Ritesh Agarwal
@riteshagar • 290,764 subscribers
Founder and Group CEO, PRISM
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People often ask why our Prime Minister is the true Startup PM. For me, the answer goes back to January 2016. At the Startup India launch, Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji quipped, “Why didn’t a chaiwala think of starting a hotel chain?” That single line was not just a remark, it was a mindset shift. It told millions of young Indians that ideas matter more than background. Over the next decade, that belief was backed by action. Startup India simplified regulations, enabled access to capital, and created confidence across the ecosystem. Someone in the USA joined a startup. Someone in Asia invested. Someone else chose to guide founders as a board member. It did not matter whether it was ours or hundreds of others. Those hundreds became lakhs of startups and millions of jobs. Within this ecosystem, PRISM grew into a global hospitality network across 35 plus countries. For me, coming from a small town in Odisha with nothing but a big dream, this journey has truly come full circle. Now in 2026, I feel the same wonder and responsibility I felt in 2016. The Prime Minister’s ability to remember people and stories, like recalling Suchi from Limeroad years later, is a reminder of genuine engagement. As we mark 10 years of Startup India, this is not just PRISM’s success. It is India’s. And the journey has only just begun. MyGovIndia Startup India
Ritesh Agarwal149,938 Aufrufe • vor 4 Monaten
Standing at Mahakumbh with Ary for the first time, I was overwhelmed by a flood of memories from my own first visit. I remember feeling so small, yet part of something so much bigger. Today, I stood beside him, hoping he finds his own answers, his own faith, and his own path. This isn’t just a tradition; it’s a legacy. A legacy of belief, hope, and the courage to dream. #mahakumbh
Ritesh Agarwal305,385 Aufrufe • vor 1 Jahr
I have spoken to a lot of first-time property owners and almost all of them make the same mistake. They hand over the management too early. They think that is what smart owners do. But what they are actually doing is giving away control before they even understand what they are giving away. You cannot manage a manager if you do not know what good management looks like. Learn it first. Then delegate.
Ritesh Agarwal21,105 Aufrufe • vor 27 Tagen
What were you doing when you were 13? Jaiwardhan was already pitching on Shark Tank. An AI healthcare startup. Self-built. Self-driven. At an age when most of us were still figuring out what we liked - he was figuring out what he wanted to change in the world. We backed him through our founder fellowship. Not just with capital but with belief, access, and mentorship. Because I remember what that one push did for me. Jay’s journey is just beginning but the kind of beginning that tells you everything about where it’s headed. And I’m grateful to be a small part of it! Shark Tank India sonytv Sony LIV
Ritesh Agarwal37,488 Aufrufe • vor 4 Monaten
You spoke, and we listened. Following feedback from our shareholders, PRISM will soon introduce a new, simplified bonus structure that includes all shareholders, both equity and preference regardless of holding size. We will not proceed with the current resolution and will instead bring forward a fresh, unified proposal for shareholder approval. The revised structure, to be announced in the coming days, will ensure equal participation, full transparency, and automatic inclusion, no application required.
Ritesh Agarwal45,483 Aufrufe • vor 7 Monaten
Had the opportunity to be among the Indian founders hosted by Elon Musk led by India Global Forum . Elon is by far doing the most to evolve human kind or as Peter Thiel says has us closest to getting flying cars. Some comments from Elon - A. India evokes the emotion of Ancient and 'Great' Civilization B. Opportunity of USA and India : Trending positive, but excited for so much more C. Still feels we are living in a simulation because cannot believe what has happened in last few months D. Pursuit of interplanetary living super critical to him ... I can go on but I will also share Some other interesting thoughts I took away - A. Only the second time ever that the chopsticks caught the booster catch, BTW, they gifted SpaceX chopsticks at the end. B. He is fascinated about Kumbh mela C. We were served a veg only dinner, one of the most incredible veg spread at SpaceX. As a vegetarian, loved up. D. How the ability to work with the government can justice to prevail is very close to his heart Activate to view larger image,
Ritesh Agarwal87,474 Aufrufe • vor 1 Jahr
I came for Seahawks PR vs New England Patriots , stayed for the Bad Bunny halftime fiesta. These NFL guys don’t just run, they launch. I’m over here comparing it to cricket like a confused math student. Then Bad Bunny shows up with Spanish hits, and the whole stadium dances. Next IPL season better come with reggaeton too!
