Who Is Azhar Iqubal? Wiki, Family, Wife, Biography, Age, Education, Height, Religion, Net Worth
Azhar Iqubal (born 18 January 1993, Age: 31 years old) is an Indian entrepreneur who is best known for co-founding Inshorts, a news app that delivers news in 60 words or less. He is also a B.Tech dropout from the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT-D), one of the most prestigious engineering colleges in India.
He has been featured in several lists of young achievers, such as Fortune India 40 under 40, Forbes India 30 under 30, and Forbes Asia 30 under 30. He has also won several awards for his entrepreneurial journey, such as the Business World Young Entrepreneur Award, the Leaders of Asia Award, and the Entrepreneur of the Year (Media) by the Entrepreneur India Magazine.
Early Life and Family
Azhar was born on 18 January 1993 in Kishanganj, Bihar, India. He grew up in a middle-class family, with his father being a government employee and his mother being a homemaker. He was interested in reading and writing from a young age, and he used to write poems and stories in his spare time. He was also good at academics, and he scored 95% in his 10th standard board exams.
Azhar Iqubal Wiki/Bio
| Name | Azhar Iqubal |
| Date of Birth | 18 January 1993 |
| Age (as of 2024) | 31 years |
| Birthplace | Kishanganj, Bihar, India |
| Zodiac Sign | Capricorn |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Religion | Islam |
| Hometown | New Delhi, India |
| College/University | Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (2009-2012) |
| Educational Qualification | B.Tech dropout |
| Profession | Entrepreneur |
| Famous for | Being the co-founder of Inshorts |
| Net Worth (as of 2024) | Rs 500 crore (approx.) |
| Social Media Links | Instagram: azhar.iqubal LinkedIn: azhariqubal Facebook: azhar.iqubal Website: inshorts.com |
| Homepage | newsunzip.com |
Education
He moved to New Delhi for his higher education, and he got admission to IIT-D in 2009. He chose to pursue B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering, but he soon realized that he was not passionate about it.
He felt that the curriculum was too theoretical and boring, and he wanted to do something more practical and creative. He started exploring different fields, such as journalism, filmmaking, and entrepreneurship. He also joined various clubs and societies in his college, such as the Entrepreneurship Development Cell, the Literary Society, and the Film Club.
Entrepreneurship
In his second year of college, Azhar Iqubal met Anunay Arunav and Deepit Purkayastha, who were also studying at IIT-D. They shared a common interest in entrepreneurship, and they decided to work on a project together. They noticed that most of their peers did not read newspapers or watch news channels, as they found them too lengthy and boring.
They also realized that there was a gap in the market for a new app that could deliver news concisely and engagingly. They came up with the idea of Inshorts, a news app that would summarize news articles in 60 words or less, and present them in a simple and attractive format.
Launching Inshorts
They launched Inshorts in 2013, initially as a Facebook page called News in Shorts. They started curating and summarizing news articles from various sources, and posting them on their page. They received a positive response from their target audience, especially the young and urban population, who appreciated their crisp and clear style of news delivery. They soon gained a loyal fan base, and they decided to convert their page into a mobile app. They also dropped out of college in 2014, to focus on their venture full-time.
They participated in the TLABS Accelerator Program, where they received mentorship and funding from Times Internet, the digital arm of the Times Group, one of the largest media conglomerates in India. They also received funding from other investors, such as Tiger Global, Rebright Partners, and Google’s Rajan Anandan. They rebranded their app as Inshorts in 2015, and they expanded their team and operations. They also added new features to their app, such as personalization, push notifications, and offline reading. They also diversified their content, covering topics such as sports, entertainment, business, technology, and lifestyle.
Inshorts became one of the most popular news apps in India, with over 10 million downloads and 3 million daily active users. It also became one of the most valued startups in India, with an estimated net worth of Rs 500 crore and a company valuation of Rs 3,700 crores. It also received several accolades, such as the Best Innovation App Award by Google, the Best Mobile App Award by IAMAI, and the Best News App Award by Apple.
