Hrishikesh Datar’s story is an inspiring story. Zolvit, originally founded as Vakilsearch, was launched in 2011 in Chennai, India. As of 2025, the company is valued at approximately USD 28 million. Zolvit has empowered over 500,000 customers, including startups and SMEs, to manage their legal, tax, and compliance needs effortlessly. By simplifying complex legal and business procedures, Zolvit offers an accessible, tech-enabled solution for incorporation, trademark registration, GST filings, and more, making it a trusted partner for entrepreneurs across India.
Basic Details
| Origin Country | India |
| Legal Name | Vakilsearch Legal Solutions Private Limited |
| Brand | Zolvit |
| Founder | Hrishikesh Datar |
| CEO | Hrishikesh Datar |
| Industry | Technology |
| Website | www.zolvit.com |
| Year of Founding | 2011 |
| Valuation | USD 28 million (2025) |
| Employees | ~200 (2025) |
| Headquarters | Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Status | Active |
FOUNDER OVERVIEW – HRISHIKESH DATAR
➤ Net Worth (2025)
Mukesh Bansal’s estimated net worth in 2025 is around $200 million USD. This primarily comes from his significant equity stake in Cure.fit, combined with returns from Myntra’s successful acquisition and other startup investments.
➤ Ownership in Company
Hrishikesh Datar is the largest individual shareholder in Zolvit, holding an estimated 20–25% stake. He draws a market-aligned salary but is known for reinvesting profits back into the company’s growth rather than personal luxury. He often speaks about maintaining a lean, focused financial approach to build long-term value.
➤ Ventures Founded
Vakilsearch (2011) — The original brand name under which Zolvit began; designed to make legal services affordable and accessible for every Indian entrepreneur.
LIBRA (2018) — A litigation management SaaS tool created under Vakilsearch’s umbrella to digitize and automate law firm operations.
➤ Investments
Hrishikesh is known more for building and scaling his own ventures than for investing broadly. However, he mentors early-stage founders and has informally supported legal-tech and compliance startups in Chennai’s ecosystem.
➤ Recognition & Awards
- Forbes 30 Under 30 India, Law & Policy Category — 2017
- YourStory 100 Emerging Voices — 2019
- Recognized by Kalaari Capital as one of India’s top disruptive legal-tech founders — 2021
PERSONAL STORY: HRISHIKESH DATAR
Hrishikesh Datar was born in 1987 in Pune, Maharashtra, India. Raised in a middle-class Maharashtrian family, he was brought up with strong values of education, integrity, and service. His father, a government employee, and his mother, a homemaker, instilled in him the importance of hard work and helping others navigate complex bureaucratic systems, which later shaped his entrepreneurial outlook.
In his early years, Hrishikesh was always curious about how rules and systems impact everyday lives. He noticed how ordinary people struggled to get basic paperwork or legal tasks done without stress or overpaying middlemen. This observation stayed with him through college.
He pursued law at National Law School of India University (NLSIU) in Bangalore, where he developed a keen interest in simplifying legal processes. While his classmates aspired for big corporate law firms, Hrishikesh felt drawn to use his legal knowledge to address India’s grassroots legal accessibility issues.
Before becoming an entrepreneur, he interned at several law firms, where he noticed firsthand the inefficiencies and gaps in India’s legal system. Seeing how daunting simple processes like company registration or trademark filing were for small businesses deeply affected him.
On a personal front, Hrishikesh faced financial constraints during his early startup days. He worked from a small rented apartment, cutting personal expenses and bootstrapping the business with minimal resources. His parents were supportive but worried about the risks involved in leaving a stable legal career.
Through these struggles, he developed a thick skin for criticism and a resilient mindset. He often credits his early life experiences for teaching him humility, grit, and the belief that true impact comes from solving real problems faced by everyday people.
Today, Hrishikesh remains grounded and values a life of purpose over luxury. He continues to mentor young lawyers and entrepreneurs, advocating for using technology as an equalizer in India’s complex regulatory landscape.
FOUNDING STORY: CURE.FIT
Inspiration Behind the Idea
The seed for Zolvit, originally Vakilsearch, was planted when Hrishikesh Datar was still studying law at NLSIU Bangalore. He constantly noticed how even educated people struggled with routine legal paperwork — from registering a business to getting basic contracts drafted. Observing small businesses pay unnecessary middlemen or get stuck in red tape frustrated him deeply. This gap inspired him to dream of a tech-driven platform that would democratize access to legal and compliance services for millions of Indians who couldn’t afford traditional legal help.
