Meesho Founder Vidit Aatrey Quit a High-Paying Job After IIT, Though He Once Aspired to Become an IAS Officer

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E-commerce startup Meesho created a buzz today as it debuted on the stock market, drawing an overwhelming response from investors with its IPO subscribed over 79 times. The strong demand in the grey market has further spotlighted Vidit Aatrey, the founder and CEO, whose journey from an IIT Delhi engineer to the helm of one of India’s most successful e-commerce ventures is inspiring entrepreneurs nationwide.

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E-commerce platform Meesho made its stock market debut today, receiving an overwhelming response from investors. The IPO was subscribed over 79 times, and it is also fetching strong demand in the grey market. Amid this buzz, attention has turned to Meesho’s founder and CEO, Vidit Aatrey, highlighting how an IIT Delhi graduate built one of India’s most successful e-commerce startups.

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From IIT Delhi to Entrepreneurship Vidit Aatrey cleared the JEE and secured admission to IIT Delhi, where he earned a B.Tech in Electrical Engineering. Born into a middle-class family in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, Vidit likely never imagined that he would one day lay the foundation of one of India’s leading startups. Initially, he aspired to become an IAS officer, a dream shared by his father.

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Early Career and the Beginning of Meesho After graduating from IIT, Vidit began his career at ITC. He later joined the strategy team at InMobi, gaining valuable experience in the tech industry. In 2015, together with his friend Sanjeev Barnwal, he started working on a new idea called Fashnear.

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The Birth of Meesho The duo realized that customers wanted a wider range of products than local stores could offer. To meet this demand, they developed a new business model and rebranded their startup as Meesho, revolutionizing online commerce for small businesses and resellers.

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Recognition and Achievements According to StartupInsider, Vidit Aatrey was featured in Forbes 30 Under 30 in 2018 for his achievements. In 2020, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman awarded him the MSNBC Young Turk Startup of the Year. In 2021, Fortune recognized him in its 40 Under 40 list, highlighting his impact on India’s entrepreneurial landscape.