Known for his pivotal role in nurturing the country’s startup ecosystem, Prakash has significantly shaped companies such as Flipkart, Swiggy, BookMyShow, Infra.Market, Bluestone, Freshworks, Zetwerk, and Urban Company.
“We’re proud to share that Prashant Prakash, partner at Accel, has been awarded the Padma Shri. He has been a pioneer in India’s startup ecosystem, a steadfast believer in the power of founders, and a champion of big, bold ideas that transform industries. His leadership has helped shape some of the most iconic startups in the country, and his passion for driving social and climate impact continues to inspire us all,” the venture capital firm stated in a LinkedIn post.
Prakash’s entrepreneurial journey began with founding two companies in the Internet and multimedia publishing sectors. He later cofounded Erasmic, one of India’s early-stage investment funds. He joined Accel in 2008, focusing on consumer, online marketplaces, and SaaS companies.
Ahead of the Union Budget, ET reported that Prakash batted for enhanced support for deeptech ventures, as well as thematic financing for critical technology domains at the National Startup day event.
Last month, ET reported that over 64 companies held their Initial Public Offering (IPO) in 2024. Prakash emphasised that while there is a need for unicorns and soonicorns, there is also an equal opportunity for small startups to lead the intellectual property (IP)-driven growth of deeptech.