ReinaSligo4 at 18:29, 6 April 2026

2026-04-06T18:29:51Z

New page

{{Short description|Indian entrepreneur}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2021}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Faisal Farooqui
| image = Faisal Farooqui.jpg
| alt = 
| caption =
| birth_date = 1976 or 1977
| birth_place = [[Mumbai, Maharashtra]]
| education = [[Bachelor of Science]]
| alma_mater = [[State University of New York at Binghamton]]
| occupation = Businessman<br>Investor<br>Founder & CEO of Mouthshut.com
| years_active =
| known_for =
| notable_works =
| awards = Young Leaders by [[British High Commission]]
}}
'''Faisal Farooqui''' is an Indian technology entrepreneur, investor, and digital rights activist. He is the founder and CEO of [[MouthShut.com]], a consumer review and ratings platform established in 2000.<ref name=":02">{{Cite news |last=Agarwal |first=Surabhi |date=2015-03-26 |title=Newsmaker: Faisal Farooqui |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/newsmaker-faisal-farooqui-115032601198_1.html |access-date=2021-09-24 |work=[[Business Standard]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Reddy |first=Sujata |date=2017-03-01 |title=Food above all! Not just meetings, Mouthshut's Faisal Farooqui pitches in at the office canteen too |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/food-above-all-not-just-meetings-mouthshuts-faisal-farooqui-pitches-in-at-the-office-canteen-too/articleshow/57405035.cms?from=mdr |access-date=2025-12-26 |work=The Economic Times |issn=0013-0389}}</ref> Known for building early large-scale systems for user-generated content in India, his work emphasizes data privacy, encryption, and scalable infrastructure. He co-founded Zarca Interactive, the parent company of Sogolytics and K12Insight<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |title=Minimising Legal Risks of Online Intermediaries while Protecting User Rights — The Centre for Internet and Society |url=https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/events/minimising-legal-risks-of-online-intermediaries-while-protecting-user-rights |access-date=2022-09-24 |website=[[Centre for Internet and Society (India)]]}}</ref> and was an early investor in the agritech platform DeHaat.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Omnivore, AgFunder invest in agri-tech startup DeHaat |url=https://www.vccircle.com/omnivore-agfunder-invest-in-agri-tech-startup-dehaat |access-date=2025-12-26 |website=VCCircle |language=en-US}}</ref>

Farooqui was a lead petitioner in the 2015 [[Supreme Court of India]] case that resulted in the striking down of [[Information Technology Act, 2000|Section 66A of the Information Technology Act]].<ref name=":4">{{Cite news |last=Das |first=Soma |title=Section 66A of IT Act: We took up battle, big guys didn't, says MouthShut founder Faisal Farooqui |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/section-66a-of-it-act-we-took-up-battle-big-guys-didnt-says-mouthshut-founder-faisal-farooqui/articleshow/46683331.cms?from=mdr |access-date=2022-09-24 |work=The Economic Times}}</ref><ref name=":5" /> In 2022, he authored ''[[In the Shadow of a Legend: Dilip Kumar]]'', a memoir detailing his decades-long relationship with the actor.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-08-22 |title=Faisal Farooqui on his new Dilip Kumar memoir: I wanted people to know the man behind the legend - CNBC TV18 |url=https://www.cnbctv18.com/entertainment/faisal-farooqui-book-on-dilip-kumar-films-bollywood-saira-banu-14552592.htm |access-date=2025-12-26 |website=CNBCTV18 |language=en}}</ref>

