From their young days, many youths set ambitions, starting with being a doctor, then an engineer, or whatsoever. It could well mean that this coveted goal was their entrance ticket into an exclusive future, as an aspirant student of the esteemed institution hopes to pursue in one of these esteemed institutions: an IIT. Yet again, an unconventional and rejuvenating storyline: the journey of Ankit Prasad.
Hailing from Chaibasa, a small town in Jharkhand, Ankit’s journey began with his father, who served as an in-charge at the lab in Tata College and later got transferred to IIT Jamshedpur. It was during school that Ankit, along with his brother Rahul, developed an interest in web design. The fascination with computers began earlier, and when his father gifted him a computer in 1995, it was the beginning of his learning programming at six years.
Among the top three in his Class 10 board exams, he was a bright student. During college days, Ankit and Rahul were already on paid work, building websites for local businesses, including hotels and restaurants, by 2005. Like many small-town students, Ankit wanted to get into an IIT. He believed it would better his prospects. He attempted the IIT entrance exam in 2007 and secured a rank over 5000. He was offered admission at NIT Jamshedpur but kept his hopes alive for getting into an IIT.
In 2008, Ankit appeared for the IIT entrance exam again and secured a rank of 400. He got admission to IIT Delhi, where he dived into mathematics and computer programming. But this is when the energetic, innovative atmosphere at IIT Delhi ignited a new passion inside him. Inspired by the budding startup culture and stories of companies like Zomato and Flipkart, Ankit had a compelling urge to create something impactful. “At that time, the startup world in Delhi was thriving. We were motivated to create something meaningful,” he recalled.
Despite the potential that IIT offered, Ankit made the daring choice to pursue his entrepreneurial dreams. In 2012, after four years of study, he left IIT to focus entirely on his startup ambitions. Having gained valuable experience working with various companies during his time at IIT, he was eager to innovate.
Ankit and Rahul founded Bobble AI in 2015 to develop cutting-edge digital solutions. The flagship product, the Bobble Indic Keyboard, supports more than 120 languages, including 37 Indian languages. The app gained quick popularity, and by 2023, Bobble AI had achieved Rs 750 crore revenue.
Ankit’s story-from a small town in Jharkhand to the founding of a multi-crore business-is the epitome of determination and the courage to follow one’s dreams. His story inspires the youth everywhere that innovation, risk-taking, and perseverance can make ways for remarkable success, even when conventional routes are not taken.