Physical Appearance
| Height (approx.) | in centimeters- 178 cm in meters- 1.78 m in feet & inches- 5’ 10” |
| Weight (approx.) | 78 kilograms |
| Eye Color | Dark Brown |
| Hair Color | Black |
Net Worth & Income Sources
Azhar Iqubal is one of the richest and most influential entrepreneurs in India. He has an estimated net worth of Rs 500 crore, according to Business Patrika. His primary source of income is his news app, Inshorts, which he co-founded in 2013 with his IIT-Delhi classmates, Deepit Purkayastha and Anunay Arunav. Inshorts has become one of the most popular and valued news apps in India, with over 10 million downloads and 3 million daily active users.
Inshorts has also raised more than USD 119 million (approximately INR 990 crore) through various funding rounds from investors such as Tiger Global, Vy Capital, Rebright Partners, and Times Internet. Inshorts is reportedly valued at USD 550 million (approximately INR 4,070 crore), as of 2021.
Car Collections
Iqubal may also have other investments or assets that have not been made public. He owns a car collection that includes a MINI Cooper, a Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, and a Porsche 718 Boxster. He also lives in a luxurious apartment in Gurugram, Haryana, India.
Shark Tank Season 3
Azhar Iqubal is one of the new judges, or sharks, of Shark Tank India 3, a business reality show where entrepreneurs pitch their ideas to a panel of investors, who decide whether to invest in them or not.
He will be joining other sharks such as Ritesh Agarwal, the founder and CEO of OYO Rooms, Deepinder Goyal, the co-founder and CEO of Zomato, Radhika Gupta, the Managing Director and CEO of Edelweiss Mutual Fund, Varun Dua, the CEO of Acko General Insurance, and Ronnie Screwvala, the co-founder and chairperson of UpGrad. The show will be hosted by stand-up comedian Rahul Dua, and it will stream on SonyLIV from January 22, 2024.
Nationality, Caste & Religion
He belongs to a Muslim family, and he follows the Islamic religion. He moved to New Delhi for his higher education, and he got admission to IIT-Delhi in 2009. He is an Indian.
Future Plans
Azhar Iqubal plans to use the funds to expand Inshorts to other markets, such as Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. He also plans to launch new products, such as Inshorts TV, a video news platform, and Inshorts Plus, a premium subscription service. He also aims to make Inshorts a global leader in news aggregation and distribution and to create a positive impact on society through his work.
Personal Life, Spouse & Relationships
Iqubal is a successful young entrepreneur, but he has kept his personal life very private. There is no proper information available about his wife and kids. As per the sources, he is unmarried and single (as of January 2024).
He has not revealed anything about his past or present relationships, nor has he been linked with any other celebrity or public figure. He seems to be focused on his career and his ventures, and he does not like to share his love life with the media or the public.
Social Media
Azhar Iqubal is active on social media, and he has accounts on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook. He posts about his personal and professional life, and he also shares his views and opinions on various topics. He has over 50,000 followers on Instagram, over 20,000 connections on LinkedIn, and over 10,000 friends on Facebook.
Trivia
- Azhar is a voracious reader, and he reads at least one book every week. Some of his favorite books are The Lean Startup by Eric Ries, Zero to One by Peter Thiel and The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho.
- Iqubal is a fitness enthusiast, and he works out regularly. He also follows a vegan diet, and he avoids junk food and alcohol.
- He is a fan of Bollywood movies, and he likes to watch comedies and thrillers. Some of his favorite actors are Aamir Khan, Ranveer Singh, and Alia Bhatt.
- Azhar is a philanthropist, and he supports various causes, such as education, environment, and women empowerment. He has donated to organizations such as Teach for India, WWF, and UN Women.
- Iqubal is a minimalist, and he believes in living a simple and meaningful life. He does not own a lot of material possessions, and he prefers to spend his money on experiences and learning.
