From IIT graduate to e-commerce titan: Vidit Aatrey builds Rs 30,000-crore Meesho

Vidit Aatrey, an IIT Delhi electrical engineering graduate, first entered the corporate world with ITC and later InMobi, gaining insight into business operations and technology. His initial entrepreneurial attempt, the hyperlocal fashion-delivery service Fashnear, failed to attract sufficient demand, prompting a pivot. Partnering with fellow IIT alumnus Sanjeev Barnwal, Aatrey spent time with small merchants in cities like Surat, Jaipur and Delhi’s Chandni Chowk, learning that many women-run informal shops relied on WhatsApp for sales.

They built Meesho Supply, a managed marketplace that gave these sellers tools to run digital shops without heavy investment. Acceptance into Y Combinator provided funding and mentorship, accelerating growth. Meesho transformed into a publicly listed e-commerce giant, reporting FY25 net merchandise value close to Rs 30,000 crore, operating revenue of ₹9,390 crore, and a market cap of roughly ₹95,000 crore as of August 2026.