Kunal Shah's rise in the technology industry did not begin in a boardroom. It started with a call centre job. Today, Shah is known around the world as the founder of CRED and one of India's most recognised entrepreneurs.&nbsp; &nbsp;But long before investors backed his ideas and startups reached billion-dollar valuations, Shah was trying to understand customers, businesses and consumer behaviour from the ground up.&nbsp;His journey offers a look at how one of India's most influential founders built his career.The early years: College dropout and call centre employee Born and raised in Mumbai, Shah initially enrolled in college but chose not to complete his degree. Like many young Indians entering the workforce during the early 2000s, he took a job at a call centre. At the time, India's outsourcing industry was expanding rapidly and exposing a generation of workers to global businesses and customers.For Shah, the experience became an early lesson in understanding how people think, spend and make decisions. Those lessons would later shape his approach to entrepreneurship.<h2>Building businesses before CRED</h2>Before becoming widely known, Shah spent years experimenting with business ideas. He launched ventures in online communities, digital services and internet businesses while India's startup ecosystem was still developing. His breakthrough came with FreeCharge, a mobile recharge platform that made digital payments easier for millions of users. The company grew rapidly as smartphones and mobile internet adoption accelerated across India. In 2015, FreeCharge was acquired by Snapdeal in one of the country's biggest startup deals at the time. The acquisition turned Shah into one of India's most closely watched entrepreneurs.<h2>Why CRED changed everything</h2>After FreeCharge, Shah returned with a new idea. In 2018, he launched CRED, a platform designed to reward users for paying credit card bills on time. Many industry observers initially questioned the concept. However, CRED quickly attracted users, investors and attention from across the technology sector. The company expanded into lending, payments and financial services while building a premium brand that stood apart from many traditional fintech firms. Over time, CRED became one of India's most recognised startup names. From startup founder to global tech leader Shah's career has often reflected larger changes happening in India's digital economy. He belongs to a generation of founders who helped build internet businesses as smartphones, digital payments and online services transformed everyday life. His appointment to one of the technology industry's biggest leadership roles is being viewed as another milestone for India's startup ecosystem. It also highlights how Indian entrepreneurs are increasingly moving beyond domestic markets and influencing global technology products used by billions of people.<h2>Why his story resonates</h2>Kunal Shah's journey stands out because it did not follow a traditional path. There was no elite business school degree or fast track into corporate leadership. Instead, his career was shaped by experimentation, risk-taking and an ability to identify emerging consumer trends. From working in a call centre to building successful startups and eventually reaching one of technology's most influential positions, his story mirrors the growth of India's own digital economy. And for many young entrepreneurs, it serves as a reminder that some of the biggest careers in technology can begin in the most ordinary places.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Before becoming one of India's most influential entrepreneurs, Kunal Shah worked in a call centre and experimented with multiple business ideas. His journey through FreeCharge, CRED and global technology leadership reflects the rise of India's startup ecosystem.