Ritesh Agarwal25,796 Aufrufe • vor 3 Monaten
Your first $1M in sales usually does not begin with some grand masterplan. It starts with doing the unglamorous work, finding people who actually want what you are building, getting those first customers in manually, and listening closely enough to keep making the product better. Fix what they point out. Repeat. Most of the real progress comes from doing simple things consistently enough that the product improves and demand starts becoming natural instead of manufactured.
Ritesh Agarwal12,087 Aufrufe • vor 1 Monat
Most businesses fall into two buckets: painkillers and caffeine fixes. Painkillers solve a real, painful problem. People are already searching for them. Caffeine fixes create an extra choice. They depend on persuasion, branding, and marketing. Neither is wrong. But one is pulled by demand, the other has to constantly push. So ask yourself honestly: which one are you building?
Ritesh Agarwal10,493 Aufrufe • vor 1 Monat
I've restarted more times than I can count. But what I have learned is those "wrong turns" weren't mistakes. They were just part of finding the right path. When you're building something from scratch, there's no perfect route. You learn by doing, by failing, by adjusting on the go. The entrepreneur who wins isn't the one who never gets lost. So if you're feeling off-track right now, you're not failing. You're just recalculating.
Ritesh Agarwal21,823 Aufrufe • vor 6 Monaten
When I first saw the Thames, I remember standing still for a moment. London felt like a city that held centuries of ambition in its walls. When I heard this story about the University of Greenwich, I couldn’t believe it. Until, I stood here. I would say I get why the Queen was upset. Have you been to The Thames? If not, put it on your bucket list for this year.
Ritesh Agarwal15,093 Aufrufe • vor 4 Monaten
We asked… you delivered! Over 6,000 brilliant ideas came through, and after careful consideration, one name shone above the rest: PRISM PRISM isn’t just a name—it’s the evolution of everything we stand for. From the trusted stays that OYO helped introduce, to a spectrum of experiences and spaces built for the future. It’s a community of Lightkeepers, urban innovators on a mission to solve the toughest challenges of city living - lighting the way in every aspect of life. From where you stay, work, meet, or move, PRISM is shaping the future. Built by purpose. Fueled by intent. Made in India, built for the world. Huge congratulations to our contest winners - Sidhant, Prajwal, and Anand, for gifting us this name! Our team will reach out to you soon!
Ritesh Agarwal23,772 Aufrufe • vor 9 Monaten
Recently visited Bhubaneswar to speak at the Nua Odisha Global Summit on growth and employment in the state. I got a chance to make a pitstop at the beautiful Lingaraj Temple for a darshan. They say any chaar dhaam yatra is incomplete without a darshan here. I was amazed to see the progress made in Bhubaneswar. The city is emerging as a hub of innovation and technology. I am sure that in the coming years the city will become home to many technology companies and businesses in the state. Jai Jagannath 🙏🏼
Ritesh Agarwal50,721 Aufrufe • vor 2 Jahren
No DeLorean. No TARDIS. Just entrepreneurship warping spacetime.
Ritesh Agarwal11,090 Aufrufe • vor 3 Monaten
How often does a global company ask the world to name it? That’s exactly what we’re doing. OYO started over a decade ago with a simple idea of upgrading quality living space across and drive standardisation. Since then, we’ve grown from a single room in India to a network of travel, living, work, and hospitality solutions across 35+ countries. Today, over 100 million people interact with our 15+ brands — from holiday homes in Europe to studios in the US, from wedding venues to hospitality tech. But now, we’re building something bigger — and it needs a name. We’re renaming the corporate brand behind it all. Not the hotel chain, not a consumer product — but the parent company powering a global ecosystem of urban innovation and modern living. We believe it’s time the world had a new kind of global brand — born in India, but built for the world. And we want the name to come from the community that helped build it. We’re inviting brand thinkers, creatives, entrepreneurs, and curious minds to help us craft this new identity — one that reflects our evolution, and opens doors to where we go next. What we’re looking for: • A bold, one-word corporate name • Global in feel, not tied to one culture or language • Tech-forward, sharp, but also human and memorable • Broad enough to grow beyond hospitality • Preferably with a .com domain available • Could be a real word or something totally new What’s in it for you? A prize of INR 3,00,000/- A chance to meet me and the opportunity to name what could be India’s next big global brand This is more than a naming exercise. It’s a rare opportunity to shape the identity of a company that’s quietly redefining how people experience spaces — and doing it on a global scale. Submit your idea through the form below. Let’s name the future together. Submit your entry here -
Ritesh Agarwal24,090 Aufrufe • vor 1 Jahr