Leaving behind a well-paying job in the United States to pursue an entrepreneurial path is a daunting decision many individuals contemplate. The transition from stable employment to the uncertain world of entrepreneurship comes with its own set of challenges and risks. Despite the obstacles, some embrace these hurdles and carve out successful paths for themselves. Such is the story of Shashank Kumar, who, alongside his friend Harshil Mathur, founded Razorpay, India’s first payment gateway for small businesses and startups.
In 2013, India lacked a robust payment solution for its small-scale businesses, while PayPal, a US-based giant, struggled with regulatory challenges. Enter Razorpay, a game-changer in the Indian payment landscape. Founded by IITians Shashank Kumar and Harshil Mathur, Razorpay emerged as India’s first payment portal dedicated to startups and small ventures. Kumar, who served as the Chief Technology Officer (CTO), was instrumental in its development. This innovative idea evolved into a comprehensive, integrated payment solution that revolutionized the market.
Today, Kumar is the Managing Director (MD) and Mathur serves as the CEO of Razorpay. Born in Patna, Kumar once held a lucrative position as a software expert at Microsoft in the United States. However, his entrepreneurial spirit drove him to take the daring leap into business ownership.
Kumar’s journey began at St. Xavier’s High School in Patna, Bihar. He later gained admission to the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Roorkee, where he completed his degree in computer science engineering. Post-graduation, he landed a job at Microsoft in the US, where he excelled in his role. Yet, within two years, he decided to leave his secure position to establish a company now valued at over $7 billion (approximately Rs 58,621 crore), according to a report by Inc42.
