Forbes StaffAnkiti Bose is an Indian entrepreneur and the co-founder of Zilingo, a fashion and lifestyle e-commerce platform that revolutionized how businesses in Southeast Asia access and manage their supply chains. Known for her innovative vision and leadership, Ankiti has been celebrated as one of the youngest female CEOs of a billion-dollar startup and a prominent voice for women in technology and business.
Born in 1992 in India, Ankiti studied mathematics and economics at St. Xavier’s College in Mumbai. After graduating, she began her career as a management consultant at McKinsey & Company, where she gained valuable experience working with clients in technology, finance, and retail. Later, she joined Sequoia Capital as an investment analyst, where her exposure to the startup ecosystem sparked her entrepreneurial ambitions.
In 2015, at just 23 years old, Ankiti co-founded Zilingo with her business partner Dhruv Kapoor. The idea for the platform was born during a trip to Bangkok’s Chatuchak Market, where Ankiti noticed the challenges small vendors faced in expanding their businesses online. Zilingo started as a marketplace for fashion products but quickly evolved into a full-fledged technology platform, offering tools for inventory management, payments, logistics, and financing to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across Southeast Asia.
Under Ankiti’s leadership, Zilingo grew rapidly, raising millions in funding from prominent investors and expanding its reach to multiple countries. The company became a key player in democratizing technology for SMEs, empowering thousands of small businesses to compete in the digital economy.
Ankiti has been featured on prestigious lists such as Forbes Asia’s 30 Under 30 and Fortune’s 40 Under 40, recognized for her contributions to the tech industry and her role in fostering diversity and inclusion. She is also an advocate for women entrepreneurs, using her platform to inspire and mentor young women aspiring to break into the startup world.
Although Ankiti faced challenges later in her career, including stepping down from her role as CEO, her story remains a powerful example of bold ambition, resilience, and the transformative potential of technology in emerging markets. Ankiti Bose continues to inspire as a leader who reshaped the landscape of e-commerce in Asia.