Kunal Shah's rise in the technology industry did not begin in a boardroom. It started with a call centre job. Today, Shah is known around the world as the founder of CRED and one of India's most recognised entrepreneurs. But long before investors backed his ideas and startups reached billion-dollar valuations, Shah was trying to understand customers, businesses and consumer behaviour from the ground up. His journey offers a look at how one of India's most influential founders built his career. The early years: College dropout and call centre employee Born and raised in Mumbai, Shah initially enrolled in college but chose not to complete his degree. Like many young Indians entering the workforce during the early 2000s, he took a job at a call centre. At the time, India's outsourcing industry was expanding rapidly and exposing a generation of workers to global businesses and customers. For Shah, the experience became an early lesson in understanding how people think, spend and make decisions. Those lessons would later shape his approach to entrepreneurship. Building businesses before CRED Before becoming widely known, Shah spent years experimenting with business ideas. He launched ventures in online communities, digital services and internet businesses while India's startup ecosystem was still developing. His breakthrough came with FreeCharge, a mobile recharge platform that made digital payments easier for millions of users. The company grew rapidly as smartphones and mobile internet adoption accelerated across India. In 2015, FreeCharge was acquired by Snapdeal in one of the country's biggest startup deals at the time. The acquisition turned Shah into one of India's most closely watched entrepreneurs. Why CRED changed everything After FreeCharge, Shah returned with a new idea. In 2018, he launched CRED, a platform designed to reward users for paying credit card bills on time. Many industry observers initially questioned the concept. However, CRED quickly attracted users, investors and attention from across the technology sector. The company expanded into lending, payments and financial services while building a premium brand that stood apart from many traditional fintech firms. Over time, CRED became one of India's most recognised startup names. From startup founder to global tech leader Shah's career has often reflected larger changes happening in India's digital economy. He belongs to a generation of founders who helped build internet businesses as smartphones, digital payments and online services transformed everyday life. His appointment to one of the technology industry's biggest leadership roles is being viewed as another milestone for India's startup ecosystem. It also highlights how Indian entrepreneurs are increasingly moving beyond domestic markets and influencing global technology products used by billions of people. Why his story resonates Kunal Shah's journey stands out because it did not follow a traditional path. There was no elite business school degree or fast track into corporate leadership. Instead, his career was shaped by experimentation, risk-taking and an ability to identify emerging consumer trends. From working in a call centre to building successful startups and eventually reaching one of technology's most influential positions, his story mirrors the growth of India's own digital economy. And for many young entrepreneurs, it serves as a reminder that some of the biggest careers in technology can begin in the most ordinary places.

Before becoming one of India's most influential entrepreneurs, Kunal Shah worked in a call centre and experimented with multiple business ideas. His journey through FreeCharge, CRED and global technology leadership reflects the rise of India's startup ecosystem.

How Kunal Shah went from a call centre job to one of tech's biggest roles

PM Modi urges aspiring entrepreneurs to focus on learning rather than teaching as they start their ventures. Sharing his startup mantra, he emphasized that it’s never too late to begin and innovate. Watch to know his key tips for young entrepreneurs.

PM Modi Inspires Entrepreneurs: Start Now, Focus on Learning Before Teaching

From zero-tax havens to nations with single-digit corporate rates, learn where entrepreneurs can legally reduce their tax burden. Find out which countries offer the best combination of low taxes and business opportunities. Know more below.

Top 10 tax-friendly countries for entrepreneurs

A small village of the Miao ethnic group in central China's Hunan Province has shaken off poverty and achieved rapid development in recent years, attracting many youths to come back and start businesses in their hometown.

Miao village out of poverty attracts youths back to start business in hometown

Fleeing the violence in their war-torn country, more and more Afghan refugees are choosing to settle down in Turkey, including businessmen and entrepreneurs who have made significant investments in the economy, thanks in part to new incentives.

Afghan refugee entrepreneurs thrive in Turkey

Today is the last day of bidding for the troubled carrier Jet Airways. Watch this video.

WION Wallet: Will Jet Airways find a buyer ?

Just two days before the deadline for putting in bids, Jet Airways has got its first proposal from an unlikely group of investors. The group includes two little known entrepreneurs: a British, an NRI, and investment firms Future Trend Capital Investments, Redcliffe Capital and Adi Partners.

WION Wallet: Jet Airways gets its first bid from a group of investors includes two entrepreneurs

Scores of Indian doctors, teachers, entrepreneurs and other professionals are challenging the UK government in court over being denied the right to live and work in Britain.

The professionals brought together under the banner of the 'Highly Skilled Migrants' group, were back opposite Parliament Square in London today to protest against "unjustified" refusals by the UK Home Office of their applications for indefinite leave to remain (ILR) in Britain.

Since their last protest in February, many of the professionals refused ILR have appealed against the Home Office decision in the First Tier Tribunal and Upper Tribunal  the courts which hear immigration appeals.

"Given the Windrush scandal involving innocent migrants being denied their citizenship rights and the new Home Secretary (Sajid Javid) assuring the public that the Home Office will be fair in its immigration decisions, these cases take on an added significance," said Aditi Bhardwaj, one of the convenors of the group.

"The way some of these skilled professionals have been treated is worse than criminals. We have evidence to show that the entire approach of the Home Office is unfair because it is based on how to find a way to deny someone's legitimate application to live and work in the country," she said.