Founding Team
In 2011, fresh out of law school, Hrishikesh returned to Chennai and started working on Vakilsearch. Initially, it was just him, his laptop, and a rented table at a co-working space. Gradually, a few trusted friends and juniors from law school joined him, believing in the vision of transforming how India handled paperwork and regulatory filings. Their shared trust and youthful energy kept the team going through the early, uncertain days.
Starting Capital
Zolvit began as a bootstrapped venture. Hrishikesh invested his modest savings and borrowed a small sum from family. He chose not to pursue a conventional legal job, sacrificing a stable income to pursue the bigger dream. During the first two years, the team operated on minimal salaries, shared tiny workspaces, and reinvested every rupee earned back into the platform’s development and customer support.
Challenges
The beginning was far from smooth. Convincing small business owners to trust an online service for legal tasks was a huge challenge in a country where people preferred face-to-face interactions with lawyers. Building a reliable network of partner lawyers across India and standardizing service quality took immense effort. There were technical roadblocks too — developing a user-friendly portal for such a complex subject was not easy with limited funds. Long nights, countless iterations, and early customer complaints tested the team’s resolve repeatedly.
Breakthrough
The turning point came when a few startup founders took a chance on Vakilsearch to handle their incorporation and trademark filings swiftly and at a transparent cost. Word of mouth began to spread, and trust built slowly but steadily. A key milestone was partnering with startup incubators and accelerators who recommended Vakilsearch to young companies. This credibility boost opened doors to thousands of early-stage businesses. Over time, the company expanded its service portfolio to cover tax filings, compliance, and even SaaS tools for law firms, rebranding as Zolvit to reflect its broader mission.
What started as a simple idea to simplify legal work for all is today a thriving platform serving over half a million customers — a testament to Hrishikesh’s vision, grit, and unwavering belief that access to justice and compliance should not be a privilege but a right for every entrepreneur in India.
COMPANY PROFILE: ZOLVIT
Zolvit, formerly known as Vakilsearch, is India’s leading legal, tax, and compliance platform, dedicated to making business, tax, and legal tasks hassle-free for startups, SMEs, and professionals. By blending technology with a trusted network of legal experts, Zolvit aims to bridge the massive gap between ordinary citizens and quality legal services.
Area Served
Primarily serves clients across India with growing interest from NRIs and overseas businesses looking to set up operations in India.
Vision & Mission
Vision: To be India’s most trusted legal, tax, and compliance partner for businesses of every size.
Mission: To simplify and democratize access to professional services, ensuring transparency, affordability, and speed for all customers.
Services / Products Offered
Zolvit delivers a comprehensive suite of tech-enabled legal, tax, and compliance solutions designed to support entrepreneurs, startups, SMEs, and professionals across India. Its services are structured to cover every critical stage of a business’s lifecycle, from incorporation to daily regulatory obligations. Key offerings include:
- Business Incorporation: End-to-end company registration services covering Private Limited, LLP, OPC, and NGO formations, with expert guidance on structure, documentation, and statutory compliance.
- Intellectual Property: Trademark search, filing, renewal, copyright registration, and patent assistance to protect brands and innovations swiftly and affordably.
- Tax Registration & Compliance: Seamless GST registration, monthly and annual return filing, and advisory to ensure businesses remain tax-compliant without penalties.
- Accounting & Bookkeeping: Tailored bookkeeping and accounting solutions managed by certified professionals to keep financial records organized and audit-ready.
- ROC & Secretarial Compliance: Complete ROC filing, annual compliance, drafting resolutions, and managing board meeting documentation in line with Companies Act requirements.
- Legal Documentation: Drafting and reviewing contracts, agreements, NDAs, MOUs, and other legal documents customized for various industries and business needs.
- Business Licenses & Permits: Assistance with acquiring industry-specific licenses such as FSSAI, MSME, Import Export Code (IEC), and other statutory registrations critical for operations.
- Litigation Management Software (LIBRA): Zolvit’s flagship SaaS product designed for law firms and independent lawyers to manage case workflows, hearing dates, document storage, and client communication effectively.
- Startup Advisory Packages: Bundled services for early-stage companies covering everything from entity structuring to ongoing compliance and investor documentation support.
- Dedicated Customer Support: Personalized account managers and legal experts available to assist clients at every step, ensuring clarity, transparency, and timely delivery.
Business Model
Zolvit operates on a hybrid model combining a tech-enabled self-service platform with a managed marketplace for verified legal and accounting professionals. Customers can complete tasks online with expert support, reducing turnaround time and cost.
Revenue Model
Zolvit’s revenue strategy is structured around a diversified and scalable model that combines transactional fees, subscription services, and SaaS product licensing. This hybrid approach ensures predictable recurring income while enabling flexibility to serve businesses of all sizes.
