Biography of Sumit Jain: Founder of Unacademy, Graphy,Opentalk & CommonFloor
Biography of Sumit Jain:
Early Business Lessons
Sumit Jain, born on June 13, 1984, was deeply influenced by
his early experiences working in his father's construction materials store.
This hands-on involvement instilled in him a sense of responsibility and
confidence in managing a business. When his father asked him to oversee the
shop during his absence, Sumit embraced the challenge, laying the groundwork
for his future entrepreneurial ambitions. This experience gave him a practical
understanding of business operations, which would prove invaluable in his later
ventures.
Early Life
Sumit Jain grew up in Khatauli, a quaint town in Uttar
Pradesh, India. His early exposure to business came from working in his
father’s shop, which sold building materials. Spending significant time at the
store, Sumit often took on responsibilities when his father was away, learning
the nuances of business management from a young age. This experience was
formative, providing him with practical insights and a strong foundation in
entrepreneurship.
Internships and Early Roles
Earlier in his career, Sumit interned at uGenie.com during
the summer of 2005, where he gained insights into startup dynamics and
technology development. Additionally, he worked as a Summer Associate at
Pragmatum Training Pvt Ltd in 2003, further building his expertise and
understanding of the tech industry.
Early Career Experiences
Before his tenure at maxHeap Technologies, Sumit gained
valuable experience working as a Member of the Technical Staff at Oracle India
Pvt. Ltd. in Bangalore from June 2006 to May 2007. This role provided him with a
solid foundation in technology and enterprise solutions.
Founding MaxHeap Technologies
Sumit Jain co-founded and served as CEO of maxHeap
Technologies Pvt Ltd from May 2007 to January 2017, a role he held for nearly a
decade. Under his leadership, the company developed CommonFloor.com, its
flagship product. CommonFloor.com became a prominent platform in the real
estate sector, helping users manage and find properties effectively.
Career Beginnings and Entrepreneurial Journey
After completing his graduation, Sumit began his career at
Oracle India as a software engineer. Although his time at Oracle was brief,
lasting just a year, it was instrumental in shaping his career path. During
this period, he realized that his true calling lay in entrepreneurship rather
than corporate life. This epiphany led him to join forces with Lalit Mangal, a
colleague from Oracle, and eventually brought Vikas Malpani on board as the
third co-founder. Together, they embarked on a journey to explore various
business ideas before settling on the concept of CommonFloor. . In January
2016, the company was acquired by Quikr, a move that marked a significant
milestone in Sumit's career. Following the acquisition, Sumit worked with Quikr
for a year before embarking on new ventures.
Founding CommonFloor
In 2007, Sumit Jain and his co-founders launched
CommonFloor, a real estate classifieds portal aimed at simplifying property
search for users. The platform quickly gained traction, attracting significant
investments from prominent investors such as Tiger Global, Google Capital, and
Accel Partners. With $62.9 million in funding and reaching Series F,
CommonFloor became a leading player in the online real estate market. Its
success was marked by its ability to connect buyers, sellers, and real estate
agents, providing a comprehensive solution for property transactions.
Merger with Quikr and Aftermath
In January 2016, Quikr, another major online classifieds
platform, announced its acquisition of CommonFloor. The merger was a strategic
move to consolidate their presence in the classifieds market and enhance their
service offerings. Sumit Jain continued to contribute to the combined entity
but decided to leave Quikr a year after the acquisition. His departure marked
the end of an era for CommonFloor as an independent entity and the beginning of
new opportunities for Sumit.
Launch of Opentalk
After his stint with Quikr, Sumit Jain shifted his focus to
a new venture called Opentalk, which he co-founded in July 2017. Opentalk is a
social voice app designed to help users improve their English-speaking skills
through interactive conversations with other English speakers. This innovative
platform aimed to address language barriers and foster better communication
skills among its users. Opentalk represented Sumit's commitment to leveraging
technology to address educational and personal development challenges.
Biography of Sumit Jain: Founder of Unacademy, Graphy,Opentalk &CommonFloor /Entrepreneur/Success story of Sumit Jain/Startup/Life story of Sumit Jain
Current Endeavors with Graphy and Unacademy
Sumit Jain is now at the helm of Graphy.com, where he serves
as Co-founder and CEO. Graphy is a platform dedicated to helping content creators
expand their audience, monetize their skills, and offer live cohort-based
courses. This venture reflects Sumit's ongoing dedication to supporting
creators and entrepreneurs. Additionally, Sumit has been elevated to
partner/co-founder at Unacademy, a leading educational platform. His role at
Unacademy highlights his continued influence in the educational technology
space and his commitment to fostering learning and growth.
