View source for Bhavish Aggarwal

{{pp|small=yes}}
{{Short description|Indian businessman}}
{{EngvarB|date=February 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2016}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Bhavish Aggarwal
| image              =
| caption            = 
| birth_date         = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1985|8|28}}
| birth_place        = [[Ludhiana]], [[Punjab, India|Punjab]], India
| alma_mater         = [[IIT Bombay]] ([[B.Tech]])
| occupation         = Entrepreneur
| title              = Co-founder and CEO of [[Ola Cabs|Ola Consumer]]<br> Founder and CEO of [[Ola Electric]]<br> Founder of Ola Krutrim
| spouse             = Rajalakshmi Aggarwal
| children           = 2
| website            = 
}}

'''Bhavish Aggarwal''' (born 28 August 1985) is an Indian entrepreneur. He is the co-founder and CEO of [[Ola Cabs|Ola Consumer]], founder of [[Ola Electric]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.businessinsider.in/Startup-IndiaOla-Cabs-Bhavish-Aggarwal-is-conscious-thatsecurity-is-a-concern-more-measures-need-to-be-taken/articleshow/50602554.cms|title=#Startup India:Ola Cabs' Bhavish Aggarwal is conscious that security is a concern, more measures need to be taken|last=Das|first=Purba|date=16 Jan 2016|work=Business Insider|access-date=3 February 2017|archive-date=20 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220083250/http://www.businessinsider.in/Startup-IndiaOla-Cabs-Bhavish-Aggarwal-is-conscious-thatsecurity-is-a-concern-more-measures-need-to-be-taken/articleshow/50602554.cms|url-status=dead}}</ref> and founder of Ola Krutrim, a [[large language model]] [[artificial intelligence]] (AI) company which became India's first AI unicorn in 2024 an estimated valuation of $1 billion.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Singh |first=Manish |date=2024-01-26 |title=Ola founder's Krutrim becomes India's first AI unicorn |url=https://techcrunch.com/2024/01/26/ola-founder-ai-startup-krutrim-unicorn-in-50m-funding/ |access-date=2024-04-05 |website=TechCrunch |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Pandey |first=Mohit |date=2024-04-12 |title=Ola Krutrim Makes History with In-House Cloud Infrastructure, Skips AWS and Azure |url=https://analyticsindiamag.com/ola-krutrim-makes-history-with-in-house-cloud-infrastructure-skips-aws-and-azure/ |access-date=2024-04-29 |website=Analytics India Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref>

Aggarwal was included in [[Time (magazine)|''Time'']] magazine's ''100 Most Influential People of 2018.'' <ref>{{Cite magazine|title=Bhavish Aggarwal: The World's 100 Most Influential People|url=https://time.com/collection/most-influential-people-2018/5238150/bhavish-aggarwal/|access-date=2020-09-22|magazine=Time|language=en-us}}</ref> With a net worth of $2.3 billion, Aggarwal is one of the youngest self-made billionaires in the world.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/business/indias-elon-musk-bhavish-aggarwal-doubles-his-net-worth-with-ola-electric-ipo-listing-101723179800449.html|title='India's Elon Musk' Bhavish Aggarwal doubles his net worth with Ola Electric IPO listing}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Bhavish Aggarwal |url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/bhavish-aggarwal/?list=rtb/ |access-date=2024-11-10 |website=Forbes |language=en}}</ref>

