After years of warm exchanges, Ishani and I recently met Alkesh Agarwal in person for the first time. It felt as if we had been friends for a long time given the warmth. We had lunch together.
What followed was not just a conversation, it felt like being invited into the chapters of a deeply moving life story.
Forced to navigate financial and personal challenges in his teens, he began taking up small gigs to support himself and steadily carved his path forward.
As he was narrating his story, there was not a crease of complaint or self-pity. Instead, I saw a calm, radiant face anchored in faith and acceptance, a true Shiv bhakt who visits the Mahakaal temple in Ujjain at least once a year.
He also shared the early part of his entrepreneurial journey. What truly struck me was how he channeled those life challenges into a powerful, entrepreneurial force.
Back in 2007 and 2008, when most people had not even heard the word startup in India, Alkesh raised five million dollars, a feat that made him a sought-after name in the ecosystem. The process took eight long months. When the EY team came for due diligence, he heard the term for the first time. They asked to meet the CEO, only to find this young man in his late twenties running a one-man show, wearing all hats with quiet confidence.
His journey did not stop at his own success. By 2011, he had already started backing others, writing small cheques into startups and quietly helping founders rise.
Recently, Alkesh evolved his approach from just investing to mentoring early-stage companies, not from a pedestal, but as a co-creator and dost, deeply involved in their journeys.
And now, he is pouring his life into a book, rich with stories, lessons, and lived experiences. I feel humbled to be invited to its launch, and I am not sharing more as it will take away the thunder from his book. I am sure we will discover many more inspiring stories and insights from his words.
My daughter Ishani, who joined our meeting, smiled later and said, “You were so quiet today.”
And I was. Because Alkesh had already read Dil Se Dost one and a half times. This moment belonged to him, and I was just happy to listen.
A true gentleman, a man of grace and grit, and above all, a Shiv bhakt whose calm strength lights up every room.
Both Ishani and I wish that Alkesh and his story continue to inspire, uplift, and guide many more lives.
And in my heart, I quietly hope he becomes one of my many angels in this mission to impact a million lives.