Vidit Aatrey’s journey from aspiring civil servant to Meesho co-founder is a story of persistence, experimentation and finding the right problem to solve.
An IIT Delhi graduate, Aatrey initially considered a conventional career and worked at ITC and InMobi before entering entrepreneurship. His first venture, Fashnear, struggled, prompting the founders to rethink their approach.
Aatrey and Sanjeev Barnwal eventually noticed how small businesses, particularly women entrepreneurs, were already using WhatsApp to sell products. This insight became the foundation for Meesho, which evolved into a major e-commerce marketplace.
Meesho went public in December 2025. As of August 20, 2026, the company’s market capitalisation stood at around ₹95,000 crore.
Aatrey’s story highlights how failed ideas, customer observation and repeated pivots can turn an uncertain beginning into a major startup success.