The common factor among all the professionals, from non-European Union countries like India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nigeria, is that they were in the UK on a Tier 1 (General) visa.

They were entitled to apply for ILR or permanent residency status after a minimum of five years' lawful residency in the UK.

While the visa category itself was discontinued in 2010, former applicants were eligible to apply for ILR until April this year if they met the necessary requirements.

But legal experts have noted a pattern of many such applications being turned down on the basis of Rule 322(5), a discretionary rule linked to an applicant's "good character".

The reason for refusal under this rule is most often a discrepancy in the earnings declared to the Home Office and that to the UK's tax department.

While in some cases there may be a legal case of downplaying income for tax reasons or overstating for immigration purposes, experts believe the rule has been used unfairly as a blanket reason for turning down most applications under the Tier 1 (General) route.

"In the last couple of years, this refusal reason seems to have become near-automatic. The Home Office should not be treating legitimate businesspeople as dishonest where there may be an innocent explanation," said Mark Symes, a senior immigration barrister aware of several such cases where the UK Home Office seems to have displayed a "shoot first mentality".

"The main potential for injustice is the seemingly automatic refusal of applications even when there are good explanations provided, for example where an accountant has admitted their own error in writing," he said.

A 31-year-old Indian professional, who underwent a similar situation due to a minor correction in his tax return, is now fighting his case in the UK's Court of Appeal.

The former Heathrow Airport worker's case has the potential of becoming a test case for hundreds of others who have been denied their ILR on similar grounds.

"The judge has indicated that the grounds of appeal have a good prospect of success," said the professional on condition of anonymity.

"My entire life has been on hold for two years, during which I have been unable to work or focus on anything else.

The Home Office is just interested in its immigration targets and finding any means to deny what is our right as skilled professionals who have been working hard and paying our taxes in this country," he said.

His case comes up for its next hearing in June and could pave the way for a wider class action legal challenge.

"It is possible that a class action would be a good way for getting the law and the legal requirement for fairness to be clarified," said Symes.

The group's protest outside Parliament comes just days after newly-appointed Home Secretary Sajid Javid took charge amid an ongoing immigration crisis dubbed the "Windrush scandal" involving hundreds of Caribbean immigrants to Britain, and vowed to "do right" by migrants who had a legitimate right to be in the country.

Javid replaced Amber Rudd who resigned after admitting that she had "inadvertently misled" Parliament over the existence of deportation targets for illegal immigrants.

The UK Home Office claims that any refusals are a direct result of discrepancies in the tax data quoted by applicants.

"Where there has been clear evidence that these applicants have lied on their visa forms, the courts have upheld our refusal decisions in most cases when these decisions are challenged," a Home Office statement said.

Scores of Indian doctors, teachers, entrepreneurs and other professionals are challenging the UK government in court over being denied the right to live and work in Britain.

