40 Rising Leaders Below 40: Next-Gen Leaders Transforming India

Outlook India highlights 40 visionaries under 40 who are driving innovation across technology, sustainability, and creative industries, featuring leaders like Agnishwar Jayaprakash (Garuda Aerospace), Aditya Vikram Birla(Cosmic Birla Group), and Tejas Chavan (Grape County Eco Resort & Spa). The list spotlights young professionals, including Santhosh Vishnu Parameswaran (Alcor Studio), who are reshaping India’s business landscape with significant social and environmental impact. Beyond celebrating corporate milestones, these trailblazers are setting new global benchmarks through critical problem-solving and purpose-driven action. Their diverse work in sectors such as healthcare, fashion, and manufacturing demonstrates a commitment to building inclusive, community-first ecosystems for long-term growth. 

Mr. Tejas Chavan, Director, Green Spaces

Mr. Tejas Chavan is the Director of Green Spaces and a purpose-driven entrepreneur committed to advancing sustainable living and eco-conscious hospitality. Under his leadership, Grape County Eco Resort & Spa has emerged as one of Maharashtra’s leading eco-tourism destinations, guided by the philosophy of “Co-Exist with Nature.” He has spearheaded transformative initiatives including the plantation of over 60,000 native trees, creation of five rainwater-harvested lakes, 100% water recycling systems, and biodiversity restoration projects. A passionate advocate for sustainable development, regenerative farming, rural empowerment, and responsible tourism, Mr. Chavan continues to demonstrate how environmental conservation and economic growth can work together to create lasting value for communities and future generations.

This list highlights a dynamic group of next-generation visionaries, entrepreneurs, and changemakers who are redefining success across diverse industries in India. From technology and healthcare to sustainable business and the creative arts, these leaders are driving innovation, creating social impact, and shaping the future through their bold ideas and decisive actions. Here’s the entire list of Outlook India’s ’40 Rising Leaders Below 40′ 2026.

“40 Rising Leaders Below 40”  highlights a dynamic group of next-generation visionaries, entrepreneurs, and changemakers who are redefining success across diverse industries in India. From technology and healthcare to sustainable business and the creative arts, these leaders are driving innovation, creating social impact, and shaping the future through their bold ideas and decisive  actions. Here’s the entire list by

1. Ridhi Mehra: Founder of a globally recognized luxury fashion label bridging traditional Indian craftsmanship with contemporary occasion wear.

2. Bhavya Shah: Co-founder of Milo Jewels, scaling a design-centric, lab-grown diamond brand for the modern Indian consumer.

3. Shivam Khullar: R&D Chef at Nashville’s Michelin-starred The Catbird Seat, driving culinary innovation on the global fine-dining stage.

4. Divya Yachamaneni: CEO of Naandi Water, leading large-scale initiatives to provide safe and affordable drinking water to underserved communities.

5. Sareen Shikalgar: Founder of Tiny Design, an architect and interior stylist championing personalized spaces and accessible art.

6. Rohan Khanduja: Amazon product leader and founder of Lotus Worldwide, building conscious consumer hardware and advancing global education access.

7. Medha Shri Dahiya: India Head of Customer Success at Wildr, redefining remote workplace culture through inclusivity and empathy-first leadership.

8. Aditi Seshadri & Priya Thachadi: Co-founders of Unlock Impact, driving purpose-led business growth while creating flexible employment opportunities for women.

9. Chitrakshi Vij: Presence and Influence Strategist coaching professionals and founders on leadership, communication, and AI-driven growth.

10. Richa Gangani: Wellness coach and founder of Richa’s Fitness Lab, helping individuals achieve sustainable health through personalized nutrition and lifestyle changes.

11. Vidhi Shah: Founder of Flying Pencil Creative Solutions, delivering strategy-led branding and integrated marketing for future-ready businesses.

12. Agnishwar Jayaprakash: Founder of Garuda Aerospace, pioneering indigenous drone manufacturing and technology solutions for agriculture, infrastructure, and defense.

13. Tejas Chavan: Director of Green Spaces, championing eco-tourism, biodiversity, and sustainable hospitality through the Grape County Eco Resort & Spa.

14. Sheetu Surana: Director at Surana Jewellers, leveraging authentic storytelling and leadership to build a strong personal brand in luxury and lifestyle.

15. Mrs. Vandita: Founder of Vandy’s Nail Studio and Goddess Umbrella Foundation, empowering women while building a successful beauty and training business.

16. Shilpi Singh: Director at Della Group, spearheading wellness-led township developments and the global thought leadership platform, DLC Guide.

17. Aditya Vikram Birla: Chairman of the Cosmic Birla Group, who expanded his family’s enterprise into a 5,000-crore conglomerate spanning EVs, defense, and infrastructure.

18. Jugal Chauhan: Founder of Course Unbox, bridging the education-employability gap through practical, hands-on training in AI-powered digital marketing.

19. Guru Dutt Kaushal: Founder of Experience My India, transforming his passion as a local guide into a globally recognized experiential travel brand.

20. Dr. Abhimanyu Bhatia: Co-founder of Qris Health, creating an integrated, AI-enabled chronic disease management platform for continuous preventive care.

21. Jayraj Hrishikesh: Co-founder of Thinkspace Edutech, disrupting the counseling industry with a bootstrapped, AI-deeptech platform connecting psychologists and students.

22. Mridula Agarwal: Founder of iReAwake, blending ancient spirituality and modern neuroscience to facilitate profound, root-cause personal transformations.

23. Naitik Ashwin Vyas: Director of Lords Mobility, building globally scalable enterprises across healthcare, clean mobility, and new-age technology.

24. Muralikrishnan: CMO & Co-founder of Wow! Momo, driving exponential growth and creative brand innovation for India’s largest momo chain.

25. Piya Singh: Founder of Mestizo, introducing contemporary Latin American flavors and a fresh experiential dining benchmark to Delhi.

26. Dr. Husain Harianawala: Co-founder of The Dental Bond, advancing global-standard, digitally integrated implantology and mentoring dentists worldwide.

27. Dr. Anshul Gupta: Author and executive coach who founded The Corporate Spirituality to promote purpose-driven leadership and employee wellbeing.

28. Santhosh Vishnu Parameswaran: Founder of Alcor Studio, creating a digital sanctuary and virtual mentorship community to support female executive leaders.

29. Ayush Sharma: Co-founder of UpROI and AdmissionDIY, utilizing AI and automation to modernize digital marketing and the college admission process.

30. Hardik Kotak: Founder of Falcon Cargo, optimizing logistics speed with a fully company-owned, hub-and-spoke delivery network.

31. Zubair Mullaji: Pioneer of ‘Engineered Wellness’, designing holistic solutions for fire safety, breathing comfort, and leadership burnout.

32. Arifa Shah: Founder of Umbrashield, redefining preventive skincare in India through innovative, UPF 50+ wearable sun protection.

33. Adit Agarwal: Director of Royale Impex, modernizing operations and scaling nationwide sales for one of India’s leading imported marble brands.

34. Kush Bhardwaj: VP of Marketing at Explurger, driving community-led growth and smart tourism through AI and value-driven digital storytelling.

35. Avinash Challa: CEO of Lifts Trade Pvt Ltd, rapidly scaling elevator manufacturing and advocating for national lift safety regulations.

36. Krutik Trevadia: Executive Director of Juliet Apparels, steering the heritage manufacturing brand into its next era via a D2C-first omnichannel strategy.

37. Founders of Argos Watches: Revitalizing the Indian watch industry by crafting accessible, high-quality automatic mechanical timepieces.

38. Vivek Surve: Founder of Oreo One Digital, combining political strategy, strategic communications, and cultural storytelling across multiple countries.

39. Kartika Sharma: Author and founder of Unfilter Story, dedicated to sharing authentic, unfiltered journeys of entrepreneurs and changemakers.

40. Yashi Malviya: Co-founder of Probox Media, helping businesses and individuals build public trust and visibility through strategic PR and brand storytelling.