Bhavish Aggarwal, the co-founder and CEO of Ola Cabs, has become one of the most prominent figures in India's startup ecosystem. Bhavish Agarwal success story is an inspiring tale of innovation, resilience, and perseverance that transformed the way Indians commute.
Born in Ludhiana, Punjab, Bhavish Aggarwal pursued a degree in Computer Science and Engineering from the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay. After graduating, he worked at Microsoft Research, where he developed a deep understanding of technology and innovation. However, Bhavish soon realized that his true calling was entrepreneurship.
The idea of Ola Cabs was born out of a personal frustration with India's taxi services. In 2010, while on a road trip, Bhavish faced numerous challenges with a rental car experience, sparking the idea to revolutionize the taxi industry. He envisioned a tech-driven platform that would make cab services reliable, accessible, and affordable for millions of Indians.
Together with co-founder Ankit Bhati, Bhavish launched Ola Cabs in December 2010. Initially starting as a small website where people could book cabs, the company quickly scaled. Ola's innovation lay in its focus on mobile app-based bookings, a novelty in India at the time. Bhavish's focus on customer experience and driver empowerment also played a crucial role in Ola’s rapid growth.
Under his leadership, Ola expanded its operations to over 250 cities in India, offering services such as ride-sharing, auto-rickshaws, and electric vehicles. Despite facing stiff competition from global giant Uber, Bhavish steered Ola toward success, solidifying its place as India's leading ride-hailing platform.