‘They said I was not Hinduja, Tata, Birla, Ambani’: Rajeev Chandrasekhar reveals story behind India’s 1st tech unicorn
Former Union Minister and entrepreneur Rajeev Chandrasekhar has revisited the risk he took at 27 when he left Intel in 1991 to build one of India's early wireless cellular networks, recalling scepticism, a meeting with Neil Armstrong and the journey that followed.
Former Union Minister and entrepreneur Rajeev Chandrasekhar has shared his story of leaving Intel at 27 to build India's first tech unicorn. He faced skepticism from family and others, who doubted his decision to enter India's emerging telecom industry in 1991. Chandrasekhar wrote that most people, including his family, told him not to pursue this path.
He recalled being told he was not from an established business family like the Hinduja, Tata, Birla, or Ambani families. Despite the resistance, he focused on creating a large cellular network using Indian talent. To inspire his team, Chandrasekhar invited Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the Moon, to Mumbai. The team later built India's first tech unicorn, a career that later took Chandrasekhar into sectors like semiconductors, technology, and media.
He emphasized the importance of focus and a determined team, encouraging young entrepreneurs to keep building and be inspired by their work.
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