The Economic Times Startup Awards 2024 has unveiled the nominees for its prestigious Startup of the Year category, celebrating companies that have demonstrated exceptional innovation, execution, and rapid growth. This year’s nominees showcase a diverse range of sectors, each bringing a unique approach to their respective fields.

Zepto: Founded in 2020 by Aadit Palicha and Kaivalya Vohra, Zepto is a Mumbai-based startup revolutionizing rapid delivery through its dark stores. Having recently expanded into over a dozen cities and secured $1 billion in funding, Zepto is setting new standards in the consumer internet space, competing aggressively with giants like Zomato’s Blinkit and Swiggy’s Instamart.

Meesho: Established in 2015 by Vidit Aatrey and Sanjeev Barnwal, Meesho operates from Bengaluru and has carved a niche as a leading ecommerce marketplace specializing in low-priced, unbranded products. Known for its strong presence in non-metro markets, Meesho has also launched Meesho Mall to cater to branded goods, driving significant sales growth.

Lenskart: Since its inception in 2010 by Peyush Bansal, Amit Chaudhary, Ramneek Khurana, and Neha Bansal, Lenskart has become a major player in the eyewear sector. With a robust omnichannel strategy, Lenskart operates over 2,000 physical stores in India and has made notable strides in both prescription eyewear and sunglasses through its online and offline platforms.

Innovaccer: Founded in 2014 by Abhinav Shashank, Kanav Hasija, and Sandeep Gupta, Innovaccer is a San Francisco-based SaaS company that focuses on healthcare data management. By digitizing patient records and integrating fragmented data, Innovaccer enhances the quality of care while reducing costs, serving over 96,000 healthcare providers.

Ola Electric: Launched in 2017 by Bhavish Aggarwal, Ola Electric has rapidly emerged as a leader in the electric scooter market. Initially a subsidiary of the ride-hailing giant ANI Technologies, Ola Electric has quickly gained prominence, achieving a market capitalization exceeding $7 billion following its successful public listing.

Go Digit: Founded in 2017 by Kamesh Goyal, Go Digit is a Bengaluru-based general insurance provider offering a range of products, including vehicle, two-wheeler, fire, and marine insurance. With its expansive distribution network, Go Digit is making significant inroads into the insurance sector.

The ET Startup of the Year award recognizes groundbreaking innovation, top-tier execution, and rapid growth. The finalists have been evaluated not only on their market impact but also on the strength and vision of their founding and management teams. As the awards ceremony approaches, these startups stand out for their impressive achievements and potential to shape the future of their industries.