Stripe Appoints Manish Maheshwari as India Head of Revenue and Growth
In a strategic move to bolster its operations in the Indian market, global payments giant Stripe has announced the appointment of Manish Maheshwari as its head of revenue and growth for India. This decision underscores Stripe's intensified focus on empowering India-based companies to scale their businesses internationally through robust financial infrastructure.
Extensive Experience Across Tech and Startups
Manish Maheshwari brings a wealth of over two decades of experience spanning the internet, technology, and startup ecosystems. His career trajectory includes notable leadership roles at major global and Indian firms, positioning him as a key asset for Stripe's expansion plans.
Previously, Maheshwari served as the managing director of Twitter India, where he played a pivotal role in shaping the platform's presence in the country. He later transitioned to a senior director position for new markets entry at Twitter's US headquarters, focusing on expanding the social media platform's global footprint.
Leadership Roles at Flipkart, Intuit, and Network18
Before his tenure at Twitter, Maheshwari held significant positions at Flipkart, where he led the seller ecosystem, contributing to the e-commerce giant's growth. He also worked at Intuit, where he was involved in mobile and emerging market initiatives, showcasing his expertise in adapting technology for diverse markets.
Earlier in his career, Maheshwari was the CEO of digital at Network18, overseeing prominent properties such as Moneycontrol and Firstpost. This experience in digital media and finance further enriches his understanding of the Indian business landscape.
Recent Ventures and Advisory Roles
More recently, Maheshwari was a general partner at BAT VC, where he was actively involved in fund strategy and fundraising efforts. He transitioned to an advisory role earlier this year, marking a shift towards more strategic engagements.
Additionally, Maheshwari co-founded Fanory.ai, an artificial intelligence-led creator monetisation platform. This venture was later acquired by JetSynthesys, highlighting his involvement in innovative tech startups and AI-driven solutions.
Focus on AI-Native and Digital-First Companies
In his new role at Stripe, Maheshwari will concentrate on enabling businesses that are building for international markets. His efforts will particularly target a new cohort of AI-native and digital-first companies that are scaling cross-border from their inception.
Paul Harapin, head of Asia Pacific and Japan at Stripe, emphasized the importance of this appointment, stating, "As more businesses from India build for global audiences, they will require seamless infrastructure to manage payments, subscriptions, usage-based billing, and revenue operations across borders."
India as a Key Market for Global Expansion
Maheshwari commented on the strategic significance of India, noting that the country is emerging as a crucial market for building global companies, especially in the AI and digital-native sectors. He added that Stripe is committed to providing foundational infrastructure to help these businesses scale and monetise internationally.
Expansion in Bengaluru
Stripe also revealed that it continues to expand its presence in Bengaluru, which has become one of its fastest-growing global hubs. The company is making ongoing investments in engineering and go-to-market teams in India, reinforcing its commitment to the region's tech ecosystem.
This appointment signals Stripe's dedication to leveraging local expertise to drive growth and support the global ambitions of Indian entrepreneurs and companies.
