Latest news with #Bikhchandani
India Today
a day ago
- Business
- India Today
Meet Sanjeev Bikhchandani, Co-founder of Ashoka University and Naukri
Sanjeev Bikhchandani is one of the most revered entrepreneurs and philanthropists in India. He is widely known as the founder of India's first online job portal, but he has also created a huge impact in India's education sector by co-founding Ashoka University. From building businesses to supporting social causes, Sanjeev Bikhchandani represents a compelling story of how innovation, vision, and meaning can overlap to drive real is Sanjeev Bikhchandani?Sanjeev Bikhchandani is one of the most respected entrepreneurs in India. He is most known for founding India's first and most popular online job portal. Today, he is also known as a powerful investor, philanthropist, and startup mentor. His efforts have improved the lives of millions of jobseekers across India and helped shape the digital economy.A Look at Sanjeev Bikhchandani's Professional JourneySanjeev Bikhchandani is an Indian entrepreneur and the founder of Info Edge. He was born in New Delhi, India. Bikhchandani went to St. Columba's School, New Delhi, and graduated from school in obtained a Bachelor of Arts with Economics as his main subject from St. Stephen's College, Delhi, graduating in 1984, and an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIM Ahmedabad) in completing his MBA from IIM Ahmedabad in 1989, Sanjeev Bikhchandani began his career in marketing at Hindustan Milkfood Manufacturers (now GlaxoSmithKline), working on the Horlicks 1990, he left his job to pursue entrepreneurship. He founded Info Edge in 1995, which would become a leading online classifieds company in 1997, he launched which quickly grew to become India's largest web-based employment site, revolutionising job search and recruitment in the his leadership, Info Edge expanded its portfolio with other classified sites, including (real estate), (matrimonial), and (education).Bikhchandani is recognised as an astute investor, having made successful investments in startups such as PolicyBazaar and is also part of the 'Vision Circle' of FYI (Foundation for Young Innovators), a non-profit organisation supporting young has received several honours, including the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award (2008) and the Padma Shri (2020).Awards and honours received by Sanjeev Bikhchandani 2008: Received the Ernst and Young – Entrepreneur of the Year Award for Business Transformation.2008: Honoured with the Dataquest Pathbreaker Award and Teacher's Achievement Award for Business.2011: Conferred the Distinguished Alumnus Award by the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIM-A).2012: Received the CF Andrews Distinguished Alumnus Award from St. Stephen's College, Delhi.2012: Honoured with the Lakshmipat Singhania – IIM Lucknow National Leadership Award as Young Leader in the Business Category.2017: Featured in Outlook Magazine's list of India's fifty greatest CEOs ever.2019: Awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award in IT by the Financial Express.2020: Conferred the prestigious Padma Shri Award by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of Sanjeev Bikhchandani stands not just as the founder of a successful internet company but as a symbol of how entrepreneurship can be a powerful force for change. From enabling millions of Indians to find jobs through to investing in the country's digital and educational future, Bikhchandani continues to inspire a new generation of change India's startup and innovation ecosystem evolves, leaders like him remain a guiding light for building businesses that are both purposeful and impactful.
Time of India
3 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Have discussed walking away from Ashoka: Co-founder Sanjeev Bikhchandani in reply to alumnus on Mahmudabad row
New Delhi: Weeks after one of its professors, Ali Khan Mahmudabad, was arrested over a social media post he wrote on Operation Sindoor and the university was criticised for not taking a stand amid a raging argument over free speech, Ashoka trustee and co-founder Sanjeev Bikhchandani made his views clear in an emailed reply to a former student. Activism is not embedded to a liberal arts university, a political post on social media is not academic scholarship, and the founders have considered walking away, he asserted in the email. "Why don't you and other alumni offer to step in and take over?" Bikhchandani wrote in the email that was shared on an internal mailing list. "Pramath, Ashish and I have seriously discussed the option of walking away. Ashoka is too much of a headache... money, even in this day and age, does not grow on trees but it still makes the world go around," he added, referring to fellow trustee Pramath Raj Sinha and founding chairperson Ashish Dhawan. Dwelling at length on activism, he wrote, "Activism and a Liberal Arts University are not joined at the hip. Ashoka is a Liberal Arts and Sciences University. Whether to be activists or not is a conscious choice people make. In the past I have questioned the activism at Ashoka — each time, I have been pounced upon by the activists and their supporters, both within and outside Ashoka: students, faculty, activists, etc. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo , saying that 'if you are running a liberal arts university, then activism goes with the territory', that 'I am an arrogant owner', that 'dirty filthy capitalists don't understand how a university runs' (they somehow forget that the same capitalists are paying their salaries)." "You can be a great liberal arts university and not be activist. Anyone who tells you otherwise is a liar," he added. "As an institution, Ashoka cannot take an activist position. It (Ashoka) is governed by the law of the land… It is answerable to regulators and to government authorities. It is not a political party or movement — it is an educational institution." Addressing the row over Mahmudabad's post and his arrest without taking names, Bikhchandani wrote, "A political opinion expressed on Facebook or Twitter (X) or Instagram is not academic scholarship. Consequently, any public outcry about a political opinion an academic may express on social media is not an attack on academic freedom... If a regulator or the government or law enforcement goes after you for a social media post, it is not an infringement of academic freedom. It might be an infringement of freedom of speech; however, there are provisions within the Constitution and the law where you can find protection. You are a grown-up adult. You are responsible for your actions and any consequences thereof. Ashoka is not obliged to support you for political opinions... You did not seek Ashoka's consent before posting on social media, you cannot now present Ashoka with a fait accompli and expect support." "Appropriate timing of what to say, where, when and to whom and how is a sign of intelligence (beyond academic scholarship)," he added. "If you end up offending a whole bunch of people, even though you were not technically incorrect in what you said, then an expression of regret and an apology is a sign of good grace and decency. Hijacking an institutional platform to make it subordinate to your political agenda is an act of institutional capture and selfishness. Expecting the institution to then support you is an act of entitlement and arrogance." In making these points, Bikhchandani identified a "policy issue" for Ashoka's governing body to think over. "Can a full-time academic also pursue a political career? In the private sector, we generally stay away from what are termed as 'politically exposed persons'. Should Ashoka have such a policy?" Mahmudabad, incidentally, has been associated with Samajwadi Party, though he has been inactive in recent years.
