Neha Narkhede: The Indian Engineer Who Built a ₹75,000 Crore Global Empire
From the classrooms of Pune to the boardrooms of Silicon Valley, Neha Narkhede has built an empire worth billions — not just in valuation but in inspiration. Her journey reflects how Indian engineering brilliance can transform global technology and redefine innovation itself.
From Pune to Silicon Valley’s Frontline
Born and raised in Pune, Neha Narkhede graduated from Pune Institute of Computer Technology (PICT) before pursuing her master’s in Computer Science at Georgia Tech, USA.
Her turning point came at LinkedIn, where she co-created Apache Kafka, an open-source data streaming platform that revolutionized how companies handle real-time data. Today, Kafka is the backbone for global tech giants like Netflix, Uber, and Goldman Sachs.
Confluent: A ₹75,000 Crore Powerhouse
In 2014, Neha co-founded Confluent, a company built on Kafka’s technology. What started as an engineering solution soon became one of Silicon Valley’s most influential data-streaming enterprises.
Business Model
Confluent provides a real-time data streaming platform that enables businesses to process and analyze continuous data flows instead of relying on static, batch data. Their clients include global enterprises across finance, retail, and tech sectors that depend on instant data delivery.
Revenue & Growth
- Market Cap: Over ₹75,000 crore (around $9 billion)
- Q1 2025 Revenue: $271.1 million (up 25% YoY)
- Q2 2025 Revenue: $282.3 million (up 20% YoY)
- Cloud Revenue: $143 million in Q1 2025 (+34% YoY)
- Gross Margin: 81.7% on subscription business
- Customers: 1,400+ generating over $100,000 in annual recurring revenue
- Enterprise Clients: Over 230 generating $1 million+ ARR
While Confluent is still optimizing profitability, it reported a non-GAAP operating income of $11.6 million in Q1 2025 — a major step toward sustainable growth. The company continues to expand its cloud services, which now account for nearly half of its total revenue.
With around 6% ownership, Neha Narkhede became one of the youngest self-made women billionaires in the world, with a personal net worth exceeding ₹13,000 crore.
Oscilar: Neha’s New AI Venture
Innovation doesn’t pause for Neha. In 2023, she co-founded Oscilar, an AI-powered risk and fraud detection startup that’s transforming how fintechs, banks, and digital companies detect and prevent fraud.
Business Focus
Oscilar uses real-time data and AI models to protect online transactions from fraud and credit risks. Its platform claims to reduce fraud by up to 90% for clients while improving transaction approval rates.
Achievements
- Founded by: Neha Narkhede and Sachin Kulkarni
- Launched: 2021 (publicly announced in 2023)
- Clients: 80+ financial institutions and fintech firms
- Funding: Self-funded with $20 million from founders
- Growth: 8× revenue growth in 2023 and 6× in 2024
- Product: Generative-AI-powered risk decisioning platform
Oscilar operates in a booming global market — fraud and risk losses exceed $48 billion annually — and Neha’s vision is to use AI to minimize that impact worldwide.
The Visionary Impact
Neha’s success is more than just numbers. Her story represents the fusion of engineering, innovation, and courage. From coding in Pune to creating billion-dollar startups in Silicon Valley, she’s a role model for an entire generation of engineers and entrepreneurs.
Her ventures — Confluent and Oscilar — have changed how businesses handle data and decision-making, shaping the backbone of the digital economy
Key Lessons from Neha Narkhede’s Journey
- Engineering Excellence Wins: Great tech ideas can power global revolutions.
- Adapt and Evolve: She shifted from data streaming to AI-driven fraud detection — proving that growth never ends.
About Marketing Mirrors
Marketing Mirrors is a next-generation digital media platform that brings inspiring stories of founders, innovators, and changemakers who are shaping the business world. Our goal is to reflect success stories that motivate, educate, and push boundaries in the startup ecosystem.
