Who is Ankur Warikoo? The finfluencer behind WebVeda, Make Epic Money and a Rs 100 crore edtech business
The Economic TimesImage: The Economic Times
Ankur Warikoo on Friday announced the closure of his education platform that provides upskilling courses, news that upset his fans. The content creator in a social media post said, I am shutting down my 100 crores courses business. We've grown beyond what I could have imagined since we started in 2020. 5 lakh students. 100 crores in sales. 25 crores in profits. But it makes no sense to continue it. Amid the shocking announcement, many are wondering who Ankur Warikoo is, what his profession is, his educational qualifications and net worth. Let's read on to find out.ALSO READ: Ankur Warikoo course business closure: Rs 100 crore in sales, yet he’s shutting it down?Who is Ankur Warikoo?Ankur Warikoo is a prominent Indian entrepreneur, educator, content creator, finfluencer and author. Over the past 16 years, he has built and scaled multiple startups and now runs WebVeda.com, a learning platform focused on making high-quality education accessible to millions.ALSO READ: 'Nothing from China allowed on the plane': Trump team dumps Chinese-issued phones, badges and gifts before boarding Air Force OneHe is among India’s most influential digital creators, with a community of more than 17 million and a monthly reach crossing 300 million. His five books have sold over one million copies across 43 countries and 16 languages. Warikoo considers himself a student of human behaviour.Anukur Warikoo is also the founder of WebVeda, an online school for life skills, and the author of several bestsellers, including Do Epic Shit and Make Epic Money.Childhood, educational qualificationsBorn and raised in a middle-class Kashmiri Pandit family, Ankur Warikoo belongs to Delhi and attended Don Bosco School. He graduated from Hindu College, Delhi University in B.Sc. in Physics. His early years were shaped by a strong emphasis on education, which his parents valued deeply despite facing financial hardships.Ankur Warikoo moved to the United States on a full scholarship to pursue a PhD in Astrophysics at Michigan State University. However, after completing his MS, he realised he was unhappy with the path he had chosen and decided to drop out and return to India. He later pursued an MBA at Indian School of Business, where he received the Young Leader Award.Marriage and childrenAnkur Warikoo is married to Ruchi Budhiraja, whom he often credits as a major pillar behind his success. The duo first met during their college days on a university bus route while Ankur was studying at Hindu College and Ruchi was attending Miranda House.Their relationship continued long-distance while Ankur was in the US, and they eventually married in October 2007. Ruchi, who has more than 15 years of experience in business development and media sales, currently serves as the Director at Brand Warikoo. The couple lives in Faridabad with their two children, Vidur and Uzma.Career and net worth of Anukur WarikooAnkur Warikoo’s professional journey is often described as a masterclass in embracing change and reinventing oneself. He frequently talks about making “five distinct career shifts,” each of which shaped his path as an entrepreneur, educator, author, and digital creator.He began his career in corporate consulting with A.T. Kearney, working across major international markets including Dubai, New York, and India. Soon after, he entered the startup world and co-founded Accentium Web in 2008, which operated popular online platforms such as Gaadi.com and SecondShaadi.com.In 2011, Warikoo became the founding CEO of Groupon India and later went on to serve as the Head of Groupon APAC. In 2015, he led a management buyout of Groupon India with the backing of Sequoia Capital, after which the company was rebranded as nearbuy. He continued as CEO of nearbuy until 2019.In a major career transition, Ankur Warikoo stepped down as CEO in 2019 to focus on building Brand Warikoo, a platform centred around content creation, entrepreneurship, and life lessons. He also launched WebVeda to offer affordable and practical life-skill courses for young professionals.Speaking about his unconventional journey, Warikoo once said: “I became an entrepreneur by accident... I didn't have financial certainty or a roadmap. I just started, and clarity followed.”While Ankur Warikoo has never publicly disclosed his exact net worth, reports suggest his net worth is estimated to be around $15 million.Book RoyaltiesSource of incomeWarikoo is also a bestselling author. His popular “Epic” series books have consistently featured among India’s top-selling titles on the Nielsen bestseller lists. Through WebVeda, he has impacted more than 447,000 students with practical online courses focused on careers, communication, productivity, and personal growth.As one of India’s leading content creators, Warikoo collaborates with brands that align with his personal values and philosophy around education, self-improvement, and financial awareness. Apart from entrepreneurship, he is an active angel investor and has invested in more than 30 startups. He is also known for mentoring founders on business strategy and product-market fit.Interestingly, Warikoo has shared that he often uses 100% of his affiliate income to sponsor the education of underprivileged children, reflecting his strong commitment to social impact and education.Achievements and AwardsFortune India 40 Under 40LinkedIn India’s PowerProfiles & Spotlight ListSocial Media Entrepreneur of the Year (2018)Forbes Top 100 Digital CreatorsMajor Books WrittenDo Epic Shit (2021) – A collection of life lessons.Get Epic Shit Done (2022) – A tactical guide to acting on goals.Make Epic Money (2024) – A comprehensive guide to personal finance.Beyond the Syllabus (2025) – Advice for the younger generation.Winning People Without Losing Yourself (2026) – Insights on human behavior and relationships.
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