Aman Gupta’s Journey from Chartered Accountant to boAt Founder

Business Remedies | Rajshree Upadhyaya | May 18,2025 | Aman Gupta’s journey from a middle-class household in Delhi to co-founding boAt, one of India’s most successful consumer electronics brands, is a story of ambition, resilience, and innovation. Born on March 4, 1982, in the capital city, Aman showed academic promise early on. He studied at Delhi Public School, R.K. Puram, and later pursued a Bachelor of Commerce (Honors) from the University of Delhi. Guided by his father’s encouragement, he enrolled in the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India and became one of the country’s youngest Chartered Accountants at just 20 years old. Yet, even with this early achievement, his thirst for knowledge and growth led him to the Indian School of Business for an MBA in Finance and Strategy, and later to the Kellogg School of Management in the United States, where he studied General Management and Marketing.

After completing his studies, Aman began his professional career with Citibank as an Assistant Manager and then moved to KPMG, where he worked as a Senior Management Consultant. These corporate roles, though prestigious, didn’t fulfill his entrepreneurial aspirations. His first venture, Advanced Telemedia Pvt Ltd, co-founded with his father, gave him a crash course in the highs and lows of business. Although the venture faced hurdles, the experience laid the foundation for his future. His role as the Sales Director at Harman International, where he worked with JBL audio products, exposed him to the pulse of the audio industry and sparked the idea that would eventually become boAt.

In 2016, Aman Gupta, along with Sameer Mehta, launched boAt with a modest initial investment of Rs. 30 lakhs. The duo identified a massive gap in the Indian market: young consumers were looking for high-quality, stylish, yet affordable audio products that complemented their fast-paced lifestyle. boAt began with Apple-compatible charging cables and quickly expanded into a broader product line, including earphones, headphones, speakers, and smartwatches. Aman’s strategic thinking and deep understanding of Indian youth culture helped position boAt not just as a tech brand but as a lifestyle symbol. Through savvy use of influencer marketing and collaborations with celebrities like Hardik Pandya, Kiara Advani, and Kartik Aaryan, boAt embedded itself in the mainstream consciousness.

By 2023, boAt had become the second-largest wearable brand globally, capturing the imagination of a digitally connected generation. Aman’s sharp marketing instincts were critical to this rise. Instead of focusing solely on product specs, he highlighted lifestyle, identity, and emotion, making boAt a brand that resonated. Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, which disrupted global supply chains, Aman’s leadership ensured that boAt adapted quickly by localizing manufacturing and reducing external dependencies. His visibility skyrocketed further when he became one of the judges on Sony TV’s Shark Tank India in 2021. Aman brought humor, relatability, and practical business insights to the show, quickly

becoming a fan favorite. His ability to simplify complex business concepts for budding entrepreneurs and viewers made him an icon of the Indian startup ecosystem. Beyond television, Aman has made over 80 investments across industries, including healthtech, edtech, and consumer goods, backing startups like Shiprocket, Bummer, and Skippi Ice Pops.

Despite his fame and professional commitments, Aman remains grounded. He married Priya Dagar in 2008 and is a devoted father to two daughters. He often credits his family as the anchor in his life. His contributions have earned him several accolades, including the Businessworld Young Entrepreneur Award, Entrepreneur of the Year, and, most recently, the National Creator Award for Celebrity Creator in 2024, presented by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Whether as a brand builder, investor, or public voice, Aman Gupta has redefined what it means to be an entrepreneur in India. His story isn’t just about building a company from scratch, it’s about inspiring a generation to take risks, think differently, and plug into their version of nirvana.

Written and Edited By:

Rajshree Upadhyaya