Ashneer Grover’s rise from a middle-class Delhi home to becoming one of India’s most recognised entrepreneurs is nothing short of inspiring. Best known as the co-founder of BharatPe and the unfiltered judge on Shark Tank India, Grover has built his reputation on risk-taking, hard work, and speaking his mind, loud and clear.
After becoming famous, he is now even active in content creation on social media. Currently, Ashneer Grover is running his own Big Boss-like reality TV show, Rise and Fall, where famous celebrities like Bhojpuri star Pawan Singh, Kiku Sharda, Aditya Narayan, and many others are contestants.
Born in 1982, Ashneer grew up in Delhi in a modest family. His father was a Chartered Accountant, and his mother was a homemaker.
Strong in academics, he graduated in Civil Engineering from IIT Delhi and went on to pursue an MBA at IIM Ahmedabad, two of the country’s most prestigious institutions.
Grover’s early career began at Kotak Investment Banking, followed by key leadership roles at American Express, Grofers (now Blinkit), and PC Jeweller.
But the turning point came in 2018 when he co-founded BharatPe, a fintech platform designed to empower small shopkeepers and kirana stores.
BharatPe disrupted the market with bold innovations: free UPI payments for merchants, easy credit facilities and loans for shopkeepers, and strong partnerships with banks for rapid scaling.
By 2021, BharatPe had crossed $12 billion in annual transactions and achieved unicorn status, making Grover one of the leading faces in Indian fintech.
From Startup Builder to TV Sensation
Grover’s fame skyrocketed further when he became a judge on the first season of Shark Tank India. Known for his blunt one-liners, no-nonsense advice, and viral comebacks (Yeh sab doglapan hai), he quickly turned into a pop-culture icon.
His sharp commentary resonated with fans who appreciated his honesty, even if it came with controversy. Now, that TV experience is being resonated in the hosting of the reality TV show ‘Rise and Fall’.
Ashneer didn’t just build BharatPe; he mastered the art of scaling businesses and investing in the future. He has invested in more than 50 startups, including CrickPe and several emerging tech ventures.
With a net worth estimated between ₹700-900 crore (over $108 million), Grover has also authored the bestselling book Doglapan, where he shares lessons from his rollercoaster journey.
His approach is simple but fearless: speak directly, prioritise customer needs, and never shy away from risks. By blending startup hustle with TV stardom and social media presence, Grover became both a business leader and a cultural phenomenon.
Grover’s path hasn’t been without struggles, public feuds, legal battles, and dramatic exits from boardrooms, which have often made headlines. Yet, he continues to inspire with lessons on resilience and value creation.
His takeaways for young founders are clear: take bold risks but stay authentic, build trust through transparency, choose innovation over comfort, and learn from every failure without losing confidence
Ashneer Grover’s journey is proof that you don’t need privilege to make it big in India’s startup ecosystem. His story blends ambition with grit, showing how middle-class determination can scale into billion-dollar ideas.
For India’s aspiring entrepreneurs, he is more than just a businessman; he’s a symbol of confidence, resilience, and fearless ambition.
