Nirmit Parekh, an ambitious student from Mumbai, took a courageous leap by leaving his position at Apple to launch an incredibly successful business venture. His journey serves as an inspiration to many. He founded 'Apna,' a platform designed to connect job seekers with employers. Remarkably, within just 22 months, Apna achieved a valuation of $1.1 billion (around Rs 9,016 crore). Let’s explore how Nirmit Parekh turned the seemingly impossible into reality.

Background

Nirmit Parikh grew up in a humble family, but his aspirations were always grand. From a young age, he had a passion for learning and innovation. At just 7 years old, he built a digital clock, and by the time he reached 13, he had already started learning robotics programming.

First startup at 21: Incone Technologies

Nirmit Parikh earned his BTech degree from Nirma Institute of Technology in Gujarat and launched his first startup at the young age of 21. This venture, named Incone Technologies, focused on providing technical solutions for flood management, marking his entry into the startup ecosystem.

Second venture Cruxbox

After Incone Technologies, Nirmit founded another company called Cruxbox, where he honed his expertise. Cruxbox achieved significant success, eventually leading to its sale to Intel. Following this, Nirmit took on the role of Director of Data Analytics at Intel. During his time there, he also pursued an MBA from Stanford University, further enhancing his skills and knowledge.

Job at Apple after MBA

After completing his MBA, Nirmit Parekh joined Apple as part of the iPhone product and strategy team. While working at a prestigious company like Apple is a dream for many, Nirmit had a different vision. He recognized the challenges facing India's blue-collar job sector and felt compelled to make a significant impact in this area.

Leaving the job

Recognising the challenges faced by workers in India's unorganised blue-collar sector, Nirmit made the bold decision to leave his promising job at Apple and return to India. He set out to create a platform that would connect blue-collar workers with companies, aiming to address the gaps in this critical labour market. Gradually, it evolved into a platform that helps connect both fresh graduates and experienced professionals with job opportunities across various fields.

Launch of 'Apna' in 2020

In 2020, just before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Nirmit launched "Apna." This online platform connects job seekers with companies.

The success story of 'Apna' is nothing short of remarkable. In just 22 months, it reached a valuation of $1.1 billion, becoming India's youngest unicorn. A unicorn refers to a startup valued at over $1 billion, and 'Apna' achieved this status with its innovative approach to connecting job seekers with employers.

Success of Apna

Today, over 150,000 companies are registered on 'Apna', including prominent names such as Unacademy, BigBasket, Licious, WhiteHat Jr, Flipkart, Shadowfax, Zomato, Delhivery, and Burger King. These companies are actively hiring qualified job seekers through 'Apna', creating a mutually beneficial scenario for both employers and workers.