Amit Gupta is a visionary entrepreneur whose innovative ventures have reshaped India’s technology and mobility landscapes. As the co-founder and CEO of Yulu, India’s largest shared electric mobility company, Gupta is leading a movement to make urban transportation sustainable, affordable, and efficient. Before Yulu, he co-founded InMobi, India’s first profitable internet unicorn, proving his ability to build globally competitive businesses.
Early Career and Entrepreneurial Beginnings
After graduating from IIT, Gupta ventured into the tech world, joining a startup in Bangalore as a software engineer. However, he soon realized that coding was not his strength. This led him to a role at Citi Bank, where he worked in product management within the IT team, focusing on business intelligence without coding. This experience deepened his understanding of how technology could drive business outcomes.
Gupta’s entrepreneurial journey began with a short-lived venture that lasted just six months, followed by a role at another startup where he worked closely with founders. These early experiences, though challenging, were instrumental in shaping his approach to entrepreneurship. In 2006, he took a significant leap by co-founding AnalyticsWorks, a company focused on enhancing business performance through data intelligence. That same year, he co-founded InMobi, a mobile advertising platform that would become a landmark in India’s tech ecosystem.
Building InMobi: India’s First Internet Unicorn
InMobi, co-founded by Gupta in 2006, marked a turning point in his career. As the Business Development Head and later Chief Revenue Officer, Gupta played a pivotal role in scaling the company into India’s first profitable internet unicorn. He spearheaded efforts to build InMobi’s revenue engine and expand its presence across 15 countries, establishing it as a global leader in mobile advertising. His 11-year tenure at InMobi, where he also served as President for North America, showcased his ability to navigate complex markets and drive sustainable growth.
The Genesis of Yulu
In 2017, after a successful stint at InMobi, Gupta turned his attention to a pressing social issue: the growing problems of traffic congestion and air pollution in India’s urban centers. “It’s a bit of a personal story, but not just for me—for anyone living in big cities right now,” Gupta has shared in interviews. This personal motivation led to the founding of Yulu, a shared electric mobility company designed to provide scalable, affordable, and eco-friendly transportation solutions.
Yulu’s mission is to decongest urban traffic by offering electric bikes and scooters for first and last-mile connectivity and short-distance commutes. Users can access these vehicles through a mobile app, paying per use, making it a convenient and sustainable alternative to traditional transport. Gupta’s vision was to create a cleaner, smarter India, and Yulu has become a cornerstone of that vision.
Yulu’s Growth and Impact
Since its launch, Yulu has grown into India’s largest shared electric mobility company. As of early 2025, it operates over 45,000 vehicles across cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore, with plans to expand to Hyderabad, Pune, and other urban centers. The company has achieved an annual recurring revenue (ARR) of over $30 million and is EBITDA profitable, a rare feat in the mobility sector.
Yulu’s primary customers are gig workers, particularly from marginalized backgrounds, who use its electric vehicles for deliveries in the booming quick commerce sector. Yulu contributes to about one-third of all quick commerce deliveries in its operating cities, making it a critical player in India’s delivery ecosystem. The company’s focus on affordability—average daily pricing ranges from ₹170 to ₹230, including insurance and maintenance—has made it accessible to a wide range of users.
Innovations and Strategic Partnerships
Yulu’s success is driven by its innovative approach and strategic partnerships. The company offers a range of electric vehicles, including the Yulu Miracle for personal commutes, Yulu Dex for deliveries, and Yulu Wynn for end consumers. Its battery-swapping system, with stations every 2 km and swaps taking less than a minute, ensures uninterrupted service. The Yulu Dex, for instance, offers a 50-55 km range per battery swap, with infinite range through swapping.
Yulu has partnered with industry giants like Bajaj Auto for vehicle manufacturing and Tata Motors for battery packs, enabling scalable production of 6,000-7,000 vehicles per month. A new product, Yulu Express, a mid-speed scooter for larger e-commerce deliveries and bike taxis, is currently in testing and set to launch soon. Yulu’s partnerships with quick commerce platforms like Zepto and Zomato further amplify its impact, with plans to deploy 20,000 next-generation EVs for hyperlocal deliveries.
Recent Developments
Yulu continues to make headlines with its growth and innovation. In 2022, the company secured $82 million in equity funding led by Magna, a leading automotive component manufacturer, with additional investments from Bajaj Auto and others. Yulu is currently in talks to raise another $75-80 million to capitalize on the quick commerce boom, reflecting strong investor confidence.
In a move to prioritize safety, Yulu launched India’s first WhatsApp-based road safety learning program for its delivery riders, with over 3,600 riders earning safety badges. These initiatives highlight Yulu’s commitment to social impact and operational excellence.
Amit Gupta’s journey from a mechanical engineering student in Kanpur to a pioneering entrepreneur is a testament to his vision and resilience. Through Yulu, he is revolutionizing urban mobility and empowering gig workers and contributing to a sustainable future. With innovative products, strategic partnerships, and a focus on social impact, Gupta is steering Yulu toward a cleaner, smarter India, one electric ride at a time.
