MakeMyTrip: Deep Kalra's journey from failure in bowling startup to travel major

Deep Kalra, the founder of travel web portal makemytrip.com, joined ABN Amro Bank after finishing his education in 1992. Three years at the bank, and Kalra decided to turn an entrepreneur. He brought the AMF Bowling to start the 10-pin bowling revolution in the country.

However, the venture failed to roll on, and Kalra went back to a regular corporate job.

At GE Money, Kalra's career was progressing well, but he continued to long for the excitement that an entrepreneurial life promised. Exposed to the Internet at GE where they were looking for avenues for a new distribution, Kalra understood it was a medium that was going to change lives. "I was clear I wanted to be on the B2C side and drew up plans for online stock broking and travel. At the end of the day, online travel was far more exciting," says Kalra.
Watch: My Big Plunge feat, Deep Kalra founder MakeMyTrip.com



He took the plunge on April Fools' Day in 2000, but he was always conscious of the fact that he had failed in the bowling business.

"I think that failure in my case helped me a lot to egg me on," says Kalra.

Today, makemytrip.com has grown to become one of the largest players in the Indian travel industry with Rs 10,000 crore ($ 1.6 billion) in gross bookings last financial year. Watch this video as Kalra talks about his 15-year journey with makemytrip, the impact of the dotcom bubble, 9/11, the joys, tribulations, achievements and how the Indian Railways helped his business.