Google rejected Ragini Das in 2013. Now she heads its startup arm in India: 'Felt like destiny'

Ragini Das had co-founded Leap Club, a subscription-based, professional, and social networking platform for women in India. It shut operations in June. (Image credit: Ragini Das/X)

Ragini Das, co-founder of women’s professional network Leap Club, has joined Google as the head of its startup arm in India, marking a full-circle moment in her career that began with a rejection from the tech giant over a decade ago.

In a post on X, Das shared that in 2013, she had interviewed for roles at both Google and Zomato. She didn’t make it through Google’s hiring process but landed the Zomato job — a decision that, in hindsight, shaped her trajectory.

“Zomato helped me identify my career moat, gave me lifelong friends, an incredibly steep learning curve, and the resilience to eventually co-found Leap Club,” she wrote.

Leap Club, which Das described as her “most defining chapter,” aimed to build a strong professional network for women in India. The platform paused operations in June 2025, prompting Das to take a break and explore personal interests — from art and fitness to travel and photography.

‘Kinda felt like destiny’

In August, Das came across a role at Google that she said “perfectly aligned” with her journey. “The role sat at the intersection of 0–10, founders and everything I've built over the years. It kinda felt like destiny iykwim (if you know what I mean),” she wrote.

After two months of conversations with Google’s team, she accepted the role. “We’re on a mission to support thriving startups around the world by connecting them to the right people, products, and best practices to help them grow,” she said.

A founder-first lens

Das’s appointment comes at a time when India’s startup ecosystem is navigating funding slowdowns, layoffs, and a renewed focus on sustainable growth. Her experience as a founder — and her work with early-stage entrepreneurs — is expected to bring a founder-first lens to Google’s startup initiatives in the region.

Reflecting on the journey, Das wrote: “Life has come full circle.”