Shradha Sharma

Shradha Sharma
Born	Patna, Bihar, India
Education	St. Stephen’s College, Delhi MICA (Mudra Institute of Communications, Ahmedabad)
Occupation	Entrepreneur, Founder and CEO of YourStory
Years Active	2008–present
Known for	Founding YourStory, Championing Startup Narratives

Shradha Sharma is an Indian entrepreneur and the founder of YourStory, one of India's leading digital media platforms dedicated to telling the stories of entrepreneurs, innovators, and changemakers. With a background in media and communications, Shradha has played a crucial role in amplifying the voices of startups and bringing their journeys to the forefront of India’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Early Life and Education

Shradha Sharma was born and raised in Patna, Bihar. From an early age, she demonstrated a strong interest in people’s stories and experiences. She completed her undergraduate degree at St. Stephen’s College, Delhi, followed by a master’s degree from the Mudra Institute of Communications, Ahmedabad (MICA). Her education in communications and marketing provided the foundation for her future entrepreneurial journey.

Career in Media

Before founding her own venture, Shradha worked with major media organizations, gaining hands-on experience in journalism and brand advisory. She served as a Brand Advisor at The Times of India and later as Assistant Vice President at CNBC TV18. It was during this phase that she recognized the lack of platforms showcasing the journeys of emerging entrepreneurs, which inspired her to build YourStory.

Founding YourStory

In 2008, Shradha Sharma founded YourStory with the mission of giving a voice to entrepreneurs, startups, and small businesses whose stories often remained untold. With no initial external funding, she bootstrapped the venture and worked tirelessly to establish YourStory as a credible media platform. Over the years, YourStory has published thousands of startup stories across multiple languages, making it one of the most trusted platforms in India’s startup ecosystem.

YourStory’s flagship event, TechSparks, has become a well-known gathering for entrepreneurs, investors, and innovators.

Challenges and Growth

Shradha’s journey has been marked by resilience and a commitment to authentic storytelling. Despite facing funding challenges and skepticism in the early days, she remained focused on her vision. She emphasized covering not only success stories but also failures and struggles, offering a balanced and realistic portrayal of entrepreneurship.

Her leadership helped YourStory grow from a niche blog into a widely respected platform that supports innovation, startups, and entrepreneurship.

Awards and Recognition

Shradha Sharma has received numerous accolades for her contribution to media and entrepreneurship, including:

• Named in Fortune India’s "40 Under 40"
• Winner of several awards recognizing leadership in digital media and entrepreneurship

Vision and Future Plans

Shradha aims to scale YourStory's impact globally, expanding its focus beyond India to include emerging markets worldwide. She continues to advocate for diversity, inclusion, and women entrepreneurship, ensuring that YourStory highlights voices from all backgrounds.

Her long-term vision is to create a world where every entrepreneur, regardless of their geography or gender, has the opportunity to be heard.