Ankush Sachdeva Biography: Building India’s Social Media Empire
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- July 23, 2025
Ankush Sachdeva, co-founder and CEO of ShareChat, has transformed India’s social media landscape with a platform for regional language users. Born in Ghaziabad, he overcame 17 failed startups to build a $5 billion unicorn by 2025. This biography explores his early life, career highlights, struggles, controversies, personal life, social media presence, philanthropy, and lesser-known facts, highlighting his influence.
About Ankush Sachdeva
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Ankush Sachdeva |
| Born | Ghaziabad, India (exact date unavailable, ~1993) |
| Profession | Entrepreneur, CEO of ShareChat and Moj |
| Notable Work | ShareChat, Moj, Mohalla Tech |
| Marital Status | Private; Details not publicly disclosed |
| Children | Private; Details not publicly disclosed |
| Net Worth | ~₹800 crore (2024, ShareChat valued at $5B) |
| Education | B.Tech, Computer Science, IIT Kanpur (2011–2015) |
Ankush Sachdeva’s Early Life
Ghaziabad Roots
Born in Ghaziabad, Ankush Sachdeva grew up in a middle-class family with high academic expectations. His early passion for coding led him to excel at Somerville School, Noida, setting the stage for his admission to IIT Kanpur.
IIT Kanpur Journey
Ankush pursued a B.Tech in Computer Science at IIT Kanpur from 2011 to 2015. There, he met co-founders Farid Ahsan and Bhanu Pratap Singh at a hackathon. Their shared interest in product development sparked entrepreneurial ideas, per startuptalky.com.
Struggles and Down Phases
17 Failed Ventures
Before ShareChat, Ankush Sachdeva launched 17 startups, including a crime data analyzer for Delhi Police, all of which failed. He told YourStory these setbacks taught resilience but tested his confidence, with investors rejecting his early ideas.
Funding Winter Layoffs
In 2023, ShareChat faced a funding crunch, leading to 500 layoffs, about 20% of its workforce. Ankush called it a “heart-wrenching” decision in an email to employees, per Economic Times, as he navigated a global economic downturn.
Career Highlights
Founding ShareChat
In 2015, Ankush Sachdeva co-founded Mohalla Tech with Farid Ahsan and Bhanu Pratap Singh, launching ShareChat to serve India’s non-English speakers. Supporting 15 regional languages, it grew to 350 million monthly active users by 2025, per naction.in.
Moj’s Rapid Rise
After TikTok’s 2020 ban in India, Ankush launched Moj, a short-video platform, which hit 100 million downloads in six months. By 2025, Moj and ShareChat reached 650 million users, per Fortune India, with ₹800 crore in revenue.
2025 Achievements
ShareChat turned cash flow positive in 2024, a rare feat for social media startups. Ankush’s focus on AI-driven content, like micro-dramas, boosted engagement, earning him a spot on the 2024 Hurun U-35 Entrepreneurs List, per NDTV.
Personal Life
Ankush keeps his personal life private, living in Bengaluru. He enjoys mentoring startups and staying updated on AI trends, as seen in his LinkedIn posts. His focus remains on ShareChat’s growth, with little shared about family or relationships.
Controversies
Layoff Backlash
The 2023 layoffs sparked criticism on X, with users like @TechBuzzIndia calling them harsh. Ankush defended the move as necessary for financial health, emphasizing cost-cutting measures, per Economic Times.
MX TakaTak Acquisition
ShareChat’s $700 million acquisition of MX TakaTak in 2022 raised concerns about market consolidation. Some X users, like @StartupTalk, questioned its impact on competition, but Ankush highlighted enhanced user experience, per Business Standard.
Social Media Presence
Ankush is active on LinkedIn (@ankush-sachdeva) and X (@AnkushSach), with 500+ LinkedIn connections and 5,000+ X followers. His posts about ShareChat’s AI papers at EMNLP 2021 and 2025 milestones like micro-dramas gained 3,000+ reactions, per LinkedIn.
Lesser-Known Facts
- 17 Failures: Launched 17 unsuccessful startups before ShareChat.
- Microsoft Intern: Interned at Microsoft Hyderabad in 2014.
- Hackathon Roots: Met co-founders at an IIT Kanpur hackathon.
- Programming Club: Coordinated IIT Kanpur’s Programming Club for a year.
- Crime Data Project: Built a crime data analyzer for Delhi Police.
- Forbes Recognition: Featured in Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia in 2018.
- Hurun Honor: Youngest on 2024 Hurun U-35 Entrepreneurs List.
- Micro-Drama Push: Pioneered bite-sized dramas on ShareChat and Moj.
Philanthropy
Ankush supports digital literacy through ShareChat’s creator programs, empowering regional content creators. In 2024, Mohalla Tech donated to STEM education initiatives in Bengaluru, fostering tech talent among underserved youth, per YourStory. He also backs community engagement projects.
Current Status and Influence
In 2025, Ankush Sachdeva leads ShareChat, valued at $5 billion, with 650 million users across ShareChat and Moj. His focus on AI-driven content and regional inclusivity drives growth, with plans for deeper market penetration, per Fortune India.
Conclusion
This Ankush Sachdeva biography highlights his journey from 17 failures to building ShareChat, a $5 billion unicorn. Overcoming setbacks, Ankush Sachdeva created a platform for India’s non-English speakers, revolutionizing social media. His philanthropy and AI innovations inspire entrepreneurs. In 2025, he continues to shape India’s digital landscape with ShareChat and Moj.
