Peyush Bansal’s story is an inspiring story. Lenskart, founded in November 2010 in Delhi, India, has grown into India’s largest eyewear brand and is valued at over USD 5 billion as of 2025. Serving more than 20 million active customers annually, Lenskart tackles the critical problem of limited access to affordable, high-quality eyewear in India and beyond. Through a unique blend of technology-driven retail stores, home eye check-ups, and a strong online presence, the company provides convenient, accessible, and stylish eyewear solutions for millions, reshaping how people experience vision care.
Basic Details
| Origin Country | India |
| Legal Name | Lenskart Solutions Private Limited |
| Brand | Lenskart |
| Founder | Peyush Bansal |
| Co-Founder | Amit Chaudhary, Sumeet Kapahi |
| CEO | Peyush Bansal |
| Industry | E-commerce |
| Website | www.chaipoint.com |
| Year of Founding | November 2010 |
| Valuation | USD 5 billion (2025) |
| Employees | 6,000+ |
| Headquarters | Delhi, India |
| Status | Active |
FOUNDER OVERVIEW – PEYUSH BANSAL
➤ Net Worth (2025)
Peyush Bansal’s estimated net worth in 2025 is around USD 650 million. This wealth primarily stems from his significant stake in Lenskart, India’s largest eyewear retailer, combined with his salary as CEO and returns from his various investments and ventures.
➤ Ownership in Company
As of 2025, Peyush Bansal is believed to own approximately 8–10% of Lenskart. He draws a market-aligned salary, emphasizing sustainable growth and reinvestment over extravagant spending. Bansal is known for his frugal and purpose-driven financial philosophy, often reinvesting profits back into the company’s expansion and technology.
➤ Ventures Founded
Before Lenskart, Bansal founded Flyrr.com in 2007, an online retailer for eyewear targeting the US market. He also ran SearchMyCampus.com, a classified portal helping college students find jobs, accommodation, and internships in India — highlighting his early passion for solving practical problems through tech-driven solutions.
➤ Investments
As a renowned investor and Shark Tank India judge, Bansal has invested in numerous Indian startups across sectors like edtech, healthtech, and consumer goods. Some known investments include Feedo, DailyObjects, and Aks Clothings, where he supports founders with both capital and mentorship, focusing on scalable, problem-solving ventures.
➤ Recognition & Awards
- Young Entrepreneur Award, 2013 — Presented by Businessworld
- Fortune India ‘40 Under 40’, Multiple Years — Recognized among India’s top young business leaders
- Shark Tank India, Judge — Gained national recognition as a prominent investor and mentor for startups in India
PERSONAL STORY: PEYUSH BANSAL
Peyush Bansal was born in 1985 in Delhi, India, into a middle-class family rooted in traditional Indian values. Raised in a household where education and hard work were emphasized, Peyush’s early life was shaped by his parents’ dedication and the practical mindset they instilled in him. Growing up, he was always curious about how things worked, showing an early interest in technology and problem-solving.
Before venturing into entrepreneurship, Peyush pursued an engineering degree from McGill University in Canada, a journey that expanded his worldview and exposed him to global business ideas. After graduation, he briefly worked as a Program Manager at Microsoft in the USA, an experience that gave him a glimpse of corporate life and sparked his desire to build something impactful back home in India.
His educational path, which includes a management program at IIM Bangalore, equipped him with both technical and managerial skills. But it was the blend of Western exposure and Indian roots that shaped his entrepreneurial vision — a vision focused on solving everyday problems for the common person.
Peyush faced personal struggles too. Leaving a stable job at Microsoft and moving back to India without a clear roadmap was a leap of faith. Early startup failures and the uncertainty of self-employment tested his resilience. Financial pressures, societal skepticism, and long working hours were daily battles, but his belief in technology as a tool for democratizing services kept him grounded.
Over the years, these hardships forged his grit and empathy — qualities that define his leadership today. He remains humble despite fame, staying connected with his team and customers. Peyush credits his growth to staying close to real-world problems, valuing people over profit, and constantly learning from both successes and failures. This human side of his journey inspires aspiring founders to embrace challenges, trust their instincts, and build businesses that truly matter.
FOUNDING STORY: LENSKART
Inspiration Behind the Idea
The spark for Lenskart came from Peyush Bansal’s simple but powerful observation: in India, millions of people suffered from poor vision but lacked access to affordable, quality eyewear. After his stint at Microsoft and early entrepreneurial experiments, Peyush returned to India determined to solve this everyday problem. In 2010, in Delhi, he founded Lenskart with a mission to make vision correction accessible, stylish, and affordable for everyone, regardless of location or income.
Founding Team
In its early days, Lenskart was largely bootstrapped with personal savings and small contributions from friends and family. Peyush invested his own funds, risking his financial stability to chase the vision. There were no plush offices or fancy perks — the founders worked out of modest spaces, wearing multiple hats and prioritizing every rupee for product development and customer satisfaction.
Capital
In its early days, Lenskart was largely bootstrapped with personal savings and small contributions from friends and family. Peyush invested his own funds, risking his financial stability to chase the vision. There were no plush offices or fancy perks — the founders worked out of modest spaces, wearing multiple hats and prioritizing every rupee for product development and customer satisfaction.
