Sanjeev Bikhchandani was born in 1963 in New Delhi, India, into a middle-class family. He attended St. Columba’s School in New Delhi, completing his schooling in 1981. For higher education, he pursued a Bachelor of Arts in Economics at St. Stephen’s College, Delhi University, graduating in 1984. He then earned an MBA from IIM Ahmedabad in 1989, which laid the foundation for his entrepreneurial journey.
Early Career in Advertising and Marketing
After graduation, Bikhchandani worked in advertising at Lintas India Ltd. from 1984 to 1987. Post-MBA, he joined Hindustan Milkfood Manufacturers (now part of GSK) in 1989 as a product executive, working on Horlicks. There, he noticed that professionals flipped to job ads first in business magazines. This insight, jobs being a high-interest category, would later inspire Naukri.com. In 1990, he left his secure corporate job to pursue entrepreneurship.
The “Drifting Years” and First Ventures (1990–1996)
His early entrepreneurial years were modest, starting with just ₹2,000 in seed capital from his father’s home. Along with friend Kapil Varma, he launched small ventures like Indmark (pharma trademark database) and salary surveys. He also earned through teaching and editing the Avenues career supplement of The Pioneer. For six years, his wife Surabhi’s Nestlé job supported their household while he explored ideas. These experiences taught him to identify unmet needs.
One breakthrough came when he compiled MBA salary surveys after observing campus placement battles. A simple mail campaign fetched ₹80,500 in revenues, proving that monetizing valuable career data worked. This lesson shaped his thinking about information businesses. Though he called those years “drifting,” they gave him resilience, perspective, and an entrepreneurial compass. By the mid-1990s, he was ready for a focused enterprise.
Founding Info Edge and the Launch of Naukri.com (1995–1997)
In 1995, he incorporated Info Edge (India) Pvt. Ltd. to build a scalable venture. Inspired by his earlier insight into job listings, he envisioned an online job database. In March/April 1997, he launched Naukri.com, among India’s first job portals. At that time, India had only 14,000 internet accounts. To cut costs, Info Edge hosted the site on a US server for $25 per month.
The site’s initial listings were aggregated from 25-30 newspapers and magazines each week. This strategy created immediate value for job seekers, driving traffic and attracting recruiters. Employers began paying to list jobs, creating a self-reinforcing business model. From a servant quarter above a garage with ₹2,000, Naukri.com became a pioneer of India’s internet industry.
Expansion into New Verticals (1998-2005)
After Naukri’s success, Info Edge replicated the classifieds model across other sectors. In 1998, it launched Jeevansathi.com, a matrimonial portal. In 2005, 99acres.com was introduced for real estate listings. In 2008, Shiksha.com debuted for students searching courses and colleges. These launches expanded Info Edge’s reach into matrimony, property, and education.
The company also made strategic moves like acquiring full control of Jeevansathi in 2004. It started Quadrangle (executive search) and niche sites like NaukriGulf.com and FirstNaukri.com. By the mid-2000s, Info Edge had established itself as a leader in India’s internet space, with a portfolio spanning jobs, real estate, education, and matrimony.
Surviving the Dot-Com Bust and Scaling Up
The dot-com crash of 2000 wiped out many startups, but Naukri survived. Just before the crash, Info Edge secured ₹7.3 crore funding from ICICI Venture for 15% equity. This provided critical support. Importantly, Naukri focused on revenue early through paid listings, and Bikhchandani conserved resources by not drawing a salary for long stretches.
By 2003, Info Edge introduced Resdex, a recruiter database product that became a major revenue driver. With a growing salesforce educating HR managers, revenues scaled quickly. The company achieved profitability while others collapsed, proving that discipline and sustainable models could outlast market cycles.
IPO and Leadership Transition (2006-2010)
In 2006, Info Edge became one of India’s first internet companies to go public. Its IPO, oversubscribed 55 times, raised ₹170 crore. This success reflected investor faith in the online classifieds model. Post-IPO, Naukri.com commanded nearly 70–75% of traffic in its segment.
After the IPO, Bikhchandani transitioned leadership. In 2010, Hitesh Oberoi formally became CEO and MD, while he moved to Executive Vice Chairman. This allowed him to focus on strategy, governance, and investments, while Oberoi ran operations. The transition marked a new era for Info Edge.
Early-Stage Startup Investments (2007–2015)
Flush with IPO funds, Info Edge began investing in startups. In 2008, it invested in Policybazaar, an online insurance aggregator. This early bet turned into a major success as Policybazaar grew and listed publicly.
In 2010, Info Edge invested ₹4.7 crore in Foodiebay (later Zomato), spotting its potential as an online restaurant directory. Over time, Info Edge invested a total of about ₹86 crore in Zomato, reaping huge returns when it went public in 2021. These bets showcased Bikhchandani’s instinct for backing strong teams.
By the mid-2010s, Info Edge had backed dozens of startups in edtech, fintech, retail, payments, and agritech. In 2019–20, it launched Info Edge Ventures to structure its investment portfolio. His investment style focuses on traction and founder mindset rather than hype, making him one of India’s most respected investors.
Contributions to Education and Public Service
In 2014, he co-founded Ashoka University, India’s premier liberal arts institution. He remains an active trustee. In 2015, he was inducted into the Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE), the country’s top education advisory body. He has also served on the National Startup Advisory Council (NSAC) since 2020.
Bikhchandani has held leadership roles in TiE, NASSCOM’s Internet Council, and IAMAI. He supports NGOs like Chintan (waste management) and initiatives like the 1947 Partition Archive. His influence spans policy, education, and philanthropy.
Sanjeev Bikhchandani: Awards and Honors
- Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year (2008)
- Dataquest Pathbreaker Award (2008)
- Teacher’s Achievement Award (2008)
- Distinguished Alumnus, IIM Ahmedabad (2011)
- Distinguished Alumnus, St. Stephen’s College (2012)
- Lakshmipat Singhania – IIM Lucknow National Leadership Award (2012)
- Outlook: 50 Greatest CEOs Ever (2017)
- Financial Express IT Lifetime Achievement Award (2019)
- Padma Shri, Government of India (2020)
- Additional honors: Pride of India (2021), honorary doctorate from Amity (2021), ET Midas Touch Award (2021), and North Star Award by St. Columba’s (2022).
Recent Roles and Legacy
Today, Bikhchandani remains Executive Vice Chairman of Info Edge. While Hitesh Oberoi manages operations, he focuses on governance, mentorship, and investment. Info Edge Ventures continues to back startups across AI, fintech, and edtech.
At 61, he is widely respected as the “father of Indian internet startups.” From starting with ₹2,000 to building a billion-dollar empire, his story reflects vision, discipline, and resilience. His legacy combines entrepreneurship, mentorship, and nation-building.
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