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Business Standard
25-05-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Info Edge shareholders approve ₹1,000-cr investment in venture fund III
Shareholders of Info Edge (India) Ltd, the company behind job portal have approved a plan to invest up to ₹1,000 crore in its third venture fund. The infusion will enable the Noida-based firm to increase its backing of early-stage startups, reinforcing its strategy to expand its presence in India's growing venture capital ecosystem. 'In connection with the above, we hereby inform that the members of the company have approved the aforesaid resolution with requisite majority through remote e-voting postal ballot process as set out in the Postal Ballot Notice, and the approval is deemed to have been received on the last date specified by the company for remote e-voting, i.e. Saturday, 24 May 2025,' Info Edge said in a stock exchange filing on Saturday. Smartweb Internet Services Ltd, a fully owned subsidiary of Info Edge, will serve as the fund's investment manager and sponsor. The proposal was cleared with 99.9995 per cent votes in favour, co-founder Sanjeev Bikhchandani wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter). 'Results of the Info Edge shareholders' postal ballot are in. The proposal to invest up to ₹1,000 crores in Info Edge Ventures Fund 3 was approved with 99.9995% of votes in favour. Thank you for the vote of confidence in our investing abilities, shareholders,' Bikhchandani posted on X on Sunday. Info Edge has played a key role as an early investor in India's startup landscape, backing companies like Zomato (now Eternal) and PB Fintech (Policybazaar). In a recent letter to shareholders, founder Bikhchandani reported that Info Edge's combined holdings in these firms were valued at approximately ₹31,500 crore ($3.7 billion) as of 31 March 2025.
Time of India
25-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Info Edge shareholders approve Rs 1,000 crore investment in its VC fund
Shareholders of Info Edge (India) Ltd, the parent of have approved a proposal to invest up to Rs 1,000 crore in Info Edge Ventures Fund III, paving the way for the Noida-based firm to ramp up its startup investments . Smartweb Internet Services Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Info Edge, will act as both the investment manager and sponsor of the fund. 'The members of the company have approved the resolution with requisite majority through remote e-voting/postal ballot,' Info Edge said in a stock exchange filing on Saturday. A total of 1,274 members participated in the vote, of which 1,271 valid votes were considered. The proposal was cleared with 99.9995% votes in favour, cofounder Sanjeev Bikhchandani wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter). — sbikh (@sbikh) Live Events Info Edge has been an early investor in the Indian startup ecosystem, with bets on companies such as Zomato (now Eternal ) and PB Fintech ( Policybazaar ). Discover the stories of your interest Blockchain 5 Stories Cyber-safety 7 Stories Fintech 9 Stories E-comm 9 Stories ML 8 Stories Edtech 6 Stories Earlier this month, Bikhchandani said in a letter to shareholders that Info Edge's stakes in Zomato and PB Fintech were together valued at Rs 31,500 crore (approx. $3.7 billion) as of March 31, 2025. Investment snapshot: Total capital deployed across startups: Rs 3,959 crore (approx. $467 million) Fair market value of investments: Rs 36,855 crore (approx. $4.3 billion) Gross internal rate of return (IRR): Over 36% annually Number of companies backed: 111 Startups with co-investors/follow-on rounds: 76
Economic Times
25-05-2025
- Business
- Economic Times
Info Edge to invest Rs 1,000 crore in VC fund with shareholders' nod
parent Info Edge has received shareholders' approval to invest up to Rs 1,000 crore in Info Edge Venture Investment Fund will enable the firm to invest in more startups. Smartweb Internet Services Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Info Edge, will act as both the investment manager and sponsor of the fund.'The members of the company have approved the resolution with requisite majority through remote e-voting postal ballot,' it said in an exchange filing on Saturday.A total of 1,274 members participated, with 1,271 valid votes considered, it said. 'The proposal to invest up to Rs 1,000 crores in Info Edge Venture Investment Fund III was approved with 99.9995% of votes in favour,' the Noida-based firm's cofounder Sanjeev Bikhchandani said in a post on X. Info Edge started investing in startups with Zomato (now Eternal) and PB Fintech. Earlier this month, Bikhchandani in a letter to its shareholders said that Info Edge's stakes in Zomato and Policybazaar are together valued at Rs 31,500 crore, or around $3.7 billion, as of March 31. Overall, Info Edge has invested Rs 3,959 crore ($467 million) across startups from its balance sheet as well as its venture fund, and pegs the fair market value of these investments at Rs 36,855 crore, or approximately $4.3 billion – making it a gross internal rate of return of over 36% per firm has invested in 111 companies, of which 76 have tapped institutional co-investors or follow-on investors, he noted.
