Early Life
Bhavish Aggarwal was born in Ludhiana, Punjab, India, on August 28, 1985. Growing up in a middle-class Punjabi family, he developed a strong work ethic. He completed his early education in Ludhiana and showed an early aptitude for science and technology. He pursued a Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) degree in Computer Science and Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay, graduating in 2008.
Rise to Success
Aggarwal's career began with Microsoft Research India as a Research Intern and later as an Assistant Researcher. However, he soon recognized the potential for an on-demand cab aggregator service to address the issues Indians faced with transportation, which led to the founding of Ola Cabs in 2010 with Ankit Bhati. By early 2015, Ola had the biggest market share in the ride-hailing market in India. In 2017, Aggarwal founded Ola Electric, an electric vehicle manufacturer that is the largest electric two-wheeler manufacturer in India. In 2024, Aggarwal founded Ola Krutrim, India's first AI unicorn.
Key Business Strategies
Aggarwal's strategies include focusing on the customer experience and building a strong team. Ola's initial success was achieved through a focus on customer satisfaction and providing reliable cab services. Ola Electric is vertically integrated, manufacturing EVs and core components like battery packs and motors. Ola Electric's strategies also focus on expanding into international markets and developing its own battery technology.
Philanthropy
In 2016, Aggarwal's wife, Rajalakshmi Aggarwal, joined the Ola Foundation to help the company's philanthropic initiatives. Information regarding exact philanthropy amounts could not be located.
