Sandeep Aggarwal is the Founder and CEO of Droom Technology, India’s largest AI-powered online automobile marketplace. A former Wall Street analyst turned serial entrepreneur, Aggarwal first founded ShopClues in 2010 before launching Droom in 2014. Under his leadership, Droom has raised over $344 million in funding, achieved a valuation of approximately $360 million, and evolved from a pure auto marketplace into an AI-powered mobility super app covering buying, selling, insurance, loans, repairs, and complete vehicle lifecycle management. With FY2025 marking its first full-year profitability since FY2021, Droom is now targeting an IPO within the next few years.
Read on to discover Droom CEO email address, Sandeep Aggarwal net worth in 2026, salary and compensation, career history, wife & family, education, and more.
Sandeep Aggarwal – Quick Facts
| Sandeep Aggarwal — At a Glance | |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Sandeep Aggarwal |
| Position | Founder, Chairman & CEO |
| Company | Droom Technology Private Limited |
| Age | 53 years (as of 2026) |
| Born | c. 1972, Chandigarh, India |
| Education | B.Com, Kurukshetra University; M.Fin, Devi Ahilya University; MBA, Washington University in St. Louis (Olin) |
| Net Worth (Est.) | $35–50 million |
| Salary (Est.) | $100,000–$300,000 annually |
| Founded Droom | April 2014 |
| Total Funding Raised | $344 million+ |
| Company Valuation | ~$360 million (March 2025) |
| Headquarters | Gurugram, Haryana, India |
| [email protected] | |
| Website | droom.in |
Sandeep Aggarwal Early Life & Education
Sandeep Aggarwal was born around 1972 in Chandigarh, India. He grew up in the North Indian city of Karnal, Haryana, where he completed his early schooling at SD Model School. He then attended Dayal Singh College in Karnal before pursuing higher education.
Aggarwal earned his Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com) from Kurukshetra University in Haryana. He went on to complete a Master’s degree in Finance from Devi Ahilya University in Indore, Madhya Pradesh (1994–1996). Seeking international exposure, Aggarwal moved to the United States in 1999, where he earned his MBA from Washington University in St. Louis at the prestigious Olin Business School.
His education at Olin Business School opened doors to the American financial industry and laid the foundation for his career as a Wall Street analyst, which would eventually lead to his entrepreneurial ventures back in India.
Sandeep Aggarwal Career History
Sandeep Aggarwal’s professional journey has taken him from Wall Street to Silicon Valley to building two billion-dollar companies in India. Here is a detailed look at his career path:
Wall Street & Corporate Career in the US
After completing his MBA at Washington University, Aggarwal began his career in the United States. He worked at Schwab.com in San Francisco and later held strategy and financial planning roles at Microsoft’s corporate headquarters in Redmond, Washington. He also worked as an equity research analyst at Collins Stewart, a financial services firm, where he covered major technology companies including Microsoft and Yahoo.
Founding ShopClues (2010)
In 2010, Aggarwal co-founded ShopClues along with his then-wife Radhika Ghai. ShopClues became one of India’s pioneering managed marketplace platforms, offering a wide range of products from electronics to fashion. The company quickly gained traction and grew into a major e-commerce player, reaching unicorn status with a valuation exceeding $1 billion. However, Aggarwal’s tenure at ShopClues was cut short by personal and legal challenges.
The Insider Trading Case & Resolution
In July 2013, Aggarwal was arrested by the FBI while vacationing with his family in the US. The charges related to his earlier career as a Wall Street analyst: in 2009, he had allegedly received confidential information about partnership discussions between Microsoft and Yahoo from a friend at Microsoft and passed this information to two hedge funds. By October 2013, Aggarwal had stepped down as ShopClues CEO. However, in February 2020, the U.S. Department of Justice dropped all charges against him, and the SEC reached a settlement. The resolution vindicated Aggarwal and marked the beginning of a new chapter.
Founding Droom (2014)
Undeterred by his legal challenges, Aggarwal founded Droom in April 2014, creating India’s first and largest online automobile marketplace. The platform started as a marketplace for buying and selling used and new vehicles, but has since evolved into a comprehensive AI-powered mobility super app. Droom now covers the entire vehicle lifecycle: buying, selling, financing, insurance, vehicle history reports, road-side assistance, and repairs.
