Future Business Leader: The top entrepreneurs of 2025

As the business landscape continues to evolve, a new generation of entrepreneurs is redefining success with innovation, resilience, and impact-driven leadership. The year 2025 has brought forward trailblazers who are not only disrupting industries but also setting new benchmarks for growth and sustainability. From tech visionaries revolutionizing AI to founders tackling global challenges with sustainable solutions, these entrepreneurs are shaping the future of business. In this article, we highlight the top entrepreneurs of 2025—leaders who are making waves, inspiring change, and paving the way for the next era of business.

Gagan Preet Singh Malhotra, Director of Wybór

Gagan Preet Singh Malhotra, director of Wybór, is a pioneering force in India’s consumer electronics sector. With an engineering background and a passion for manufacturing, he transformed his family business into a system-driven powerhouse.

Under his leadership, Wybór achieved several industry firsts, including India’s first LCD TV (2007), LCM for LED TVs (2012), and smart TV mainboards (2016). His breakthrough came in 2007 with an 8-lakh unit TV order from ELCOT, Tamil Nadu.

In 2015, he launched Wybór, catering to India’s youth with high-quality, innovative products. His strategic endorsements, including Axar Patel and Bollywood personalities, have solidified the brand.

Dr Rajesh Reddy S, Founder and CEO, SRAF Protein Private Limited

Dr Rajesh Reddy embarked on an entrepreneurial journey focused on sustainable farming and rural economic development. His remarkable work in agriculture and sustainable farming practices earned him numerous awards and accolades. Notably, he received the Champions of Change award in Karnataka, presented by the Honorable Governor of Karnataka, Thawar Chand Gehlot. The World Human Rights Protection Commission honored him with an honorary doctorate for his substantial contributions to social work and business. Rajesh Reddy's impact extended to international recognition, as he was featured in Forbes and Fortune India.

Additionally, he was distinguished as the Best Entrepreneur by the Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME).

Eric Fonseca, VP of Marketing at IndoAI Technologies Pvt. Ltd

Eric Fonseca, VP of Marketing at IndoAI Technologies Pvt. Ltd., drives the company’s mission to deliver AI-powered innovations globally. With an engineering background and a passion for marketing, he bridges technical solutions with customer needs by crafting detailed user personas. Eric shapes IndoAI’s brand identity, ensuring its message resonates across digital, social, and traditional channels. Under his leadership, the marketing team executes data-driven strategies, forging partnerships and fostering customer engagement. Known for his expertise in storytelling, Eric creates impactful campaigns that showcase IndoAI’s smart security, automation, and app integration solutions, driving awareness, adoption, and measurable business growth.

Dishi Somani, the founder of Dishis Designer Jewellery

Dishi Somani, the founder of Dishis Designer Jewellery, hails from Gwalior, a city known for its royal heritage and rich culture. Growing up in an environment steeped in fine art and beauty, her passion for jewelry design was a natural progression. With a business background and an MBA from IMT Dubai, she honed her entrepreneurial skills while working with renowned banks like ICICI Bank, ING Vysya, and Axis Bank. Dishi further refined her expertise through advanced training in diamond jewelry design at IIGJ. Her venture, Dishis Designer Jewellery, ensures each creation is a masterpiece, crafted with utmost precision and quality.

Dr Vipul Lunawat, Founder and Director, ISST Pune

Dr Vipul Lunawat is the Founder and Director of ISST Pune, India’s first institute dedicated to sports and fitness education. He holds a Ph.D. in sports management and has over 20 years ofexperience in the field. Since starting ISST in 2008, he has introduced various undergraduate and postgraduate programmes to train athletes, managers, and sports support staff.

Lunawat has won several national awards and completed the “Young Entrepreneurs Programme” at IIM Ahmedabad. He is a certified coach by Australian Ice Racing and Olympic Solidarity and has coached more than 3,000 students since 2004. As an athlete, coach, fitness expert, and administrator, he has proudly represented India in international events and World Championships.

