Ritesh Agarwal is an Indian entrepreneur, investor, and media personality, best known as the founder and CEO of OYO Rooms, one of the world’s largest hospitality chains. His journey from a small-town boy to a global business leader has inspired countless young entrepreneurs.
Biography (2 Paragraphs)
Born on 1993-11-16 in Bissam Cuttack, Odisha, Ritesh Agarwal grew up in Rayagada, a small town in Odisha. He displayed entrepreneurial instincts early, selling SIM cards during his school days. After moving to Delhi for higher education, he dropped out of college to pursue his startup dreams. His vision was to make affordable and standardized accommodation accessible to travelers across India, which led to the creation of OYO Rooms in 2013.
Ritesh’s journey was marked by challenges, but his persistence paid off. He became the first Asian recipient of the Thiel Fellowship in 2013, which provided funding and mentorship to pursue his startup full-time. Under his leadership, OYO expanded rapidly across India and internationally, becoming a global hospitality brand. Today, Ritesh is recognized as one of India’s youngest billionaires, balancing his entrepreneurial ventures with investments in other startups.