At 21 years of age, Ritesh Agarwal is India’s youngest billionaire entrepreneur, having created budget hotel startup OYO Rooms. Unluckily, Ritesh was thrown out of a rented place in New Delhi when he couldn’t pay the rent. He slept the night in the stairway.

Ritesh had come to Delhi to study in college. But after just three days, he realized that formal education was not something he wanted to waste his time on and left college. When his parents got to know their son had dropped out, they became angry. “My mother said who will give a daughter to my son for marriage now.”

Ritesh Agarwal is the man who backs his own decision. He is a true motivation for young entrepreneurs who dream of becoming the next big thing. Right now, this man has become a role model for the young generation. I am really obliged to share the life story of this young man. I must say this guy proves the old saying that “Hard work can beat talent.” He was a college dropout who wanted to sit in engineering, but now he has become the big thing everyone wants to be. Here is the inspiring success story of OYO Rooms Founder.

The Inspiring Journey of OYO Founder: Ritesh Agarwal’s Story of Success

Dreams and dedication are essential combinations that can lend a hand to take you to the pinnacles of success. The testimony to the above statement is the hard work and dedication of Ritesh Agarwal, the young boy who is the founder and now the CEO of OYO Rooms. He is now an inspiration not only to young entrepreneurs but also to the youth who want to do something extraordinary in life.

We all are aware of the very famous OYO Rooms, which is a successful start-up. But do we actually know about the person behind this incredible idea? There is a teenager from Bissam Cuttack, Orissa, who thought of this idea, and the success of this idea is nothing short of remarkable.

Facts About the Man Behind OYO Rooms

Ritesh Agarwal is as interesting as his idea. He was born in a humble family in Cuttack, Orissa. His journey as an entrepreneur was not a smooth one; he had to deal with failures and difficulties to be on the top. Below are some interesting facts that will keep you intrigued till the end.

• He loves to travel and discover new places, so at the age of 17, he left his home and started exploring different places. While traveling, he noticed a problem that every traveler faced—accommodation issues and high hotel prices. Ritesh decided to eliminate this problem, which later led to the birth of OYO Rooms, providing budget accommodation for travelers.
• Later on, he launched OYO to solve the problem of affordable travel stays and create a standardized budget hotel chain in the hospitality industry.

Achievements of Ritesh Agarwal

Ritesh Agarwal has benefited society in more than one way. He has also managed to achieve what most people only dream of. Below are some of the accomplishments of this visionary entrepreneur:

• He has been named among the top 50 entrepreneurs by the TATA First Dot Awards in 2013.
• Finalist of the Global Student Entrepreneurship Awards India.
• He has been named one of the 8 hottest teenage startup founders in the world by Business Insider in 2013.
• He is the world’s youngest CEO at 17.
• Featured on Shark Tank India, inspiring budding entrepreneurs with his success story.

OYO Rooms Data

• Funding Amount: US$150 million
• Key Investors: SoftBank, Lightspeed, and Sequoia Capital.
• Latest Funding Stage: Series C
• Industry: E-commerce, Travel

Conclusion

Ritesh Agarwal’s entrepreneurial journey is an inspiring tale of determination and vision. His story—from dropping out of college and moving to Delhi to founding OYO and revolutionizing the budget accommodation industry—proves that age is no barrier to success. His achievements and relentless drive make him a beacon of hope for aspiring entrepreneurs. Today, OYO Rooms is not just a hotel chain; it’s a testament to the power of innovation and perseverance. If you're looking for inspiration, look no further than the story of OYO Founder Ritesh Agarwal.