Meet Srikanth bolla: A Blind Man Who Built a Multi-Crore Business

In a world where challenges often decide one’s future, Srikanth Bolla’s journey stands out as a story of hope and determination. 

Born blind in a small village in india where he was once told he wouldn’t achieve much. But he proved everyone wrong—becoming a successful entrepreneur, motivational speaker and founder of Bollant Industries, a company that makes eco-friendly packaging.

From being denied school admission in India to graduating from MIT and leading change in sustainable manufacturing, his path has been truly inspiring.

In 2025, he expanded into tech and philanthropy, starting programs to support disabled entrepreneurs and promote inclusive education. Today, his company is valued at around ₹50 crore and continues to grow with a strong focus on sustainability and inclusive hiring.

Srikanth Bolla - Personal Info

Srikanth Bolla – Early Life and Education

Srikanth Bolla was born blind into a poor farming family in Seetharamapuram village, Andhra Pradesh. At birth, doctors advised his parents to abandon him, but they stood by him. Despite facing discrimination, Srikanth excelled in school. When he was denied the option to study science, he fought a legal battle and continued his studies through open schooling.

His academic success led him to the prestigious MIT in the U.S., where he studied management science. After graduating, Srikanth turned down high-paying jobs abroad to return to India and create something impactful. This decision led to the founding of Bollant Industries in 2012.

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Srikanth Bolla – Career Achievements

In 2012, Srikanth started Bollant Industries with a bold vision: to prove that people with disabilities can build world-class businesses. Beginning in a small facility in Hyderabad, he focused on hiring based on potential, not physical ability.

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What makes Bollant unique is its inclusive workforce—more than 60% of its employees are differently-abled. Each team member is trained thoroughly to not just meet but exceed industry standards. As Srikanth says, “We are not a charity. We are a high-performing team that just happens to be inclusive.”

By 2025, Bollant Industries operates six manufacturing units across Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra. The company produces eco-friendly packaging like disposable plates, cups, trays, and industrial adhesives—all made from recycled and natural materials.

Recently, Bollant has also entered the growing market of biodegradable polymers and compostable packaging films, which are in high demand among FMCG and pharmaceutical companies.

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Srikanth Bolla: Shark Tank India

In February 2025, Srikanth Bolla made a powerful debut on Shark Tank India Season 4 as a guest shark, becoming the first visually impaired entrepreneur to enter the tank.

During his episode, which aired on February 16, 2025, Srikanth made headlines for investing INR 85 lakhs for 5% equity in "Nav-Tech", a deep-tech startup building wearable speech-to-text smart glasses for the hearing and speech impaired. The startup was founded by Raghav Mehta, a partially blind IIT-Delhi graduate, whose pitch moved Srikanth and the entire panel to a standing ovation.

“You don’t need sight to have a vision — and this founder has it in abundance,” Srikanth said during the pitch, a quote that instantly went viral on social media

The episode became the most-watched Shark Tank India segment of Season 4 with over 18 million digital views in 3 days and sparked trending hashtags like #BlindVisionaryShark and #InclusiveInvesting.

Srikanth’s sharp focus on inclusive innovation, rural impact, and green tech made him an instant fan favourite.

Srikanth Bolla - Awards & Recognition

• Entrepreneur of the Globe
• Young Changemaker Award
• TEDx Talk – Hyderabad (2017)
• Padma Shri Nominee
• Outstanding Person in Business
• The Forbes 30 Under 30
• SJIM Eminent Social Entrepreneur of the Year Award 2024