Ritesh Agarwal Wiki, Age, Family, Career, Biography

Ritesh Agarwal: Odisha-based entrepreneurial man behind OYO Hotels & Homes, one of the world's largest and fastest-growing chains of hotels. Describing him as a harbinger of innovation with unremitting ambition in whatever he does, success has arrived from an area that seems improbable.

Early Life and Education

Born on 16th November 1993 in Cuttack, Odisha, Ritesh was raised in Rayagada, a modest town in that area. Ritesh completed his schooling at Sacred Heart School, Rayagada. He was good at his studies throughout his schooling. Ritesh had intellectually proved himself in advance since he was selected to attend the Asian Science Camp at Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) in Mumbai while he was only 16 years old.

After his 12th standard, Ritesh joined the Indian School of Business & Finance in Delhi. But after two years, his entrepreneurial fervor made him drop his school education to pursue his dreams. At 17, he wrote the "Encyclopedia of Indian Engineering Colleges", which became a bestseller and brought him all the recognition.

The Origination of OYO

In 2012, Ritesh launched his first venture, Oravel Stays, a platform for users to seek budget accommodations. During his travels across India, the entrepreneur stayed in more than 100 guest houses and hotels, thus getting a practical feel for the challenges affecting budget travelers. He inspired the idea to transform Oravel into OYO Rooms in 2013.

OYO, short for "On Your Own," has targeted providing affordable, clean, and quality accommodations. What began as a solution to budget travelers has mushroomed into a global hospitality chain of thousands of hotels, homes, and vacation spaces across countries such as India, Malaysia, Nepal, the UAE, and Sri Lanka.

Success and Growth

Under Ritesh, OYO has attracted major investors like SoftBank Group, Sequoia India, Lightspeed India, and Airbnb among others. Till 2019, the company reported revenue of $951 million. Today, the company employs over 17,000 people across the globe, of which 8,000 work in India and South Asia.

In addition, 26 training centers under the company cater to promote and nurture growing talent in hospitality service, Inin dia. This drive for quality in living spaces through hospitality service earned Ritesh a podium among India's youngest yet highly successful entrepreneurial personalities.

Honours and Awards

The awards and recognition Ritesh Agarwal got for his success include:

• Thiel Fellowship (2013) Member of the "20 Under 20" program.
• TiE-Lumis Entrepreneurial Excellence Award (2014).
• 50 Top Entrepreneurs (2013) by TATA First Dot Awards.
• Featured in the Business Insider's list of "8 Hottest Teenage Startup Founders"

Private Life and Legacy Presently

Ritesh Agarwal is 30 years old and working for the change in the hospitality sector. He has a net worth of around $500 million and is the inspirational example of many young entrepreneurs all around the world. His story displays how, with mere willpower and vision, any dream can be realized through sheer hard work. The extraordinary journey of Ritesh Agarwal, a young visionary from Odisha to a global entrepreneur embodies the spirit of innovation and tenacity.