== Early life and education ==
Faisal Farooqui was born in [[Mumbai|Mumbai, India]], as the youngest of ten children to Idris Farooqui and Tahera Farooqui.<ref name=":12">{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=September 2014 |title=Alumnus credits Binghamton for inspiring his award-winning review website |url=https://www.binghamton.edu/alumni/news/alumni-connect/sep-2014/international-alumnus.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150204195333/https://www.binghamton.edu/alumni/news/alumni-connect/sep-2014/international-alumnus.html |archive-date=4 February 2015 |access-date=17 April 2020 |website=Alumni Connect- Binghamton University}}</ref> His father, originally a farmer, came from a land-owning family whose ancestors had rebelled against [[British Empire|British colonial rule]] in 1857. He later established bakeries in Mumbai, expanding the traditional joint family business.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title='Work for the sake of passion, not a paycheck' |url=https://www.rediff.com/getahead/2009/jun/30work-for-the-sake-of-passion-not-a-paycheck.htm |access-date=2025-12-26 |website=www.rediff.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Brun pav to berry pulao: Iran’s mark on Mumbai’s foodscape |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/brun-pav-to-berry-pulao-irans-mark-on-mumbais-foodscape/amp_articleshow/130025527.cms |access-date=2026-04-06 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref> Farooqui attended [[St. Stanislaus High School]] in [[Bandra]] and completed his higher secondary education at [[Jai Hind College]], Mumbai.<ref name="expresscomp22">{{Cite web |last=Naik |first=Sushma |date=3 October 2009 |title=Swades, the dotcom way |url=http://www.expresscomputeronline.com/20051003/technologylife02.shtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051029150704/http://www.expresscomputeronline.com/20051003/technologylife02.shtml |archive-date=29 October 2005 |access-date=16 April 2020 |website=Express Computer}}</ref> He later moved to the United States, where he earned a Bachelor's degree in Information Systems and Finance from the [[Binghamton University|State University of New York at Binghamton]].<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":12" />

During his time at university, he was elected to the Faculty Senate Committee and student government, and served as technology editor of the campus newspaper, ''[[Pipe Dream (newspaper)|Pipe Dream]]''.<ref name=":12" /> Farooqui developed an interest in computing during his school years. In 1988, he encountered a computerized railway reservation system at Mumbai's [[Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus|Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus]], which encouraged him to explore programming. He began experimenting with BASIC on a Casio SF-3500 digital diary, later gained access to an [[IBM]]-compatible PC at school, and worked with database tools such as dBASE IV while developing a system to manage surgical records for a family member. He worked on MS-DOS and Unix environments and learned COBOL and other early programming languages.<ref name=":12" /><ref name=":0" /><ref name=":6">{{Cite web |date=2025-12-18 |title=How early exposure to computing influenced an Indian Internet entrepreneur |url=https://www.financialexpress.com/trending/how-early-exposure-to-computing-influenced-an-indian-internet-entrepreneur/4081556/ |access-date=2025-12-26 |website=The Financial Express |language=en}}</ref>

== Career ==
Farooqui began his career as a telecommunications consultant at [[American Management Systems]] in the U.S.<ref name="expresscomp22" /> In 2000, he returned to India to found [[MouthShut.com]] with approximately ₹1.2 million in seed capital.<ref name=":02" /> To manage costs during the dot-com downturn, the company avoided venture capital and used non-traditional marketing, such as advertising on [[Auto rickshaw|auto-rickshaws]]. In 2001, he introduced the Dial-the-CEO feature on the platform that allowed users to connect directly with the company CEO. Similar consumer-engagement models were later adopted by other businesses.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Krishnakumar |first=Aparna |date=2005-04-20 |title=Ice people: Faisal Farooqui |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/technology/ice-people-faisal-farooqui-105042001022_1.html |access-date=2022-03-22 |work=Business Standard India}}</ref>

In 2007, Farooqui launched Dekhona.com, a localized video platform. The standalone service was later discontinued due to operational costs, and its underlying technology was integrated into MouthShut to support video-based reviews. In 2011, he beta-launched Dealface.com, an SMS-based coupon service for local businesses,<ref>{{Cite web |date=11 May 2011 |title=Mouthshut.com launches Dealface.com |url=https://www.moneylife.in/article/mouthshutcom-launches-dealfacecom/16307.html |access-date=2022-03-22 |website=[[Moneylife]] |language=en}}</ref> which was subsequently merged into MouthShut.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Shanbaug |first=Amit |date=19 December 2011 |title=Mouthshut.com: Building funds via feedback |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/mouthshut-com-building-funds-via-feedback/articleshow/11143968.cms?from=mdr |access-date=2022-03-22 |work=[[The Economic Times]]}}</ref>