==Early life==
Aggarwal was born and brought up in [[Ludhiana]], Punjab.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.rediff.com/getahead/report/achiever-punjab-to-new-york-ola-co-founder-bhavish-aggarwals-red-carpet-journey/20180426.htm|title=Punjab to New York: Ola co-founder Bhavish Aggarwal's red carpet journey|date=26 August 2018|publisher=rediff}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/company/corporate-trends/from-ludhiana-to-uk-via-australia-how-bhavish-aggarwals-drove-to-amazing-success/articleshow/65411768.cms|title=From Ludhiana to UK via Australia: How Bhavish Aggarwal drove to success|last=Arora|first=Prashasti|date=2018-08-27|work=The Economic Times|access-date=2018-09-27}}</ref> He completed a bachelor's degree in [[computer engineering]] at [[Indian Institute of Technology Bombay]] in 2008.<ref name=econtimes>{{cite web|url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2014-10-25/news/55421979_1_olacabs-indian-internet-kunal-bahl|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141028032519/http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2014-10-25/news/55421979_1_olacabs-indian-internet-kunal-bahl|url-status=dead|archive-date=28 October 2014|title=Bhavish Aggarwal & Ankit Bhati: The men behind Olacabs|date=25 Oct 2014|work=The Economic Times}}</ref> He started his career with [[Microsoft]] Research India as a research intern and later got reinstated as an assistant researcher.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.yosuccess.com/success-stories/bhavish-aggarwal-olacabs/|title=Bhavish Aggarwal - Yo! Success|date=2015-08-12|work=Yo! Success|access-date=2018-09-27|language=en-US}}</ref>

==Career==
He began his career with [[Microsoft]], where he worked for two years, filed two patents and published three papers in international journals.<ref name=econtimes/> In January 2011 he co-founded Ola Cabs with Ankit Bhati in Bengaluru.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.livemint.com/Specials/NJKWoleEbzYoqz3UGWDvdO/Leader-in-the-spotlight--Bhavish-Aggarwal.html|title=Leader in the spotlight-Bhavish Aggarwal|date=4 Nov 2014|work=Live Mint}}</ref>

===Ola Consumer (formerly Ola Cabs)===
The idea for a cab company struck Aggarwal when he had a bad experience with a taxi, which led him and Ankit Bhati to co-found Ola Cabs in 2010.

In May 2020, Ola Cabs announced a huge layoff of around 5000 employees in a move to survive the economic repercussions of [[COVID-19 pandemic|COVID-19]]. It had suffered an overwhelming loss of revenue by about 95%.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ola lays off 1,400 people, co-founder Bhavish Aggarwal explains the move in a letter to survive Covid|date=May 20, 2020|work=Financial Express|url= https://www.financialexpress.com/industry/sme/ola-lays-off-1400-employees-bhavish-aggarwal-writes-letter-to-employees-on-plan-to-survive-covid/1965007/}}</ref> In a webinar addressed to the students of Bennet University, Bhavish said that the [[COVID-19 pandemic|COVID-19]] pandemic was about to accelerate the innovations in technologies. He claimed that the markets might move towards more car rentals and subscription-based ownerships of cars.<ref>{{cite web|title=Covid-19 accelerating innovation in mobility, says Ola's Bhavish Aggarwal|date=October 19, 2020|work=Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/covid-19-accelerating-innovation-in-mobility-says-olas-bhavish-aggarwal/articleshow/78746524.cms}}</ref>

In April 2022, An internal email to Ola employees was sent out, announcing that Bhavish Aggarwal would be stepping down from day-to-day operations of the company to focus on the future of Ola’s venture into electric vehicles and quick-commerce.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-04-12 |title=Ola CEO Bhavish Aggarwal to focus on future businesses like EVs; step away from day-to-day management |url=https://www.timesnownews.com/business-economy/companies/ola-ceo-bhavish-aggarwal-to-focus-on-future-businesses-like-evs-step-away-from-day-to-day-management-article-90796767 |access-date=2022-04-13 |website=TimesNow |language=en}}</ref>

In August 2024, Ola Cabs was rebranded to Ola Consumer to offer a broader range of consumer services.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bhatnagar |first=Rishabh |date=2024-08-15 |title=Ola Cabs Rebranded To Ola Consumer, To Launch 100% Automated Dark Store |url=https://www.ndtvprofit.com/business/ola-cabs-rebranded-to-ola-consumer-to-launch-100-automated-dark-store |access-date=2024-09-11 |website=NDTV Profit |language=en}}</ref>

=== Ola Electric ===
Ola electric is known for its high number of patents (46){{Expand section|date=September 2024}}

