The big idea: Darwinbox human systems

The moment that nudged Jayant Paleti towards entrepreneurship came on the day he graduated from IIM Lucknow in 2010. His father, who had grown up with limited means, told him he had never been able to take risks himself and wanted his son to try. He transferred a modest sum of money and said he would not ask questions if it was lost.

The gesture stayed with Paleti, an IIT Madras graduate, long after he joined investment banking. The idea for Darwinbox emerged a few years later, during a merger and acquisition assignment. While working on a deal, Paleti realised how little clarity companies had about their own people data.