Ritesh Agarwal
@riteshagar • 545,737 subscribers
Founder and Group CEO, PRISM
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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 Agarwal305,416 Aufrufe • vor 1 Jahr
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 Agarwal150,197 Aufrufe • vor 9 Monaten
Ten years ago, building and launching a private orbital rocket from India may have felt almost impossible. Orbital launch was the domain of governments alone, until Elon Musk and SpaceX proved a private company could get there too. Today, a young Indian team has done it successfully on its first attempt, and India now joins that rare club. I enjoyed speaking with Pawan about the years of work behind Vikram-1, the fear of failure before the launch, and the support Skyroot received from the government, IN-SPACe, and the wider ecosystem. What excites me most is what this signals to the world: India can build high-precision, highly reliable, deep-technology products for global customers. Neil Armstrong once described a single step as a giant leap for mankind. For India's private space journey, this is exactly that kind of leap. A historic beginning for Skyroot and an important moment for every Indian entrepreneur building for the world.
Ritesh Agarwal49,526 Aufrufe • vor 2 Monaten
A glamorous idea does not automatically make a strong company, and an ordinary idea does not limit how large a company can become. Give me a founder who understands the customer deeply, executes with discipline, and can improve a familiar industry year after year. That may sound “boring” in a pitch, but it can become a remarkably valuable business.
Ritesh Agarwal16,108 Aufrufe • vor 1 Monat
Burnout is rarely announced. It usually appears gradually in the form of silence, detachment, and a team that no longer feels connected to the outcome. As a founder, I believe it is my responsibility to notice that shift before exhaustion becomes the accepted way of working. A team cannot do its best work when it is only trying to get through the week.
Ritesh Agarwal12,634 Aufrufe • vor 28 Tagen
I have often walked into rooms where I was made to feel that I did not quite belong. Perhaps that is why The Outsider resonated with me. Vir Das is an Emmy-winning comedian who has built a global career by embracing a voice that is unmistakably his own. He writes about turning that feeling of being a misfit into an advantage. Regardless of whether you agree with all his views, there is something powerful in the journey of someone who found his own place in the world without waiting for permission. A deeply personal and interesting read.
Ritesh Agarwal18,913 Aufrufe • vor 2 Monaten
Education can open many doors. Sometimes, so can an unconventional opportunity. The Thiel Fellowship was one of those moments for me. $100,000 to pursue an idea, a move to the Bay Area, and exposure to a world I had only seen from a distance before. I would never say everyone should leave university to build a company. But when you deeply believe in what you're building, there are moments when taking a calculated leap of faith can change the direction of your life. That fellowship was one such moment in mine.
Ritesh Agarwal17,407 Aufrufe • vor 2 Monaten
Tourism is a huge positive for cities. It creates jobs, supports local businesses, and brings people and cultures closer. But when tourism grows rapidly, cities also have to deal with the pressure that comes with it. I don't think the answer is less tourism. The answer is better-managed tourism, with clear rules around what works for visitors, residents, and the industry. The best outcomes will come when all three have a seat at the table.
Ritesh Agarwal14,608 Aufrufe • vor 1 Monat
I often call it the Indian dream. A young person from a small town, with no special access or resources, gets an opportunity and goes on to build a global business. Perhaps that is why so many young Indians relate to my journey. They do not just see where I am today. They see where I started and recognise a little bit of themselves in that story. Knowing that this gives someone the courage to start is one of the most rewarding parts of my journey.
Ritesh Agarwal17,621 Aufrufe • vor 2 Monaten
It is no coincidence that we are seeing more and more people consistently sharing their travel stories. Travel is becoming a bigger part of how people spend their time, create memories, and experience the world. From weekend getaways to international holidays, the desire to explore is only growing. And honestly, there is very little to suggest that this trend will slow down. Tourism is going to become a much bigger and more important industry globally. The real question is whether we are preparing fast enough, with the right talent, hotels, infrastructure, and policies to support that growth.
Ritesh Agarwal17,866 Aufrufe • vor 2 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 Agarwal87,539 Aufrufe • vor 1 Jahr
We often recommend books because we agree with them. I am recommending this one despite disagreeing with its central thesis. The Richest Man in Babylon offers a philosophy of wealth that has worked remarkably well for many people. My own journey has been shaped by a very different approach: investing heavily in the things I want to build. Both perspectives deserve to be heard. Strong opinions are not formed by avoiding opposing ideas, but by engaging with them thoughtfully.
Ritesh Agarwal13,869 Aufrufe • vor 2 Monaten
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 9 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 Agarwal45,519 Aufrufe • vor 11 Monaten
We spend a lot of time celebrating the mechanics of building a company. The funding. The growth. The wins. We spend far less time on the people we build them with. "Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow" sits with that quieter truth. At its heart is a relationship that resists a single label, shaped over years by friendship, creativity, competition, and the strange intimacy of making something together. It reminded me that the people we create with often become as important to the journey as the thing we are creating. Sometimes more. What's a book that changed how you think about the work you do?
Ritesh Agarwal12,472 Aufrufe • vor 2 Monaten
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 Agarwal21,587 Aufrufe • vor 5 Monaten