Reflections on Ola Electric's public market debut

Today, as Ola Electric goes public, I find myself reflecting on what this day truly represents.

While IPO ceremonies happen frequently, this one is different because it marks not just my journey, but our collective journey. Though entrepreneurs often receive the spotlight, we all know it's the team - those who show up every day to get their job done - that deserve the credit. And not just the team, but their families, who have sacrificed as much as my own, to ensure their loved ones can contribute to our mission. I want to acknowledge and thank them all.

I also want to express my gratitude to my family, my parents, and especially my wife who made everything seem possible and achievable, with so much grace. I must also thank my “Guru”, TVG. The "Darja" of Guru is unique in our Indian culture as one who shows the way, and he has done so for more than 12 years!

As I ponder the significance of this day, I ask myself: what message should I convey?

Is it that we all worked tirelessly, to build this company to this scale so quickly? Yes, our hard work has definitely paid off, and the world recognizes that. But today isn't only about our hard work.

Is it that we have built a new industry in India and led the EV revolution to help create a better tomorrow? Indeed, in just 3 years from launching our first product, India is now one of the world's largest EV 2-wheeler markets. But today isn't only about our achievements so far.

Perhaps it's that we fought the naysayers and disbelievers to build something for all to be proud of. We were written off from day one, yet we didn't let that affect us and kept building. But today isn't about our vanity either.

In truth, today isn't about giving any message to satisfy or celebrate ourselves. Rather, it's about taking a message away with us - a message of inspiration and responsibility. We're inspired to double down on our dreams and mission to truly contribute towards India's future and build the country of our dreams. We now bear the responsibility of being custodians of public money, tasked with allocating it wisely for the benefit of all stakeholders - consumers, employees, shareholders, and most importantly, society.

I hope when we all remember this day, wherever we are, in whichever company or job or country, we remember this emotion that we all feel today - that our destination is still far ahead!

Jai Hind !