Challenges
Building trust in a market where people were used to buying glasses only through local opticians was a huge hurdle. Convincing customers to buy eyewear online was almost unheard of at the time. Logistics, quality control, and scaling the supply chain were daily battles. Peyush and his co-founders often faced skepticism from investors who doubted if India was ready for an online eyewear revolution. Despite these barriers, they focused relentlessly on customer service — offering free home eye tests and generous return policies to win trust, one pair of glasses at a time.
Breakthrough
Lenskart’s turning point came when its online model gained traction among urban youth, who loved the convenience and affordability. The launch of physical retail stores combined with an omnichannel approach became a masterstroke — blending the trust of touch-and-feel retail with the scale of online shopping. Early investment from IDG Ventures (now Chiratae Ventures) provided the fuel for expansion. The first wave of customer loyalty and word-of-mouth referrals validated Peyush’s belief that India desperately needed an eyewear revolution.
COMPANY PROFILE: LENSKART
Lenskart is India’s largest D2C eyewear brand, founded to revolutionize the way people buy eyeglasses and contact lenses. It combines online convenience with offline trust, offering affordable, stylish eyewear and eye-care services for millions.
Area Served
Primarily India, with expanding presence in Southeast Asia and the Middle East, including physical stores in Singapore and the UAE.
Vision & Mission
Vision: To provide vision correction to a billion eyes worldwide.
Mission: To make eyewear affordable, accessible, and fashionable through innovative retail and technology solutions.
Services / Products Offered
- Prescription eyeglasses and sunglasses
- Contact lenses
- Home eye check-ups
- 3D try-on and virtual fitting tools
- In-house robotic lens manufacturing
Business Model
Lenskart operates on an omnichannel model: a seamless blend of online retail, mobile app, and over 2,000 physical stores. This ensures customers can buy, try, and adjust their eyewear both digitally and in-person.
Revenue Model (Detailed)
Lenskart’s revenue model is a well-balanced mix of direct product sales, premium add-ons, and value-added services:
International Operations:
Sales from overseas stores in markets like Singapore, UAE, and upcoming expansions add a growing share to total revenue, diversifying income beyond India.
Direct Sales:
The primary source of revenue is selling prescription eyeglasses, sunglasses, and contact lenses through its online store, mobile app, and network of physical retail stores.
Premium Lenses & Add-Ons:
Customers can choose higher-priced lens options, such as anti-glare, blue-light blocking, photochromatic, and progressive lenses, which significantly increase average order value.
Eye-Check Services:
Lenskart offers free and paid home eye-test services and in-store eye check-ups. While some tests are complimentary to attract customers, advanced diagnostic services generate additional income.
Accessories & Care Products:
The company sells branded accessories like lens cleaning kits, spectacle cases, and protective covers, adding small but steady incremental revenue.
Subscription Plans:
Lenskart offers loyalty and subscription models like ‘Lenskart Gold’ — giving customers discounts, priority services, and benefits on multiple purchases throughout the year. This ensures repeat business and higher customer lifetime value.
Private Label Manufacturing:
By designing and manufacturing its own frames and lenses, Lenskart maintains healthy profit margins while keeping prices lower than traditional opticians. Its robotic lens labs help scale production cost-effectively.
International Operations:
Sales from overseas stores in markets like Singapore, UAE, and upcoming expansions add a growing share to total revenue, diversifying income beyond India.
Market Landscape & Competitors
Lenskart leads India’s eyewear retail segment, competing with Titan Eyeplus, GKB Opticals, and other local players. Its tech-driven customer experience and aggressive expansion distinguish it from traditional opticians.
USP (Unique Selling Proposition)
- Free home eye tests
- 3D try-on and AI-powered recommendations
- High-quality lenses manufactured with robotic precision
- Affordable prices with lifetime service guarantees
Growth Highlights
- Over 20 million customers served
- Presence in 200+ Indian cities and multiple global markets
- Secured investments from SoftBank, Temasek, and KKR
- Opened flagship stores in Singapore and Dubai
Funding & Investment History
Lenskart has raised over USD 1 billion across multiple rounds from marquee investors including SoftBank Vision Fund, Temasek Holdings, KKR, and PremjiInvest, fueling rapid expansion and technology upgrades.
Awards & Recognition
- India Retail Award for ‘Most Innovative Retailer’
- ET Startup Award for ‘Startup of the Year’ finalist
- Recognized in various ‘Top Retail Brands’ lists
Team Size & Culture
Over 6,000 employees as of 2025, with a culture rooted in innovation, customer-first mindset, and continuous learning. Lenskart promotes a flat hierarchy, empowering teams to experiment and solve customer pain points creatively.
Future Plans
The company aims to strengthen its presence in global markets, invest further in AI and smart eyewear, and expand its offline footprint to 5,000 stores by 2030, while staying true to its mission of affordable vision for all.
CONCLUSION
“If you solve a real problem for real people, growth becomes inevitable.” — Peyush Bansal, in an interview with YourStory
Peyush Bansal’s journey proves that solving a real problem with honesty and innovation creates lasting impact. From a modest family in Delhi to building Lenskart into India’s largest eyewear brand, he showed that courage, customer focus, and technology can transform lives. Lenskart’s growth from a small online venture to a global vision care leader inspires aspiring entrepreneurs to trust their ideas, embrace challenges, and keep people at the heart of business. Bansal’s story reminds us that success is not just about profits but about improving lives — one clear vision at a time.