Key Revenue Streams:
- Transactional Service Fees:
Zolvit charges fixed, transparent fees for individual services such as company incorporation, trademark filing, GST registration, tax filing, and license applications. Pricing is standardized and visible upfront, which builds customer trust and reduces negotiation cycles. - Compliance & Advisory Subscriptions:
To support growing businesses with ongoing legal and regulatory needs, Zolvit offers annual and multi-year subscription plans. These plans bundle services like bookkeeping, ROC filings, GST returns, and on-demand legal drafting under a single contract, providing predictable revenue and fostering long-term client relationships. - SaaS Product Licensing (LIBRA):
Zolvit’s proprietary litigation management platform, LIBRA, operates on a software-as-a-service (SaaS) licensing model. Law firms and independent practitioners pay monthly or annual fees based on usage tiers, number of users, and premium feature access such as advanced analytics and secure cloud storage. - Premium Support & Value-Added Packages:
For startups and SMEs requiring more personalized assistance, Zolvit offers priority service packages that include dedicated legal advisors, faster turnaround times, and customized compliance roadmaps. These premium plans command higher margins and cater to clients with complex or high-value needs. - Cross-Selling & Partner Network:
Zolvit leverages its extensive partner ecosystem — including CA firms, CS professionals, and law firms — to cross-sell complementary services and share revenue through strategic partnerships. This extends Zolvit’s reach into tier-2 and tier-3 markets while ensuring high service fulfillment standards.
Market Landscape & Competitors
Zolvit competes with other legal and compliance platforms like LegalRaasta, IndiaFilings, and ClearTax. Its strong brand credibility, robust tech backbone, and wide service portfolio distinguish it in a fragmented market.
USP (Unique Selling Proposition)
End-to-end tech platform plus human expertise
Transparent, fixed pricing with no hidden costs
Pan-India partner lawyer network
Pioneering SaaS tools for lawyers (LIBRA)
High customer satisfaction and repeat usage
Growth Highlights
- Over 500,000 customers served
- LIBRA tool tracking 100 million+ cases
- Trusted by thousands of startups, SMEs, and law firms
- Consistent year-on-year growth despite regulatory complexity
Funding & Investment History
Raised ~$17.4 million across 9 rounds
Key investors include Kalaari Capital and Udaan’s co-founder Sujeet Kumar
Series A round completed in late 2024 with a valuation of ~$28 million
Awards & Recognition
Zolvit has received several prestigious recognitions that validate its leadership in India’s legal-tech and compliance landscape:
- NASSCOM Emerge 50 Award
2020 — Selected as one of India’s Top 50 high-potential emerging tech companies for its innovative digital legal and compliance platform. - TiE Chennai Best LegalTech Startup
2021 — Honored by The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE) Chennai chapter for delivering impactful, accessible legal solutions to India’s startups and SMEs. - Kalaari Capital Portfolio Spotlight
2022 — Recognized by lead investor Kalaari Capital as a standout disruptor transforming traditional legal services with technology-first solutions. - National Startup Awards Finalist (Professional Services Category)
2023 — Shortlisted by Startup India for its significant contribution to improving the ease of doing business for small and medium enterprises nationwide. - Economic Times Emerging LegalTech Brand
2024 — Featured by The Economic Times among India’s emerging legal-tech leaders driving the digital transformation of professional services.
Team Size & Culture
Zolvit employs over 200 people as of 2025. The culture emphasizes trust, customer obsession, and continuous innovation. The leadership encourages an open environment where young professionals are empowered to take ownership and solve real-world problems.
Future Plans
Zolvit plans to expand its SaaS offerings, automate more compliance workflows, and deepen its partner network in tier-2 and tier-3 cities. Long-term goals include becoming India’s go-to one-stop solution for all legal, tax, and regulatory needs and eventually expanding to other emerging markets with similar challenges.
CONCLUSION
“I believe that when we make legal and compliance simple, we don’t just help businesses — we help dreams take off without fear. That’s what keeps me going every single day.”
(Source: Hrishikesh Datar, company blog interview, 2024)
Hrishikesh Datar’s journey with Zolvit is a powerful reminder that innovation often lies in solving everyday problems that others ignore. From a young law graduate bootstrapping a small legal service to building India’s leading legal-tech platform, his path has been defined by resilience, customer-centricity, and a mission to democratize access to professional services. Zolvit’s evolution reflects his unwavering belief in technology as a force for good. For aspiring founders, Hrishikesh’s story embodies the truth that bold ideas, executed with integrity and grit, can transform industries and uplift countless lives.
