Biography of Pulkit Agrawal: Co-Founder & CEO of Trell and Personify-Entrepreneur
Story of Pulkit Agrawal: A Journey of Innovation and Leadership
Pulkit Agrawal, the Co-Founder and CEO of Trell, is an
influential figure in digital product development, specializing in artificial
intelligence. With extensive experience in technological innovation, business
development, and operations, he has led a high-achieving team of over 1,000
employees. At Trell, Pulkit is dedicated to creating the largest platform for
discovering and purchasing lifestyle trends, reflecting his commitment to
enhancing consumer experiences through advanced technology.
Education Journey
Pulkit Agrawal completed his Bachelor of Technology
(B.Tech.) and Master of Technology (M.Tech.) in Electrical and Electronics
Engineering through an integrated course at the Indian Institute of Technology
(IIT) Bombay, graduating in 2016 with a grade of 8/10. During his time at IIT
Bombay, Pulkit was actively involved in various leadership roles and
activities. He served as the Core Group Member and Security Head for Mood
Indigo in 2013 and 2014, was the Founding Manager of the Finance Club in 2014,
and held the position of Film n Media & Dramatics Secretary in 2012. He
also achieved notable accolades, including winning 1st position as a PAF
Nominee in 2015 and being a semi-finalist at Eureka! for his startup
'Personify,' which focused on home automation and energy-saving solutions.
Additionally, he was a Department Academic Mentor in his final year.
Early Education
Before IIT Bombay, Pulkit attended Mahaveer Public School in
Jaipur, where he excelled academically. He scored an impressive 97.3% in his
Class X exams and 94.6% in Class XII, with a remarkable 98.3% in Physics,
Chemistry, and Mathematics. During his school years, he was the Cultural Head
Boy and received national recognition for his achievements in Computer Science
and Mathematics, scoring 100/100 in these subjects.
Internship Experience
Pulkit’s internship at Qualcomm in 2014 was marked by his
innovative contributions to improving Android flashing models. He developed a
patentable enterprise solution using Python, which enhanced efficiency by 32%
and transformed the flashing process into a scalable over-the-air system. His
achievements included leading a team, securing a second-place finish in
IdeaQuest, and filing a patent for his work.
Leadership at IIT Bombay
During his time at IIT Bombay, Pulkit played a pivotal role
as the Founding Manager of the Finance Club. Under his leadership, the club
grew to over 1,600 members and became the most active non-technical club on
campus. He organized influential events, including the first-ever 'Modi Budget'
session broadcast on CNN-IBN, and pioneered virtual trading competitions and
finance bootcamps.
Event Management at Mood Indigo
Pulkit’s early leadership experience also includes his role
as a Core Group Member at Mood Indigo, IIT Bombay’s annual cultural festival.
He led a team of over 150 students in organizing 65 events, including 20
international acts, showcasing his skills in event management and team
leadership.
Founding Personify
Before Trell, Pulkit co-founded Personify, a company focused on developing home automation solutions with user-friendly interfaces and smart switchboards. His work at Personify involved creating intuitive home automation products that simplified and enhanced daily living.
Biography of Pulkit Agrawal:Co-Founder & CEO of Trell and Personify-Startup/Entrepreneur/Success story of Pulkit Agrawal/Life srtory of Pulkit/ Trell
Professional Experience
Before co-founding Trell, Pulkit worked at Qualcomm, where
he made significant contributions, including filing a technology patent. This
role provided him with a strong technical foundation and insights into the
technology industry.
Co-Founder and CEO of Trell
Pulkit is the Co-Founder and CEO of Trell, a platform
designed to help users discover and buy lifestyle trends. Under his leadership,
Trell has evolved into a major player in the lifestyle and e-commerce space,
leveraging user-generated content to drive engagement and growth. His vision
for Trell centers on creating a comprehensive platform that integrates
lifestyle discovery with purchasing options.
Early Growth and Transition
Initially, Trell focused on building its community on popular
social media platforms. Within six months, their channels amassed 100,000
followers without any targeted marketing efforts. The team conducted extensive
research to understand consumer behavior and preferences, discovering that
users lacked an intuitive way to share their experiences and passions. This
insight fueled the launch of Trell as a lifestyle video blogging platform,
where users could share content in their own languages across various
categories such as beauty, fashion, health, wellness, and food.
Pivot to Social Commerce
The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated Trell’s growth as people
turned to their phones for meaningful content. Recognizing this shift, Trell
pivoted from being a video-sharing platform to integrating social commerce.
This strategic move was driven by the realization that users were not only
seeking content but also wanted to make informed purchasing decisions based on
recommendations from trusted influencers and Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs).
Effectiveness of Trell’s Strategy
Trell's strategy of integrating social commerce into its
platform has proven highly effective. By adding Trell Shop, the platform allows
users to purchase lifestyle products based on recommendations from trusted
influencers and Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs). This approach has significantly
contributed to Trell's growth and expansion:
Brand Presence: Trell Shop currently features over 500
brands, catering to a diverse range of lifestyle products.
Geographic Reach: 70% of purchases come from tier-II and
tier-III cities, demonstrating Trell's ability to penetrate deeper into India's
market beyond major urban centers.
The integration of commerce with content has made Trell more
than just an online shopping site. It leverages user-generated content and
influencer recommendations to create a more engaging and personalized shopping
experience.
Trell's User Base and Engagement
Trell has built a large and active community, with over 45
million users each month and more than 100 million downloads. The platform
offers content in eight regional languages, which helps it connect with a
diverse audience. A significant part of Trell’s users—over 60%—are women aged
18-35 from smaller cities, who create the majority of the content. This broad
reach across different regions highlights Trell’s success in engaging users
from various backgrounds.
Current Status and Challenges
Today, Trell is one of India’s largest lifestyle social
commerce platforms, boasting 45 million monthly active users and experiencing
100% month-over-month growth in online transactions. However, building a
successful social commerce platform in India comes with challenges. The
diversity across the nation requires catering to various regional preferences
and overcoming typical e-commerce operational hurdles. Despite these
challenges, Trell's continuous innovation and user-centric approach have
positioned it strongly in the market.
Mentorship and Investment
Pulkit’s commitment to supporting the next generation of
entrepreneurs is evident in his role as a mentor and guide to IIT Bombay
students. He is also an active investor, having made a notable investment in
ToppersNotes, a startup that raised $1 million in its seed round in November
2021.
Pulkit Agrawal’s career reflects a blend of technical
expertise, entrepreneurial success, and a dedication to mentorship. His journey
showcases his ability to innovate, lead, and support emerging businesses and
entrepreneurs.
Timeline for Pulkit Agrawal’s story
2012: Served as Film n Media & Dramatics Secretary at
IIT Bombay.
2013-2014: Core Group Member and Security Head for Mood
Indigo at IIT Bombay.
2014: Interned at Qualcomm, developed a patentable
enterprise solution.
2015: Co-founded Personify, focusing on home automation.
2016: Graduated with B.Tech. and M.Tech. from IIT Bombay.
2016-2019: Co-founded Trell, initially a video blogging
platform.
2020: Pivoted Trell to integrate social commerce, launching
Trell Shop.
2021: Trell expanded to feature over 500 brands and reached
45 million monthly users.
November 2021: Invested in ToppersNotes during its $1
million seed round.