Career Timeline
| Period | Role / Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1992–1996 | B.Com (Kurukshetra University) & Masters in Finance (Devi Ahilya University) |
| 1999–2001 | MBA, Washington University in St. Louis (Olin Business School) |
| Early 2000s | Analyst at Schwab.com, San Francisco |
| Mid 2000s | Strategy & Financial Planning, Microsoft, Redmond, WA |
| Late 2000s | Equity Research Analyst, Collins Stewart (Wall Street) |
| 2010 | Co-founded ShopClues (India’s managed marketplace) |
| 2014 | Founded Droom Technology |
| 2014–2021 | Built Droom into India’s largest online auto marketplace; raised $200M pre-IPO (2021) |
| 2021 | Droom reaches $1.2 billion valuation (unicorn status) |
| 2022–2024 | Filed for IPO (later withdrawn); pivoted to AI-powered mobility super app |
| March 2025 | Series G funding ($2.9M) at $360M valuation; IPO re-filing planned |
| FY2025 | First full-year profitability since FY2021; EBITDA of INR 45 crore |
CEO Role & Leadership at Droom
As the Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Droom, Sandeep Aggarwal has been the driving force behind the company’s growth and strategic direction since its inception. Under his leadership, Droom has achieved several milestones:
- Scale: Built Droom into India’s largest online automobile marketplace, processing thousands of vehicle transactions daily
- Technology: Pioneered AI and data science applications in the Indian auto marketplace, including the Orange Book Value (OBV) algorithm for fair vehicle pricing and Eco Inspection for vehicle condition assessment
- Funding: Raised over $344 million in total funding from investors including Lightbox, Beenext, Seven Train Ventures, Toyota Tsusho, and others
- Pivot to Super App: In 2024–2025, Aggarwal spearheaded Droom’s transformation from a pure auto marketplace to an AI-powered mobility super app covering the complete vehicle lifecycle
- Profitability: Guided Droom to its first full-year EBITDA profitability in FY2025, reporting INR 45 crore in EBITDA versus a loss of INR 20 crore in FY2024
- GMV Growth: Achieved Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) of INR 15,000 crore in FY2025, a 39% year-over-year increase
Key Insight: Sandeep Aggarwal is one of only a handful of Indian entrepreneurs to have founded two unicorn-valued companies — ShopClues (valued at over $1B) and Droom (valued at $1.2B at its peak in 2021). He remains the largest individual shareholder and the primary strategic decision-maker at Droom Technology.
Leadership & Achievements
Sandeep Aggarwal’s entrepreneurial journey is marked by both remarkable achievements and resilience in the face of adversity. Key highlights of his leadership include:
- Serial Entrepreneur: Founded two companies (ShopClues and Droom) that each reached unicorn valuations exceeding $1 billion
- Industry Pioneer: Created India’s first and largest online automobile marketplace, disrupting a traditionally offline industry
- AI Innovation: Developed proprietary AI tools like Orange Book Value (OBV), which uses 125+ data points to determine fair vehicle prices, and Eco Inspection for standardized vehicle condition assessment
- Angel Investor: Active as an angel investor in Indian startups, mentoring the next generation of entrepreneurs
- IPO Pursuit: Filed for Droom’s IPO multiple times; now targeting a Rs 1,000 crore IPO by 2027 at a valuation of $1.2–$1.5 billion
- Resilience: Overcame FBI arrest, messy divorce, and loss of his first company to build a second unicorn, making his story one of the most remarkable comeback tales in Indian tech
- Published Author & Speaker: Regular contributor to Entrepreneur India and a sought-after speaker at industry events on topics of entrepreneurship, technology, and mobility
Sandeep Aggarwal Personal Life
Sandeep Aggarwal was born and raised in Chandigarh, India. His personal life has been eventful and at times publicly documented.
Aggarwal was previously married to Radhika Ghai, with whom he co-founded ShopClues in 2010. The couple has two sons, Ahaan Aggarwal and Arjit Aggarwal. Their marriage ended in divorce in 2018, a separation that was publicly contentious and intertwined with the leadership dispute at ShopClues.
In 2020, Aggarwal married Upasana S. Aggarwal. He is currently based in Gurugram (Gurgaon), in the National Capital Region of India, where Droom’s headquarters are located.
Known for his determination and resilience, Aggarwal has spoken publicly about the challenges he faced — from the FBI arrest to the messy divorce and losing ShopClues — and how he channeled those experiences into building Droom. He is also active as an angel investor in Indian startups and is passionate about mentoring young entrepreneurs.
Sandeep Aggarwal Net Worth & Salary 2026
As the founder and CEO of a private company, Sandeep Aggarwal’s exact compensation is not publicly disclosed. However, based on available data from filings and industry estimates, here is what we know:
Aggarwal’s estimated net worth is $35–50 million, primarily derived from his equity stake in Droom Technology, where he is the largest individual shareholder. Some earlier reports had estimated his net worth at higher figures ($120–150 million), but those were based on Droom’s peak 2021 valuation of $1.2 billion. With Droom’s most recent funding round valuing the company at approximately $360 million (March 2025), the more conservative estimate is likely more accurate.
His estimated annual salary as CEO is in the range of $100,000–$300,000 (INR 80 lakh–2.5 crore), which is typical for founder-CEOs of Indian startups that are still private and have yet to achieve sustained profitability.
Droom Financial Summary
| Metric | FY2025 | FY2024 | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | INR 169 Cr | INR 85 Cr | ▲ 99% |
| EBITDA | INR 45 Cr | INR -20 Cr (Loss) | ▲ Turned Profitable |
| Net Loss | Near Breakeven | INR -40 Cr | ▲ Improved |
| GMV | INR 15,000 Cr | ~INR 10,800 Cr | ▲ 39% |
| Total Funding | $344 million+ (through Series G) | — | |
| Latest Valuation | ~$360 million (March 2025) | — | |
| Peak Valuation | $1.2 billion (July 2021) | — | |
| IPO Target | Rs 1,000 Cr IPO by 2027 | — | |
Turnaround Story: After a challenging FY2024 where revenue plummeted 66% to INR 85 crore, Droom nearly doubled revenue to INR 169 crore in FY2025 and achieved its first full-year EBITDA profitability since FY2021. The company is now focused on sustained profitability ahead of its planned IPO.
