Azhar Iqbal: Man from Bihar who changed the reading news habit and made Inshorts worth over 4000 cr

Shark Tank India introduced some new judges in the third season, including Azhar Iqubal. Azhar is one of the youngest entrepreneurs in India, he is the founder of the famous business  Inshorts News app. He is known for creating the, starting from a small Facebook page and turning it into a big company. He's also been honoured with awards like Forbes India 30 under 30 and Fortune India 40 under 40 for his work with ventures like "Public." However, the journey of this successful entrepreneur was not as easy as it looks today. Let’s know how a young man made a business worth 4000-5000 cr.

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Early Life and Education

Azhar was born in a small town Bahadurganj of Kishanganj District of Bihar in a lower middle class family. He completed his schooling from Kisanjan till 10th and he came to Delhi for higher studies. He studied in Hindi medium and wasn't great at English but his super confidence helped him. Now, He knows English well but prefers to speak Hindi. His confidence and smart business decisions paid off and he showed that believing in yourself is the real key to success. His family didn't have much, he loved learning new things. After completing schooling he got to know about IIT and its high-paying jobs then he prepared for IIT. 

He got a seat at IIT Delhi, in 2009 and studied Computer Science with the help of a scholarship. This laid the groundwork for his future in technology and business. In his college days, his first application was “making an app in the place of a notice board” but they failed in it as they were new to coding at that time. Everything was going fine but in his 3rd year, he started losing interest in his studies as he was just just an average student after so much hard work. He left college in 2012 to focus on business, inspired by his seniors.

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Entrepreneurial Journey

After college, Azhar along with classmates Deepti Purkayastha and Anunay Pandey entered into the startup world. He was starting several companies together. Their first big idea, "News in Shorts," started on Facebook in 2013, where they summarised news stories in just 60 words.  The page soon got recognition by his college mates and he became a known face in the college. It was the turning point in his life. It became so popular in just a year that they launched the Inshorts app in 2014. Azhar became the CEO and led the company to huge success and attracting lots of users and money.

Over the years, the business got a lot of investment. They expanded the app and even launched a version in Hindi in 2016. Azhar also got involved in other projects, like the "Public" social media app, which is becoming very popular. Their success attracted even more investment, making Azhar a big player in the Indian tech scene.

Recent News about Inshorts

In October 2023, Inshorts was valued at ₹3,700 crore. Last year, inshot also registered a loss of 310 cr according to some media reports. Azhar said in his recent interviews that In Shorts is not at a loss but their new business like “Public” is in an early phase that is making some losses. He says every new thing starts with challenges and it will take time. On the negative impact on investing in new businesses and entrepreneurs, he says When entrepreneurs are changing something some people will succeed and a few might fail, he further said.

Also Read: The Inspiring Journey of Ashneer Grover: From Middle-Class Roots to Unicorn Dreams

Becoming Shark Tank judge;

Azhar's entrepreneurial achievements caught the attention of industry experts and media alike, leading to his invitation as a guest judge on Shark Tank Season 03. As a judge on the show, Azhar brings his unique perspective and expertise to evaluate pitches from aspiring entrepreneurs seeking investment.  His background in technology and startups, combined with his firsthand experience of building and scaling a successful company, makes him different in the panel. 

Azhar's role as a judge on Shark Tank reflects the growing influence of technology and innovation in the business world and serves as an inspiration to aspiring entrepreneurs worldwide. Today, at just the age of 31 years old, Azhar is the CEO of the well-known company Inshorts app. He is a true inspiration for young entrepreneurs who think that business needs an age or experience, he has shown that if you want to achieve your goals you will make it.

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Written By Manvi