Dr Saarthak Bakshi, Healthcare Entrepreneur and CEO of RISAA IVF

Dr Saarthak Bakshi, CEO of RISAA IVF, has been honored as a Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia recipient and has received multiple accolades for his impactful contributions to the healthcare sector. A passionate startup enthusiast, Saarthak mentors and advises emerging ventures while managing Neos Angels, an angel fund and network through which he has invested in over 30 startups.

Guided by the philosophy “fail fast and rise early,” he has played a pivotal role in revolutionising the fertility industry. Through initiatives like IIRFT and Women Hopes, Saarthak is on a mission to raise awareness and provide essential support to couples facing infertility challenges.

Deepti Sharma, Director of The Lexicon Group

Deepti Sharma, director of The Lexicon Group, is a transformational leader, visionary entrepreneur, and advocate for holistic development. A law graduate from Symbiosis University, she believes in the mantra "Believe in Yourself," a principle reflected in her pioneering leadership of Lexicon Schools, Lexicon Management Institute, Lexicon Kids Pre-School, Pune Times Mirror, Civic Mirror, and MultiFit. Compassionate and innovative, she anchors her endeavours on trust, passion, belief, and values. Her initiatives empower youth through education, ed-tech, and holistic fitness, building a generation ready for tomorrow. Honored with numerous recognitions like "India’s Most Innovative Business Leaders," she blends compassion, innovation, and dedication to empower youth and shape a brighter tomorrow.

Arun Surendra, Chairman, VST Group

Under Arun's transformative leadership, VST Group has soared from a modest four dealerships to representing 12 prestigious brands, marking an extraordinary journey of expansion.

Recently elevated to Chairman after an impressive 18-year tenure as Managing Director, Arun has steered the 560 million-dollar enterprise into new territories. His vision has reshaped VST Group's structure, bringing in expert teams to drive key decisions while preserving the company's family values. Despite his demanding role, this dynamic leader maintains an adventurous spirit, from annual global treks to daily sports, bringing the same energy to business growth as he does to personal challenges.

Garima Bijlani, Founder of NEZO

NEZO's Founder Garima Bijlani has redefined self-expression with her curated styles at the new-age concept fashion store with an eclectic mélange of artists. NEZO, ranked 9th among India’s Best 30 Retail Interiors 2024, is rising both online and offline with its new Revamped store in the heart of Bandra, Mumbai.

Garima, a post-graduate in marketing and strategy from Warwick Business School and a certificate holder from London College of Fashion wants to elevate the fashion experience by thriving on elegant clothing. The brand has expanded its store space almost twice and added a mix of Indian and international designers from Istanbul to South France and has over 50+designers under its umbrella.

Sneha Sharma, Founder, And PR Agency

Sneha Sharma is redefining PR, running And PR Agency, a firm built on passion, authenticity, and impact. And PR Agency started as her vision to bring heart into strategy, and in just a year, it’s grown 3x, proving that authenticity and impact go hand in hand. For Sneha, PR isn’t just about chasing headlines, it’s about building meaningful narratives that leave a lasting mark. With an unstoppable drive and a deep understanding of brand storytelling, she’s setting new industry benchmarks in this competitive field.

Tanay Sharma, Co-Founder & COO, CITTA

Tanay Sharma, co-founder and COO of CITTA, a Pune-based premium bath and skincare brand, is a visionary entrepreneur with a passion for pioneering ideas and innovative solutions. With a drive for excellence, Tanay leverages his global perspective, honed at the University of Toronto and Harvard University, to set new standards in bath & skin care. Being a ‘Global Citizen’, he brings to the table a worldly perspective to his business endeavors, drawing inspiration from diverse cultures and experiences. With a commitment to quality, Tanay is spearheading CITTA toward revolutionising skincare for babies, kids, and adults alike. Under his administration, CITTA combines care and 100 per cent transparency, infusing each product with gentle formulations and natural, certified ingredients.

