Leaders
IIM Bangalore, one of India’s top business schools, is known for its rigorous curriculum, world-class faculty, and global reputation. It focuses on developing leadership, critical thinking, and an entrepreneurial mindset in its students. The alumni of IIM Bangalore play a crucial role in shaping not only the academic environment but also in driving economic and societal transformation. With a network that extends across the globe, these alumni often leverage their expertise to create impactful businesses, lead multinational organizations, or contribute to social causes. Ankita Parihar, founder of Utpan, and an alumnus of IIM Bangalore, exemplifies the spirit of leadership and innovation. Ankita has built a reputation for her entrepreneurial vision and dedication to solving critical real-world problems. Utpan is a marketplace connecting agriproducers and buyers for efficient buying and selling of agricultural products to maximize their revenue potential.
In a close interview with us, Ankita shared with us her entrepreneurial journey and the milestones she achieved.
What are the key aspects of your personal and professional journey?
My personal and professional journeys have always been closely connected, with the last two years marking a significant transition into entrepreneurship after 11–12 years in corporate roles. Growing up in Uttar Pradesh and inspired by my mother, a first-generation entrepreneur, I was driven to start my own business. After living and working across India and the U.S., I returned to India to bootstrap and focus on building ventures that create meaningful financial and social impact, particularly for Bharat and tier-III cities like my hometown. While building scalable solutions for India has required intense focus and resilience, it has been gratifying to see the positive impact unfold.
Can you share insights into your educational journey? How did your experience at IIM Bangalore contribute to your personal and professional growth?
IIM Bangalore, my second master’s degree after studying Analytics at Indiana University and working in the U.S. for nearly seven years, was instrumental in preparing me for entrepreneurship. The MBA program provided me with essential tools, frameworks, and a strong network while refining my ability to approach challenges with curiosity, confidence, and a focus on scalable impact. A key experience was launching my first mini-startup through the NSRCEL incubation cell, where I developed a minimum viable product and learned the importance of early market testing. The program also grounded me in the reality that entrepreneurial success is defined by the value of solutions offered, not by credentials or past achievements.
Strong mentorship and a capable team have been key to my journey and success
Can you walk us through your extensive experience in product development and highlight your key areas of expertise in this field?
My journey into product development was unplanned, as I initially focused on analytics before deciding to take a risk and transition into product management when I moved to India. Starting with a brokerage hub for a B2B white-label company, my experience evolved into building products & business solutions for Credit Saison, a Japanese financial services company where I had the fortune to work with brilliant executioners and contribute to the growth journey from zero to a very sizable AUM. I grew from manager to vice president/Head with the growth of the company and the experiences gave me the confidence to lead on to set up my startups. For me, successful product development revolves around understanding real customer needs by engaging with users and identifying their pain points. Technology acts as a key enabler, enhancing the user experience and scaling solutions, like creating creditworthiness or digitizing offline processes to scale businesses. As a mentor and visiting faculty at incubation hubs, I always stress the importance of packaging ideas into clear, customer-focused products that solve real problems.
Can you share an overview of your entrepreneurial journey and what inspired you to establish Utpan? What is the core idea behind this venture?
Over the past seven years, I’ve explored several ideas, focusing on creating scalable solutions, which led me to establish Utpan. The decision to start my own company was fueled by my desire to blend professional aspirations with a passion for making an impact. Utpan emerged from my understanding of the challenges in the agricultural sector, where farmers and underserved communities struggle to access capital for income-generating activities. By leveraging analytics and technology, my goal is to digitize the value chain, build creditworthiness, and enable financial access for these groups. With over one lakh users and direct work with 5,000 farmers as of now, Utpan aims to create scalable, meaningful solutions that empower people and make a lasting impact.
As the Founder of Utpan, what are the key roles and responsibilities you handle, and what are your main focus areas for driving the company’s growth?
As the Founder of Utpan, I oversee everything from product development to execution, maintaining a strategic vision for the company’s growth. I stay closely connected with customer challenges, which is crucial for success. Despite being a young company, I prioritize building strong B2B relationships with agriculture suppliers, financial institutions, and buyers to ensure smooth operations for small-scale producers. I set strict quarterly goals for consistent progress, focusing on scalability and long-term impact. Scaling at Utpan is about creating adaptable systems, digitally assisted journeys and processes that can handle expansion while maintaining operational consistency. My goal is to balance innovation with practicality for sustainable growth.
Can you highlight the most significant milestones in your professional journey and share the success mantra that has guided you over the years?
My key milestones have been achieving the goals I set for myself. One of the most important milestone was realizing my desire to become an entrepreneur. Before that, a major milestone was understanding the power of scaling. In my previous company, I helped scale financial products in India by addressing customer pain points, building collaborations, and implementing a digital solution, which led to managing substantial financial assets. Now, at Utpan, I'm proud to have over 50,000 users and work with hundreds of small producers and farmers. My success mantra has been staying curious, focused, gritty, and agile. As a founder, it’s essential to trust your instincts and remain focused on your vision.
Ankita Parihar, Founder, Utpan
Ankita Parihar is a visionary founder with a proven track record in building successful tech-enabled ventures. She seeks to leverage her expertise in digital solutions to drive growth and contribute to a forward-thinking team at the forefront of technological innovation.
