Ritesh Aggarwal Calls PM Modi a ‘Startup Prime Minister’

OYO CEO Recalls PM Modi’s Deep Focus on Tourism and Entrepreneurial Mindset​

Jan 15, New Delhi:
Ritesh Aggarwal, Founder and CEO of OYO Rooms, has described Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a “Startup Prime Minister,” recalling a detailed and focused interaction on travel and tourism.

Aggarwal said he met the Prime Minister around two years ago to discuss opportunities in tourism and travel. The meeting was scheduled for about 15 minutes, began slightly ahead of time, and extended beyond the slot, with the discussion continuing seamlessly for nearly 15 to 20 minutes.

Intense Engagement on Travel and Tourism​

According to Aggarwal, the Prime Minister demonstrated an intense focus on the subject throughout the interaction. He said it felt as though the Prime Minister was thinking solely about travel and tourism, despite the responsibilities that come with leading the world’s largest democracy.

Aggarwal highlighted the Prime Minister’s ability to combine strategic thinking with attention to on-ground realities. While many expect national leaders to operate only at a broad, high level, he said the Prime Minister is equally comfortable engaging at the absolute ground level. Describing this approach, Aggarwal said he often views the Prime Minister as someone who looks through both a telescope and a microscope at the same time.

Why Aggarwal Calls Him a “Startup Prime Minister”​

Aggarwal said this rare balance of scale and detail reflects what he described as a “Startup Prime Minister.” He noted that the Prime Minister displays key entrepreneurial qualities, including the ability to think big about impact while testing ideas at a smaller scale before expanding them.

Referring to Startup India, Aggarwal said the emergence of around 100 unicorns could not have been driven by a single policy. He added that multiple enablers had to work together to reach this stage, surprising both the global community and India’s own entrepreneurial ecosystem with the speed and scale of progress.

A Personal Impact Beyond Business​

Aggarwal also shared a personal anecdote from his interaction with the Prime Minister. He said his mother had long believed entrepreneurship was a poor career choice, influenced by comparisons with his three elder siblings who are engineers and business school graduates. As the youngest in the family, he said he was often seen as the “black sheep.”

That perception changed, Aggarwal said, after the Prime Minister mentioned him during a Startup India interaction. He recalled receiving a message from his mother in Hindi that said, “You must be doing something right.”

Aggarwal said he conveyed to the Prime Minister that while many startups have benefited professionally from policy support, he had also benefited personally. He added that his mother is now at peace with his decision to pursue entrepreneurship and no longer worries about his career choice.

Byte: Ritesh Aggarwal, Founder and CEO, OYO Rooms