Entrepreneur News launches India's 30 Under 40 list in 2026, looking beyond unicorn valuations to find leaders building real, lasting businesses. India's ecosystem has transformed, founders run profitable D2C brands from tier-2 cities, creators build seven-figure businesses on Instagram, and next-gen leaders reimagine traditional enterprises while solving hyper-local problems.
Feb 08, 2026
Mumbai-based clean fragrance startup Secret Alchemist has raised $3 million in seed funding led by Unilever Ventures with participation from DSG Consumer Partners, bringing total funding to nearly $4 million. Founded in 2021 by Ankita Thadani and Akash Valia, and later joined by actress Samantha Ruth Prabhu as co-founder in mid-2025, the brand positions itself as India's first perfume company to publish complete ingredient and allergen disclosures. Operating on a D2C model through its website, ecommerce marketplaces, and quick commerce platforms, Secret Alchemist blends aromatherapy science with contemporary perfumery to create emotion-driven fragrances free from harmful chemicals, targeting India's $2.5 billion fragrance market projected to grow at 12-15% annually.
Jan 24, 2026
Duolingo India has partnered with teenage chess grandmaster Praggnanandhaa to reposition chess as a mainstream sport rather than an elite intellectual pursuit. The campaign aligns with Duolingo’s global expansion of its chess course, which treats chess as a logic-based language. By presenting Praggnanandhaa as confident, modern, and culturally rooted, the initiative reflects a broader shift in how learning platforms, sports culture, and youth identity intersect in India.
Jan 24, 2026