Shradha Sharma on Making YourStory the Voice of Founders

Shradha Sharma didn’t just set up a media platform—she set off a rebellion in storytelling. When she started Your Story in 2008, the Indian startup ecosystem was still barely finding its footing. Capital was scarce, being an entrepreneur was not “cool,” and most media attention rested on the shoulders of conglomerates and celebrities. But Shradha saw it differently to highlight the journeys of entrepreneurs before they turned unicorns or family names.

Shradha Sharma, founder of YourStory, has become the face of entrepreneurial storytelling in India. Her platform amplifies voices of dreamers, doers, and disruptors from every corner of the country.

With a laptop and a curious mind, firmly supported by the belief that stories make a difference, Shradha started writing about founders who were building against all the odds. While the mainstream media were busy chasing valuations, she focused on values. While everybody else looked for breaking news, she looked for stories that mattered stories with heart, hustle, and humanity.

YourStory was not about startups; Your Story was about people. Shradha gave voice to all, from bootstrapped solopreneurs to ambitious tech innovators. With empathy coupled with sheer authenticity, she would often sit with founders in small offices, coffee shops, or homes, listening not merely for headlines but for hope. And what began as an ordinary blog soon grew into a movement: today, Your Story has 150,000 positive stories and counting, inspiring millions across languages, sectors, and regions.

Shradha had her journey fraught with challenges. The sole woman founder, she faced a stark media-tech landscape rife with skepticism, funding, and the expectations of being just another startup. True to her mission, she created a newsroom that valued impact more than digital sales. She recruited people who believed that entrepreneurs were not mere economic assets but storytellers shaping India's future.

Recognizing opportunity for Shradha Sharma, where others perceived risk, stood amongst her greatest defining strengths. Long ago, when many unicorns remained underappreciated, Your Story had recorded their initial steps. By betting on the undeserving, Shradha has managed to create a trusting bridge between dreamers and doers with her venture, Your Story, thereby altering India's perception of entrepreneurs, away from their era of overnight success stories, towards those long believers.

She understood that sometimes, all a person needs are to be seen, to be heard, and to be told, "Your story matters." And Shradha made storytelling democratic. She did not wait for a founder to make it big before telling their tale. She founded a place where every startup, irrespective of size or wealth, could find its voice.

Today, YourStory is now more than just a media platform. It is a trusted ecosystem. Hosting flagship events such as Tech Sparks, it champions women entrepreneurs and creates a perspective on innovation, inclusion, and inspiration. Still, there was always this one constant throughout it all: the belief of Shradha in the power of stories to change minds and create a difference.

In establishing Shradha Sharma, the firm was launched, championing storytellers long before they were stars; a brand that believed in fighting spirits, hope, and the potency of silent listening.