Sushanto Mitra, Founder & CEO of Lead Angels

Sushanto Mitra is the Founder & CEO of Lead Angels, India’s first privately owned angel network. With deep expertise in entrepreneurship, innovation, and early-stage investing, he has helped scale startups and secure funding. Previously, he was the founding CEO of SINE, IIT Bombay’s award-winning incubator, which played a key role in the success of IdeaForge, GupShup, and others.

A management graduate and a St. Stephen’s College alumnus, he has worked in equity research, investment banking, and fund management. Lead Angels operates Lead Angel Fund, a SEBI-registered AIF, along with pre-IPO facilitation and other ecosystem-related services. Beyond Lead Angels, Sushanto plays multiple roles as a member of investment committees at leading incubators, guest speaker at management schools, and co-author of Funding My Startup and Other Nightmares, published by Penguin.

Jyoshna Reddy, CEO and Co-Founder of Careerpedia

In a world where traditional education often falls short, Jyoshna Reddy, CEO and Co-Founder of Careerpedia, is raising the bar with a simple yet powerful philosophy: "Stop learning, start doing." Careerpedia is built for those who aspire to build, solve, and lead. Its project-first, industry-driven approach ensures every learner is equipped to step into the workforce as a confident professional. With an 80% project-based curriculum, highly selective cohorts, and industry collaborations, learners gain hands-on experience tailored to industry requirements. This high-impact learning model has shaped numerous careers across India, empowering them to tackle real world challenges with confidence. As the demand for skilled, adaptable talent continues to rise, Careerpedia is expanding its focus on high-demand tech stacks and partnering with global industry leaders to bring cutting-edge expertise to India’s upskilling landscape.

By offering a targeted, outcome-driven model, Careerpedia is emerging as the go-to for ambitious professionals eager to elevate their careers beyond traditional learning. Under Jyoshna Reddy’s leadership, Careerpedia is setting a new standard in design and tech education, proving that a niche, high-impact approach is the future of professional development.

Janet Rajan, Founder and Principal Coach of Growth Collective

Janet Rajan is a visionary leader in product management, organisational transformation and leadership development. With over 24 years of global expertise spanning technology, product management, executive coaching, and entrepreneurship, she seamlessly bridges strategy, execution, and culture to deliver impactful results, measurable growth, and sustainable outcomes.

Her passion lies in the most complex and fascinating "product" of all: the human being. This curiosity inspired her to establish Growth Collective, where she integrates principles of design thinking and agility to create human-centered learning experiences. Through this work, Janet enables individuals, teams, and organisations to realise their full potential, creating a ripple effect of growth that extends far beyond the workplace.

As a coach and entrepreneur, Janet has partnered with leading organisations such as Microsoft, Cisco, Target, and IIM. With a distinguished academic background as a Harvard Business School PLD graduate and certifications from Erickson and Gallup, Janet combines intellectual rigor with practical insights. Her commitment to fostering innovation has earned her accolades, including the 2023 MSME Entrepreneurship Award.

Janet actively contributes to industry and academic platforms, across themes of product management, technology, career transitions, diversity and inclusion and leadership development. Off the stage, her curiosity drives her to explore the world’s wonders through travel, books, cafes, people, and technologies—fuelling her relentless pursuit of excellence.

Harish Munireddy, Founder & CEO of Weatherseal

Harish Munireddy, Founder & CEO of Weatherseal, is transforming the UPVC and System Aluminium windows and doors industry in India. With a strong background in IT and leadership roles at Wipro, Tavant, and Symphony Information Services, he leveraged his technical expertise and entrepreneurial vision to establish Weatherseal in 2015.

As Weatherseal approaches its 10th anniversary in June 2025, the company has solidified its position as a market leader and has successfully installed nearly 5 million sq. feet of windows across PAN India. In April 2022, Weatherseal entered into a strategic partnership with Asian Paints, with the company acquiring a 51 per cent stake. This collaboration has enabled Weatherseal to scale operations by leveraging Asian Paints’ extensive network for expansion.

Under Harish’s leadership, Weatherseal has focused on product innovation, superior craftsmanship, and customer-centric solutions. His expertise in business strategy, market expansion, and team leadership has been instrumental in driving the company’s rapid growth.