=== Auto rickshaw advertising ===
Farooqui is often credited with pioneering of auto-rickshaw advertising in India.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vahanvaty |first=Insiyah |title='Work for the sake of passion, not a paycheck' |url=https://www.rediff.com/getahead/report/work-for-the-sake-of-passion-not-a-paycheck/20090630.htm |access-date=2026-02-07 |website=Rediff |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2007-03-23 |title=Chunnu, Munnu left out as autos load dotcom ads |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/newet/business-of-brands/chunnu-munnu-left-out-as-autos-load-dotcom-ads/articleshow/1795955.cms?from=mdr |access-date=2026-02-07 |work=The Economic Times |issn=0013-0389}}</ref> Starting in 2001, he negotiated directly with drivers to paint the MouthShut.com URL on vehicle hoods as a low-cost alternative to traditional media.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mitra |first=Moinak |title=Chunnu, Munnu left out as autos load dotcom ads |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/internet/chunnu-munnu-left-out-as-autos-load-dotcom-ads/articleshow/1795954.cms |access-date=2022-09-24 |work=[[The Economic Times]]}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2006-12-15 |title=Your ad is on auto-pilot |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/your-ad-is-on-auto-pilot/story-M3mMrOuia4jPVI92CUMZ0H.html |access-date=2026-02-07 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}</ref> The campaign expanded from [[Mumbai]] to [[Bengaluru|Bangalore]] and [[Delhi]] in 2006.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Seetha |title=Dotcoms discover a new marketing vehicle |url=https://www.dnaindia.com/business/report-dotcoms-discover-a-new-marketing-vehicle-1055159 |access-date=2022-09-24 |website=[[DNA India]] |language=en}}</ref> According to the ''[[Hindustan Times]]'', the visibility of these ads contributed to the wider adoption of transit media by larger Indian corporations by 2007.<ref name=":1" />

=== Other ventures ===
In 2003, Farooqui co-founded Zarca Interactive with his brothers, Suhail and Hamid. The company provided enterprise feedback and customer-experience solutions. Its products and operations later expanded through subsidieries Sogolytics and K12Insight, where Farooqui serves as a board member.<ref name=":5" />

== Legal activism and public policy ==
Farooqui has been active in public policy discussions regarding digital rights and intermediary liability in India.

=== Section 66A and IT Rules ===
In 2013, Farooqui and [[MouthShut.com]] filed a writ petition under [[Constitution of India|Article 32 of the Constitution of India]] challenging provisions of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines) Rules, 2011.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-03-11 |title=We believe that a consumer's review is sacrosanct: MouthShut.com |url=https://www.businesstoday.in/opinion/interviews/story/we-believe-that-a-consumer-review-is-sacrosanct-mouthshutcom-133218-2014-03-11 |access-date=2022-09-24 |website=Business Today |language=en}}</ref> The petition argued that the rules required intermediaries to assess the legality of user-generated content without judicial oversight, which, according to the petitioners, led to excessive content removal.<ref name=":7">{{Cite news |last=Sriram |first=Jayant |date=2015-03-24 |title=SC strikes down 'draconian' Section 66A |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/supreme-court-strikes-down-section-66-a-of-the-it-act-finds-it-unconstitutional/article61470585.ece |access-date=2022-03-22 |work=[[The Hindu]] |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> The filing cited multiple takedown requests and legal notices received by the platform, including claims from private entities seeking the removal of negative reviews.<ref name=":8">{{Cite news |last=Das |first=Soma |date=25 March 2015 |title=Section 66A of IT Act: We took up battle, big guys didn't, says MouthShut founder Faisal Farooqui |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/section-66a-of-it-act-we-took-up-battle-big-guys-didnt-says-mouthshut-founder-faisal-farooqui/articleshow/46683331.cms |access-date=2022-03-22 |work=[[The Economic Times]]}}</ref>

The petition was heard alongside other challenges to [[Information Technology Act, 2000|Section 66A of the Information Technology Act]].<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Tiwary |first=Avinash |date=25 March 2015 |title=Section 66A of IT Act: Entire digital ecosystem will take off from here, says MouthShut founder Faisal Farooqui |url=https://www.financialexpress.com/industry/entire-digital-ecosystem-will-take-off-from-here-faisal-farooqui/57177/ |access-date=2022-03-22 |website=[[The Financial Express (India)|The Financial Express]] |language=en}}</ref> In March 2015, the Supreme Court of India struck down Section 66A as unconstitutional, holding that it violated the right to freedom of speech and expression under Article 19(1)(a).<ref name=":9">{{Cite web |last=Balaji |first=Indira |date=2021-08-05 |title=Section 66A of the IT Act is dead; punish the police who still use it |url=https://thefederal.com/opinion/section-66a-of-the-it-act-is-dead-punish-the-police-who-still-use-it/ |access-date=2022-03-22 |website=The Federal |language=en-US}}</ref> The court also clarified the conditions under which intermediaries are required to remove online content, limiting such obligations to cases involving court orders or government notifications.<ref name=":02" />

