Pearl Kapur launched the start-up in May 2023 and it attained unicorn status in only three months. Photo: Pearl Kapur
Pearl Kapur launched the start-up in May 2023 and it attained unicorn status in only three months. Photo: Pearl Kapur
Pearl Kapur launched the start-up in May 2023 and it attained unicorn status in only three months. Photo: Pearl Kapur
Pearl Kapur launched the start-up in May 2023 and it attained unicorn status in only three months. Photo: Pearl Kapur

Who is Pearl Kapur, India's youngest billionaire with $1.2 billion fortune?


Deepthi Nair
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Pearl Kapur, co-founder and chief executive of Web3 cybersecurity start-up Zyber 365, has been named India's youngest billionaire with a net worth of $1.2 billion.

Mr Kapur, 27, leapfrogged Nikhil Kamath, the 37-year-old co-founder of discount brokerage Zerodha, who has a personal fortune of $1.1 billion, according to Indian newspaper The Economic Times.

Mr Kapur attributes his wealth to his 90 per cent stake in Zyber 365, which attained unicorn status in only three months.

Mukesh Ambani, chairman of Reliance Industries, continues to be India’s wealthiest person and the 11th richest globally, with a net worth of $108 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

Top 10 richest people in the world in 2023 – in pictures

  • Bernard Arnault, head of luxury group LVMH, is currently the world's richest person with $223.4 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. AFP
    Bernard Arnault, head of luxury group LVMH, is currently the world's richest person with $223.4 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. AFP
  • Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is the second-richest person in the world with a net worth of $207.3 billion. AFP
    Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is the second-richest person in the world with a net worth of $207.3 billion. AFP
  • Meta founder and chief executive Mark Zuckerberg is now the third-richest person in the world with a net worth of $186.9 billion. AFP
    Meta founder and chief executive Mark Zuckerberg is now the third-richest person in the world with a net worth of $186.9 billion. AFP
  • Elon Musk has dropped back to fourth place on the Bloomberg Billionaire's Index with a personal fortune of $180.6 billion. Reuters
    Elon Musk has dropped back to fourth place on the Bloomberg Billionaire's Index with a personal fortune of $180.6 billion. Reuters
  • Fifth is Microsoft founder and philanthropist Bill Gates, with a personal fortune of $153 billion. AFP
    Fifth is Microsoft founder and philanthropist Bill Gates, with a personal fortune of $153 billion. AFP
  • Sixth place goes to Steve Balmer, former chief executive of Microsoft and owner of the Los Angeles Clippers basketball team, with a net worth of $147 billion. AP
    Sixth place goes to Steve Balmer, former chief executive of Microsoft and owner of the Los Angeles Clippers basketball team, with a net worth of $147 billion. AP
  • Berkshire Hathaway chairman and chief executive Warren Buffett is the world's seventh-richest person with a net worth of $138 billion. AP
    Berkshire Hathaway chairman and chief executive Warren Buffett is the world's seventh-richest person with a net worth of $138 billion. AP
  • Taking eighth spot is Google co-founder Larry Page, with a net worth of $138 billion. AP
    Taking eighth spot is Google co-founder Larry Page, with a net worth of $138 billion. AP
  • Next up is Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, who is worth $137 billion. AFP
    Next up is Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, who is worth $137 billion. AFP
  • Google co-founder Sergey Brin is the 10th-richest person in the world with a net worth of $131 billion. Image Press Agency
    Google co-founder Sergey Brin is the 10th-richest person in the world with a net worth of $131 billion. Image Press Agency

Billionaire tycoon Gautam Adani is the second-richest Indian and ranks 13th globally with a personal fortune of $99.1 billion, the index showed.

Shapoor Mistry, a billionaire businessman who controls engineering and construction group Shapoorji Pallonji Group, and Shiv Nadar, founder and chairman of IT company HCL Technologies, are the third and fourth richest Indians with fortunes of $38.4 billion and $37.4 billion, respectively, according to Bloomberg.

Mr Kapur launched Zyber 365 in May 2023. The company is based in London and runs operations from Ahmedabad, in the western Indian state of Gujarat, The Economic Times reported.

It offers a decentralised and cyber-secure operating system, which adheres to the principles of environmental sustainability, the report said.

UK-based agricultural company Sram & Mram Group acquired an 8.3 per cent stake in the start-up for $100 million during a Series A funding round last July. It is currently valued at $1.2 billion.

