Deep Kalra - The Progress Catalyst
Transforming online travel in India
Deep Kalra is an Indian entrepreneur and business leader best known as the founder and chairman of MakeMyTrip, India's largest online travel platform. His vision and innovation have transformed the Indian travel industry, making online ticketing and holiday bookings accessible and seamless for millions of travellers.
Nationality: Indian
Date of Birth: 18 May, 1970
Hometown: Hyderabad, India
Spouse: Amrita Kalra
Education:
Bachelor's in Economics from St. Stephen's College, Delhi
MBA from Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Ahmedabad
Employment History:
Worked with ABN AMRO, AMF Bowling, and GE Capital
Founder and Chairman of MakeMyTrip (2000 - present)
Co-founder of Ashoka University
A founding member of I am Gurgaon, an NGO
Head of the NASSCOM internet working group
Board Member of TiE (The Indus Entrepreneurs) Delhi-NCR
Investor and Mentor in multiple start-ups
Deep Kalra’s entrepreneurial journey highlights his ability to disrupt traditional industries with technology, establishing MakeMyTrip as India’s leading travel-tech company.
Deep Kalra, from banking to entrepreneurship
In 2000, Deep Kalra founded MakeMyTrip, recognising a gap in India’s travel industry. The rise of the internet and e-commerce presented an opportunity to simplify travel bookings for Indian consumers, who were largely dependent on offline travel agents.
Key milestones under Deep Kalra’s leadership:
Introduction of Online Flight Booking (2005): First Indian company to offer a seamless digital platform for booking flights.
IPO on NASDAQ (2010): Became the first Indian online travel company to go public, raising $70 million and expanding globally.
Acquisition of Ibibo Group (2016): Strengthened MakeMyTrip’s market dominance by integrating Goibibo and redBus into its portfolio.
Expansion into Hospitality & Experiences (2018-Present): Ventured into hotels, holiday packages, and homestays, offering travellers an all-in-one solution.
As of 2024, MakeMyTrip is valued at over ₹23,000 crore ($3 billion), serving millions of customers across India, the UAE, and Southeast Asia.
Impact Maker Deep Kalra
Deep Kalra’s vision has not only grown MakeMyTrip into India’s largest travel platform, but it has also played a key role in:
Digitising the Travel Industry: Pioneered paperless e-ticketing and mobile-first travel solutions in India.
Empowering Small Businesses: Provided hotel and homestay owners with a digital marketplace, boosting local tourism.
Driving Global Expansion: Expanded operations to Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and the US, making MakeMyTrip an international brand.
Through MakeMyTrip Foundation, he also supports sustainable tourism and eco-friendly travel initiatives, focusing on wildlife conservation and responsible travel.
Change Maker Deep Kalra
Before becoming an entrepreneur, Deep Kalra had a successful corporate career:
American Express (1995–1999): Worked in financial services, gaining expertise in consumer behaviour.
GE Capital (1999–2000): Served as Vice President, overseeing operations and strategy.
His shift from banking to start-ups was driven by his passion for travel and technology. Inspired by the rise of Expedia and Travelocity, he took a calculated risk in 2000, launching MakeMyTrip at a time when internet penetration in India was low.
His decision to pivot towards domestic travel in 2005—when international travel slowed due to economic uncertainty—was a game-changing move that helped MakeMyTrip dominate India’s online travel market.
Progress Catalyst Deep Kalra
Deep Kalra continues to drive innovation in India’s travel-tech industry, with a focus on:
AI and Data-Driven Personalisation: Enhancing customer experience with AI-based recommendations.
Sustainable and Responsible Travel: Promoting eco-friendly hotels and green tourism initiatives.
Investing in Travel Start-ups: Supporting emerging travel-tech and hospitality businesses through mentorship and funding.
As an angel investor, Deep has backed multiple start-ups in sectors such as fintech, SaaS, and e-commerce, fostering India’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Achievements
Founding MakeMyTrip (2000): Built India’s leading online travel agency, valued at ₹23,000 crore.
IPO on NASDAQ (2010): First Indian travel-tech company to list publicly in the US.
Acquiring Ibibo Group (2016): Strengthened market leadership by merging Goibibo and redBus with MakeMyTrip.
Driving Digital Adoption in Travel: Led India’s shift from offline travel agents to online bookings.
Expanding into Global Markets: Established MakeMyTrip as a major travel player in Asia and the Middle East.
Awards & Recognitions
Economic Times Entrepreneur of the Year (2011): For revolutionising India’s online travel industry.
Business Today’s India’s Most Powerful CEOs (2017): Recognised for driving MakeMyTrip’s sustained growth.
Nasscom Game Changer Award (2018): Honoured for digital innovation in travel.
IIM Ahmedabad Distinguished Alumnus Award (2020): For leadership in technology and business.
Media References
Wikipedia - Deep Kalra profile
Financial Express - Deep Kalra’s success story
BiographyMint - Deep Kalra entrepreneur profile
SeedToScale - Deep Kalra’s industry insights
Sovrenn - The journey of MakeMyTrip
Ashoka University - Deep Kalra’s role in education
Entrepreneurs Today - Deep Kalra’s billion-dollar empire
Outstanding Speakers Bureau - Deep Kalra’s speaking engagements
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