Deep Kalra: The Visionary Who Revolutionized Indian Travel And Took It To NASDAQ

Deep Kalra, a name synonymous with the Indian travel startup MakeMyTrip, stands out as a trailblazing entrepreneur whose foresight, resilience, and determination have reshaped how Indians experience travel.

As the man behind MakeMyTrip’s meteoric rise—culminating in its historic NASDAQ listing—Kalra’s journey from a modest bowling venture to creating one of the country’s most recognized travel brands is both inspiring and enlightening.

A Modest Beginning and the Birth of an Idea

In the mid-1990s, Kalra made the bold decision to step away from his secure banking career at ABN Amro Bank. The leap of faith took him to the helm of AMF Bowling in India, an endeavor that involved setting up 10-pin bowling lanes across the country. Despite his efforts, the venture struggled to gain traction, teaching Kalra his first critical lesson in understanding market readiness and consumer habits.

Rather than being disheartened, Kalra’s experience fueled his desire to pursue entrepreneurship on his own terms. After a brief stint at GE Capital, he embarked on a year-long sabbatical—a period of reflection that proved crucial. It was during this break that Kalra identified a glaring problem in the travel industry: traditional travel agents and brokers were often more focused on profit margins than customer convenience. Deep saw an opportunity to bring order to this chaos.

MakeMyTrip: Pioneering Online Travel

In 2000, at a time when the internet was still a novelty for most Indians, Kalra founded MakeMyTrip (MMT). His initial strategy was clever: rather than targeting the nascent domestic market, he focused on overseas customers—especially non-resident Indians looking to book US-India flights. This approach helped MMT gain a loyal customer base, and with funding from Eventures, the company began to gain momentum.

But the euphoria was short-lived. The 2002 dot-com crash in the US hit the fledgling startup hard. Kalra had to make tough calls—downsizing his team and office space, and even buying back the company from Eventures using his personal savings. It was a challenging period, but it showcased Kalra’s unwavering belief in his vision. He knew that online travel was the future and that the storm would pass.

Steady Growth and a Strategic Shift

Over the next few years, Kalra and his team focused on stabilizing their business model. By 2005, MMT had turned profitable. Around the same time, India began to witness a surge in internet users, thanks in part to IRCTC’s introduction of online train bookings. Recognizing the opportunity, Kalra made the pivotal decision to launch MakeMyTrip’s operations in India.

The gamble paid off. With a rapidly growing internet population and the rising affordability of domestic air travel, MMT became a go-to platform for booking flights. Venture capital flowed in, with Elevation and Helion Ventures leading multiple funding rounds. By 2008, MMT was handling bookings worth over Rs. 1,000 crore, and its brand became synonymous with trust, convenience, and innovation in travel.

A Historic Milestone: The NASDAQ Listing

In August 2010, Kalra achieved a feat that no Indian startup had accomplished before: he took MakeMyTrip public on the NASDAQ. The IPO was a resounding success, making MMT the first Indian consumer internet company to debut on the global stage. This was more than a financial milestone—it was a watershed moment for the Indian startup ecosystem. It proved that an Indian company could hold its own in the international arena and paved the way for future startups to dream big.

Diversification, Innovation, and Dominance

Post-IPO, Kalra’s focus shifted to scaling and diversification. He launched offline stores to offer holiday packages, introduced chauffeur-driven car rentals, and added multi-city flight booking options. In 2016, the acquisition of rival Goibibo further cemented MMT’s position as a market leader. With these strategic moves, Kalra turned MMT into a comprehensive travel ecosystem.

The numbers speak for themselves: MMT now serves over 6.8 crore users monthly and operates in more than 2,000 cities across India. An estimated three out of every ten domestic flights are booked through its platform. These accomplishments reflect not only MMT’s market dominance but also Kalra’s ability to anticipate consumer needs and adapt to changing times.

A Legacy of Leadership and Vision

What sets Kalra apart is his ability to stay grounded and focused even amidst extraordinary success. His journey underscores the importance of resilience, adaptability, and staying true to one’s vision. By identifying gaps in the market, responding to setbacks with determination, and embracing innovation, Kalra didn’t just build a successful company—he transformed an entire industry.

Deep Kalra’s story is more than just the rise of a startup. It’s about the persistence of a visionary who, despite initial setbacks, believed in the transformative power of technology. Today, MakeMyTrip stands as a testament to what can be achieved when you blend entrepreneurial spirit with a relentless focus on solving real-world problems.

A Journey Worth Celebrating

Deep Kalra’s remarkable journey from a struggling entrepreneur to the first Indian to list his company on NASDAQ is a masterclass in perseverance and innovation. Through MakeMyTrip, he not only revolutionized the way Indians travel but also paved the way for countless other startups to dream bigger and aim higher. His story is a source of inspiration for anyone who dares to take risks, embrace challenges, and work tirelessly to turn their vision into reality.