Some stories seem almost too incredible to be true. A boy from a small town in Bihar drops out of IIT Delhi and ends up creating a company worth 4,000 crore. Yet this isn’t fiction—it’s the real-life journey of Azhar Iquebal, the man behind the popular Inshorts and Public apps. His visionary approach to media has not only transformed how millions consume news but also positioned him as one of India’s most innovative entrepreneurs.
The journey of Azhar Iquebal- From Kishanganj to IIT Delhi and Beyond
Azhar’s journey began in Kishanganj, Bihar—a town far removed from the world of high-stakes startups and venture capital. By 2009, Azhar Iquebal had already set himself apart by gaining admission to IIT Delhi, one of India’s most prestigious engineering institutions. But after three years of studying mathematics and computer science, he made a bold decision: he chose to leave the traditional IIT path behind and pursue something entirely different.
Instead of following a predictable trajectory, Azhar Iquebal envisioned creating something meaningful—something that could impact how people consumed information. The spark came when he noticed how overwhelming and time-consuming traditional news formats could be. With two fellow IIT classmates, he launched a simple Facebook page designed to deliver news in under 60 words.
The Birth of Inshorts
Initially called “News in Shorts,” the page took off almost immediately. Within 30 days, it amassed 20,000 likes; by the end of the year, that number had climbed to an impressive one million. While the concept was simple—quick, concise news updates—its execution was flawless. It resonated deeply with a generation increasingly pressed for time and hungry for digestible, trustworthy content.
Azhar’s big break came in the form of a meeting with Flipkart co-founder Sachin Bansal, who was so impressed with the idea that he invested Rs. 10 lakh in seed funding. This pivotal moment allowed Azhar Iquebal and his team to reimagine their platform as a mobile-first experience. In 2015, Inshorts made its debut as a sleek mobile app, redefining how news could be presented and consumed on the go.
Tapping Into Vernacular India
Azhar Iquebal quickly recognized that India’s vast linguistic diversity represented a massive opportunity. While English news apps were gaining traction, millions of Hindi-speaking readers remained underserved. So, he took the bold step of launching Hindi news within Inshorts, broadening the app’s appeal. This move proved to be a masterstroke, helping the app achieve a remarkable 4.6-star rating and becoming one of the highest-rated news apps in the country.
Investors took notice of Inshorts’ meteoric rise. Tiger Global, one of the most influential players in venture capital, invested Rs. 25 crore in 2015 and followed up with another Rs. 127 crore just four months later. With these funds, Azhar Iquebal expanded the platform’s content offerings to include videos, infographics, and blogs, ensuring Inshorts became more than just a news aggregator—it became a comprehensive content hub.
Public: A New Chapter in Localized News
While Inshorts continued to thrive, Azhar Iquebal turned his attention to a new frontier—hyperlocal content. In 2019, he launched the Public app, a platform where users could record and share local news and events from their communities. The concept struck a chord, particularly in India’s tier 2 and tier 3 cities, where mainstream media often overlooks local issues. Within six months, Public had amassed 10 million users, solidifying Azhar’s reputation as a pioneer in vernacular and regional media.
Scaling to a Billion-Dollar Valuation
By 2021, Azhar’s dual-platform approach had paid off spectacularly. Inshorts had reached 10 million users, while Public’s user base surpassed a staggering 60 million. Together, the two platforms had become indispensable tools for millions of Indians seeking fast, reliable, and localized news. Revenue from innovative ad formats—like seamless, custom in-app ads—helped drive annual earnings past Rs. 100 crore.
With such phenomenal growth, the company secured another round of funding, raising over Rs. 300 crore and catapulting its valuation to an astonishing 4,000 crore. Inshorts became India’s number one English news app, while Public emerged as the leading hyperlocal platform, with more than 100 million downloads.
The Future is Bright
What makes Azhar Iquebal Iquebal’s story so compelling isn’t just the financial success or the millions of downloads. It’s the way he redefined an industry. By focusing on speed, clarity, and accessibility, Azhar created products that truly resonated with users. He demonstrated that by listening to people’s needs and taking bold risks, it’s possible to build a billion-dollar company—even without a conventional blueprint.
Today, Azhar Iquebal’s success has earned him a spot as one of the new Sharks on Shark Tank India. But his journey—from a small-town boy in Bihar to a celebrated entrepreneur—will continue to inspire countless others who dream of forging their own path.