=== Net Neutrality and IST Reform ===
During the 2015 national debate on [[net neutrality]], Farooqui publicly supported the principle of non-discriminatory data access. He has also been associated with Project MoreSunlight,<ref>{{Cite web |last=www.ETTelecom.com |title=Net neutrality: Wary of the DoT matrix - Tele-Talk by Faisal Farooqui {{!}} ET Telecom |url=http://telecom.economictimes.indiatimes.com/tele-talk/net-neutrality-wary-of-the-dot-matrix/796 |access-date=2021-08-13 |website=ETTelecom.com |language=en}}</ref> which advocates advancing Indian Standard Time by 30 minutes to GMT +06:00 to improve energy efficiency.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-05-11 |title=Internet users represent new India with aspirations – and they want net neutrality: Faisal I Farooqui |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/the-interviews-blog/internet-users-represent-new-india-with-aspirations-and-they-want-net-neutrality-faisal-i-farooqui/ |access-date=2021-09-24 |website=Times of India Blog |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=30 December 2015 |title=Nine Indian startup CEOs write to TRAI against zero-rating platforms |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/tech-news-technology/facebooks-free-basics-9-indian-startup-ceos-jointly-write-to-trai-chairman-against-it/ |work=The Indian Express}}</ref>

=== Community initiatives ===
In 2017, Farooqui co-founded the Save [[Jogger's Park|Joggers Park]] campaign, which opposed the redevelopment of a public green space in Bandra, Mumbai. He has also served as visiting faculty at institutions including the [[Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad]] and [[Jamia Millia Islamia]].<ref name=":10">{{Cite web |last=Attri |first=M. |date=2025-12-06 |title=How a Foundation Helped 1,000 Mumbai Families in 2020 — And Why It Still Matters |url=https://news.abplive.com/infotainment/how-a-community-led-foundation-delivered-essentials-to-1-000-mumbai-households-in-2020-and-why-the-story-still-matters-today-1815498 |access-date=2025-12-26 |website=ABP Live |language=en}}</ref>

== Association with Dilip Kumar ==
Farooqui maintained a long-standing friendship with the actor [[Dilip Kumar]], originating from decades-long association between their families.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2021-09-02 |title=Saira Banu was under stress after Dilip Kumar's death, spokesperson Faisal Farooqui says |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/saira-banu-was-under-stress-after-dilip-kumars-death-7482278/ |access-date=2022-03-22 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref> He managed the actor's official social-media presence, including his Twitter handle launched in 2011, and has served as a spokesperson for the family. Farooqui has described Kumar as a mentor and father figure.<ref>{{Cite web |date=8 October 2018 |title=Dilip Kumar admitted to hospital |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/dilip-kumar-admitted-to-hospital/articleshow/66118198.cms |access-date=2022-03-22 |website=[[The Times of India]] |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-07-07 |title=Dilip Kumar Death: Who is Faisal Farooqui who used to give information related to Dilip Kumar's health every moment, know what is the relationship with the actor |url=https://www.newsncr.com/entertainment/dilip-kumar-death-who-is-faisal-farooqui-who-used-to-give-information-related-to-dilip-kumars-health-every-moment-know-what-is-the-relationship-with-the-actor/ |access-date=2022-03-22 |website=News NCR |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-07-07 |title=Dilip Kumar Social Media : कौन हैं फैसल फारूकी जो हर पल देते थे दिलीप कुमार की हेल्थ से जुड़ी जानकारी, जानिए क्या है एक्टर से रिश्ता |url=https://www.tv9hindi.com/entertainment/bollywood-news/dilip-kumar-death-know-who-is-faisal-farooqui-who-used-to-give-actor-health-update-know-what-is-his-relation-with-him-725587.html |access-date=2022-03-22 |website=TV9 Bharatvarsh |language=hi}}</ref> In 2022, he published a memoir about the actor titled ''[[In the Shadow of a Legend: Dilip Kumar]]'', which focuses on the actor's private life and personal principles.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-08-23 |title='Yusuf sahab would often tell me about his fear of Dilip Kumar' |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/books-and-literature/dilip-kumar-muhammad-yusuf-khan-book-superstardom-faisal-farooqui-8107477/ |access-date=2022-09-24 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref>

