Peyush Bansal

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Indian entrepreneur, investor, and co-founder & CEO of Lenskart

Peyush Bansal (born 26 April 1985) is an Indian entrepreneur, angel investor, and the co-founder and CEO of Lenskart, India's leading omnichannel eyewear brand. He co-founded Lenskart in 2010 with a mission to make quality eyewear affordable and accessible across India. Lenskart became a unicorn company in 2019 and has grown into one of Asia's largest eyewear platforms with over 2,000 stores. Bansal is widely recognized as a judge on the business reality show Shark Tank India, where he has invested across multiple seasons.

Early Life and Education

Peyush Bansal was born on 26 April 1985 in New Delhi, India, into a middle-class family. His father's name is Bal Kishan Bansal and his mother's name is Kiran Bansal. From an early age, he displayed a strong interest in technology, computers, and analytical problem-solving. He completed his schooling at Don Bosco School, New Delhi, where he excelled academically.

He later moved to Canada to pursue a Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering from McGill University, Montreal (2002–2006), one of Canada's most prestigious universities. After graduating, he worked briefly at Microsoft in the United States, gaining valuable corporate experience before returning to India to pursue his entrepreneurial ambitions. He subsequently completed an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIM-B).

Early Entrepreneurial Ventures

After his stint at Microsoft, Peyush returned to India in 2007 with a strong desire to build something of his own. He first launched SearchMyCampus.com, a classified ads platform for college students covering jobs, coaching, accommodation, and services. While the platform achieved moderate success, it gave him deep insight into Indian consumer behavior, digital marketing, and the challenges of building a startup from scratch.

In 2008, he founded Valyoo Technologies from his parents' home in Delhi, using it as an umbrella to experiment with multiple online businesses. One of these early experiments was Flyrr, a social networking platform. These ventures were not large-scale successes, but they were critical learning experiences that ultimately shaped his thinking for Lenskart.

Lenskart

In 2010, Peyush Bansal co-founded Lenskart along with Amit Chaudhary and Sumeet Kapahi. The company began as an online-only eyewear retailer, selling prescription glasses, sunglasses, and contact lenses at affordable prices. The founding vision was simple but powerful: India had hundreds of millions of people with vision problems, yet quality eyewear remained either expensive or inaccessible outside major cities.

Lenskart built its competitive edge through a technology-driven approach — offering virtual try-on features, home eye check-up services, and a wide range of affordable frames. Over time, the company transitioned to an omnichannel model, combining its strong digital presence with a rapidly growing network of offline retail stores. By 2024, Lenskart operated over 2,000 stores across India and had expanded internationally to markets including Singapore, the Middle East, and Japan.

Lenskart achieved unicorn status in 2019 with a valuation exceeding $1 billion, backed by investors including SoftBank Vision Fund, Temasek, KKR, and Premji Invest. The brand's private label eyewear, manufacturing capabilities, and direct-to-consumer model have cemented its position as Asia's largest eyewear company.

Shark Tank India

Peyush Bansal became one of the most popular judges on Shark Tank India, appearing across multiple seasons. Interestingly, he was initially reluctant to join the show — it was his wife Nidhi who encouraged him to participate. He has since become one of the most active investors on the show, committing ₹22.2 crore in Season 1, ₹16.16 crore in Season 2, and ₹5.77 crore in Season 3. He is known for his sharp product-market fit analysis and consumer-first thinking, and has invested in startups including Push Sports, Yes Madam, and Jewel Box.

Investments

Beyond Shark Tank, Peyush Bansal has made numerous angel investments across consumer, lifestyle, and technology startups. Notable investments include Feedo (employee engagement platform), DailyObjects (lifestyle brand), Push Sports, Yes Madam, and Jewel Box. In July 2024, he led an investment round of ₹70.70 crore back into Lenskart itself, reaffirming his confidence in the company's long-term growth.

Awards and Recognition

Peyush Bansal has been widely recognized for his entrepreneurial contributions, including being ranked among India's top business tycoons, recognition for building India's first unicorn eyewear brand, and his influence on India's D2C and startup ecosystem through his role on Shark Tank India.

Personal Life

Peyush Bansal is married to Nidhi Bansal. They married in 2011. Nidhi played a key role in encouraging him to join Shark Tank India, which significantly boosted his public profile. The couple resides in Delhi.

Profile compiled from public sources  ·  Last updated May 2026