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Kavin Bharti Mittal
Entrepreneurship knows no boundaries, and Kavin Bharti Mittal stands as a testament to this truth. As the founder and CEO of Hike, the brains behind Hike Messenger, and the visionary architect of the Rush Gaming Universe (RGU), Kavin Mittal has left an indelible mark on India's digital landscape.
Born into the illustrious Mittal family, Kavin inherited an entrepreneurial spirit from his father, Sunil Mittal. However, he forged his path, armed with a solid educational background. He earned his bachelor's degree in Electronics and Electrical Engineering from the University of York. He pursued a Master's in Electrical and Electronics Engineering and Management from the Imperial College London.
Kavin's journey was not limited to academics. He embarked on a quest for knowledge and experience, interning at renowned organisations such as McLaren Racing, Google, and Goldman Sachs during his time at Imperial College London. His stint at McLaren Racing saw him contribute to Formula 1 technology by integrating a system that displayed track flags on steering wheels. This innovation showcased his early knack for combining technology and innovation.
Upon returning to India, Kavin Mittal set his sights on the digital landscape. In 2012, he laid the foundation for Hike, an Indian internet company focused on developing social communication and entertainment products. Hike's mission was clear—to connect India's mobile-first population to the digital world.
Under Kavin's leadership, Hike soared to new heights. By 2018, Hike Messenger's SuperApp had garnered over 30 million monthly active users and secured over $250 million in capital from prominent investors, including Tiger Global, Tencent, SoftBank, and Foxconn.
In 2019, recognising the shifting dynamics in the Indian market—thanks to affordable data and budget-friendly smartphones—Hike made a strategic decision. Kavin Mittal decided to sunset the Hike Messenger app. With the rise of smartphones as SuperApps themselves, the need for a standalone SuperApp like Hike diminished.
Kavin Mittal wasn't one to rest on past achievements. He pivoted Hike towards a new horizon—the Rush Gaming Universe. This mobile gaming application aimed to tap into India's burgeoning gaming community.
In August 2021, Hike announced a funding round led by Justin Mateen, the co-founder of Tinder, among other notable investors. Kavin's vision for RGU gained further momentum when Polygon joined Hike as an investor and partner in February 2022. The move hinted at Hike's growing interest in blockchain gaming, a sector with tremendous potential.
Kavin Bharti Mittal's contributions to the world of entrepreneurship and technology have not gone unnoticed. In 2017, he earned a spot on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list. He also found himself among the emerging talents featured in Entrepreneur magazine's 35 under 35 list in 2016.
Kavin Bharti Mittal's journey is a testament to the power of innovation, adaptability, and unwavering determination. As he continues to shape India's digital landscape, one can only wonder what groundbreaking ventures lie ahead in the hands of this visionary entrepreneur.
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