Sanjeev Bikhchandani Success Story: Naukri.com Founder Journey
In the fast growing world of Indian entrepreneurship, few names stand out as strongly as Sanjeev Bikhchandani. His journey from a modest upbringing in Delhi to building Info Edge, one of India’s most influential internet companies, is a remarkable story of purpose, patience, and consistent hard work. As the creator of Naukri.com and an early backer of startups like Zomato and PolicyBazaar, he has shaped both India’s online job market and its startup ecosystem in a way few others have.
This in depth success story takes you through his early life, inspirations, ventures, failures, breakthroughs, investments, and his lasting impact on business and society.
Early Life and Education
Sanjeev Bikhchandani grew up in New Delhi in a middle class family that valued learning and discipline. He studied at St. Columba’s School, a well known institution in the city, before completing a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from St. Stephen’s College in 1984. His interest in business and markets became stronger during these years.
After completing his undergraduate studies, he joined the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad and finished his MBA in 1989. Like most graduates, he took the traditional route by working in a corporate job. He joined Hindustan Milkfood Manufacturers, which later became part of GlaxoSmithKline, and worked in the marketing department on well known brands like Horlicks.
Although the job offered stability, Sanjeev felt a strong desire to build something of his own. Within a year and a half, he left the comfort of the corporate world to pursue entrepreneurship full time.
Early Ventures and Struggles
Entrepreneurship for Sanjeev did not begin with glamour. In the early 1990s, he started with small and simple services. These included salary surveys for companies and trademark search services for pharmaceutical firms. These projects paid modestly, but they taught him how to understand customers, design processes, and create products that solved real problems.
Money was tight during this period. Sanjeev operated from a small space above his father’s garage, lived very modestly, and avoided drawing a salary from his own company for several years. To support himself, he taught management students on weekends. Although times were tough, these early years built the discipline he is known for today.
In 1995, he formally registered the company Info Edge India Pvt Ltd. At this point, Info Edge was a collection of small ventures rather than a clear internet company. The big shift was yet to come.
Birth of Naukri.com
In 1996, Sanjeev visited an IT exhibition in Delhi where he encountered a small stall explaining the World Wide Web. Internet use in India was extremely low at the time, but he could clearly see its potential.
This sparked an idea. India had millions of job seekers but no central place that listed opportunities. Newspapers were still the main source. What if he built a platform that collected job listings and presented them in one searchable place?
In 1997, he turned this idea into reality and launched Naukri.com. The site was simple, built on a rented server in the United States that cost only 25 dollars per month. During the first phase, his small team gathered job listings from newspapers and manually posted them online. Companies slowly began to notice the platform and started paying for listings.
Naukri.com became India’s first large online job portal. More importantly, it introduced the country to the idea that the internet could solve real problems and create valuable businesses.
Surviving the Dot Com Crash
The late 1990s brought excitement but also danger. The dot com boom created a rush of internet companies, followed by a massive crash that shut most of them down. Many Indian internet ventures disappeared during this period.
Sanjeev survived because of his disciplined approach to money. In late 2000, he raised 7.3 crore rupees from ICICI Venture. While many startups spent aggressively on marketing and expansion, Sanjeev did not. He placed much of the money in a fixed deposit and continued to spend carefully. This single decision became one of the most important turning points in his journey.
Instead of chasing growth for the sake of growth, he focused on building profitable sales teams. Each salesperson generated revenue that covered their cost. This practical model helped Naukri stay strong at a time when most competitors were collapsing.
By 2001, Naukri had not only survived the crash but also achieved break even.
Building a Strong Internet Company
After the crisis years, Info Edge began to grow in a structured and sustainable manner. Sanjeev hired people who could bring fresh ideas, including Hitesh Oberoi, who later became the CEO and Managing Director of Info Edge.
They expanded their sales teams across several cities and built a feedback system through Yahoo Groups where employees, users, and customers could share suggestions. This allowed the company to improve the product continuously.
In 2003, they launched Resdex, a resume database product that became a major source of income. Companies could now search through profiles directly and find candidates faster. Resdex turned into a stable revenue generator and gave Info Edge the fuel to grow even further.
Expanding Beyond Job Search
Info Edge did not limit itself to Naukri. The company expanded into several other online platforms, each targeting a different need:
- 99acres.com for real estate listings
- Jeevansathi.com for matrimonial matchmaking
- Shiksha.com for education guidance and college information
This diversification helped Info Edge build a strong presence across multiple sectors. Each platform focused on content, trust, and long term value instead of quick returns.
Info Edge IPO
In 2006, Info Edge made history by becoming one of the first Indian internet companies to go public on the Bombay Stock Exchange and National Stock Exchange. The successful listing was a clear signal that Indian internet businesses could generate real value and create strong investor confidence.
The capital raised from the IPO allowed the company to expand, innovate, and strengthen its portfolio.
Investments in Zomato, PolicyBazaar, and More
One of the most important aspects of Sanjeev Bikhchandani’s story is his ability to spot promising startups early. Through Info Edge, he invested in several companies that have become leaders in their sectors.
