February 7, 2026

IITKGP Foundation

IIT Kharagpur Leads the Way in Entrepreneurial Excellence

Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur’s legacy of innovation and leadership has received national recognition through its strong presence on the Avendus Wealth – Hurun India U40 List 2025. In a significant achievement, IIT Kharagpur emerged as the leading undergraduate institution, with 15 alumni featured on the prestigious list, more than any other institution in India.

The Hurun India U40 List is part of the broader Avendus Wealth–Hurun India Uth Series 2025, which recognizes high-impact entrepreneurs under the ages of 30, 35, and 40. The U40 cohort highlights leaders who are shaping India’s next generation of business and institutional leadership through innovation, scale, and long-term value creation.

Collectively, enterprises led by entrepreneurs featured in the U40 rankings account for a substantial share of India’s economic activity, with reported valuations running into hundreds of billions of dollars and contributions estimated at nearly one-eleventh of India’s GDP. The rankings also reflect a broader shift in India’s entrepreneurial landscape, with more than 80 percent of under-40 entrepreneurs identified as self-made founders, rather than inheritors of legacy businesses.

Among this distinguished cohort are Abhinav Shashank, Chanakya Hridaya and Rahul Dash whose inclusion reflects both individual accomplishment and the broader strength of the IIT Kharagpur entrepreneurial ecosystem. Their recognition underscores a defining characteristic of the Kharagpur experience: the ability to combine technical rigor, problem-solving capability, and resilience with a commitment to building enduring institutions.

IIT Kharagpur’s strong showing on the 2025 list serves as a powerful validation of the Institute’s continued role in nurturing high-quality entrepreneurs and long-term institution builders. From academic training and interdisciplinary exposure to peer networks and alumni mentorship, the Kharagpur ecosystem provides a foundation that enables graduates to translate ideas into scalable, impactful ventures.

As IIT Kharagpur continues to strengthen its culture of entrepreneurship and innovation, recognitions such as the Avendus Wealth – Hurun India U40 List underscore the enduring influence of the Kharagpur spirit—one that consistently produces leaders committed to shaping industries, institutions, and the future.