==Personal views==

=== Views on Work Culture ===
In 2022, Bhavish was criticized for creating a toxic work environment, with reports of him tearing up presentations over missing page numbers, using Punjabi epithets, and making an employee run laps for a minor mistake.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |date=19 October 2022 |title=Tearing presentations, making staff run laps: How CEO Bhavish Aggarwal made Ola a 'toxic' workplace |url=https://www.firstpost.com/explainers/tearing-presentations-making-staff-run-laps-how-ceo-bhavish-aggarwal-made-ola-a-toxic-workplace-11479481.html |work=[[Firstpost]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=23 October 2022 |title='Toxic' work culture at Ola? 'We're not here to have nice easy time', says CEO |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/business/toxic-work-culture-at-ola-we-re-not-here-to-have-nice-easy-time-says-ceo-101666516941274.html |work=[[Hindustan Times]]}}</ref> It was allegedly due to his 'aggressive' behaviour that company saw a string of high profile exits, such as [[Ola Consumer|Ola]] Cars CEO, Ola CFO, Ola Electric’s chief marketing officer, among others.<ref name=":0" /> He defended his 'hostile' behaviour as his personal style and reportedly said that, "passions and emotions run high and we are not on an easy journey." He reportedly also said that he is not building a '[[MeToo movement|me too]]' company.<ref>{{Cite web |date=24 October 2022 |title=Bhavish Aggarwal defends hostile behaviour with employees, says they aren't at Ola for a good time |url=https://www.freepressjournal.in/business/bhavish-aggarwal-defends-hostile-behaviour-with-employees-says-they-arent-at-ola-for-a-good-time |access-date=2024-09-25 |website=[[Free Press Journal]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-10-19 |title=What has turned Ola Electric into a toxic workplace? |url=https://qz.com/bhavish-aggarwal-is-turning-ola-electric-toxic-employer-1849675814 |access-date=2024-09-25 |website=[[Quartz (publication)|Quartz]] |language=en}}</ref>

Bhavish made his support for [[N. R. Narayana Murthy]] public supporting his views for 70 hours [[Working time|work per week]] and made remarks against the concept of [[work–life balance]].<ref name="news18.com">{{Cite web |date=2024-07-12 |title='I Don't Agree With Work-Life Balance': Ola CEO Backs 70-Hour Work Week; Doctor Warns of Premature Death |url=https://www.news18.com/business/i-dont-agree-with-work-life-balance-ola-ceo-backs-70-hour-work-week-doctor-warns-of-premature-death-8963106.html |access-date=2024-09-25 |website=[[News18]] |language=en}}</ref> Some doctors noted that 70-hours per week might cause pre-mature death among other problems due to [[overwork]] and 70-hours of work a week only profit the CEOs.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jain |first=Sanya |date=13 July 2024 |title=Ola CEO calls for 70-hour work week, doctor warns of health risks: 'even premature death' |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/trending/ola-ceo-calls-for-70-hour-work-week-doctor-warns-of-health-risks-even-premature-death-101720849906040.html |website=[[Hindustan Times]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-07-15 |title='70-Hour Work Week Exploitative, Increases Risk of Stroke': Doctors Differ With Ola CEO's Work-Life Balance Remark |url=https://www.news18.com/india/70-hour-work-week-exploitative-increases-risk-of-stroke-doctors-differ-with-ola-ceos-work-life-balance-remark-8966142.html |access-date=2024-09-25 |website=[[News18]] |language=en}}</ref><ref name="news18.com"/> He said that he instead believes that people who enjoy their work, will find happiness in work and life, and both will be in harmony.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-09-19 |title=From Narayana Murthy to Bhavish Aggarwal: Indian entrepreneurs who believe employees don't deserve work-life balance |url=https://www.indiatimes.com/news/india/from-narayana-murthy-to-bhavish-aggarwal-entrepreneurs-who-believe-employees-dont-deserve-work-life-balance-642166.html |access-date=2024-09-25 |website=Indiatimes |language=en-IN}}</ref>

