Kanika Tekriwal, one of India’s youngest and wealthiest women, boasts a net worth of approximately $50.16 million. Her entrepreneurial journey began at the age of 22, following her victory over cancer, when she launched her aviation startup. In just 12 years, her company, JetSetGo, has thrived, now owning a fleet of 10 private jets. Co-founded with Sudheer Perla in 2012, JetSetGo aims to revolutionize the private jet industry by managing and operating chartered planes and helicopters for owners.
JetSetGo, an Indian private jet concierge service, experienced a remarkable over sevenfold increase in revenue in 2017, as reported by Forbes. This surge was driven by the growing trend of affluent Indians renting private jets and helicopters through Tekriwal’s platform. Her company, also a leader in the aircraft leasing industry in India, has successfully transported nearly 100,000 passengers and executed 6,000 flights, establishing a significant presence in the sector.
Tekriwal’s accomplishments have been recognized with prestigious awards, including the National Entrepreneurship Award for e-commerce from the Indian government and designation as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum.
Born in June 1990 into an orthodox Marwari family, Tekriwal attended the Lawrence School, Lovedale, and Jawaharlal Nehru Senior Secondary School in Bhopal. After graduating from Coventry University, she married a businessman based in Hyderabad.
Recognizing challenges in the private aviation sector, Tekriwal pledged to address them. She highlighted that brokers and operators often neglect customer requirements, prioritizing commissions over client needs when arranging private jet flights. Tekriwal emphasized the lack of transparency and availability of charter planes, resulting in customers paying astronomical amounts, as reported by Indiatimes.
After nearly 20 months of industry experience and identifying gaps, Tekriwal founded JetSetGo. The company now offers air taxi services, facilitating intra-city connectivity in India. Employing electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, JetSetGo utilizes a combination of technology, SMART management, and unique approaches to minimize the overall cost of chartered flights.
