Every year, Fortune India shines a spotlight on a new wave of leaders, innovators, entrepreneurs, and changemakers under the age of 40 who are rewriting the rules across industries. The Fortune India 40 Under 40, 2025 list is not just an honor roll; it’s a roadmap to where India’s future is headed.
This year’s list celebrates leaders who are steering growth in sectors like technology, clean energy, fashion, food, AI, and finance, people whose vision is shaping not just their companies, but entire industries.
When Sagar Daryani, Co-founder & CEO of Wow! Momo, walked into the Fortune 40 Under 40 event, his first words were, fittingly, “It feels wow.” But behind the cheerful greeting is a razor-sharp business mind.
Sagar believes in building teams that can outshine the founder. “Accepting your team can do a better job than you is what builds great businesses,” he says. His secret power move? Talking to himself, not out of habit, but as a tool for clarity. “You’ve got to be your own best listener.”
From mango momos (a glorious failure) to expanding into multiple verticals like Wow China and Wow Chicken, Sagar has never been afraid to experiment. Now, his sights are set even higher, building the next Nestle out of India, with a multichannel presence across quick commerce, retail shelves, multiplexes, and more.
Keshav Reddy, Founder of Equal, describes making the list as “amazing, humbling, and proud.” His most unexpected superpower? The ability to convince. “The power of speech, the power of conviction, that’s what moves people.”
For Keshav, trust, humility, and hard work are non-negotiable values in his team. As an investor in over 35 companies, he has a knack for spotting winners. His insight, “the best founders are the ones with something to lose, because they’ll put everything on the line.”
The Fortune India 40 Under 40 list is more than recognition, it’s a reminder that India’s next decade will be defined by leaders who combine innovation with resilience. Whether it’s reinventing the food business, pushing AI frontiers, or scaling global creative ventures, these are the people making India’s future happen, right now.
