No Stopping 'Em

A tumultuous year did not prevent the young go-getters from innovating and scaling new heights in diverse fields. The class of Forbes India 30 Under 30 2021 is a reflection of the promise they’ve exhibited, and fulfilled

- Ruchika Shah

The past year was a tough one for everybody, whether it was a multi-billion dollar enterprise in India or a startup. Forbes India has extensively covered the many pivots and innovations that companies of all shapes and sizes undertook to survive 2020.

But what did the pandemic do to the dreams of young entrepreneurs and professionals in India—say the under-30-somethings—who aspire to make a name for themselves? Many would have had to put their plans on the backburner and stick to the creativity-crushing 9-to5 jobs for a little longer, as the Indian economy—along with global growth—nosedived. But, if you’re looking for inspiration to hold on to that dream, look no further.

If our Class of 30 Under 30 2021 is anything to go by, the entrepreneurial and innovative spirit and the determination to stand out in the crowd are alive and kicking among India’s young. Many innovated their businesses to survive the Covid-19 shock and to help others. Take, for example, the 29-year-old duo who founded Class plus to digitise local coaching centers and boasts 50,000 teachers on their platform. Class plus launched a mobile app—Class plus Lite—during the pandemic as education went remote, and has already garnered 500,000 users; it is the winner in our new Education category.

Another 29-year-old is giving a voice and stage to entrepreneurs from beyond metro cities, a growing necessity in the post-Covid-19 world. Piyush Verma, founder & CEO, Manush Labs, helps innovators and entrepreneurs from tier 2 cities and beyond get access to mentorship, network, markets, and even funding. He is a listee in our NGOs & Social Entrepreneurship category.