Book excerpt: The Indian economy and business landscape have undergone a sea change since Independence in 1947, with the country’s socialist policies and the License Raj giving way to economic liberalization. The IT and ITeS revolution made India the back office of the world. The rapid spread of the Internet and the world’s lowest data costs have made India a hub for fintech innovation. The development of the Unified Payment Interface (UPI) has resulted in the explosion of e-commerce. As we celebrate the growth of entrepreneurship and the start-up culture in India, some questions come to mind: • Who were the trailblazing Indian entrepreneurs who made India’s growth story possible? What were their characteristics? • What were the strategies they used to succeed? • Who are today’s business leaders and how are they driving growth in today’s volatile world? This book seeks to answer these questions. “An inspiring summary of the lives of some of India’s business stalwarts and new-age entrepreneurs by a young and curious mind. Arjun Sampat lucidly captures the key strategies and success factors of these entrepreneurs. I’m sure this book will further encourage the spirit of entrepreneurship amongst young Indians.” -Sonal Agrawal, Global Chair, AltoPartners and Managing Partner - India, Accord Group “India’s entrepreneurs are world-class global traders – interacting with them is the main reason I love my job as an investor!! For a young man like Arjun Sampat to author such a terrific, detailed book, at such a young age, is a testament to the impression these leaders have made in the minds of our youth. I am sure this will catalyse and inspire many young Indians to undertake their own entrepreneurial journeys.” -Manish Kejriwal, Founder & Managing Partner, Kedaara Capital