IITian-founder of Rs 4,500 crore business thanks he is from middle class family, shares how it shaped his success

For many, success is measured by elite degrees or high-profile titles. But for HealthKart founder and CEO Sameer Maheshwari—an alumnus of both IIT Delhi and Harvard Business School—the most valuable part of his journey began much earlier, in the modest homes of India’s middle class. In a recent LinkedIn post, Maheshwari opened up about how his upbringing gave him lessons that still shape his decisions, habits, and leadership style today. With no legacy to inherit and no financial cushion to fall back on, he believes the values forged in that environment became his greatest advantage.

Maheshwari founded HealthKart in 2011 and the company was valued at $500 million (approx. Rs 4,500) in November 2024. He described growing up in a home where everything had to be earned. Without wealth or inherited privilege, there was constant pressure to perform—because failure didn’t come with a backup plan. Yet instead of resentment, this lack of safety net taught him grit, resourcefulness, and the importance of building one’s own path. He credits this reality for fuelling the drive that eventually led him to entrepreneurship.

Lessons Earned, Not Given

He recalled how, during childhood, even something as simple as owning a cricket bat wasn’t a given thing. It had to be earned by consistently showing up and proving oneself on the field. That experience, he said, taught him to value not just the reward but the process of working toward it. It instilled in him the belief that anything truly meaningful must be earned—and that mindset has stuck with him ever since.

Five Life Lessons From the Middle-Class Mindset

Maheshwari highlighted five core lessons from his upbringing that he continues to live by:

• Value of Money: Learning how to stretch every rupee.
• Need vs Want: Understanding that luxuries are treats, not entitlements.
• Saving First: Always living within means and planning ahead.
• Gratitude: Appreciating what one has instead of chasing what one doesn’t.
• Comparison: Facing peer pressure but turning it into personal motivation instead of insecurity.

Old Habits, Strong Roots

Despite now being in a position of financial comfort, Maheshwari admitted that middle-class habits haven’t left him. Whether it's hesitating before buying expensive shoes or checking multiple websites for the best deals, these behaviors are less about money and more about mindset. He called this ingrained behaviour his “middle-class OS” — a lifelong operating system that continues to influence how he thinks and acts.

Reflecting deeper, Maheshwari wondered whether growing up with more comfort and access would have made him less driven. He believes the grind gave him purpose, and the friction of limited means built resilience. Long before he understood what it meant to be an entrepreneur, the circumstances of his life had already made him one in spirit.

For Maheshwari, being middle-class isn’t just a financial category—it’s an attitude. It's about self-reliance, hard work, and staying grounded.