Mukesh Bansal

Mukesh Bansal (born September, 1975) is an Indian entrepreneur and podcaster known for his contributions to the e-commerce, health-tech, and startup ecosystems. He is the co-founder of Myntra, Cult.Fit, and Meraki Labs, and has played a significant role in shaping India's tech and entrepreneurial landscape. Mukesh has been listed in the Best 40 under 40 Entrepreneurs by Fortune Magazine.

Early life and education Bansal was born in Haridwar, India. His early interest in technology and entrepreneurship guided his career path in the tech industry.

Career Early career After graduating from IIT Kanpur, Bansal began his career as a system analyst with Deloitte in Chicago. These roles provided him with substantial experience and insights, which he later applied to his ventures in India.

Myntra In 2007, Bansal co-founded Myntra with Ashutosh Lawania and Vineet Saxena. Initially, Myntra specialised in personalised gift items but shifted focus to fashion and lifestyle products. Following the acquisition, Bansal took on the role of Head of Commerce and Advertising Business at Flipkart.

Cure.Fit Cure.Fit was founded in 2016 by Mukesh Bansal and Ankit Nagori Mind.fit: Provides yoga and meditation sessions. Care.fit: Offers primary healthcare services.

The company has attracted significant investment and has expanded its operations across India. Its business model integrates different aspects of health and wellness.

Meraki Labs Meraki Labs, co-founded by Mukesh Bansal in 2020, is described as India's first startup studio. The organisation focuses on supporting the development of new companies by providing initial funding and a founding team. It collaborates with founders to build startups from the ground up and offers initial funding ranging from $250K to $5M.

Operating as a venture studio, Meraki Labs works closely with founders to identify market needs and develop new products. The studio has supported startups including Skyroot, Groww, Nextleap, Nushala, and Gigforce.

In addition to financial support, Meraki Labs provides access to experienced entrepreneurs, leadership coaches, and a structured curriculum covering product development, branding, and fundraising. The studio also fosters a community of over 100 founders who share insights and support each other.

Meraki Labs has received backing from investors such as Peak XV Partners (formerly Sequoia India) and Accel.

Podcast Bansal hosts the podcast "SparX," which explores "Big Ideas" across various fields, including economics, politics, science, and entrepreneurship. The podcast features individual episodes where Bansal shares insights from his career and guest episodes with influential figures such as Ajeet Singh, Sudha Murty and Rahul Dravid.

Olympics Gold Quest Mukesh is also on the board of Olympics Gold Quest, a non-profit foundation that promotes efforts to support Indian athletes in winning Olympic Gold medals.

Books

Hacking Health: The Only Book You’ll Ever Need To Live a Healthier Life (2023)

No Limits: The Art and Science of High Performance (2020)

Achievements and Recognition Bansal has been recognized for his contributions to the industry:

Fortune India 40 Under 40: Featured in Fortune India’s list of 40 Under 40. Business Today’s Coolest Start-ups: Myntra was named one of Business Today’s Coolest Start-ups under his leadership. IIT Kanpur Distinguished Alumnus Award (2021): Honoured with this award by IIT Kanpur.