Meet Srikanth Bolla: The Entrepreneur Who Refused to Give Up
Some people are born into privilege. Srikanth Bolla wasn’t.
Born blind in a remote village in Andhra Pradesh, he was told what he couldn’t do before he even had a chance to try. Schools rejected him. IIT coaching centers refused him. Society underestimated him.
But instead of accepting limitations, he broke them.
He fought for his right to study science, won a legal battle, and when Indian universities shut their doors, he aimed higher-straight to MIT Sloan School of Management. He became its first visually impaired entrepreneur to enroll.
Today, he runs Bollant Industries, an eco-friendly business that creates jobs for people with disabilities. And now? He’s a Shark Tank India judge, ready to mentor the next generation of entrepreneurs.
A Childhood Full of Obstacles—And Overcomes
Made to Win, Born to Struggle
On July 7, 1991, Srikanth was born in Seetharamapuram, Andhra Pradesh. His parents struggled to support their family as farmers. However, access to education was his greatest obstacle, not financial resources.
Despite scoring 98% in Class XII, he wasn’t allowed to study science because of his blindness. Instead of backing down, he took the matter to court. After a six-month legal battle, he won.
Even then, IIT coaching centers turned him away, convinced he wouldn’t make it. So, he looked beyond India.
From Rural India to MIT Sloan School of Management
Srikanth applied to Stanford, Berkeley, Carnegie Mellon, and MIT—and got accepted to all four. He chose MIT Sloan School of Management, making history as its first visually impaired entrepreneur.
At MIT, he wasn’t just a student. He was an achiever. He played blind cricket for India, competed in chess, swam, and even played baseball. On top of that, he launched a computer training center for visually impaired students, proving that technology could bridge the gap for those with disabilities.
But he wasn’t content with personal success. He wanted to create opportunities for others.
Coming Back to India: A Mission Bigger Than Himself
After MIT, Srikanth could have taken a high-paying job abroad. Instead, he returned to India to make a difference.
In 2005, he joined the Lead India Program, helping 800,000+ young people develop leadership and employment skills.
In 2011, he co-founded the Samanvai Center for Children with Multiple Disabilities, launching a Braille printing press to make education accessible. But he wanted to do more than charity—he wanted to build something sustainable.
That’s when Bollant Industries was born.
Bollant Industries: A Business That Gives Back
Building an Eco-Friendly, Inclusive Company
Starting a company is tough. Doing it as a visually impaired entrepreneur? Even tougher. But Srikanth had a vision—one that didn’t rely on sight.
In 2012, he co-founded Bollant Industries with investor Ravi Mantha. Their mission? Turn waste into useful products while employing people with disabilities.
Even business mogul Ratan Tata saw the potential and invested. Today, Bollant Industries:
- Manufactures biodegradable products like areca leaf plates
- Recycles municipal waste into sustainable packaging materials
- Produces eco-friendly packaging solutions
- Turns plastic waste into reusable products
With an annual revenue of over $150 million, Bollant Industries proves that profit and purpose can go hand in hand.
Srikanth Bolla Joins Shark Tank India
Becoming a Shark Tank India judge is a full-circle moment for Srikanth. Once, he fought for opportunities. Now, he’s helping others seize them.
In an Instagram post, he summed it up:
“To survive a pool of sharks, you need to become one yourself.”
He called Shark Tank India a game-changer for entrepreneurship, saying the show is fueling innovation and problem-solving in India. His advice to aspiring business owners?
“Don’t just think about your idea; act on it, or someone else will!”
What We Can Learn from Srikanth Bolla
- Obstacles are just roadblocks—not dead ends. Srikanth didn’t let rejection define him. He pushed through.
- Success isn’t just about making money. His company proves that business can be both profitable and socially responsible.
- Ideas don’t matter without execution. Thinking about a great idea isn’t enough. Acting on it is.
Srikanth Bolla: The Man, The Inspiration, The Future
From a small village in Andhra Pradesh to Forbes’ “30 Under 30 India” list, from being denied education to becoming an MIT Sloan School of Management graduate and successful entrepreneur, Srikanth Bolla’s journey proves one thing:
No challenge is too big if your determination is bigger.
And now, as a Shark Tank India judge, he’s ready to help others turn their dreams into reality.
Because if anyone knows how to fight for success, it’s him.
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