Sandeep Aggarwal’s story is an inspiring story. He founded Droom in April 2014 in Gurugram, India, as a data-driven, AI-powered online marketplace for new and used vehicles. As of 2025, Droom has achieved unicorn status with a valuation of approximately $1.2 billion, over 350,000 dealers, and presence in more than 1,100 cities across India and Southeast Asia. The platform tackles India’s trust deficit in vehicle transactions by offering pricing tools, vehicle inspections, history reports, and integrated services such as financing, insurance, and doorstep delivery—creating a seamless, digital-first automobile marketplace.
Basic Details
| Origin Country | India |
| Legal Name | Droom Technology Private Limited |
| Brand | Droom |
| Founder | Sandeep Aggarwal |
| CEO | Sandeep Aggarwal |
| Industry | E-Commerce |
| Website | www.droom.in |
| Year of Founding | 2014 |
| Valuation | ~$1.2 Billion (2021 estimate) |
| Employees | 139+ |
| Headquarters | Gurugram, Haryana, India |
| Status | Active |
FOUNDER OVERVIEW – SANDEEP AGGARWAL
➤ Net Worth (2025)
As of 2025, Sandeep Aggarwal’s estimated net worth is between $120–150 million, stemming from his equity in Droom and his earlier exit from ShopClues. His stake in Droom continues to be significant as the company gears up for IPO.
➤ Ownership in Company
Sandeep remains the largest individual shareholder and continues as CEO of Droom, actively leading its growth, tech roadmap, and public listing strategy. He’s the central figure in investor relations, product innovation, and vision-setting.
➤ Ventures Founded
- ShopClues (2011): Co-founded and served as founding CEO before stepping down
- Droom (2014): His flagship auto-tech venture, now a unicorn with IPO ambitions
- His career spans e-commerce, auto-tech, and now advisory roles in AI-powered platforms
➤ Investments
Sandeep has made select angel investments in tech, logistics, and fintech startups. He also mentors Indian entrepreneurs and frequently appears at startup forums and pitch platforms.
➤ Recognition & Awards
- Forbes India Tycoons of Tomorrow
- ET Startup Awards – Serial Entrepreneur Recognition
- Featured in Business Today Top 50 Entrepreneurs
- Keynote speaker at TiE Global, TechSparks, NASSCOM Summit, and auto-tech conferences
PERSONAL STORY: SANDEEP AGGARWAL
Sandeep Aggarwal grew up in India with middle-class roots and a passion for markets, technology, and consumer behavior. After completing his MBA from the University of Washington, he spent over a decade in the U.S. as a Wall Street analyst with firms like Microsoft and Schwab. His exposure to global tech trends gave him unique insight into how digital platforms were transforming retail and commerce.
Returning to India, Sandeep co-founded ShopClues in 2011, one of the earliest horizontal marketplaces targeting price-conscious consumers in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities. The platform achieved unicorn status, but Sandeep’s tenure ended abruptly due to a legal issue in the U.S., which led to his stepping down from ShopClues.
Rather than retreating, Sandeep made a bold comeback. In 2014, he founded Droom, betting on India’s fragmented, opaque used-vehicle market. His personal experience buying a second-hand car—full of hidden costs, low trust, and no transparency—inspired the model. He envisioned Droom as a full-stack, digital-first marketplace that would bring structure, pricing intelligence, and quality control to the used automobile space.
Despite the stigma of his past legal battle and skepticism from investors, Sandeep persisted. He built Droom from scratch, focusing on product-led growth and tech-driven credibility. Tools like Orange Book Value (OBV) and ECO inspection reports became industry benchmarks, while Droom grew steadily across 1,100+ cities.
Sandeep is known for his resilience, vision, and radical honesty. His story is one of professional redemption and bold reinvention. He doesn’t shy away from his setbacks—instead, he uses them to mentor others, especially second-time entrepreneurs. Droom, in many ways, is not just his company—it’s his comeback. And in the Indian startup world, few have staged one as gutsy and successful.
FOUNDING STORY: DROOM
Inspiration Behind the Idea
The idea for Droom was born from a frustrating experience Sandeep Aggarwal had when buying a used car in India. The lack of standard pricing, absence of quality verification, and buyer-seller mistrust highlighted a massive gap in India’s vehicle market. He realized that while most commerce categories were moving online, the used vehicle space remained unorganized and offline-heavy—ripe for tech disruption.
