Business Facts about Sameer Gehlaut
Business Facts about Sameer Gehlaut and the founder of the Indiabulls Group, a conglomerate with interests spanning financial services, real estate, and technology. Born on March 3, 1974, in Rohtak, Haryana, Gehlaut pursued a Bachelor of Technology in Mechanical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi, graduating in 1995
Business Facts about Sameer Gehlaut
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Founding of Indiabulls Group
In 1999, Gehlaut co-founded Indiabulls from a modest office in Delhi with two IIT friends. The company began as an online stock brokerage, quickly attracting significant investments from notable figures such as industrialist Lakshmi N. Mittal and U.S.-based Farallon Capital. In September 2004, Indiabulls Financial Services went public at ₹19 per share, marking a significant milestone in the company’s expansion.
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Expansion into Financial Services and Real Estate
Building on its initial success, Indiabulls diversified into consumer lending in 2004, offering home, business, and vehicle loans, thereby pioneering online lending in India. The company further expanded into real estate in 2005 by acquiring prime land in Mumbai, leading to the establishment of Indiabulls Real Estate Ltd. Under Gehlaut’s leadership, the real estate arm developed significant projects, including the Indiabulls Blu Estate & Club residential towers in Worli, South Mumbai, completed in 2019
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Diversification and International Ventures
In 2012, Gehlaut founded Clivedale, a UK-based real estate development company headquartered in Mayfair, London. Clivedale has been involved in several high-profile projects, including The Residences at the Mandarin Oriental in Hanover Square. Additionally, in 2015, Gehlaut invested in OakNorth Bank, a UK business lender, acquiring a 40% stake and contributing to the bank’s growth and development.
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Leadership Transition and Focus on Dhani Services
In March 2022, Sameer Gehlaut stepped down as Executive Chairman of Indiabulls Housing Finance Ltd (IBHFL). He became a Non-Executive Director. This change helped him focus on Dhani Services Ltd. Dhani is a fintech and digital health platform. It was earlier known as Indiabulls Ventures. Under Gehlaut’s leadership, Dhani grew rapidly. It offers personal loans, telemedicine, and online medicine delivery. The goal is to make finance and healthcare more accessible to millions.
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Philanthropic Initiatives
In 2010, Gehlaut established the Indiabulls Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of the Indiabulls Group. The foundation has implemented various programs focusing on health, education, nutrition, sanitation, renewable energy, rural empowerment, and disaster relief. Notably, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the foundation distributed over 2.5 million healthcare kits across India, demonstrating a strong commitment to public health and welfare.
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Recognition and Legacy
Sameer Gehlaut’s entrepreneurial journey reflects a blend of innovation, strategic diversification, and social responsibility. His ability to identify and capitalize on emerging opportunities has positioned him as a significant figure in India’s business landscape. Through his ventures, Gehlaut has contributed to the growth of sectors such as financial services, real estate, and technology, while also making substantial philanthropic contributions that have positively impacted millions of lives across the country.