== Controversies ==
[[Pune]]-based Kumar builders sent a legal notice to Faisal and MouthShut.com and demanded Rs.2000 crore damages for fake reviews appearing on MouthShut.com about them.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kelkar |first=Suhit |date=2013-06-13 |title=The Irony of a Name |url=https://openthemagazine.com/features/india/the-irony-of-a-name/ |access-date=2022-03-24 |website=[[Open (Indian magazine)|Open The Magazine]] |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref name=":02" />

Institute of Management and Technical Studies sent a legal notice to Faisal for fake review post on his website MouthShut about the institute.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rakshit |first=Angshumitra C. |date=2014-03-05 |title=Louder please |url=https://www.fortuneindia.com/enterprise/louder-please/100547 |access-date=2026-02-07 |website=Fortune India |language=en}}</ref> It alleged that the reviews were intended to bring the institute's reliability down.<ref>{{Cite web |title=IMTS Institute send a Legal notice MouthShut.com for Fake Review |url=https://imtsinstitute.com/imts-institute-send-a-legal-notice-to-faisal-farooqui-for-fake-review/ |access-date=2022-03-22 |website=imtsinstitute |language=en}}</ref>

=== IT Act/Section 66A ===
Faisal was among the lead petitioners who challenged the sections of [[Information Technology Act, 2000#Section 66|IT Act section 66 A]] through a petition in the [[Supreme Court of India]] in 2013.<ref name=":3" /> In 2015, the court struck down 66A, holding it unconstitutional and diluting many other sections.<ref name=":8" /><ref name=":9" /><ref name=":7" />

Faisal's firm MouthShut has received 790 takedown notices, 240 legal notices, and 11 court cases against it.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Datta |first=Saurav |date=18 September 2014 |title=This Supreme Court petition could be a big step in the fight for Internet democracy in India |url=http://scroll.in/article/678539/this-supreme-court-petition-could-be-a-big-step-in-the-fight-for-internet-democracy-in-india |access-date=2022-03-22 |website=[[Scroll.in]] |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":023">{{Cite news |last=Agarwal |first=Surabhi |date=2015-03-26 |title=Newsmaker: Faisal Farooqui |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/newsmaker-faisal-farooqui-115032601198_1.html |access-date=2021-09-24 |work=[[Business Standard]]}}</ref> Hence, Farooqui and Mouthshut.com decided to challenge these notices by petitioning the Supreme Court of India to read down the Intermediary Guidelines Rules 2011.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sen |first=Shreeja |date=2014-08-30 |title=SC seeks govt reply on PIL challenging powers of IT Act |url=https://www.livemint.com/Politics/DSjZ9XsezZ4fN2GGfkWu1N/SC-seeks-govt-reply-on-PIL-challenging-powers-of-IT-Act.html |access-date=2022-03-24 |website=mint |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Pahwa |first=Nikhil |date=2013-04-29 |title=MouthShut Challenges IT Rules In The Supreme Court Of India |url=https://www.medianama.com/2013/04/223-mouthshut-it-rules-supreme-court-of-india/ |access-date=2022-03-24 |website=MediaNama |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":32">{{Cite web |last=Tiwary |first=Avinash |date=25 March 2015 |title=Section 66A of IT Act: Entire digital ecosystem will take off from here, says MouthShut founder Faisal Farooqui |url=https://www.financialexpress.com/industry/entire-digital-ecosystem-will-take-off-from-here-faisal-farooqui/57177/ |access-date=2022-03-22 |website=[[The Financial Express (India)|The Financial Express]] |language=en}}</ref>

In 2014, [[Atria Convergence Technologies|Beam Fiber]], an [[Internet service provider|ISP]] in [[Hyderabad]] and [[Bangalore]] blocked access to Mouthshut.com.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Balanarayan |first=N. T. |date=2014-02-04 |title=Update: Mouthshut Blocked By Beam Fibre; Issue Escalated To TRAI And DoT |url=https://www.medianama.com/2014/02/223-mouthshut-blocked-beam-trai-dot/ |access-date=2022-03-24 |website=MediaNama |language=en-US}}</ref> Farooqui challenged this illegal block and Beam Fiber later unblocked its access with an apology.<ref>{{Cite web |date=6 February 2014 |title=Mouthshut finally unblocked, will consider legal action against ISP - Exchange4media |url=https://www.exchange4media.com/digital-news/mouthshut-finally-unblockedwill-consider-legal-action-against-isp-54504.html |access-date=2022-03-24 |website=exchange4media |language=en}}</ref>

