Ashneer Grover - The Progress Catalyst
A controversial yet influential business leader
Ashneer Grover is an Indian entrepreneur, investor, and media personality, best known as the co-founder and former Managing Director (MD) of BharatPe, a fintech company that revolutionised digital payments for small merchants in India. Known for his outspoken personality and bold business strategies, Ashneer has become a prominent figure in India's start-up ecosystem.
Nationality: Indian
Date of Birth: 14, June, 1982
Hometown: New Delhi, India
Parents: Ashok Grover, Neeru Grover
Spouse: Madhuri Jain Grover
Education:
Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi
Exchange student at INSA Lyon University in France
MBA in Finance from Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Ahmedabad
Employment History:
Co-founder and former MD of BharatPe (2018–2022)
Head of New Business at PC Jeweller (2017–2018)
Chief Financial Officer at Softbank backed Grofers (2017)
Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at American Express India (2013–2015)
Vice President at Kotak Mahindra Bank (2006–2013)
Angel Investor in multiple start-ups spanning fintech, health tech, and auto tech, including Rupifi, YAP, Ribbit, Vinny Pujji’s fund, BIRA, Meddo, Nazara, IndiaGold
Ashneer Grover’s journey from banking to start-ups exemplifies his sharp business acumen and ability to disrupt traditional markets with technology-driven solutions.
Ashneer Grover, expanding beyond fintech
In 2018, Ashneer Grover co-founded BharatPe, a fintech start-up designed to empower small merchants and kirana store owners by providing them with QR code-based UPI payments, merchant loans, and financial tools. Unlike traditional payment companies, BharatPe focused on simplifying digital transactions for offline businesses, removing MDR (Merchant Discount Rate) charges and offering easy-to-use financial services.
Under Ashneer’s leadership, BharatPe introduced several pioneering initiatives:
Zero MDR UPI Transactions: Allowed merchants to accept payments with no additional fees.
BNPL (Buy Now, Pay Later) for Merchants: Provided short-term credit to small businesses.
Partnership with Centrum Financial Services: Led to the acquisition of Punjab & Maharashtra Co-operative (PMC) Bank, marking BharatPe’s entry into small finance banking.
By 2022, BharatPe had processed transactions worth $20 billion annually and secured over $600 million in funding from investors such as Sequoia Capital, Ribbit Capital, and Tiger Global.
Impact Maker Ashneer Grover
Ashneer Grover’s leadership at BharatPe democratised digital payments, making fintech solutions accessible to millions of small business owners. His contributions helped bridge the gap between traditional merchants and digital financial services, enabling small businesses to scale efficiently.
Beyond BharatPe, Ashneer is actively involved in angel investing, backing start-ups in fintech, SaaS, consumer tech, and crypto. His keen understanding of consumer behaviour and market trends has made him a sought-after investor and mentor.
Change Maker Ashneer Grover
Ashneer Grover is known for his straightforward, no-nonsense approach to business. His time on Shark Tank India (Season 1) as an investor brought him into the limelight, making him a pop culture icon among Indian entrepreneurs. His blunt feedback and aggressive investment style earned him both admiration and criticism.
However, his tenure at BharatPe ended in controversy. In early 2022, Ashneer resigned as Managing Director following allegations of financial misconduct and a public feud with BharatPe’s board. While the controversy impacted his corporate journey, it did not deter him from continuing as an entrepreneur and investor.
In 2023, Ashneer Grover, Madhuri Jain Grover and Chandigarh-based entrepreneur Aseem Ghavri launched Third Unicorn. Third Unicorn launched a new fintech start-up, ZeroPe, focusing on lending and financial services and CrickPe, a fantasy gaming platform.
Progress Catalyst Ashneer Grover
Ashneer Grover has successfully ventured beyond fintech, embracing media, entertainment, and content creation. In 2023, he published his autobiography, "Doglapan: The Hard Truth About Life and Start-Ups," which became a bestseller. The book details his experiences in the Indian start-up ecosystem, his journey at BharatPe, and the challenges he faced as an entrepreneur.
In 2025, Ashneer made his television debut as the host of "Rise & Fall," a reality business show, further solidifying his status as a media personality.
His long-term vision includes:
Building another billion-dollar fintech company.
Investing in high-growth Indian start-ups.
Continuing as a thought leader and mentor for new-age entrepreneurs.
Achievements
Co-founding BharatPe (2018): Built one of India’s largest fintech platforms, supporting over 8 million merchants.
Driving Digital Payments in India: Facilitated zero MDR transactions and digital financial inclusion for small businesses.
Becoming a Pop Culture Business Icon: Rose to fame as the most talked-about investor on Shark Tank India.
Publishing a Bestselling Book (2023): Authored "Doglapan," offering insights into the start-up world.
Launching ZeroPe (2023): Entered the lending and BNPL fintech space post-BharatPe.
Awards & Recognitions
Forbes India’s Top Entrepreneurs (2021): For his contribution to fintech innovation.
Economic Times Disruptor of the Year (2022): Recognised for revolutionising India’s payments ecosystem.
Business Today’s Most Influential Start-Up Leaders (2022): Acknowledged for his impact on India’s start-up ecosystem.
Shark Tank India Most Influential Investor (2022): Named as one of the most influential figures in Indian start-up funding.
Media References
Stars Unfolded - Ashneer Grover biography
Economic Times - BharatPe vs Ashneer Grover controversy
Hindustan Times - Ashneer Grover’s new fintech venture
Business Standard - Who is Ashneer Grover?
Times of India - Ashneer Grover as a Trademark
Business Today - Ashneer Grover hosts "Rise & Fall"
5paisa - The former BharatPe co-founder
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