Baiju PrafulKumar Bhatt, an Indian-American entrepreneur has become the only Indian-origin founder to feature in the youngest category. He was born to Gujarati immigrant parents and spent his early years in Alabama before moving to Virginia.
When they were burdened with financial issues due to his father being diagnosed of kidney failure while pursuing a PhD, he still powered through and graduated in Physics from Stanford University and then completed a Master’s degree in mathematics in 2008.
In 2013, Baiju co-founded fintech startup Robinhood with college friend Vlad Tenev, that went public in 2021 at a valuation of $32 Billion dollars. With this joint venture, they challenged the traditional knowledge brokerages by offering commission-free stock trading, making investing accessible to younger, first-time traders. The venture’s rapid growth included a 400% surge in stock value, recorded $3 billion in revenue in 2024, and expansion into IRAs and high-yield savings accounts, all of them playing a key role in building the young billionaire’s fortune, now estimated at $6 billion.
The co-founder Bhatt owns an estimated 6% stake in the company and continues to serve on its board despite stepping down from crucial roles like executive role in 2024. He had previously served as co-CEO and later as Chief Creative Officer at the firm. Notably, the Forbes’ list included his name alongside bigshots like Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg, and Walmart heir Lukas Walton.
This is just the beginning. India looks forward to many more such personalities who would take the entrepreneurial minds of the country to the global stage.
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