== Board membership ==

* Board of Governors, [[Software Freedom Law Center]] (SFLC)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Indian civil society to WhatsApp, Facebook: Ask users before they are added to group chats |url=https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/technology/indian-civil-society-to-whatsapp-facebook-ask-users-before-they-are-added-to-group-chats-2580949.html |access-date=2022-09-24 |website=Moneycontrol |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Governing Body {{!}} SFLC.in |url=https://sflc.in/about-us/board-members |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220924081754/https://sflc.in/about-us/board-members |archive-date=24 September 2022 |access-date=2022-09-24 |website=sflc.in}}</ref>
* Committee, Ghalib Institute, Delhi
* Convenor, [[MoreSunlight]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kanti |first=Anurit |title=Shifting India's Time-Zone By 30 Minutes Will Have Economic, Social, Health And Environmental Benefits: Faisal Farooqui |url=http://businessworld.in/article/Shifting-India-s-Time-Zone-By-30-Minutes-Will-Have-Economic-Social-Health-And-Environmental-Benefits-Faisal-Farooqui/11-09-2017-125868 |access-date=2022-09-24 |website=BW Businessworld |language=en}}</ref>
* Founding Member, Lead Angels Investment<ref>{{Cite news |last=Saraswathy |first=M. |date=2013-11-11 |title=Former IIT Bombay team members start angel network |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/former-iit-bombay-team-members-start-angel-network-113111100606_1.html |access-date=2022-09-24 |work=Business Standard India}}</ref>
* [[Charter|Charter Member]], [[TiE|The Indus Entrepreneurs]] (TiE)

== Philanthropy ==
Farooqui is a founding trustee of the Tahera & Idris Farooqui Foundation, a family-run charitable organization. The foundation's initiatives focus on education, healthcare, and rural development. During the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] in India, the foundation distributed medical supplies and essential goods to underserved communities.<ref name=":10" />

== Awards and honors ==

* Named as one of the 50 Indian's in list of Young Leaders by [[British High Commission]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=TEDxSIUHinjewadi {{!}} TED |url=https://www.ted.com/tedx/events/16706 |access-date=2022-03-22 |website=www.ted.com}}</ref>
* Mentioned as one of the first Indian dotcom founders of the 21<sup>st</sup> century <ref>{{Cite web |title=The First Class of the Indian Startups: The Unsung Heroes |url=https://www.startupguru.co/blog/the-first-class-of-indian-internet-startups/ |access-date=2020-07-11 |website=www.startupguru.co}}</ref>
* Received the [[A. P. J. Abdul Kalam|Dr. Kalam Startup Award]] from the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] (BJP)<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-08-14 |title=Kalam Ko Salam: BJP Minority Front launches ‘Dr Kalam Startup Award’ to honour former President’s legacy |url=https://risingkashmir.com/kalam-ko-salam-bjp-minority-front-launches-dr-kalam-startup-award-to-honour-former-presidents-legacy/ |access-date=2025-12-25 |website=Rising Kashmir |language=en-US}}</ref>
* [[Manthan Award]] for Best Youth website<ref>{{Cite web |title=Manthan Awards announced in 14 categories |url=https://www.afaqs.com/news/media/15690_manthan-awards-announced-in-14-categories |access-date=2021-09-24 |website=afaqs!}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== Bibliography ==

* {{Cite book |last=Farooqui |first=Faisal |title=Dilip Kumar : In the Shadow of a Legend (A Biography) |publisher=Om Books International |year=2022 |isbn=978-9392834660 |location=India |language=English}}

* ''Application of market research towards proactive customer relationship management''
* {{Cite web |title=Application of market research towards proactive customer relationship management {{!}} WARC |url=http://origin.warc.com/content/paywall/article/application-of-market-research-towards-proactive-customer-relationship-management/en-gb/en-GB/78467 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220812021322/https://origin.warc.com/content/paywall/article/application-of-market-research-towards-proactive-customer-relationship-management/en-gb/en-GB/78467 |archive-date=12 August 2022 |access-date=2022-09-23 |website=origin.warc.com |language=en-GB}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Farooqui, Faisal}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Indian activists]]
[[Category:Businesspeople from Maharashtra]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]

Faisal Farooqui - Revision history

ReinaSligo4 at 18:29, 6 April 2026