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Shradha Sharma: The Startup Journalism Visionary Reshaping India’s Entrepreneurial Narrative
In the bustling world of Indian startup journalism, one name stands out as a true pioneer: Shradha Sharma. When she pitched her media platform YourStory to industry titan Ratan Tata in 2015, her simple message resonated powerfully. “You and I will get along,” she assured him, describing YourStory as a platform where everyone has equal opportunities to tell their stories, regardless of background. That leap of faith paid off spectacularly, marking a pivotal moment for both Sharma and India’s startup journalism landscape. Today, as the Founder and CEO of YourStory, Shradha Sharma has been the champion, the chronicler, and the catalyst for India’s startups and entrepreneurs for over 16 years, fundamentally transforming how entrepreneurial stories are told and shared across the nation.
From History Student to Media Maverick
Born in Bihar and raised in Patna, Shradha Sharma’s journey began far from the startup capitals of India. Her father served in the Indian merchant Navy while her mother was a homemaker, providing her with a grounding in both adventure and stability that would later influence her entrepreneurial approach. She pursued her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in History from the prestigious St. Stephen’s College, Delhi University, before completing her Design Management degree at Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA), Ahmedabad in 2004.
Before venturing into startup journalism, Sharma honed her media expertise in traditional journalism roles. She worked as a Brand Advisor at The Times of India and later as an Assistant Vice President at CNBC TV18. These experiences proved invaluable, giving her deep insights into how media businesses operate and what resonates with audiences. Her media experience at CNBC and Times of India gave her an understanding of how media businesses run – what works and what doesn’t.
The seed for YourStory was planted during her time at CNBC TV18, where Sharma discovered her passion for startup journalism. While working as a journalist at CNBC TV18, she realized her interest towards startup companies and profiles. She liked to invest her time in writing great stories about successful people and shared them through her blog. What started as a personal blog about entrepreneurs evolved into something much more significant when she recognized that remarkable people across India were doing extraordinary things but receiving little media coverage.
Building India’s Largest Startup Media Platform
YourStory was founded in September 2008, at a time when India’s startup ecosystem was still in its infancy. Sharma’s vision was clear and compelling: create a platform dedicated to telling the untold stories of entrepreneurs who were building India’s future. Shradha Sharma started YourStory because of her deep belief that India’s new-age entrepreneurs deserve to have their stories heard.
The platform’s growth has been nothing short of remarkable. Today, YourStory claims to have narrated over 1,50,000 startup journeys, impacting millions of readers globally. The media platform operates across multiple verticals, including flagship properties – YourStory.com, SocialStory, HerStory, each serving different segments of the entrepreneurial ecosystem. It tells stories in 12 Indian languages, making startup journalism accessible to entrepreneurs across the country’s diverse linguistic landscape.
YourStory’s influence extends far beyond simple reporting. YourStory has been the most prominent startup ecosystem builder in India, hosting over 220 events across YS Meetups, TechSparks, MobileSparks and SheSparks. These events have had a direct impact on over 1.7 million people. The platform has become a crucial bridge connecting startups with investors, mentors, and resources needed for growth.
In recent years, Sharma has expanded her startup journalism approach through innovative formats. YourStory recently started Starting Up with Shradha Sharma—a live show on LinkedIn—hosted by Shradha Sharma, Founder and CEO of YourStory. The show provides a first-of-its-kind opportunity for early- and mid-stage startups to showcase their products and ideas without the luxury of a retake. This unfiltered format embodies Sharma’s commitment to authentic storytelling in startup journalism.
Recognition and Industry Impact
Sharma’s contributions to startup journalism have earned her widespread recognition. She was featured in Fortune magazine’s “40 Under 40 Entrepreneurs in India” list for three consecutive years. In 2018, she was honoured with the Forbes Power Trailblazers award. Additional accolades include the NASSCOM Ecosystem Evangelist Award, Villgro Journalist of the Year Award (2010), L’Oreal Paris Femina Award, and the ET Promising Entrepreneurs of India Award (2015).
Perhaps most significantly for the field of startup journalism, in 2023, when India took up the G20 Presidency, she spearheaded the inclusion agenda as the co-chair of India’s S20 initiative. This role highlighted how startup journalism has evolved from niche reporting to influencing policy discussions at the highest levels.
With more than two million followers on her personal social media handles, Shradha’s influence is far-reaching—one that she has leveraged to shine light on businesses such as Ola and Paytm much before they became unicorns. Her approach to startup journalism has proven prescient, often identifying and featuring companies that later became household names.
Beyond her media work, Sharma has also contributed to startup journalism literature. ‘Cut the Crap and Jargon: Lessons from the Start-up Trenches’ co-authored by Shradha Sharma and TN Hari offers practical insights for entrepreneurs, bridging the gap between journalism and actionable business advice.
Current Innovations and Future Vision
Sharma continues to innovate within startup journalism, recognizing that the field must evolve with changing media consumption patterns. YourStory now operates as more than just a traditional media outlet. Today, YourStory is more than just a media company. It has become: A Movement: Empowering voices from every corner of India. An Accelerator: Connecting startups with VCs, angel investors, and mentors. A Data Source: Providing deep insights and research reports on startup trends.
The platform’s current focus areas reflect the evolving landscape of startup journalism. In 2025, YourStory’s content and initiatives focus on key sectors including technology, healthcare, fintech, and social impact ventures. This diversification ensures that startup journalism remains relevant to multiple stakeholders in the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Under Sharma’s leadership, YourStory has also embraced new technologies to enhance its startup journalism approach. The platform now utilizes data analytics, multimedia storytelling, and interactive content formats to engage modern audiences while maintaining the authentic, story-driven approach that made it successful.
Legacy and Lasting Impact
In an online YouTube talk show, Chai with Lakshmi, she has been called “the biggest storyteller of India’s digital space”. This recognition reflects Sharma’s profound impact on startup journalism and India’s broader entrepreneurial narrative. Through her relentless focus on authentic storytelling and platform building, Shradha Sharma has not only documented India’s startup revolution but actively shaped it, proving that startup journalism can be both commercially successful and socially transformative. Her work continues to inspire a new generation of entrepreneurs while setting the standard for how startup journalism can serve as a catalyst for economic growth and innovation.
