BharatPe co-founder Shashvat Nakrani will step down from his day-to-day role as Chief Operating Officer starting May 1, 2026. However, he is not leaving the company completely. He will continue as a Strategic Advisor and remain on the board.
In his new role, Nakrani will focus more on long-term plans. This includes helping with fundraising, IPO preparation, mergers and acquisitions, and overall business strategy. His move shows that the company is now entering a more mature phase where experienced leadership is handling daily operations.
From Young Founder to New Beginnings
Nakrani started BharatPe in 2018 while studying at IIT Delhi. He became one of India’s youngest startup founders to achieve huge success. In 2021, he was named the youngest self-made billionaire on the Hurun India Rich List.
Today, his net worth is around ₹1,300 crore, and he has invested in more than 13 startups across different sectors. Even after stepping back, he remains the largest individual shareholder in BharatPe with a 10.8% stake. He said that he wants to go back to building something new, as he enjoys creating businesses from scratch. Reports suggest he may soon launch a new startup. Still, he will stay connected to BharatPe and support its future growth.
End of Founder Era and Company Growth
With Nakrani stepping back, all original co-founders of BharatPe are no longer involved in daily operations. Ashneer Grover exited in 2022 after a major controversy, and Bhavik Koladiya had already left earlier. Now, the company is being run by CEO Nalin Negi and a professional management team. Under their leadership, BharatPe’s financial performance has improved. In FY25, the company’s revenue grew to ₹1,667 crore, while losses reduced sharply.
BharatPe has also changed its business model. It is now focusing more on lending services like merchant loans, PoS machines, and subscriptions instead of just payments. The company serves over 1.7 crore merchants across 450+ cities. Looking ahead, BharatPe is planning to launch its IPO between FY27 and FY28. With better financials and strong leadership, the company is preparing for its next phase of growth.