The most notable include:
- Zomato
- PolicyBazaar
- Shopkirana
- Unnati
- Happily Unmarried
Among these, Zomato and PolicyBazaar turned into massive successes. By 2025, Info Edge’s holdings in these companies had a combined value of more than 31,500 crore rupees. Sanjeev’s calm and thoughtful investment approach set a benchmark for responsible early stage investing in India.
Awards and Recognition
Sanjeev has received many honors for his contributions to business, entrepreneurship, and society. These include:
- Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award
- Padma Shri in 2020
- Distinguished Alumnus Award from IIM Ahmedabad
- Distinguished Alumni Award from St. Stephen’s College
These recognitions reflect his influence on both the internet economy and India’s broader business environment.
Philanthropy and Social Impact
Beyond business, Sanjeev is deeply involved in philanthropy. He is a co founder of Ashoka University, one of India’s leading liberal arts institutions. He also supports nonprofit organisations like Chintan and contributes to preservation efforts through The 1947 Partition Archive.
His work focuses on education, sustainability, social responsibility, and promoting better leadership.
Leadership Style and Values
Sanjeev’s management style is admired by many. Some of his strongest values include:
- Focus on long term relationships and customer needs
- Strict financial discipline
- Deep respect for employees and their feedback
- Patience and clarity in investment decisions
- Strong sense of responsibility toward society
He believes in building businesses that grow steadily and create value for everyone involved.
Challenges and Hard Decisions
His journey was not free from difficulties. He faced many challenges such as limited funding during the early years, tough competition in the job search market, slow internet adoption in the 1990s, and several startup investments that failed. Yet, his steady mindset and consistent actions helped him overcome each obstacle.
Legacy and Influence
Today, Sanjeev Bikhchandani is seen as one of the pioneers of India’s internet revolution. He did not just build a successful company. He created a blueprint for how technology businesses in India can grow with purpose and responsibility. His influence spans entrepreneurship, education, social development, and the startup ecosystem.
His net worth in 2025 is estimated to be between 3.2 and 3.4 billion US dollars.
Key Turning Points
- 1990 to 1995: Leaving a corporate job and building Info Edge
- 1997: Launch of Naukri.com
- 2000: Raising funding and conserving cash wisely
- 2003: Launch of Resdex
- 2006: Info Edge IPO
- 2010s: Major startup investments
- 2014 onwards: Philanthropy and educational initiatives
Timeline of Milestones
| Year | Milestone | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Graduated from St. Stephen’s College, Delhi | Foundation in Economics |
| 1989 | Completed MBA from IIM Ahmedabad | Advanced business education |
| Early 1990s | Salary surveys and trademark database ventures | First entrepreneurial experiments |
| 1995 | Founded Info Edge India Pvt Ltd | Start of entrepreneurial journey |
| 1997 | Launched Naukri.com | India’s first major online job portal |
| 2000 | Raised 7.3 crore from ICICI Venture | Critical funding support |
| 2003 | Launched Resdex | New revenue source |
| 2006 | Info Edge IPO | Strong investor validation |
| 2010s | Investments in Zomato and PolicyBazaar | Boost to Indian startup ecosystem |
| 2014 onwards | Educational and philanthropic contributions | Social impact |
| 2020 | Awarded Padma Shri | National honor |
FAQ’s – (Frequently Asked Questions)
Q1. Who is Sanjeev Bikhchandani?
He is the founder of Info Edge, the company behind platforms like Naukri.com, 99acres, Jeevansathi, and Shiksha. He is also an early investor in Zomato and PolicyBazaar.
Q2. How did he start his entrepreneurial journey?
He began with small ventures in the early 1990s, including salary surveys and trademark searches. These laid the foundation for Info Edge.
Q3. When was Naukri.com launched?
It was launched in 1997 from a small office above his father’s garage.
Q4. How did he survive the dot com crash?
Through a simple yet powerful strategy. He spent carefully, saved most of his early funding, and built a profitable sales model.
Q5. What are his biggest investment successes?
His notable investment wins include Zomato and PolicyBazaar, which became major companies.
Q6. What awards has he received?
His awards include the Padma Shri, the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award, and distinguished alumni awards.
Q7. What is his role in education and philanthropy?
He is a co founder of Ashoka University and supports several nonprofit organisations.
Q8. What is his net worth?
His net worth is estimated to be around 3.2 to 3.4 billion US dollars as of 2025.
Q9. What can entrepreneurs learn from him?
Important lessons include focusing on profit early, listening to customers, managing cash wisely, and building value over time.
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Conclusion:
Sanjeev Bikhchandani’s success story is a strong reminder that entrepreneurship is not always about speed or glamour. It is about patience, clarity, discipline, and purpose. From a small garage office to shaping India’s digital and startup world, his journey shows what steady progress and long term thinking can achieve. His life continues to inspire students, founders, investors, and changemakers across the country.
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