Introduction

Swati Bhargava is a celebrated Indian entrepreneur and co-founder of CashKaro, one of India’s leading cashback and coupon platforms. From starting her career in investment banking at Goldman Sachs to building a multi-crore consumer-tech company, her journey is a perfect blend of global exposure, entrepreneurial vision, and resilience. Today, she is recognized among India’s most influential women entrepreneurs, inspiring millions with her story of innovation and perseverance.

Early Life and Education

Born in Ambala, Haryana, Swati grew up in an environment that valued education and ambition. She excelled academically and later moved to the United Kingdom to pursue higher studies at the London School of Economics (LSE). She graduated in Economics and Mathematics, a foundation that sharpened her analytical and problem-solving skills.

This academic journey not only shaped her career but also provided the confidence to dream big and build scalable businesses.

Professional Career

Swati began her career in 2005 at Goldman Sachs, London, working in investment banking. During this time, she gained expertise in finance, wealth management, and corporate strategy. Later, she worked at Elderstreet Investments, where she learned the intricacies of venture capital and startup funding.

Although her corporate journey was rewarding, Swati was driven by the ambition to create something impactful of her own.

The Spark Behind CashKaro

The idea for CashKaro came from a personal experience. While booking flight tickets for their honeymoon, Swati and her husband Rohan Bhargava discovered a UK-based cashback website that helped them save money instantly. This experience sparked the thought of creating a similar platform for Indian consumers.

To test the idea, the couple first launched Pouring Pounds, a cashback business in the UK, which turned out to be a success. Encouraged by this, they decided to bring the model to India.

Founding of CashKaro

In 2013, Swati and Rohan launched CashKaro in India with just 17 employees and interns. To raise funds, Swati reached out to her seniors, colleagues, and peers. To her surprise, they managed to secure double the funding they had originally targeted.

CashKaro entered the Indian market with a simple yet powerful proposition: helping people save money on every online purchase through cashback and coupons.

Growth and Success Story

Under Swati Bhargava’s leadership, CashKaro grew into a market leader in India’s cashback and coupon industry.

• Widespread Reach: Millions of Indian consumers now use CashKaro to save on purchases.
• Partnerships: The platform collaborates with 1,500+ leading e-commerce brands including Amazon, Flipkart, Myntra, and TataCliq.
• Revenue Growth: By FY25, CashKaro achieved over ₹350 crore in revenue and generated ₹6,000+ crore in partner sales.
• Team Expansion: From 17 employees in 2013, CashKaro has grown to a team of 300+ professionals.
• Funding Success: Raised ₹130 crore in funding from Affle Global Pte Ltd.
• Customer Rewards: Processed 36 million+ transactions and distributed over ₹1,000 crore in cashback to users.

Challenges and Resilience

Swati’s entrepreneurial journey has not been without struggles. In 2022, she faced a major health challenge and underwent a kidney transplant, with her mother as the donor. Despite this, Swati remained actively involved in CashKaro’s growth, proving that resilience and determination are vital traits of successful leaders.

Her ability to overcome personal challenges while continuing to lead a fast-growing startup stands as a true inspiration.

Personal Life and Philosophy

Swati is married to Rohan Bhargava, her co-founder and life partner. Together, they share a vision of empowering Indian consumers with smarter ways to save money.

Her leadership is guided by the philosophy:
“Karm karo, phal ki chinta mat karo” – Do your work with sincerity without worrying about the results.

This belief continues to shape her entrepreneurial journey and inspires her team to stay focused on long-term goals.

Recognition and Achievements

• Featured among India’s top women entrepreneurs in consumer-tech.
• Represented India at Blackbox Connect – Female Founders Edition in Silicon Valley.
• Regular keynote speaker at e-commerce and startup conferences.
• Recognized for making cashback culture mainstream in India.

Legacy and Impact

Swati Bhargava’s journey highlights the power of innovation, resilience, and vision. By creating CashKaro, she not only disrupted India’s e-commerce space but also empowered millions of consumers to save money and shop smarter.

Her story continues to inspire entrepreneurs, women leaders, and startup founders, showcasing how determination and creativity can turn an idea into a nation-wide success story.