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AGENTS OF CHANGE: DEEP KALRA

If you saw a sequel of private equity deals in the segment of travel websites, the starting point was in May 2005 when SoftBank Asia Infrastructure Fund (SBAIF), a leading Asian private equity firm based in Hong Kong, invested $10 Million in MakeMyTrip.com, an India-centric travel portal offering services for travel to, from and within India, to finance its India launch. Makemytrip.com was incubated by eVentures India, which had invested about $2 million in the portal. eVentures India was promoted by media baron Rupert Murdoch, PK Mittal of Ispat Group of India and SoftBank to focus on investments in Internet properties. In the last one year, Makemytrip.com has established itself in the Indian travel market as a success story. It registered a turnover of $44 million (Rs. 200 crore) in the year to March 31, 2006 compared to the turnover of $ 21.7 million (Rs. 98 crore) in the previous year. The company has announced its plans to float an initial public offering (IPO) any time after 2008. Meet the CEO of makemytrip.com who co-founded it along with Keyur Joshi and Sachin Bhatia.

Deep Kalra
Founder & CEO, MakeMyTrip India Pvt Ltd

Professional Profile:

  • Started his career with ABN Amro Bank in its corporate banking division
  • Established and managed the South Asian operations of AMF Bowling Inc., which owns and operates bowling centers worldwide, manufactures and sells bowling alley equipment
  • Worked as Vice President, Business Development with GE Capital, provider of services covering consumer and business financing, insurance and equipment management
  • Formed makemytrip.com in April 2000, made it a leading portal for U.S.-India travel
  • Started makemytrip’s India site in May 2005
  • A Charter Member of TiE (The Indus Entrepreneurs), a non-profit global network of entrepreneurs and professionals, established to foster entrepreneurship, and on the Board of TiE Delhi
  • Serves on Confederation of Indian Industries’ (CII) eCommerce and Tourism committees

Academic Profile:

  • MBA (PGDM) from Indian Institute of Management, India’s leading institute for management studies, Ahmedabad (1990-92)
  • Bachelors degree in Economics from St Stephen’s College, Delhi (1987-90)

Personal Profile:

  • Lives in Gurgaon, part of the extended township that forms the National Capital Region of Delhi
  • Wife: Amrita, a media professional
  • Deep and Amrita have two children
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