He also said that doesn't believe in the concept of working of 5 days a week and said that [[weekend]]s are a "western concept".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ola CEO Bhavish Aggarwal's 3 controversial statements: 70-hour work week to Saturday Sunday debate - Bhavish Aggarwal opinions |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/company/corporate-trends/ola-ceo-bhavish-aggarwals-3-controversial-statements-70-hour-work-week-to-saturday-sunday-debate/te-saturday-sunday-debate/slideshow/111688354.cms |access-date=2024-09-25 |website=[[The Economic Times]]}}</ref>

=== Views on the use of gender pronouns ===
In May 2024, Bhavish made remarks via his [[Twitter|Twitter/X]] account.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sharma |first=Anoushka |date=6 May 2024 |title=Ola CEO Bhavish Aggarwal Sparks Debate On Gender Pronouns, Calls It "Illness" |url=https://www.ndtv.com/feature/ola-ceo-bhavish-aggarwal-sparks-debate-on-gender-pronouns-calls-it-illness-5600728 |work=[[NDTV]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=8 May 2024 |title=Ola's Bhavish Aggarwal: Better to send this illness back where it came from ... |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/social/olas-bhavish-aggarwal-better-to-send-this-illness-back-where-it-came-from-/articleshow/109894800.cms |work=[[Times of India]]}}</ref>

{{Blockquote|text=Hoping that this “pronoun illness” doesn’t reach India.

Many “big city schools” in India are now teaching it to kids. Also see many CVs with pronouns these days. Need to know where to draw the line in following the west blindly!|author=Bhavish Aggarwal}}He termed the use of [[preferred gender pronoun]]s as a "western illness", which caused an online backlash from some on [[Twitter|X]] with some users labelling him as [[Homophobia|homophobic]], [[Transphobia|transphobic]] and [[Conservatism|conservative]].<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Ola CEO Bhavish Aggarwal calls non-binary gender pronouns 'western illness'; draws online flak |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/india/ola-ceo-bhavish-aggarwal-calls-non-binary-gender-pronouns-western-illness-draws-online-flak-3011424 |access-date=2024-05-08 |website=Deccan Herald |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Karan |first=Rewati |date=12 May 2024 |title=They/them and everything in between |url=https://www.financialexpress.com/lifestyle/theythem-and-everything-in-between/3484501/ |work=Financial Express}}</ref> [[LinkedIn]] removed his posts on "gender illness" citing community guidelines,<ref>{{Cite news |date=9 May 2024 |title=Ola's Bhavish Aggarwal reacts after LinkedIn removes his post on 'pronoun illness': 'Rich of you to call...' |url=https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/trends/olas-bhavish-aggarwal-reacts-after-linkedin-removes-his-post-on-pronoun-illness-rich-of-you-to-call-12718167.html |work=MoneyControl}}</ref> following which [[Ola Cabs|Ola Consumer]] switched cloud services from [[Microsoft Azure]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=11 May 2024 |title=Bhavish Aggarwal vs LinkedIn: Ola to switch from Microsoft Azure to its own Krutrim Cloud |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/business/bhavish-aggarwal-vs-linkedin-ola-to-switch-from-microsoft-azure-to-its-own-krutrim-cloud-101715423560969.html |work=Hindustan Times}}</ref>

== Awards ==
* [[ET Awards]], Richest of the year, 2017<ref name="et awards">{{cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/company/corporate-trends/et-awards-2017-the-best-and-the-brightest/entrepreneur-of-the-year/slideshow/61311783.cms |newspaper=[[The Economic Times]] |title=ET Awards 2017: The best and the brightest |date=28 October 2017 |accessdate=5 May 2018}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Aggarwal, Bhavish}}
[[Category:Businesspeople from Ludhiana]]
[[Category:1985 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Ola Cabs]]
[[Category:IIT Bombay alumni]]
[[Category:Businesspeople from Punjab, India]]
[[Category:Marwari people]]
[[Category:Indian business executives]]