kanpur classmates Bhanu Pratap Singh and Farid Ahsan. The trio experimented with nearly 17 different projects before finding success with ShareChat.
ShareChat was officially launched on January 8, 2015, with the aim of providing a social media platform for Indian users across multiple regional languages. The app supports 15 Indian languages including Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Marathi, and others, bridging a crucial gap left by English-centric platforms.
As of 2022, ShareChat reported over 180 million monthly active users and reached a valuation of approximately $5 billion. The platform has received funding from global giants such as Google, Twitter, and Lightspeed Ventures.
Moj
Following the government ban on TikTok in India, Sachdeva and his team developed Moj, a short-video platform, within just 30 hours. Moj launched on June 29, 2020, and quickly rose to become one of India's top short-video platforms with over 160 million monthly active users.[3]
Leadership and Vision
Initially serving as the Chief Product Officer, Ankush Sachdeva took over as CEO of ShareChat in 2017. Under his leadership, the company:
- Expanded its user base by focusing on regional content.
- Acquired short-video competitor MX TakaTak to enhance its offerings.
- Secured substantial investments and scaled to become one of India’s leading consumer tech startups.
His leadership philosophy emphasizes user empowerment, content localization, and community building.
Recognitions
- Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia (2018) in the Consumer Technology category. - Hurun India Under35s List (2024), recognizing him among India's top young entrepreneurs.[4]
Net Worth
As of 2024, Ankush Sachdeva’s net worth is estimated to exceed $110 million, primarily from his stake in ShareChat.
Personal Life
Ankush Sachdeva continues to be actively involved in shaping India's social media landscape, driving innovation in regional content creation, and mentoring emerging entrepreneurs.[5]
References
- ↑ https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/who-is-ankush-sachdeva-youngest-on-huruns-u-35-indian-entrepreneurs-list-6657835
- ↑ https://www.aajtak.in/business/news/story/meet-ankush-sachdeva-sharechat-founder-ceo-know-success-story-and-net-woth-tutd-dskc-2056641-2024-09-30
- ↑ https://www.firstpost.com/explainers/quicksplained-who-is-ankush-sachdeva-youngest-entrepreneur-on-the-hurun-u-35-india-list-13819579.html
- ↑ https://www.killerstartups.com/ankush-sachdeva-tops-hurun-india-2024-list/
- ↑ https://www.freepressjournal.in/business/ankush-sachdeva-who-is-the-iitian-and-youngest-to-make-it-to-the-huruns-u-35-indian-entrepreneur-list