Founding Team
Sandeep founded Droom solo in 2014 after stepping away from ShopClues. Initially bootstrapped, he hired a lean tech team in Gurugram and started developing the marketplace infrastructure, including tools for pricing, verification, and documentation.
Starting Capital
Droom was self-funded in the early stages, with Sandeep investing his personal funds. He later raised institutional rounds from investors like Lightbox Ventures, Beenos, Toyota Tsusho, and Digital Garage, amassing over $330 million in funding over time.
Early Challenges
Unlike fashion or electronics, vehicles involve high ticket sizes and deep buyer hesitation. Sellers were reluctant to digitize listings, buyers feared fraud, and no platform had cracked trust at scale. Sandeep tackled this by introducing proprietary tools:
- OBV (Orange Book Value): India’s first algorithmic vehicle pricing engine
- ECO Inspection: 1,000+ point vehicle health check with certification
- History Reports: Verification of ownership, insurance, service records, etc.
Building these systems from scratch required data science, partnerships with garages, and seller education. Skepticism from investors (due to his ShopClues exit) added further pressure.
Breakthrough
Droom’s turning point came when OBV became widely adopted—not just by buyers and sellers, but also by banks, insurers, and lenders to benchmark resale pricing. This gave Droom brand credibility and positioned it as a data authority.
Its B2C and B2B platforms scaled rapidly, with thousands of dealers coming on board. By 2020, Droom had listings for cars, bikes, scooters, EVs, and commercial vehicles across 1,100+ cities. Integrated services like insurance, loans, and doorstep delivery transformed it into a full-stack ecosystem.
In 2021, Droom reached unicorn status and began prepping for a public listing, with IPO plans set for 2025.
Today, Droom is not just a vehicle marketplace—it’s India’s most comprehensive digital platform for everything on wheels, built by a founder who rebuilt himself alongside it.
COMPANY PROFILE: DROOM
Droom is India’s largest and most advanced AI-powered online automobile marketplace. Founded in 2014, it offers a trusted, end-to-end platform for buying, selling, financing, insuring, and delivering new and used vehicles. With a proprietary tech stack, real-time pricing, and certification tools, Droom simplifies every step of the auto buying journey—targeting individual buyers, dealers, and B2B clients alike.
Area Served
- Presence in over 1,100 Indian cities, spanning metros to Tier-3 towns
- Expanding footprints in Southeast Asia and the Middle East
- Serves consumers, independent dealers, institutional buyers, and exporters
Vision & Mission
Vision: To be the most trusted and transparent digital ecosystem for vehicles globally.
Mission: To transform automobile transactions through technology, pricing intelligence, and seamless logistics—empowering buyers and sellers alike.
Services / Products Offered
Online Vehicle Marketplace
- Listings for new and used cars, bikes, scooters, electric vehicles (EVs), and commercial vehicles
- Categories: C2C, B2C, B2B transactions
Digital Services & Tools
- OBV (Orange Book Value): India’s first AI-driven pricing engine
- ECO Inspection Reports: 1,000-point vehicle health check with technician validation
- Vehicle History Reports: Ownership, insurance, accidents, service record
Transaction & Delivery Services
- Loan pre-approvals and financing tools
- Vehicle insurance comparison and bundling
- Doorstep delivery and documentation handling (RC transfer, insurance, etc.)
B2B & Dealer Network
- Over 350,000+ auto dealers
- Droom Enterprise Suite for large fleet buyers, leasing agencies, and auto OEMs
Mobility-as-a-Service
- White-labeled platforms for institutional clients and logistics companies
- Tools for inventory management, pricing engines, and vehicle certification APIs
Business Model
Droom earns revenue through a mix of:
- Listing Fees for premium sellers and commercial users
- Transaction Commissions on successful vehicle deals
- Value-Added Services: Insurance, loans, inspection, delivery
- OBV & ECO Licensing to lenders, insurers, and OEMs
- Ad-Based Monetization: Featured listings, dealer promotions
Revenue Model
- Droom operates a multi-channel, service-layered revenue model, leveraging its unique tech platform, large dealer network, and AI-based tools. The company earns revenue from the following key streams:
1. Transaction Commissions
Droom charges a commission or service fee on every successful transaction—whether it’s a new or used vehicle sale. The fees vary based on:
Vehicle type (car, bike, EV, commercial)
Buyer-seller segment (B2C, B2B, or C2C)
This forms the core revenue stream, especially from high-value B2B fleet deals and certified sellers.
