Ritesh Agarwal Biography | OYO Founder

Ritesh Agarwal is an Indian entrepreneur and the founder and CEO of OYO Rooms, one of the largest hospitality chains in the world. He was born on November 16, 1993, in Bishama Katek, a small town in the Indian state of Odisha.

From a young age, Agarwal showed an interest in business and entrepreneurship. He started his first company at the age of 17, an online education platform called Oravel Stays, which later evolved into OYO Rooms.

Agarwal studied at the Indian School of Business and Finance in New Delhi before dropping out to focus on his business ventures. In 2013, he won a Thiel Fellowship, a prestigious award given to young entrepreneurs, which provided him with funding and support to pursue his startup ideas.

In 2014, Agarwal launched OYO Rooms, which started as a budget hotel aggregator in India. OYO Rooms quickly gained popularity among budget-conscious travelers, and Agarwal soon expanded the business to other countries, including China, the United States, and Europe. Today, OYO Rooms has over 43,000 hotels in more than 800 cities across 80 countries, making it one of the largest hotel chains in the world.

Agarwal has received numerous awards for his entrepreneurship, including being named to Forbes’ 30 under 30 Asia list in 2016 and 2018, and being recognized as the youngest Indian billionaire by Forbes in 2020.

In addition to his entrepreneurial pursuits, Agarwal is also involved in various philanthropic activities. He has established the Ritesh Agarwal Foundation, which supports young entrepreneurs in India, and has also pledged to donate $2 billion of his personal wealth to charity.

Agarwal’s entrepreneurial journey is an inspiring example of how hard work, determination, and a strong vision can lead to success. His innovative business model has disrupted the hospitality industry and opened up new possibilities for budget travelers around the world.