How Visually Impaired Entrepreneur Srikanth Bolla Built A Rs 150 Crore Company

Knowledge and talent are the two things that no one can ever take from a person. Though it may seem corny, young businessman Srikanth Bolla has shown this and set an example. He is the first blind student from outside the United States to attend the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

His narrative revolves around his tenacity and willpower, which enabled him to overcome obstacles brought on by his eyesight impairment. Now, the biopic Srikanth: Aa Raha Hai Sabki Aankhein Kholne, starring Rajkummar Rao, is scheduled to premiere on May 10.

Srikanth Bolla’s poor eyesight has presented him with several difficulties. He went on to co-found Bollant Industries Private Limited in Hyderabad and serve as its chairman and CEO. His remarkable professional accomplishments have brought him several honors and recognitions, including a spot on Forbes Asia’s “30 under 30” list. His life and achievements serve as an example for young people today.

Born into a farming-dependent family in Seetharampuram, Machilipatnam, Andhra Pradesh, Bolla was born blind. He was not allowed to choose the science stream after class 10, so he filed a petition in court. After six months, he won the case and was given permission to study science. With a 98% score, he was the best candidate for the 12th board test. Because of his disability, he was turned down for admission to coaching institutions despite his stellar performance. He was never able to realize his aim of passing the IIT-JEE and getting into the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) to study engineering. instead, he attended MIT, one of the most prominent educational institutions in the US, and was offered employment there; instead, he was searching India for novel ideas.

He built a Braille printing press at the Samanvai Center for Children with Multiple Disabilities, which he co-founded in 2011. In order to assist students in leading financially independent lives, the center also provided educational, vocational, financial, and rehabilitative services. The next year, with funding from Ratan Tata, he founded Bollant Industries, which produces areca-based goods and employs several hundred individuals with disabilities.

The firm makes environmentally friendly recycled Kraft paper from waste plastic and municipal trash, as well as packaged goods, disposable items manufactured from natural leaves, recycled paper, and waste plastic. In 2018, the company’s revenue was Rs 150 crore.