Azhar Iqubal: The Visionary of Inshorts and How He Achieved Success
Introduction
In the contemporary world, where the pace of life is so fast that people do not get enough time to read lengthy news items, Inshorts has been a revolution. The app of the new era provides necessary news in 60 words so that the readers may easily stay updated. Behind the revolution stands Azhar Iqubal, CEO and co-founder of Inshorts. His path from IIT dropout to the success of an entrepreneur is worth emulating by young dreamers. Let us see how he made his story, how he started Inshorts, and how he is a visionary entrepreneur.
Early Life and Education: The Making of a Visionary
Azhar Iqubal was born in India and as a kid had a penchant for technology and innovation. He was a diligent student and studied engineering at the high-profile Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi. However, when staying there, he understood that his interest did not lie elsewhere except in mainstream studies. He felt like changing something. So he took a radical decision—he left IIT to pursue an entrepreneurial path.
The Birth of Inshorts: How a Simple Concept Transformed Reading News
Inshorts was conceived in 2013 when Azhar and his college buddies, Deepit Purkayastha, and Anunay Pandey, observed that individuals would avoid reading lengthy news stories because they didn’t have time. They saw a chance to transform reading news by providing crisp, short, and informative summaries of news.
For starters, Inshorts was a Facebook page where the team used to post news items in 60 words. The response was humongous. Everyone on the team liked the idea, and the demand became multifold. With this success, Azhar and his team conceived of turning it into a standalone mobile application.
Roadblocks and Challenges: The Agony of Starting a Startup
As with any startup, Inshorts also had some challenges in the initial phase. Some of the most important challenges were:
- User Adoption: Since the concept was novel for short news in India, it was difficult to get people to adopt the app.
- Funding Challenges: It was a huge challenge to raise capital in the initial phase.
- Content Credibility: Keeping accuracy and credibility intact while summarizing news articles required a good editorial team.
- Technical Innovation: It wasn’t easy to make an app simpler to use than fresh air, but it was done eventually, though.
Azhar and his team, however, did not lose heart. It was a tough path they navigated through. All their toil came to fruition as angel investors and venture capitalists, into whom they had invested so much hope, committed money to support their cause.
Growth and Success: Inshorts Becomes a House name
Through continuous innovation and user engagement, Inshorts started to pick up pace. It became the go-to app among millennials and working professionals alike who wanted short and reliable news summaries. The smart algorithm of the app made the news personalized for readers based on their reading pattern, enhancing the experience.
Some of the key milestones in the history of Inshorts are:
- Becoming the first app with 10 million downloads in a couple of years.
- Adding non-news categories like sports, entertainment, and business.
- Adding AI-suggested suggestions for improved user experience.
- Multiple innovation awards for new media.
Entrepreneurial Personality and Leadership Philosophy of Azhar Iqubal
Azhar’s leadership has been instrumental to Inshorts’ success. He follows:
- Innovation: Continual improvement and knowledge of industry trends.
- User-Centric Focus: The user needs to be brought to the center of the product.
- Resilience: Bouncing back from setbacks and learning from failures.
- Teamwork: Building a healthy and self-driven team.
His entrepreneurial expertise and business skills have made him a household name, and he was even Entrepreneur of the Year in the Media Industry.
Azhar’s New Venture: Fenado AI – The No-Code Revolution
Azhar Iqubal is not letting his hair down with Inshorts. He has just started Fenado AI, a no-code development platform where one can develop apps and websites without coding knowledge. The new startup will bring technology to the masses and allow businesses to create their own digital platforms with ease. Fenado AI will be a disruptor, as Inshorts is.
Azhar Iqubal as a Shark Tank Judge: Inspiring Young Entrepreneurs
Azhar’s fame in the startup ecosystem grew multi-fold, and he was invited as a guest judge on Shark Tank India. As a judge, he shared his experience, expertise, and investments with young business leaders. His visit to the show solidified his position as a mentor and business leader even more.
The Future of Inshorts and Azhar’s Contribution to the Startup World
The future too looks bright for Inshorts and Azhar Iqubal. Among the interesting things on the plate are:
- Expanding Inshorts’ reach to global markets.
- Creating AI-based content suggestions.
- Scaling up Fenado AI to enable everybody to create apps.
- Mentoring and funding more startups to drive India’s nascent entrepreneurial economy.
Conclusion: A True Inspiration for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
Azhar Iqubal’s rags-to-riches tale of going from being an IIT dropout to an entrepreneur is an inspiration of the power of passion, innovation, and determination. His efforts at Inshorts have transformed the way news is consumed, and his new venture, Fenado AI, will transform app-making. Azhar’s tale is a reminder that with a good idea, hard work, and a willing mind to experiment, one can achieve far-off success.
Azhar’s journey is a valuable lesson for aspiring entrepreneurs—you stick to your dreams, take risks, and never lose imagination. His contribution to the Indian startup ecosystem will serve as an inspiration for generations to come.
1 thought on “Azhar Iqubal: The Visionary of Inshorts and How He Achieved Success”