Long before online job searches became routine, finding employment in India largely depended on newspaper advertisements, recruitment agencies and personal networks. Sanjeev Bikhchandani saw that the emerging internet could change how employers and job seekers connected.
His decision to build an online recruitment business eventually led to the creation of Naukri.com and the growth of Info Edge into one of India’s prominent internet companies.
Leaving the Conventional Path
Bikhchandani studied economics at St. Stephen’s College in Delhi before completing an MBA at IIM Ahmedabad.
He began his professional career with advertising and consumer businesses, gaining experience in marketing and product development.
The corporate world provided stability, but Bikhchandani became interested in the possibilities created by India’s developing technology sector.
In the mid-1990s, he decided to pursue entrepreneurship.
Starting Info Edge
Bikhchandani founded Info Edge in 1995.
At that time, India’s commercial internet ecosystem was still in its early stages. Few people could predict how quickly online services would become part of everyday life.
Bikhchandani focused on information-based businesses, eventually identifying recruitment as an area where the internet could provide a practical advantage.
The idea was straightforward: instead of relying entirely on printed advertisements, job seekers could search opportunities through a digital platform.
The Birth of Naukri
Naukri.com was launched in 1997.
The platform allowed employers to publish job opportunities while giving candidates a way to search vacancies online.
The concept appeared simple, but changing established habits was difficult.
Internet access was limited, online transactions were unfamiliar and many businesses were still learning how digital platforms could support their operations.
Naukri therefore had to grow alongside India’s internet infrastructure.
Building Around Information
One of the central advantages of an online recruitment platform was the ability to organize large amounts of information.
Newspaper advertisements disappeared from view quickly. An online database could allow users to search, filter and revisit opportunities.
For employers, digital recruitment could also expand the pool of potential candidates.
As India’s technology industry expanded, the demand for skilled professionals increased, creating a larger market for online recruitment.
Expanding Beyond Recruitment
Info Edge eventually developed interests beyond jobs.
Its portfolio expanded into areas including real estate, education and matrimony.
Platforms such as 99acres, Shiksha and Jeevansathi became part of the company’s broader internet business.
The strategy reflected an important principle: consumer internet companies could apply similar technology and marketplace models to different information-heavy industries.
A Long-Term Approach
Bikhchandani’s journey was not built around a single overnight breakthrough.
Naukri was launched when India’s internet market was still small. The company had to survive an uncertain technology environment before online services became mainstream.
The dot-com downturn also tested internet businesses around the world.
Rather than abandoning the online model, Info Edge continued developing its businesses as India’s digital economy matured.
Becoming a Public Company
Info Edge was listed on Indian stock exchanges in 2006.
The public listing marked an important stage in the company’s development and gave investors exposure to one of India’s established internet businesses.
By then, Naukri had become a recognized destination for job seekers and employers.
The Founder’s Larger Lesson
Bikhchandani’s story illustrates the importance of identifying everyday problems that technology can solve more efficiently.
He did not invent the need for employment information. Jobs already existed, and companies were already recruiting.
The opportunity was to change the system connecting the two sides.
His approach also demonstrates the value of entering a market early while remaining patient enough to wait for the surrounding ecosystem to develop.
From Newspaper Ads to Digital Search
Today, searching for a job online is an ordinary part of professional life.
That transformation required infrastructure, changing consumer habits and entrepreneurs willing to build before the market was fully ready.
Sanjeev Bikhchandani’s journey from corporate professional to internet entrepreneur is closely connected with that transition.
The story of Naukri is ultimately a story about recognizing that information itself can become a powerful digital product—and that a seemingly simple idea can grow when technology arrives at the right moment.