Nirmit Parekh, a Mumbai-based entrepreneur, has risen from humble beginnings to establish a billion-dollar company. He made a life-changing decision to leave his prestigious position at Apple to create Apna, a platform aimed at connecting blue-collar workers with employers. In just 22 months, Apna reached a valuation of ₹9,016 crore (USD 1.1 billion), making it one of the fastest-growing startups in India. Today, over 1,50,000 companies, including industry leaders like Unacademy, BigBasket, Flipkart, Zomato, Licious, WhiteHat Jr., and Delhivery, are part of the platform.
Parekh’s entrepreneurial spirit was evident from an early age. He built his first digital watch at 7 and started programming robots by 13. After completing a B.Tech at Nirma Institute of Technology, he launched his first venture, Income Technologies, at 21, focusing on flood management solutions. Later, Parekh founded Cruxbox, a venture sold to Intel. He went on to work as Intel’s Director of Data Analytics while pursuing an MBA at Stanford University.
Afterward, Parekh joined Apple and contributed to the iPhone product and strategy team. However, despite his success abroad, he felt compelled to address the challenges in India’s blue-collar job market. In 2020, just before the COVID-19 pandemic, he launched Apna, a platform designed to bridge the gap between job seekers and employers in the unorganized sector.
Under Parekh’s leadership, Apna has grown rapidly, expanding by 125% in just two years. The platform now connects millions of workers with employment opportunities across India, boasting a client list that includes Shadowfax, G4S Global, and Burger King.
Parekh’s remarkable journey highlights his commitment to innovation and his drive to make a significant societal impact, serving as an inspiration to young entrepreneurs everywhere.