Scores of Indian doctors, teachers, entrepreneurs and other professionals are challenging the UK government in court over being denied the right to live and work in Britain. The professionals brought together under the banner of the 'Highly Skilled Migrants' group, were back opposite Parliament Square in London today to protest against "unjustified" refusals by the UK Home Office of their applications for indefinite leave to remain (ILR) in Britain. Since their last protest in February, many of the professionals refused ILR have appealed against the Home Office decision in the First Tier Tribunal and Upper Tribunal  the courts which hear immigration appeals. "Given the Windrush scandal involving innocent migrants being denied their citizenship rights and the new Home Secretary (Sajid Javid) assuring the public that the Home Office will be fair in its immigration decisions, these cases take on an added significance," said Aditi Bhardwaj, one of the convenors of the group. "The way some of these skilled professionals have been treated is worse than criminals. We have evidence to show that the entire approach of the Home Office is unfair because it is based on how to find a way to deny someone's legitimate application to live and work in the country," she said. The common factor among all the professionals, from non-European Union countries like India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nigeria, is that they were in the UK on a Tier 1 (General) visa. They were entitled to apply for ILR or permanent residency status after a minimum of five years' lawful residency in the UK. While the visa category itself was discontinued in 2010, former applicants were eligible to apply for ILR until April this year if they met the necessary requirements. But legal experts have noted a pattern of many such applications being turned down on the basis of Rule 322(5), a discretionary rule linked to an applicant's "good character". The reason for refusal under this rule is most often a discrepancy in the earnings declared to the Home Office and that to the UK's tax department. While in some cases there may be a legal case of downplaying income for tax reasons or overstating for immigration purposes, experts believe the rule has been used unfairly as a blanket reason for turning down most applications under the Tier 1 (General) route. "In the last couple of years, this refusal reason seems to have become near-automatic. The Home Office should not be treating legitimate businesspeople as dishonest where there may be an innocent explanation," said Mark Symes, a senior immigration barrister aware of several such cases where the UK Home Office seems to have displayed a "shoot first mentality". "The main potential for injustice is the seemingly automatic refusal of applications even when there are good explanations provided, for example where an accountant has admitted their own error in writing," he said. A 31-year-old Indian professional, who underwent a similar situation due to a minor correction in his tax return, is now fighting his case in the UK's Court of Appeal. The former Heathrow Airport worker's case has the potential of becoming a test case for hundreds of others who have been denied their ILR on similar grounds. "The judge has indicated that the grounds of appeal have a good prospect of success," said the professional on condition of anonymity. "My entire life has been on hold for two years, during which I have been unable to work or focus on anything else. The Home Office is just interested in its immigration targets and finding any means to deny what is our right as skilled professionals who have been working hard and paying our taxes in this country," he said. His case comes up for its next hearing in June and could pave the way for a wider class action legal challenge. "It is possible that a class action would be a good way for getting the law and the legal requirement for fairness to be clarified," said Symes. The group's protest outside Parliament comes just days after newly-appointed Home Secretary Sajid Javid took charge amid an ongoing immigration crisis dubbed the "Windrush scandal" involving hundreds of Caribbean immigrants to Britain, and vowed to "do right" by migrants who had a legitimate right to be in the country. Javid replaced Amber Rudd who resigned after admitting that she had "inadvertently misled" Parliament over the existence of deportation targets for illegal immigrants. The UK Home Office claims that any refusals are a direct result of discrepancies in the tax data quoted by applicants. "Where there has been clear evidence that these applicants have lied on their visa forms, the courts have upheld our refusal decisions in most cases when these decisions are challenged," a Home Office statement said.

Indian professionals challenge UK government in court over visas

The Indian Embassy in Nepal on Wednesday announced that the International Entrepreneurship Conclave- Connect-IN will be held in the capital city, Kathmandu, on March 24.

The Indian Embassy in a press meet at the Shangri-La Hotel here said that the event will serve as an ideal platform for connecting the young entrepreneurial minds of the two countries.

&quot;India and Nepal are the two youngest economies in the region, which are mainly dominated by youth and entrepreneurship. They both are also two of the closely associated societies in the region,&quot; coordinator of the Connect-IN Kapildhwaja Singh said.

&quot;Two countries are very similar in the structural economy, with dependency in the service sector. That is the reason why most of the start-ups are coming to Nepal and India,&quot; Singh added.

A number of entrepreneurs, CEOs (Chief Executive Officer) and investors from Nepal and India will be participating in the conclave.

The registration is open for the conclave and till date over 300 applications have been received.

International Entrepreneurship Conclave- Connect-IN will be held in Kathmandu on March 24

The Indian Embassy in Nepal on Wednesday announced that the International Entrepreneurship Conclave- Connect-IN will be held in the capital city, Kathmandu, on March 24. The Indian Embassy in a press meet at the Shangri-La Hotel here said that the event will serve as an ideal platform for connecting the young entrepreneurial minds of the two countries. "India and Nepal are the two youngest economies in the region, which are mainly dominated by youth and entrepreneurship. They both are also two of the closely associated societies in the region," coordinator of the Connect-IN Kapildhwaja Singh said. "Two countries are very similar in the structural economy, with dependency in the service sector. That is the reason why most of the start-ups are coming to Nepal and India," Singh added. A number of entrepreneurs, CEOs (Chief Executive Officer) and investors from Nepal and India will be participating in the conclave. The registration is open for the conclave and till date over 300 applications have been received.

