Entrepreneurs’ Organization Surpasses 3,000 Members in South Asia; Launches New Chapter in Uttarakhand, India

24 January 2025. (Virginia, U.S./Uttarakhand, India) – Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO) proudly announces a new membership milestone achieved in South Asia, a large area that includes EO chapters in India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Nepal. In January, the total number of entrepreneurs active as members in the EO community across South Asia surpassed 3,000 people for the first time. Strong regional growth also paved the way for the creation of EO’s newest chapter: EO Uttarakhand, which joins the global EO network as its 33rd chapter in South Asia.

EO, a nonprofit organization for entrepreneurs and business owners worldwide, established its presence in South Asia in 1997 with the formation of EO Mumbai. Since then, EO Mumbai has grown to become EO’s largest chapter in the world by membership today, with EO New Delhi and EO Kolkata also attracting large numbers of diverse entrepreneurs to its membership community in India.

Today, EO offers entrepreneurs membership in one or more of its 33 chapters across South Asia, where member businesses span a wide range of industries, including manufacturing, real estate, and automotive, among others. Its popularity in India has contributed to a more than 90 percent of EO members of South Asia belonging to one of EO’s 29 chapters in India alone.

EO Uttarakhand is based in northern India and officially launched on 20 January as a bilingual chapter that operates in both Hindi and English. The new chapter launched with 27 members, 10 of whom are under the age of 35. Their companies represent 17 diverse industries. Uttarakhand is known for its manufacturing industry, pharmaceutical clusters, and well-developed IT parks. Given its proximity to the Himalayas, it is also a popular tourist destination

EO member Anuj Aggarwal, co-founder of Unison Group, President of DIT University, and co-founder of Wellington College International Pune, is the founding president for EO Uttarakhand.

“My primary objective is to establish a vibrant and high-performing chapter that supports entrepreneurs at all stages of their journey. By curating high-quality learning events, fostering diversity, and initiating the EO Accelerator Program, we aim to build a strong entrepreneurial community that leaves a legacy for our members,” Aggarwal said.

EO Uttarakhand founding members and staff

A range of opportunities for members of EO chapters in South Asia has contributed to the region's impressive 99 percent annual renewal rate and a membership that now exceeds 3,000.

“We are thrilled to welcome EO Uttarakhand to our global network and proud to see EO’s message and value resonating with more and more entrepreneurs across South Asia. I am particularly encouraged by the increased number of women and members under 35 joining our network, too”, said Regional Chair, Prabhakar Kadavasal. “It means we can help more business owners learn, lead, and share what can otherwise be an isolating experience with peers who uniquely understand the entrepreneur’s journey.”

The region’s growth has been fueled by a diverse range of offerings that help EO members connect with peers in-person and virtually, including:

• Region-specific events such as RIE (Regional Integration Event), a three-day gathering that offers EO members world-class learning, networking opportunities, and exclusive experiences. With more than 1,000 attendees—40 percent of whom are members’ spouses—RIE is the region’s largest event.
• Executive Education programs hosted in partnership with renowned business schools like The Wharton School, Harvard Business School, London Business School, and INSEAD Singapore.
• A regional Future Leaders program that offers the adult children (age 18-25) of current members opportunities to experience the culture of collaboration and fellowship that their parent/s enjoy as EO community members.
• Participation for members’ Spouses and Life Partners, who are invited to attend learning events, join specialized Forums, and join virtual learning programs.
• Opportunities to serve as mentors or judges in EO’s Global Student Entrepreneur Awards (GSEA), an international competition for students who own and operate a business while attending college or university.

“South Asia is clearly one of our leading markets worldwide, and there is so much we can do to learn from their tremendous member engagement and consistent growth,” said five-time business founder and EO Chief Executive, Dave Parker. “Their members and leadership have created a scalable model to help more local business owners grow their businesses and connect with other members around the world. Congratulations to our teams across South Asia.”

To learn more about EO in India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh or Nepal and the recently launched chapter, EO Uttarakhand, visit South Asia’s Instagram profile.

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Entrepreneurs’ Organization chapters in South Asia:

About Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO): The Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO) is the world’s largest membership network exclusively for entrepreneurs everywhere. Since 1987, EO has been supporting the world’s leading builders of business to realize more of their potential by fostering connections, applying leadership skills, and creating belonging across industries and borders. Nearly 20,000 entrepreneurs in 80+ countries make up EO’s network of leaders, who enjoy local and global membership experiences that go beyond the business to support the whole entrepreneur. For more information or to get involved, follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram or Facebook and visit www.eonetwork.org.