Akash Arora has supported over 250 startups in Gwalior. He successfully transitioned from a Mechanical Engineer to a business leader, creating a thriving ecosystem for local entrepreneurs. Arora’s vision of "Gwalior to Global and Global to Gwalior" underscores his mission to provide a platform where entrepreneurs can grow both financially and personally.

Akash Arora is a multifaceted individual—a businessman, entrepreneur, and social worker. He is the visionary behind Sorted Square Coworking Pvt. Ltd. and the Hum Foundation, both of which reflect his deep commitment to innovation and community service.

Seven years ago, Akash Arora founded Sorted Square Coworking Space, aiming to create a nurturing ecosystem for startups in Gwalior. He also established the Hum Foundation, an NGO that has been promoting skill sharing and development for the past decade. His vision of "Gwalior to Global and Global to Gwalior" underscores his mission to provide a platform where entrepreneurs can grow both financially and personally.

During his engineering days, Arora launched a city-based youth magazine, Aalekh Life In Pages, with the goal of promoting leadership. Despite knowing little about sponsorships or franchises and starting with a black-and-white issue due to financial constraints, Arora and his team persisted. Within two years, the magazine was selling 7,000 copies, featuring contributions from notable figures like Kumar Vishwas, Nithya Shanti, and N. Raghuraman. This venture connected him with many NGOs, leading to the creation of the Hum Foundation.

Born in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, but raised in Gwalior, Akash Arora’s journey is about breaking family traditions. As a Mechanical Engineer with an MBA from Panjab University, Arora initially worked in an MNC. However, his passion for giving back to his hometown led him to return to Gwalior, determined to make a difference.

Coming from a lineage of five generations in government service, Arora faced challenges when he chose the path of entrepreneurship. His childhood was marked by a love for extracurricular activities, such as music, dance, karate, and judo, which laid the foundation for his dynamic personality.

Reflecting on the COVID-19 pandemic, Akash Arora believes it taught us to appreciate nature and embrace digitalization. He notes that flexible business models emerged at that time, breaking down barriers and shifting operations online. This period also saw the birth of his "Digital Factory" concept, aimed at digitalizing local businesses, and his work on "Brand Gwalior" to foster community culture.

Akash Arora acknowledges that securing finances and assembling the right team were initial struggles. However, he firmly believes that with clear intent and collaboration, no obstacle is insurmountable.

Arora draws inspiration from everyone he meets, considering each person a role model in some way. He is particularly influenced by Swami Vivekananda, whose words, "Arise, awake and stop not until the goal is reached," motivate him daily.

To today’s youth, Akash Arora advises moving beyond the blame game and bridging the gap between struggle and success through hard work. He challenges students from tier two or three colleges to stop blaming the education system and start working to improve their circumstances.

Networking, according to Arora, is his success mantra. He believes that connecting with people and sharing ideas and skills is the key to reaching new heights in life.

Akash Arora is proud of his journey so far. He leads a team of 45 people and has created an ecosystem benefiting around 250 startups.  He also runs a popular political satire page called Kataaksh, which boasts around two lakh organic followers.

On the importance of education and experience, Arora emphasizes that while education is vital, its true value lies in its application. Education alone cannot yield success without practical implementation.

If given the chance, Akash Arora would use a time machine to revisit the early days of his career, correcting the mistakes he made while launching his magazine. He also plans to digitize the magazine in the near future.

For aspiring entrepreneurs, Arora’s advice is to conduct thorough research on customer needs before launching a business. He stresses the importance of realistic research as a foundation for success.

In his free time, Arora enjoys writing poetry, exploring new cuisines, and creating food blogs, indulging in his passion for creativity and discovery.