Founder Editor Team
In the fast-paced world of startups, stories of college dropouts building successful companies are nothing new — but few have managed to pull it off with the boldness and vision of Deepak Ravindran, the founder and CEO of Lookup. A true entrepreneur at heart, Ravindran made the unconventional decision to leave college early and pursue his passion for solving real-world problems through technology. Today, he stands at the helm of a hyperlocal messaging startup that not only secured funding from top investors but also turned competitors into supporters.
Based in Bengaluru, Lookup is a hyperlocal business messaging app that connects local consumers directly with nearby businesses via chat. Whether it’s checking store inventory, booking a service, or placing an order, Lookup allows users to do it all in real-time — no waiting, no endless app downloads. The app is designed to streamline local commerce in a mobile-first world, especially in a country like India where small businesses are still adapting to digital transformation.
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Ravindran’s journey began not in boardrooms or venture capital pitches, but in a college classroom he eventually chose to leave behind. He dropped out of Kannur University in Kerala to follow his entrepreneurial instincts. It wasn’t a blind leap — by then, he had already co-founded two tech startups: SMSGupShup, a group messaging platform, and Innoz, a mobile search engine for the offline world. These early ventures gave him critical experience in building scalable tech solutions for the Indian market.
With Lookup, Ravindran tackled a problem that almost every urban consumer faces: the lack of quick and easy communication with neighborhood businesses. His solution was simple yet powerful — use chat as the interface to connect users with stores, salons, clinics, and other service providers. It was a modern take on the traditional phone call, optimized for today’s mobile-savvy users.
What makes Ravindran’s story particularly compelling is how he managed to bring heavyweight investors on board — including those who might have been seen as industry competitors. Twitter co-founder Biz Stone and Infosys co-founder Kris Gopalakrishnan are among the notable names backing Lookup. Their support not only validates the startup’s potential but also reflects Ravindran’s ability to sell his vision even to those with similar stakes in the tech ecosystem.
Instead of viewing larger tech companies as threats, Ravindran engaged them as collaborators. It’s a move that speaks volumes about his strategic thinking and confidence in Lookup’s unique value proposition. The app focuses not on replacing existing platforms, but on enhancing the way businesses and consumers interact locally.
Today, Lookup is preparing to announce a new round of funding, further solidifying its position in the competitive hyperlocal space. Ravindran’s journey — from a college dropout to a successful CEO with industry leaders backing his mission — is an inspiring example of what passion, innovation, and grit can achieve.
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