Nepalese, Indian entrepreneurs connect through conclave

Shanti&nbsp;Raghavan, founder&nbsp;EnAble&nbsp;India,&nbsp;is working to transforming attitudes towards employing the&nbsp;disabled.&nbsp;Raghavan&nbsp;has been working to further the&nbsp;cause of economic independence and dignity of the disabled for more than nine years.&nbsp;Till December 2016, she has helped more than 4,500 differently-abled people with their livelihoods, while securing jobs for about 10,000.&nbsp;

&nbsp; 
Q. What prompted you to help the differently-abled?&nbsp;

A.&nbsp;The journey started after my husband,&nbsp;Dipesh,&nbsp;and I experienced disability at close quarters with my brother, Hari, who started growing blind at the age of 15 due to a degenerative eye condition. We learned a lot while rehabilitating him. In the process, we decided to help others, ultimately coming up with&nbsp;EnAble&nbsp;India. Today, my brother is a manager at IT major Dell and is doing very well.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Q. What are the systemic flaws preventing employment opportunities for the disabled in India?&nbsp;

A:&nbsp;The primary reason would be the lack of knowledge management. There are many non-governmental bodies doing good work. But they have not&nbsp;documented&nbsp;their&nbsp;experiences with finding solutions&nbsp;which can&nbsp;then&nbsp;be replicated&nbsp;elsewhere. There is also a lack of human capital and processes.&nbsp;Our effort as an&nbsp;organisation&nbsp;is to fill these gaps.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Q. How does your&nbsp;organisation&nbsp;help&nbsp;the disabled?&nbsp;

A.&nbsp;Before Enable India started in livelihoods, most&nbsp;with disabilities were getting jobs through reservations (in&nbsp;the public sector). We opened up the private sector and made companies understand the business value in hiring persons with severe sensory disabilities. We impact livelihoods across 11 disabilities, including visually impaired, physically disabled, autism spectrum disorder, mental illness, learning disability, audio-visual impairment.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false"><img alt="" draggable="false" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/case%20study2-20170216075700.png" />
<div class="media-description">
The disabled do not need sympathy - they need a supportive environment to grow and fulfil their needs, potential and dreams. (WION)
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="javascript:void(0)" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

&nbsp;

Q. How is the training done?&nbsp;

A.&nbsp;We&nbsp;emphasise&nbsp;on encouraging candidates to develop an attitude to work. This is followed by making candidates aware of the skills necessary to succeed in any job role such as working with quality. Next&nbsp;is facilitating candidates to increase knowledge about their disability so that they speak about it using positive language and learn about using tools to work at par with the non-disabled. And finally, we strengthen workplace readiness &ndash; enabling candidates to get ready for the job that matches their educational qualification and skills.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Q.&nbsp;What are&nbsp;the pros and cons of being a social entrepreneur?&nbsp;

A.&nbsp;I see only pros.&nbsp;I have to work on my self-development and my values constantly to ensure that the vision is delivered. Innovation is a must.&nbsp;As we solve pieces of the puzzle, you&nbsp;realise&nbsp;how&nbsp;much more you need to do. I&nbsp;have been able to evolve to higher&nbsp;degrees of focus and energy by cutting out negativity, ego, judgment and more.&nbsp;There are no cons because this is what I want to do and would not have it any other way.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Q.&nbsp;What are some challenges that you have faced and how did you overcome them?&nbsp;

A.&nbsp;Challenges vary from demand creation to opening up of jobs, developing&nbsp;the skills of&nbsp;candidates to barriers in environment&nbsp;to those&nbsp;with disability.&nbsp;We have come up with an innovative employability training, a division for demand creation, different workplace solutions to open up jobs which hitherto did not exist for&nbsp;the&nbsp;disabled.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Q.&nbsp;What keeps you&nbsp;motivated?&nbsp;

A.&nbsp;Every occasion when we have felt bereft of answers or have lost steam, we have seen the power of intent. I also draw inspiration from every person I meet. I wonder about how different people work in tough sectors with&nbsp;low income, how homemakers manage without any recognition,&nbsp;marginalised&nbsp;women&nbsp;in&nbsp;construction work to house work, transgenders and much&nbsp;more.&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp; 
Q.&nbsp;How can a common man contribute in the initiative?&nbsp;

