Navigating a male-dominated industry remains a formidable challenge for women, where the proverbial glass ceiling, though cracked, is far from shattered. In this uneven landscape, one entrepreneur chose a path of quiet resilience, building a formidable enterprise from within the system. This is the story of Kanika Tekriwal, the visionary behind India's first transparent marketplace for private aviation, JetSetGo, and the newest investor to join the panel of 'Shark Tank India Season 5'.
The Meteoric Rise: A ₹5,600 Investment to a ₹420 Crore Empire
Kanika Tekriwal's financial journey is nothing short of extraordinary. Today, she holds an estimated net worth of over Rs 420 crore, securing her position among the youngest richest women featured on the prestigious Hurun Rich List. Her company, JetSetGo, has achieved remarkable milestones, having flown more than 100,000 passengers across over 6,000 flights. The firm manages one of the nation's largest private aviation fleets, comprising nine private jets and two helicopters.
The genesis of this empire was remarkably humble. At the young age of 21, Kanika founded her company with a disruptive vision: to create an Uber-like model for private jets in India. Her plan was to purchase aircraft and rent them out, aiming to make private flying more accessible, transparent, and organised for the Indian market.
Battling Bias and Building Without External Funding
In a candid recounting of her early struggles, Kanika highlighted the triple hurdles she faced. "The time when I started my business, nobody understood it," she shared. "I had a lethal combination—I was a girl, 21, in an industry dominated by men." This bias was palpable during her airport visits, where she was often mistaken for cabin crew, a misconception she met with grace, often accentuated by her favourite colour red.
The challenge intensified when she sought capital. Investors repeatedly shut their doors, questioning market viability. "Only one person believed in me," she recalled. This forced her to adopt an incredibly disciplined, bootstrap approach. "Till date, I have invested only Rs 5,600, and we operate India’s largest fleet of private jets," Kanika revealed. That initial seed of ₹5,600 has now multiplied into a multi-crore empire, a testament to sheer persistence and strategic growth.
From Aviation Pioneer to Shark Tank India Judge
JetSetGo has evolved far beyond its charter flight origins. The company now offers comprehensive aircraft management, ownership advisory, exclusive membership programs, and is actively preparing for the future with investments in electric and vertical take-off aircraft technology.
Kanika's decade-long journey of building without shortcuts or significant external funding has now brought her to a national platform. She joins 'Shark Tank India Season 5' as a judge, a role that premiered on January 5. Her presence on the panel symbolizes a new wave of self-made entrepreneurial success. She is joined by other new investors including Varun Alagh (Honasa Consumer Ltd), Mohit Yadav (Minimalist), Shaily Mehrotra (Fixderma), Hardik Kothiya (Rayzon Solar), and Pratham Mittal (founder of Master’s Union and Tetr College of Business).
Kanika Tekriwal's story is a powerful narrative for aspiring entrepreneurs, especially women, proving that profound market disruption can begin with a simple idea, immense grit, and a very small capital, rewriting the rules of the game from within.
