An inspiring story from the Indian tech world shows how grit and resilience can outlast setbacks. Ankush Sachdeva, an alumnus of IIT Kanpur, endured 17 failed startup attempts after graduation — ranging from study platforms to local services apps — before discovering the idea that would change his trajectory. Rather than joining a corporate job, he stayed committed to solving real problems, turning each failure into a data point on what not to build next.

In 2015, Sachdeva teamed up with friends Farid Ahsan and Bhanu Singh to launch ShareChat, a social networking app designed specifically for India’s linguistic and cultural diversity. Unlike international platforms built primarily for English-speaking users, ShareChat focused on vernacular content, offering support in 15 Indian languages — from Hindi and Bengali to Malayalam and Bhojpuri — helping connect rural and non-metro users across the country.

The strategy resonated deeply, leading to explosive growth. By 2021, ShareChat had amassed over 160 million users, embracing local culture, humour and community in ways other platforms had overlooked. Its valuation soared to about ₹40,000 crore (approx. $5 billion) by 2022, cementing its place as one of India’s standout social tech success stories.

Sachdeva’s journey emphasises that failure isn’t defeat but part of the path toward meaningful innovation — and that understanding your audience deeply can unlock huge opportunities in underserved markets.