PM Modi reacts to Mamaearth co-founder Varun Alagh's inspiring startup journey: 'Keep up the great work'

Varun Alagh shared the inspiring journey of his start-up at 'Vishesh Sampark Abhiyan'.

Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri and Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology, recently spearheaded the “Vishesh Sampark Abhiyan” on May 20, celebrating the transformative power of India's digital revolution under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This event was a convergence of visionary start-up founders, tech innovators, IT professionals, and more, who gathered to exchange insights and experiences.

Among the speakers at the event was Varun Alagh, co-founder of beauty brand Mamaearth, who shared the inspiring journey of his start-up.

Reflecting on their humble beginnings, Alagh remarked, “Both my wife Ghazal and I come from middle-class backgrounds. In 2016, the same year Startup India launched, we took the leap of faith, quitting our jobs to start Mamaearth. Fast forward seven years, our company has gone public and now employs over 10,000 people.” Looking ahead, he emphasised the importance of focusing on quality, creating meaningful jobs, and investing in research over the next five years.

Varun Alagh, Founder, Mamaearth

We are from middle class backgrounds and started our company in 2016 from scratch and today we employ more than 10000 people. It couldn’t have been possible but for the ecosystem provided by Modi government. In the next 5 years, focus has to be on… pic.twitter.com/wPafs1OXr1

— Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) May 20, 2024

Prime Minister Modi responded to Alagh's story with encouraging words, “Keep up the great work and continue to inspire others with your success, Varun! Our government is dedicated to fostering start-ups and wealth creation. We take pride in the youthful energy flourishing across the nation, especially in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities.”

Keep up the great work and continue to inspire others with your success, Varun! Ours is a Government which actively encourages StartUps and wealth creation. We are proud of the youthful energy in every part of our nation, especially the Tier-2 and 3 cities. https://t.co/C8a6679AMf

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 22, 2024

Another highlight was the speech by Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal, who recounted a personal anecdote from the early days of his entrepreneurial journey. “When I launched Zomato in 2008, my father would say, ‘Tu janta hai tera baap kaun hai?’ expressing his doubt about my potential to start a company given our modest background,” Goyal shared.

Deepinder Goyal, Zomato

When I started Zomato in 2008, my father used to say “tu janta hai tera baap kaun hai” as my dad thought I could never do a start up given our humble background. This government and their initiatives enabled a small town boy like me to build something… pic.twitter.com/vogdM6v8oT

— (@HardeepSPuri) May 20, 2024

Prime Minister Modi highlighted Goyal’s speech, sharing a video and commenting, “In today’s India, one’s surname doesn’t matter. What matters is hard work. Your journey is truly inspiring, Deepinder Goyal. It motivates countless youngsters to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams. We are committed to providing the right environment for start-ups to flourish.”