Leadership at Unacademy
Since April 2020, Sumit Jain has been integral to Unacademy,
where he leads the company's centers and online test preparation services.
Unacademy, a prominent online learning platform, has expanded significantly
under his leadership. Sumit’s role involves steering strategic initiatives to
drive the growth of Unacademy’s diverse educational offerings, enhancing the
learning experience for students across India.
Innovation with Graphy
In addition to his role at Unacademy, Sumit Jain is the
Co-Founder and CEO of Graphy, a platform designed to support content creators
in expanding their reach, monetizing their skills, and offering live
cohort-based courses. Launched in 2020, Graphy reflects Sumit’s ongoing
dedication to innovation and his vision of creating tools that empower
individuals and businesses in the digital space.
Navigating the World of Angel Investing
Sumit Jain, a seasoned angel investor and advisor, has been
actively investing since January 2015. Over the past 9 years, he has become a
key player in supporting a diverse range of innovative companies across India.
His investments span various industries, reflecting his commitment to fostering
growth in multiple sectors.
Diverse Investment Portfolio
Sumit's portfolio includes investments in education
technology, such as Unacademy, which helps users prepare for exams, and Newton
School, which focuses on tech careers. He has also backed Airmeet, a platform
for virtual and hybrid events, and Invideo, an online video creation tool. His
investments in financial technology are represented by Fisdom, a mutual fund
investment app, and Vernacular.ai (now Skit.ai), which is transforming customer
experience through voice AI.
Expanding Across Sectors
His portfolio also features companies in social media and
engagement, including Slick, a social app, and Tring, a platform for celebrity
interactions. In the realm of creative and digital innovation, Sumit has
invested in Rocketium, a creative automation tool, and Qoohoo, a creator
platform. Other notable investments include Fixcraft, a full-stack car service
platform, and Salarybox, which manages staff attendance and payments.
Impacting Various Industries
Sumit’s investment strategy covers diverse fields, including
healthcare with Eka.care, a digitally enabled ecosystem, and mental health
through the Being App. He has supported food innovation with Sattviko, a food
yoga brand, and technology with StanceBeam, a sensor for cricket bats. His
investments in real estate include Crib, while goHibe represents his interest
in digital fashion.
Supporting Future Entrepreneurs
Sumit Jain has also contributed to early-stage funding
through the 100x Entrepreneur Fund I & II, which focuses on SaaS (Software
as a Service) companies. His investments reflect a keen interest in nurturing
startups that offer innovative solutions and have the potential to impact various
aspects of everyday life.
Awards and Recognition
Sumit Jain’s entrepreneurial achievements have earned him
several accolades. He was recognized in the Fortune 40 Under 40 list,
highlighting his impact and success in the business world. Dataquest also
featured him among the 25 Hot Indian Web 2.0 start-ups, reflecting his role in
shaping the digital landscape. Additionally, he was named one of the Business
World’s Hottest Young Entrepreneurs and was listed in Power Profiles in India
for 2015. His contributions to the real estate sector were further acknowledged
when he received the Younger Achiever of the Year 2015 award from the National
Awards for Excellence in Real Estate & Infrastructure.
Impact and Legacy
Sumit Jain's journey from a small-town entrepreneur to a
prominent figure in the tech and real estate sectors showcases his adaptability
and vision. His ability to transition from traditional business roles to
innovative tech solutions has made a significant impact on the industries he
has been involved in. Through ventures like CommonFloor, Opentalk, and
Graphy.com, Sumit continues to influence and drive growth in various fields,
from real estate to education technology.
Future Directions
As Sumit Jain continues to build on his successes, his focus
remains on leveraging technology to solve real-world problems and create value
for users and businesses alike. His work with Graphy.com and previous ventures
underscores a commitment to supporting creators and entrepreneurs, further
establishing him as a leading innovator in the digital and tech spaces.
A timeline summarizing Sumit Jain’s career and achievements:
June 13, 1984: Born in Khatauli, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Summer 2005: Interned at uGenie.com.
2003: Summer Associate at Pragmatum Training Pvt Ltd.
June 2006-May 2007: Member of the Technical Staff at Oracle
India Pvt. Ltd.
May 2007-January 2017: Co-founder and CEO of maxHeap
Technologies.
2007: Launched CommonFloor, a real estate portal.
January 2015-Present: Active angel investor and advisor.
January 2016: CommonFloor acquired by Quikr.
July 2017: Co-founded Opentalk, a social voice app.
April 2020-Present: Partner/Co-founder at Unacademy.
2020-Present: Co-founder and CEO of Graphy.
Awards and Recognition: Featured in Fortune 40 Under 40,
Dataquest’s 25 Hot Indian Web 2.0 start-ups, and Business World’s Hottest Young
Entrepreneurs.
