Biography of Ankita De: Founder and COO of Utsav- Indian Entrepreneur

Biography of Ankita De: Founder and COO of Utsav- Indian Entrepreneur

Biography of Ankita De: 

A Vision Takes Shape: The Birth of Utsav

Ankita De, a passionate engineer and entrepreneur, had a vision to revolutionize spiritual engagement through technology. With a background in Electronics and Communications Engineering from the Institute of Engineering and Management (IEM) Kolkata, she combined her technical expertise with a deep understanding of cultural practices to create Utsav, a groundbreaking app designed to enhance spiritual experiences.

From Academia to Entrepreneurship: Ankita’s Journey

During her time at IEM Kolkata, Ankita actively participated in various roles that shaped her entrepreneurial spirit. As President of the Entrepreneurship Cell, she honed her leadership skills and fostered innovation among her peers. This experience laid the foundation for her future ventures, including her role as a Lead Android Developer at Campus24 and her internship as an Android Engineer at Zyephr.

Launching Utsav: A Response to a Growing Need

The idea for Utsav emerged during the pandemic when Ankita and her team, being Bengali, missed the essence of Durga Puja. They observed a gap in the market for a platform that could digitally connect people to spiritual celebrations. By talking to over 300 community organizers, they realized the need for a platform that could bring religious festivities to people’s homes. Within 30 days, Utsav was launched, quickly gaining traction with over 8,000 downloads and listing in the trending section of the Google Play Store.

Understanding the Problem: The Spiritual Tech Gap

Ankita and her team identified a significant issue in the religious and spiritual market: it was unorganized, fragmented, and lagging in digital adoption. The traditional ways of fulfilling spiritual needs were not accessible or user-friendly in the digital age. This insight drove them to create Utsav, a platform that would bridge this gap and offer a seamless spiritual experience.

The Role of 100X.VC: A Catalyst for Growth

Recognizing the need for venture capital to scale their operations, Ankita and her team sought funding from 100X.VC. The support from 100X.VC was instrumental, providing over 100 hours of mentoring, training, and valuable connections with global founders. This guidance was crucial in helping them navigate the challenges of early-stage startup growth and expand their reach.

Pivoting for Success: Adding Commerce to the Mix

Initially focused on connecting people with spiritual communities, Utsav pivoted to include a commerce angle. This addition aimed to empower communities by enabling them to offer spiritual products and services directly through the app. This strategic shift helped Utsav enhance its value proposition and attract a broader user base.

Overcoming Challenges: A Test of Resilience

Building a disruptive platform in the faith tech space came with its challenges. Utsav faced difficulties in raising additional funds, being first-time founders, and introducing a new concept to a traditional market. Despite these obstacles, Ankita and her team remained focused on their vision, continuously engaging with the right people and adapting their approach as needed.

Biography of Ankita De: Founder and COO of Utsav- Indian Entrepreneur /Investor/Age/Net worth/Husband/Story of Ankita De/ Utsav story/Life story

Current Achievements: Growing by Leaps and Bounds

As of now, Utsav has made significant strides, with over 85,000 downloads of its Android app, 550,000 website visitors, and 2,000+ communities onboarded, including prominent temples like Puri Jagannath Temple. The app has facilitated over 2,500 spiritual offerings worth 20 lakhs in just five months, reflecting its growing impact and acceptance.

Future Goals: Expanding Horizons

Looking ahead, Ankita and her team aim to expand their operations across India and internationally. They plan to enhance product features and grow their team to support these ambitions. By scaling their operations, they hope to reach more users and provide a richer spiritual experience through Utsav.

Staying Motivated: The Driving Force

The journey has been driven by Ankita’s unwavering determination and the positive feedback from users. The daily metrics of growth, business achievements, and the love from the Utsav community keep her motivated. This encouragement fuels her commitment to continue improving and scaling the platform.

Advice for Fellow Entrepreneurs: Embracing Challenges

Ankita’s message to other startup founders is to embrace challenges as opportunities for growth. She believes that maintaining a focused vision and persevering through obstacles can lead to remarkable success. Her experience underscores the importance of resilience and adaptability in the entrepreneurial journey.

A Social Network for Spiritual Communities: Utsav’s Role

Utsav serves as India’s social network for religious and spiritual communities, formalizing existing ad hoc interactions into a structured platform. It connects users with their favorite deities, spiritual leaders, and festivals, offering a comprehensive digital space for spiritual engagement.

Transforming Spiritual Practices: The Utsav Experience

By offering a range of features including personalized pujas, havans, and devotional content, Utsav aims to transform how people engage with their spirituality. The app allows users to participate in religious rituals from home and stay connected with their spiritual communities, enhancing their devotional practices.

The Essence of Utsav: Bridging Tradition and Technology

Utsav represents a fusion of tradition and technology, bringing ancient spiritual practices into the modern digital age. It addresses the needs of a diverse user base by providing an accessible, user-friendly platform for engaging with spirituality, making it a unique player in the religious tech space.

Ankita’s Legacy: Impacting the Spiritual Tech Domain

Ankita De’s work with Utsav reflects her dedication to merging technology with spirituality. Her efforts in building a platform that supports and enhances religious practices illustrate her commitment to creating meaningful impacts through innovation. Her journey serves as an inspiration for aspiring entrepreneurs in the tech and spiritual sectors.

Timeline for Ankita De’s and Utsav story

2002: Graduated in Business Administration from Bharathidasan University.

2017: Co-founded Utsav, launching the app within 30 days.

2021: Utsav launched during the pandemic; quickly gained traction with 8,000 downloads.

January 2022: Expanded operations into the U.S. market.

2023: Achieved 85,000 app downloads and 550,000 website visitors; facilitated 2,500+ spiritual offerings.

2024: Planning expansion across India and internationally.

Biography of Ankita De: Founder and COO of Utsav- Indian Entrepreneur /Investor/Age/Net worth/Husband/Story of Ankita De/ Utsav story/Life story