Biography of Swati Bhargava: Founder of CashKaro- Indian Entrepreneur
Story of Swati Bhargava: Leading Change in the Startup World
In the ever-evolving startup ecosystem, women entrepreneurs
like Swati Bhargava are reshaping the narrative. As the founder of CashKaro,
Swati’s journey exemplifies how diversity and inclusion can drive India’s
ambitions to become a $3 trillion economy by 2030. Her story is a testament to
the impact that women leaders can have in the business world.
From Ambala to Global Impact
Swati Bhargava’s remarkable journey began in the small town
of Ambala, Haryana. She made history as the first woman from her community to
pursue higher education abroad. Her educational path took her from a
scholarship in Singapore to the London School of Economics, and eventually to a
five-year stint at Goldman Sachs in London. This diverse and international
experience laid the foundation for her future entrepreneurial success.
Educational Background
Swati Bhargava, co-founder of CashKaro and EarnKaro, has an
impressive academic background. She completed her BSc (Hons) in Mathematics and
Economics at The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) from
2002 to 2005. During her time at LSE, she was actively involved in the LSE
Business Society, serving as President in 2003-04 and Chairperson in 2004-05.
Before LSE, Swati studied at National Junior College in
Singapore, where she completed her GCSE A Levels in Maths, Economics, Physics,
and more. She was also engaged in extracurricular activities such as debating,
basketball, and badminton.
Building CashKaro
With her husband, Swati co-founded CashKaro, a B2C platform
that includes apps like CashKaro, EarnKaro, CashKaro Stores, and BankKaro. The
startup partners with over 1,500 e-commerce brands, such as Amazon, Flipkart,
Mamaearth, and Nykaa. Backed by Ratan Tata and recently achieving unicorn
status with $120 million in funding, CashKaro has been a pioneer in the
industry for a decade.
The Birth of CashKaro in India
CashKaro's journey in India began with a strong foundation
laid in the UK. Swati Bhargava, one of the co-founders, recalls how they
started from scratch by using LinkedIn to connect with journalists and
potential partners. Their strategic collaborations with major e-commerce giants
like Amazon, Flipkart, and Myntra helped CashKaro evolve into a leading
cashback app. This approach resonated well with the Indian market, propelling
CashKaro to become a trailblazer in the cashback industry.
Driving Success at CashKaro
Swati Bhargava is the Co-Founder of CashKaro.com, India's
largest and fastest-growing cashback and coupons site. Since April 2013, she
has been instrumental in building a platform that offers customizable cashback
and discount services for over 1,500 e-commerce partners, including major names
like Amazon and Flipkart. CashKaro allows users to earn up to 30% extra
cashback on their online purchases and provides additional features like
product discovery and price comparison.
Biography of Swati Bhargava:Founder of CashKaro-Indian Entrepreneur/Investor/ Startup/Success story of Swati Bhargava/CashKaro success story/life story
Expanding Horizons with Pouring Pounds
In addition to her role at CashKaro, Swati co-founded
Pouring Pounds Ltd in April 2011. This company operates in both the UK and
India, focusing on cashback and rewards solutions. It runs several websites,
including Pouringpounds.com and a cashback site for the Daily Mail’s Rewards
Club, catering to a wide range of brands and offering significant savings to
users.
Championing Digital Leadership with H2
Swati also serves as the Global Chapter Chair for H2, a
premier global leadership network for the digital industry. Since April 2017,
she has been advancing education and leadership in digital entrepreneurship and
innovation, connecting senior executives, entrepreneurs, and domain experts through
a unique global network.
Previous Experience at Goldman Sachs
Before her entrepreneurial endeavors, Swati worked at
Goldman Sachs in London from 2005 to 2010. As an Associate in the Investment
Banking Division, she specialized in structured products for financial
institutions across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, gaining valuable
experience in the financial sector.
Adapting to Technology: The Key to CashKaro's Growth
Swati acknowledges that technology played a crucial role in
CashKaro's development. The company has embraced new technological advancements
and integrated artificial intelligence to enhance their platform. With a
skilled tech team, CashKaro has built a scalable technology stack that keeps
them at the cutting edge of innovation in a rapidly evolving tech landscape.
Balancing Act: Juggling Business and Home Life
As both a businesswoman and a homemaker, Swati Bhargava
shares her approach to balancing these dual roles. She emphasizes the
importance of time management and compartmentalization, ensuring that she
dedicates focused time to both her professional and personal life.
Inspiring Future Leaders: Advice for Aspiring Female
Entrepreneurs
Swati Bhargava offers inspiring advice to aspiring female
entrepreneurs. She stresses the importance of hard work and maintaining a
positive mindset. "You have to work towards it, have faith that it will
come to you," she says, encouraging women to stay positive and persistent
to attract success.
Breaking the Glass Ceiling: Challenges as a Female Entrepreneur
Swati emphasizes that her role as an entrepreneur is defined
by her work, not by her gender. She rejects the notion that being a woman
should influence her entrepreneurial identity. Although she acknowledges that
biases do exist, Swati believes that the key to overcoming them is resilience
and allowing one’s achievements to speak for themselves. “We have to go and do
our job and let our work speak for itself,” she advises, focusing on
performance over perception.
Seizing Opportunities: Motivation Behind Studying Abroad
Swati’s bold decision to study abroad was driven by her
belief in seizing opportunities that can dramatically change one’s life.
Reflecting on this choice, she notes, “When an opportunity comes, I wanted to
not let go because I didn't know what awaited me.” Her adventurous spirit and
willingness to embrace the unknown propelled her from Ambala to achieving
international success.
Insights from a Shepreneur
In an exclusive interview with TICE TV, Swati shared her
experiences of overcoming gender biases and leveraging her strengths to build a
successful business. Her story underscores the power of resilience and
innovation in achieving entrepreneurial success on a global scale.
Timeline of Swati Bhargava’s Journey
Early Life and Education
Early 1980s: Born in Ambala, Haryana.
1997 – 1999: Completes GCSE A Levels in Maths, Economics,
Physics, and more at National Junior College, Singapore.
2002 – 2005: Earns BSc (Hons) in Mathematics and Economics
from The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). Serves as
President of the LSE Business Society in 2003-04 and Chairperson in 2004-05.
Professional Beginnings
2005 – 2010: Works at Goldman Sachs in London as an
Associate in the Investment Banking Division, specializing in structured
products for financial institutions across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
Entrepreneurial Ventures
April 2011: Co-founds Pouring Pounds Ltd, focusing on
cashback and rewards solutions, operating in the UK and India.
April 2013: Co-founds CashKaro with her husband. The
platform starts offering cashback and discount services, partnering with over
1,500 e-commerce brands.
Growth and Impact
2015: CashKaro begins to gain significant traction and
becomes a leading cashback platform in India.
2018: CashKaro achieves unicorn status with $120 million in
funding.
2019 – Present: Expands CashKaro’s services and
international presence, including markets like Dubai, Singapore, and Malaysia.
Leadership and Contributions
April 2017 – Present: Serves as Global Chapter Chair for H2,
a global leadership network for the digital industry, advancing education and
leadership in digital entrepreneurship.
Balancing Personal and Professional Life
Current: Balances her roles as a businesswoman and homemaker
through effective time management and compartmentalization.
Insights and Challenges
2024: Shares experiences and advice on overcoming gender
biases and building a successful business in interviews and public speaking
engagements, such as TICE TV.
Motivational and Inspirational
Throughout Career: Emphasizes the importance of resilience,
hard work, and seizing opportunities, encouraging aspiring female entrepreneurs
to stay positive and persistent.
This timeline outlines Swati Bhargava’s educational
background, career milestones, and entrepreneurial achievements with CashKaro
and other ventures, highlighting her significant impact on the startup
ecosystem and her inspirational journey from Ambala to global success.