2. Value-Added Services (VAS)
Droom offers bundled services that significantly enhance revenue per transaction:
ECO Inspections: 1,000+ point certified vehicle inspections
Vehicle History Reports: Ownership, accident, and insurance verification
RC Transfer & Documentation: Paperwork handling for ownership transfer
Doorstep Delivery: Logistics, RTO formalities, and delivery experience
These services are charged either à la carte or bundled into buyer/seller packages.
3. OBV & Tech Licensing
Droom’s OBV (Orange Book Value) is India’s first and most trusted vehicle pricing engine. It earns through:
API Access Fees for third parties (banks, NBFCs, insurers, and OEMs)
SaaS-based subscriptions for dealers and valuation companies
OBV powers resale pricing across thousands of apps, earning non-transactional recurring revenue
4. Insurance & Financing Partnerships
Droom integrates loan and insurance providers into its checkout journey. It earns:
Referral commissions from NBFCs and insurers on every loan or policy sold
Bundled value-adds in dealer packages, improving attach rate and ARPU
Pre-approved loan tools drive higher conversions, especially for buyers in Tier 2/3 cities
5. Subscription & Dealer Services
Droom offers tiered subscription plans to high-volume auto dealers that include:
Premium listing placement
Lead generation and CRM tools
White-labeled vehicle pages
Brand visibility in campaigns and curated search
6. Featured Listings & Advertising
Similar to classified platforms, Droom monetizes dealer visibility:
Paid featured ads for listings and banners
Brand sponsorships for OEMs, accessories, and service brands
This monetization is particularly strong in festival sales, auto expos, and retail tie-ins.
7. Enterprise SaaS & B2B Tools
For large institutional partners (fleets, leasing, logistics), Droom licenses:
Inventory management systems
Inspection engines (ECO)
Pricing algorithms (OBV)
Logistics APIs and order tracking dashboards
Market Landscape & Competitors
Droom competes with CarDekho, OLX Autos, Spinny, and Cars24. Its biggest differentiator is its tech-first model and deep data tools (OBV, ECO). While others operate as listing or transaction intermediaries, Droom offers a full-stack, ownership-to-exit solution.
USP (Unique Selling Proposition)
- AI-based pricing and certification
- Full-stack auto commerce—from listing to delivery
- Strong focus on B2B and institutional scale
- Proprietary tools (OBV, ECO, History) unmatched in the market
- Seamless buyer and seller UX powered by automation
Growth Highlights
- Unicorn valuation in 2021
- Over 1.5 million vehicles listed
- 350,000+ dealers onboarded
- 80% of revenue now from non-vehicle sales (services, tools, B2B)
- Expected IPO in FY25, positioning Droom among top global auto-tech firms
Funding & Investment History
- Raised over $330 million from investors including Lightbox, Toyota Tsusho, Beenos, Digital Garage, and others. Funding has been used to build infrastructure, expand city presence, and deepen AI capabilities.
Awards & Recognition (Company)
- NASSCOM Disruptive Tech Award (2022)
- AutoTech Startup of the Year by ET Auto (2021)
- Featured in CB Insights Global 250 Auto Innovators
- OBV adopted by major banks, insurers, and NBFCs as industry benchmark
Team Size & Culture
Droom has approximately 139–200 employees, emphasizing lean ops, engineering-first decision-making, and product ownership. The culture values grit, long-term vision, and agility over bloated scale.
Future Plans
- Launch of Droom Credit for embedded auto loans
- Expansion into Middle East and Southeast Asia
- IPO expected in FY25 with international listing ambitions
- OBV integration with third-party ERPs, CRM, and dealer systems
- Launch of vertical-specific platforms: Droom EV, Droom Luxe
CONCLUSION
“Trust and transparency don’t come from technology alone. They come from rethinking how a nation buys its wheels. That’s what Droom was built for.”
—Sandeep Aggarwal, AutoTech Summit (2023)
Sandeep Aggarwal’s journey with Droom is a story of redemption, resilience, and radical disruption. After an abrupt exit from ShopClues, he didn’t step back—he stepped forward with a bolder vision: to digitize India’s chaotic automobile market. With Droom, he created not just a marketplace, but an ecosystem—pricing, inspection, delivery, financing—all stitched with trust and data. Sandeep turned past adversity into product precision, making Droom a unicorn and a category leader. His story proves that even second acts in entrepreneurship can be revolutionary, and that trust, when engineered well, can power not just a startup—but an entire sector.