How to Contact Sandeep Aggarwal – Droom CEO Email
Below are the official contact details and social media profiles for Droom CEO Sandeep Aggarwal:
| Contact Information | |
|---|---|
| Business Email | [email protected] |
| Twitter/X | @SandeepAgg |
| Sandeep Aggarwal – Founder & CEO at Droom | |
| Personal Website | sandeepaggarwal.com |
| Company Website | droom.in |
| Corporate HQ | Ground Floor, 77 A, IFFCO Road, Sector 18, Gurugram 122015, Haryana, India |
| Investor Relations | droom.in/ir |
About Droom Technology
Droom is India’s first and largest AI-powered online automobile marketplace. Founded in April 2014 by Sandeep Aggarwal, the platform has transformed the way Indians buy, sell, and manage vehicles. Droom covers the complete vehicle lifecycle through its integrated services:
- Buy & Sell: Marketplace for new and used cars, bikes, scooters, and commercial vehicles
- Droom Credit: Vehicle financing and loan services
- Droom Insurance: Automobile insurance marketplace
- Orange Book Value (OBV): AI-driven fair market price algorithm using 125+ data points
- Eco Inspection: Standardized vehicle condition assessment
- Droom History: Vehicle history and accident reports
- Road-Side Assistance: On-demand vehicle repair and assistance services
The company has raised over $344 million in funding from investors including Lightbox, Beenext, Seven Train Ventures, Toyota Tsusho, Finvolve, and IA Growth Opportunities Fund. Droom reached unicorn status in July 2021 with a $1.2 billion valuation during its $200 million pre-IPO round. The company withdrew its initial IPO filing but raised a Series G round of $2.9 million in March 2025 at a $360 million valuation, with plans to re-file for a Rs 1,000 crore IPO by 2027.
Droom Competitors
Droom competes in India’s growing online automobile marketplace. Key competitors include:
- CarDekho – India’s leading auto tech platform for new and used cars
- Cars24 – Online used car buying and selling platform
- Spinny – Full-stack used car retailing platform
- OLX Autos (now Frontier Car Group) – Classifieds marketplace for used vehicles
- CarTrade Tech – Publicly listed auto classifieds platform (NSE: CARTRADE)
- Mahindra First Choice Wheels – Multi-brand certified used car company
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Who is the CEO of Droom?
Sandeep Aggarwal is the Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Droom Technology. He founded the company in April 2014 and has led it since inception, growing it into India’s largest AI-powered online automobile marketplace with over $344 million in total funding raised.
What is Sandeep Aggarwal’s net worth in 2026?
Sandeep Aggarwal’s estimated net worth is $35–50 million, primarily from his equity stake in Droom Technology, where he is the largest individual shareholder. As Droom is a private company, exact figures are not publicly available.
What is Sandeep Aggarwal’s salary?
As CEO of a private Indian startup, Aggarwal’s exact salary is not publicly disclosed. Industry estimates place his annual compensation in the range of $100,000–$300,000 (INR 80 lakh–2.5 crore). The bulk of his wealth comes from his equity stake in Droom rather than salary.
What is Droom?
Droom is India’s first and largest AI-powered online automobile marketplace. It provides a comprehensive platform for buying, selling, financing, insuring, and maintaining vehicles. The company covers the complete vehicle lifecycle and has evolved into what it calls an “AI-powered mobility super app.”
Is Droom publicly listed?
No, Droom is not yet publicly listed. The company filed for an IPO in 2021 but later withdrew the filing. Droom is now targeting a Rs 1,000 crore IPO by 2027 at a valuation between $1.2–$1.5 billion, having achieved its first full-year EBITDA profitability in FY2025.
What happened with Sandeep Aggarwal and ShopClues?
Sandeep Aggarwal co-founded ShopClues in 2010 with his then-wife Radhika Ghai. He stepped down as CEO in 2013 following an FBI arrest related to insider trading allegations from his earlier career as a Wall Street analyst. The U.S. Department of Justice dropped all charges in February 2020. Aggarwal then founded Droom in 2014.
How can I contact Sandeep Aggarwal?
For business inquiries, you can reach Droom at [email protected]. Aggarwal is also active on Twitter/X (@SandeepAgg) and LinkedIn. Droom’s corporate headquarters are located at Ground Floor, 77 A, IFFCO Road, Sector 18, Gurugram 122015, Haryana, India.
Article last updated: March 2026
Disclaimer: All information presented in this article has been compiled from publicly available sources, including corporate filings, official company websites, verified news reports, and reputable business databases. Net worth and salary figures are estimates and may vary by source. This content is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice.