Quit Apple job, built Rs 9000 crore company: 'Apna' success story outside IIT-IIM bubble

Apna founder Nirmit Parekh

We often hear a common success story: study hard, get a top-tier degree, land a dream job abroad and settle down. For many, this is the ultimate goal. But sometimes, the most extraordinary stories are written by those who dare to leave that well-trodden path to create something of their own, back home.

This is the story of Nirmit Parekh, a man who left a glittering career in Silicon Valley to build a billion-dollar company from scratch in India, not for the privileged few, but for lakhs seeking a chance.

Nirmit's journey didn't begin in a corporate boardroom. It started in a middle-class home in Mumbai with a curious, creative mind. His passion for building things was evident early on. At just seven, he had already created a digital clock circuit. By 13, he was diving into the world of robotics and writing his first lines of code.

He pursued engineering at the Nirma Institute of Technology, and the entrepreneurial spark was already glowing. At the young age of 21, while still in college in 2009, he started his first venture, Incone Technologies, focused on flood management. This was just the beginning.

His journey then took him to the heart of global tech. He founded another startup, Cruxbox, which was acquired by Intel. This led to a prestigious role as Director of Data Analytics at Intel in the US. An MBA from Stanford's renowned Graduate School of Business followed, cementing his place among the global elite.

The pinnacle for any tech enthusiast came next: a job at Apple, working on the strategy for the iconic iPhone. He had achieved the "dream."

But Nirmit saw something else. He noticed a massive gap back in India. While white-collar professionals had numerous platforms, the vast backbone of India's economy—the blue-collar workers—had no dedicated digital space to find opportunities and grow. This realization sparked a transformational decision.

He walked away from his lucrative career at Apple and returned to India, just before the Covid-19 pandemic, with a mission.

Nirmit's vision was simple yet powerful: to create a platform that connected skilled professionals directly with employers. He named it "Apna" (which means 'ours' in Hindi). This wasn't just a job portal; it was a community, a professional network for India's ambitious but often overlooked workforce.

The growth was nothing short of spectacular. The idea resonated deeply, growing at a staggering 125% in just two years.

It claims that major companies like Flipkart, Zomato, Burger King, BigBasket and Delhivery now use Apna to find talent.

The most remarkable part of this story is its speed. In just 21 months, Apna became a 'unicorn'—a startup valued at over one billion dollars. It earned the title of India's youngest and fastest startup to enter this elite club. Today, Apna is valued at a staggering $1.1 billion, which is more than Rs 9,000 crore.

What started as an idea to bridge an employment gap is now empowering lakhs, providing equitable growth opportunities and strengthening India's workforce.