Founder Editor Team
Kavin Bharti Mittal, the founder and CEO of Hike Messenger, is a prominent figure in India’s startup and technology ecosystem. As the son of telecom tycoon Sunil Bharti Mittal, Kavin carved his own path in the digital world by launching Hike, a homegrown messaging app that once rivaled global giants like WhatsApp and Telegram in India.
Born into a business family, Kavin pursued his passion for technology and innovation early on. He holds a Master’s degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering and Management from Imperial College London. Before founding Hike, he interned at companies such as McLaren Racing, Google, and Goldman Sachs, gaining valuable exposure to global tech and business environments.
Launched in 2012, Hike Messenger quickly gained traction by offering features tailored specifically for Indian users—such as offline messaging, regional stickers, and privacy tools. Within a few years, the app amassed over 100 million users, making it one of the top contenders in the Indian messaging app space. Hike stood out by understanding the needs of India’s young, mobile-first population and providing a culturally relevant platform.
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Under Kavin Bharti Mittal’s leadership, Hike raised significant funding from top investors, including SoftBank, Tencent, Tiger Global, and Bharti Enterprises, and achieved a valuation of over $1.4 billion in its peak years. Kavin was widely recognized as one of India’s youngest and most promising tech entrepreneurs, often compared to global tech leaders due to his bold vision and product innovation.
Despite fierce competition and market challenges, Kavin continued to evolve Hike’s business model. In 2019, Hike pivoted from being just a messaging platform to a broader digital ecosystem, experimenting with HikeMoji (personalized avatars), HikeLand (a virtual hangout space), and Rush (a mobile gaming platform). These initiatives showcased Kavin’s belief in the intersection of social, gaming, and virtual worlds—a space he saw as the future of digital interaction.
Eventually, Hike Messenger was discontinued in early 2021, but Kavin Bharti Mittal didn’t slow down. He doubled down on building Rush by Hike, focusing on real-money gaming and interactive social experiences tailored to Gen Z and millennial audiences. This move signaled a deeper shift into India’s booming online gaming and Web3-ready market.
From an SEO perspective, key search terms like “Kavin Bharti Mittal Hike,” “Hike Messenger founder,” “Indian tech entrepreneur,” and “Rush by Hike CEO” highlight his influence in the digital ecosystem. His journey reflects the ups and downs of startup life, the importance of innovation, and the resilience required to pivot in a rapidly evolving tech landscape.
Conclusion:
Kavin Bharti Mittal’s entrepreneurial story is one of vision, adaptability, and continuous innovation. As the founder and CEO of Hike and now Rush, he remains a driving force in India’s tech sector. His efforts to reshape how young Indians communicate, play, and interact online solidify his position as one of the country’s most influential and forward-thinking tech entrepreneurs.
