Akriti Chopra - The Progress Catalyst
A pioneer in Indian tech leadership
Akriti Chopra is a distinguished business leader, entrepreneur, and former Co-founder and Chief People Officer (CPO) of Zomato, one of India’s leading food-tech companies. Her career is marked by a dedication to building sustainable organisational cultures and scaling start-ups into global enterprises.
Nationality: Indian
Date of Birth: 1988
Hometown: Delhi, India
Parents:
Spouse: Albinder Dhindsa, the founder of Blinkit, a company acquired by Zomato in 2022
Education: Bachelor’s degree in Commerce from Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC), Delhi University; after completing her degree Akriti became a qualified Chartered Accountant (CA)
Employment History: Former Co-founder and CPO of Zomato, contributing to its rise as a billion-dollar global business. Before joining Zomato, she worked with PwC.
Akriti Chopra’s entrepreneurial journey reflects her deep commitment to innovation, employee empowerment, and the evolution of technology-driven businesses.
Akriti Chopra, building a global food-tech leader
Akriti Chopra joined Zomato in 2011, during its early stages as a food discovery platform. Initially serving as the company’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO), she played a key role in establishing robust financial and operational frameworks that supported Zomato’s rapid expansion into over 25 countries.
In 2021, Akriti was elevated to the role of Co-founder and Chief People Officer (CPO), highlighting her contributions to building Zomato’s organisational culture and managing its workforce of over 4,000 employees. Her leadership focused on creating a transparent and inclusive work environment, with initiatives that prioritised employee well-being and professional development.
Under her stewardship, Zomato became one of India’s most successful start-ups, achieving a valuation of over ₹46,000 crore and becoming the first Indian unicorn to be publicly listed.
Impact Maker Akriti Chopra
As CPO, Akriti Chopra championed employee-centric policies, emphasising work-life balance, mental health, and career growth. Her innovative approach to talent management earned Zomato recognition as one of the most desirable places to work in India’s tech industry.
Beyond HR practices, Akriti was instrumental in shaping Zomato’s corporate social responsibility initiatives, including projects focused on sustainability, food waste reduction, and hunger eradication. Her efforts have left a lasting impact on Zomato’s organisational values and its broader role in society.
Change Maker Akriti Chopra
Akriti Chopra’s rise to becoming a co-founder from a finance professional demonstrates her versatility and ability to excel in dynamic environments. As one of the few women in leadership roles within India’s tech ecosystem, she has inspired countless aspiring entrepreneurs and professionals.
While at Zomato, Aakriti Chopra handled different teams including Legal, Governance, Risk and Compliance. Her journey reflects the power of perseverance, adaptability, and a commitment to creating impactful solutions in the rapidly evolving food-tech space. She is also known as ‘Food-Tech Queen of India’.
Progress Catalyst Akriti Chopra
Although Akriti stepped down from her operational role in 2023, her influence continues to shape Zomato’s vision and mission. As a shareholder, she remains invested in the company’s future growth.
Her entrepreneurial journey is a testament to her ability to turn challenges into opportunities, making her a role model in India’s start-up ecosystem. Akriti continues to inspire as a thought leader, particularly in the realms of employee engagement, sustainable growth, and women’s empowerment in business.
Achievements
Co-founding Zomato (2021): Recognised for her leadership in scaling Zomato into a globally successful food-tech platform.
CPO Initiatives: Pioneered policies focused on employee well-being, diversity, and professional growth.
Public Listing of Zomato (2021): Played a pivotal role in the company’s historic IPO, the first of its kind for an Indian unicorn.
Global Expansion: Contributed to Zomato’s presence in over 25 countries, ensuring operational efficiency and financial stability.
ESOPs Worth ₹149 Crore: Rewarded for her contributions to Zomato with significant equity, underlining her pivotal role in the company’s success.
Awards & Recognitions
Recognised as one of the Top Women Leaders in Indian Start-ups by Financial Express.
Featured on IndiaTimes for her inspirational journey from employee to co-founder.
Honoured as a Change Maker in HR Leadership for her transformative work at Zomato.
Celebrated as one of the key figures behind Zomato’s inclusion in the Global Unicorn Club.
Included in Forbes India’s ’30 Under 30′ list in 2017.
Awarded the ‘Woman of the Year’ award in 2018.
Media References
Women leaders in Indian start-ups - IndiaTimes
Akriti Chopra Zomato co-founder journey - DevDiscourse
Female entrepreneurs in food-tech - India Present Info
Akriti Chopra net worth and ESOPs - Financial Express
Employee-centric leadership in tech companies - DNA India