A.&nbsp;We come across disabilities in our day-to-day lives&nbsp;in the form&nbsp;of accidents, illnesses and stress factors. If we build something in our sphere of influence keeping these disabilities in mind,&nbsp;a&nbsp;world will be&nbsp;created&nbsp;to benefit them. People will see inclusion as a way of life. Inclusion is a process which will make each person feel valued and accepted for who they are.&nbsp;

One-fifth of humanity face significant disabilities. They are more likely to experience lower education and poorer levels of employment

Shanti Raghavan, founder EnAble India, is working to transforming attitudes towards employing the disabled. Raghavan has been working to further the cause of economic independence and dignity of the disabled for more than nine years. Till December 2016, she has helped more than 4,500 differently-abled people with their livelihoods, while securing jobs for about 10,000. Q. What prompted you to help the differently-abled? A. The journey started after my husband, Dipesh, and I experienced disability at close quarters with my brother, Hari, who started growing blind at the age of 15 due to a degenerative eye condition. We learned a lot while rehabilitating him. In the process, we decided to help others, ultimately coming up with EnAble India. Today, my brother is a manager at IT major Dell and is doing very well. Q. What are the systemic flaws preventing employment opportunities for the disabled in India? A: The primary reason would be the lack of knowledge management. There are many non-governmental bodies doing good work. But they have not documented their experiences with finding solutions which can then be replicated elsewhere. There is also a lack of human capital and processes. Our effort as an organisation is to fill these gaps. Q. How does your organisation help the disabled? A. Before Enable India started in livelihoods, most with disabilities were getting jobs through reservations (in the public sector). We opened up the private sector and made companies understand the business value in hiring persons with severe sensory disabilities. We impact livelihoods across 11 disabilities, including visually impaired, physically disabled, autism spectrum disorder, mental illness, learning disability, audio-visual impairment. The disabled do not need sympathy - they need a supportive environment to grow and fulfil their needs, potential and dreams. (WION) × Q. How is the training done? A. We emphasise on encouraging candidates to develop an attitude to work. This is followed by making candidates aware of the skills necessary to succeed in any job role such as working with quality. Next is facilitating candidates to increase knowledge about their disability so that they speak about it using positive language and learn about using tools to work at par with the non-disabled. And finally, we strengthen workplace readiness – enabling candidates to get ready for the job that matches their educational qualification and skills. Q. What are the pros and cons of being a social entrepreneur? A. I see only pros. I have to work on my self-development and my values constantly to ensure that the vision is delivered. Innovation is a must. As we solve pieces of the puzzle, you realise how much more you need to do. I have been able to evolve to higher degrees of focus and energy by cutting out negativity, ego, judgment and more. There are no cons because this is what I want to do and would not have it any other way. Q. What are some challenges that you have faced and how did you overcome them? A. Challenges vary from demand creation to opening up of jobs, developing the skills of candidates to barriers in environment to those with disability. We have come up with an innovative employability training, a division for demand creation, different workplace solutions to open up jobs which hitherto did not exist for the disabled. Q. What keeps you motivated? A. Every occasion when we have felt bereft of answers or have lost steam, we have seen the power of intent. I also draw inspiration from every person I meet. I wonder about how different people work in tough sectors with low income, how homemakers manage without any recognition, marginalised women in construction work to house work, transgenders and much more. Q. How can a common man contribute in the initiative? A. We come across disabilities in our day-to-day lives in the form of accidents, illnesses and stress factors. If we build something in our sphere of influence keeping these disabilities in mind, a world will be created to benefit them. People will see inclusion as a way of life. Inclusion is a process which will make each person feel valued and accepted for who they are.

Finding jobs for disabled ? creating enabling mindsets

entrepreneurs

Entrepreneurs, News on Entrepreneurs, stories on Entrepreneurs, articles on Entrepreneurs, Entrepreneurs stories at Wion, Entrepreneurs news, Entrepreneurs latest news