In one of the largest philanthropic contributions by Indian startup founders to an educational institution, Nakul Aggarwal and Ritesh Arora, co-founders of BrowserStack, have pledged Rs 100 crore to the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay, their alma mater. The donation will fund the reconstruction and modernisation of student hostels on campus, aiming to significantly upgrade student living facilities.

But who exactly are these entrepreneurs behind the generous gesture?

Aggarwal and Arora, both Computer Science graduates from the Class of 2006, started their entrepreneurial journey long before India’s startup scene hit full stride. What began as a simple idea, making it easier for developers to test websites and apps across different devices, eventually turned into BrowserStack. The company became a unicorn in 2021 and hit a valuation of $4 billion by August 2023. Its revenue rose 59% year-on-year to Rs 418.4 crore in FY22, up from Rs 263.3 crore in FY21. Arora serves as the company’s CEO, and Aggarwal as its CTO. Both are estimated to have net worths exceeding Rs 12,000 crore each.

Today, the company serves customers in over 135 countries and has grown into one of India’s most prominent SaaS success stories. Headquartered in San Francisco and Mumbai, the company now boasts over 15 products, 10 of which were launched in just the last 18 months.

According to media reports, their Rs 100 crore donation will directly support IIT Bombay’s “Project Evergreen” initiative, which seeks to upgrade student accommodation for its growing population. Specifically, the funds will rebuild Hostel 6, where both founders once lived, and modernise Hostels 7, 8, and 21. The redevelopment will include new architecture and amenities aimed at improving the student experience.

“This contribution is personal for us. Our time at IIT Bombay, and at Hostel 6 in particular, played a big role in shaping who we are. We’re simply giving back to the place that helped launch our journey.” Nakul Aggarwal, CTO and co-founder of BrowserStack, told TOI.

“IIT Bombay gave us the vision and the foundation. We want to ensure that future students have the best environment to thrive,” Ritesh Arora, the company’s CEO and co-founder, echoed the sentiment.

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The institute, which recently climbed to 28th place in the QS World University Rankings 2025 for Engineering & Technology, described the donation as a milestone in its mission to provide world-class facilities. “Their significant support will greatly enhance the living and learning environment for our students,” Professor Shireesh Kedare, Director, IIT Bombay, added

Beyond their business success, Arora and Aggarwal are now seen as role models in the Indian tech ecosystem,not just for building a global company from scratch, but for setting a new benchmark in giving back.