Shraddha Sharma: The Woman Who Built India’s Startup Story
Shraddha Sharma is the founder and CEO of YourStory, India’s leading digital media platform for startups, entrepreneurs, and changemakers. Through her visionary leadership, she has created a platform that gives voice to India’s startup ecosystem, telling stories that inspire innovation and entrepreneurship. Her strong educational background in media and business, combined with her passion for storytelling, has helped her turn YourStory into a powerful brand in digital journalism.
Early Life and Education
Shraddha Sharma was born in Patna, Bihar, and grew up in a middle-class family that valued education. She pursued a bachelor’s degree in History from St. Stephen’s College, Delhi University, where she developed a deep interest in storytelling, media, and communication.
She then pursued a master’s degree in Media Studies from MICA (Mudra Institute of Communications, Ahmedabad), one of India’s top institutes for media and advertising. Her education gave her expertise in journalism, branding, digital media, and storytelling, which later became the foundation of her entrepreneurial journey.
From Media Professional to Entrepreneur
Before starting her own company, Shraddha Sharma worked with some of the biggest media houses, including:
- The Times of India, where she gained experience in news writing and content strategy.
- CNBC TV18, where she worked as a Brand Advisor, covering business and startup stories.
While working in mainstream media, she realized that stories of small startups and emerging entrepreneurs were often ignored. This inspired her to create a platform dedicated to celebrating startup success stories.
Building YourStory: India’s Leading Startup Media Platform
In 2008, Shraddha Sharma founded YourStory, starting as a blog that featured interviews and success stories of entrepreneurs. Over time, it grew into India’s largest media platform dedicated to startups and innovation.
1. A Platform for Entrepreneurs
YourStory has:
- Published over 100,000 startup stories, covering entrepreneurs from across India.
- Reached over 10 million monthly readers, making it the go-to platform for startup news.
- Created multiple regional language platforms, bringing startup stories to a diverse audience.
2. Expanding into Digital Media and Events
Under Shraddha’s leadership, YourStory expanded beyond articles and built:
- Startup conferences like TechSparks, one of India’s largest entrepreneurship events.
- Video interviews and podcasts, featuring founders, investors, and business leaders.
- A funding platform, connecting startups with investors.
3. Empowering Women Entrepreneurs
Shraddha Sharma is a strong advocate for women in entrepreneurship. She launched initiatives like "HerStory", a platform that highlights the journeys of women founders and leaders, encouraging more women to enter the startup world.
Recognition and Achievements
Shraddha Sharma has been recognized as:
- One of Fortune India’s Most Powerful Women in Business
- LinkedIn’s Top Voices in India
- A TEDx speaker and startup mentor
Shraddha Sharma’s journey from a media professional to a digital entrepreneur proves that passion, education, and vision can drive success. Through YourStory, she has built a media empire that inspires millions, giving a platform to startups, innovators, and changemakers. Her story is a testament to the power of storytelling in shaping the future of business and entrepreneurship in India.