Bhavish Aggarwal Biography: Transforming India’s Mobility
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- July 19, 2025
Bhavish Aggarwal, born August 28, 1985, in Ludhiana, Punjab, is the co-founder and CEO of Ola Consumer and founder of Ola Electric and Krutrim. Known for revolutionizing India’s transportation, Bhavish Aggarwal built Ola into a global ride-hailing giant. This biography covers his early life, career highlights, struggles, controversies, personal life, social media presence, philanthropy, and lesser-known facts, showcasing his influence in 2025.
About Bhavish Aggarwal
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Bhavish Aggarwal |
| Born | August 28, 1985, Ludhiana, Punjab, India |
| Profession | Entrepreneur, CEO of Ola Consumer, Founder of Ola Electric, Krutrim |
| Notable Work | Ola Consumer, Ola Electric, Krutrim AI |
| Marital Status | Married to Rajalakshmi Aggarwal |
| Children | Two children (one son, one daughter) |
| Net Worth | ~$2.3 billion (2024, Forbes) |
| Awards | Time’s 100 Most Influential People (2018), ET Entrepreneur (2017) |
Bhavish Aggarwal’s Early Life
Ludhiana Upbringing
Born to doctor parents in Ludhiana, Bhavish Aggarwal grew up in a middle-class Punjabi family. His father, Naresh Kumar Aggarwal, was an orthopedic surgeon, and his mother, Usha Aggarwal, a pathologist. His early years in Afghanistan, due to his father’s work, sparked his adventurous spirit.
Education at IIT Bombay
Bhavish excelled academically, moving to Kota for IIT preparation. After failing his first attempt, he cleared the IIT entrance exam with a 23rd rank in 2004. He earned a B.Tech in Computer Science from IIT Bombay in 2008, co-authoring research papers and fueling his tech passion.
Struggles and Down Phases
Early Entrepreneurial Risks
In 2010, Bhavish left a stable job at Microsoft to start Ola. He invested ₹5 lakh of his savings, but faced fierce competition from local taxi services like FastTrack. Additionally, regulatory hurdles and limited funding threatened Ola’s early survival.
COVID-19 and Layoffs
The 2020 pandemic hit Ola hard, slashing revenues by 95%. Consequently, Bhavish laid off 5,000 employees to keep the company afloat. Moreover, Ola Electric’s 2024 valuation drop and 1,000 layoffs in 2025 sparked criticism, testing his leadership.
Career Highlights
Founding Ola
Inspired by a bad taxi experience in 2010, Bhavish Aggarwal co-founded Ola Cabs with Ankit Bhati in 2011. Starting with a 1BHK office in Powai, Ola grew to 22 cities by 2023, offering cabs, auto-rickshaws, and bikes. Its 2021 valuation hit $7 billion.
Ola Electric and Krutrim
In 2017, Bhavish launched Ola Electric, introducing electric scooters and a women-run factory in Tamil Nadu. In 2023, he founded Krutrim, India’s first AI unicorn, valued at $1 billion in 2024. Ola Electric’s $734 million IPO in August 2024 marked India’s biggest that year.
Personal Life
Bhavish married Rajalakshmi Aggarwal, a Tamilian and former Ernst & Young analyst, in 2014 after dating since 2007. They have two children and live in Bengaluru. A photography enthusiast, Bhavish runs a blog, Desitech.in, and loves cycling, squash, and his three office dogs: Husky, Fatty, and Happy.
Controversies
Toxic Work Culture Allegations
In 2022, reports criticized Bhavish Aggarwal for fostering a toxic work environment at Ola Electric. Employees claimed he tore up presentations over minor errors and used harsh language, leading to high-profile exits. Bhavish defended his passion for excellence but promised improvements.
Social Media Feuds
In October 2024, Bhavish clashed with comedian Kunal Kamra on X over Ola scooters’ quality. His sarcastic response, offering Kamra payment to “fix issues,” drew mixed reactions. Additionally, his support for a 70-hour workweek and comments against “pronoun illness” in 2024 sparked debates.
Social Media Presence
With 135,000 X followers (@bhash), Bhavish engages actively, sharing Ola updates and bold opinions. His 2024 post mocking pronoun usage gained 15,000 likes, while his feud with Kamra drew 20,000 engagements. His posts on AI and EVs position him as a thought leader in 2025.
Lesser-Known Facts
- Afghanistan Childhood: Spent his first two years in Kabul due to his father’s work.
- IIT Failure: Failed his first IIT entrance attempt before securing 23rd rank.
- Photography Blog: Runs Desitech.in, focusing on startups and tech.
- Pet Lover: Has three office dogs named Husky, Fatty, and Happy.
- No Car Owner: Relies solely on Ola’s ride-hailing services.
- Women-Led Factory: Ola Electric’s Tamil Nadu plant employs 10,000 women.
- AI Visionary: Founded Krutrim, India’s first AI unicorn, in 2023.
- Sanskrit Enthusiast: Named his AI venture “Krutrim,” meaning artificial in Sanskrit.
Philanthropy
Through the Ola Foundation, led by his wife Rajalakshmi, Bhavish supports women’s empowerment, education, and healthcare. In 2020, he donated his annual salary to a drivers’ fund during COVID-19. The “Ola Green” campaign promotes EVs, aligning with his sustainability goals.
Current Status and Influence
In 2025, Bhavish Aggarwal leads Ola Consumer, Ola Electric, and Krutrim, with a $2.3 billion net worth. Ola Electric aims to scale EV production to 100 GWh in a decade, while Krutrim disrupts AI globally. His innovations inspire India’s startup ecosystem despite ongoing controversies.
Conclusion
This Bhavish Aggarwal biography showcases a journey of grit and innovation. From a Ludhiana boy to a global entrepreneur, Bhavish Aggarwal built Ola into a mobility giant and pioneered EVs and AI with Ola Electric and Krutrim. Despite controversies, his philanthropy and vision for sustainable transport shape India’s future in 2025.