The funding made Zyber 365 “India's and Asia's fastest unicorn in just three months, and the 109th unicorn in India's vibrant start-up ecosystem”, the company said at the time.

Mr Kapur is a graduate of the Queen Mary University of London and has a master of science degree in investment banking, The Economic Times said.

He previously worked as a financial adviser at convenience store chain AMPM Store and as a business adviser for blockchain consulting company Antier Solutions, according to his LinkedIn profile.

In February 2022, Mr Kapur also founded Billion Pay Technologies, which developed tech-smart exam management systems.

Meanwhile, Mr Kamath, the second-youngest person on India's rich list, achieved billionaire status in 2021 when Zerodha’s valuation exceeded $1 billion, online wealth management platform Kuvera said.

Third on the list of the youngest Indian billionaires by age is Binny Bansal, 40, co-founder of e-commerce company Flipkart, with a net worth of $1.4 billion.

In 2018, US retail giant Walmart acquired a 77 per cent stake in Flipkart for $16 billion.

Next on the list is Sachin Bansal, 42, co-founder of Flipkart with a net worth of $1.3 billion.

Nithin Kamath, 44, co-founder of Zerodha, rounds out the list of top five youngest Indian billionaires. He has a net worth of $2.7 billion, according to Kuvera.

Others on the list include Paytm founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma; Shamsheer Vayalil, founder and chairman of Burjeel Holding; Ravi Modi, founder of ethnic wear brand Manyavar; hedge fund manager Karthik Sarma; and Ranjan Pai, chairman of education and healthcare conglomerate Manipal Group, Kuvera reported.

Top 10 youngest Indian billionaires (by age)

  1. Pearl Kapur, 27: $1.2 billion
  2. Nikhil Kamath, 37: 1.1 billion
  3. Binny Bansal, 40: $1.4 billion
  4. Sachin Bansal, 42: $1.3 billion
  5. Nithin Kamath, 44: $2.7 billion
  6. Vijay Shekhar Sharma, 45: $1 billion
  7. Shamsheer Vayalil, 46: $3.6 billion
  8. Ravi Modi, 46: $3.3 billion
  9. Karthik Sarma, 48: $2.9 billion
  10. Ranjan Pai, 50: $2.8 billion

Source: Kuvera

Motori Profile

Date started: March 2020

Co-founder/CEO: Ahmed Eissa

Based: UAE, Abu Dhabi

Sector: Insurance Sector

Size: 50 full-time employees (Inside and Outside UAE)

Stage: Seed stage and seeking Series A round of financing 

Investors: Safe City Group

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Avatar: Fire and Ash

Director: James Cameron

Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana

Rating: 4.5/5

Our legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

In The Heights

Directed by: Jon M. Chu

Stars: Anthony Ramos, Lin-Manual Miranda

Rating: ****

WHEN TO GO:

September to November or March to May; this is when visitors are most likely to see what they’ve come for.

WHERE TO STAY:

Meghauli Serai, A Taj Safari - Chitwan National Park resort (tajhotels.com) is a one-hour drive from Bharatpur Airport with stays costing from Dh1,396 per night, including taxes and breakfast. Return airport transfers cost from Dh661.

HOW TO GET THERE:

Etihad Airways regularly flies from Abu Dhabi to Kathmandu from around Dh1,500 per person return, including taxes. Buddha Air (buddhaair.com) and Yeti Airlines (yetiairlines.com) fly from Kathmandu to Bharatpur several times a day from about Dh660 return and the flight takes just 20 minutes. Driving is possible but the roads are hilly which means it will take you five or six hours to travel 148 kilometres.

Labour dispute

The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.


- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law 

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What can victims do?

Always use only regulated platforms

Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion

Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)

Report to local authorities

Warn others to prevent further harm

Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence

Results

Stage seven

1. Tadej Pogacar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates, in 3:20:24

2. Adam Yates (GBR) Ineos Grenadiers, at 1s

3. Pello Bilbao (ESP) Bahrain-Victorious, at 5s

General Classification

1. Tadej Pogacar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates, in 25:38:16

2. Adam Yates (GBR) Ineos Grenadiers, at 22s

3. Pello Bilbao (ESP) Bahrain-Victorious, at 48s

How the bonus system works

The two riders are among several riders in the UAE to receive the top payment of £10,000 under the Thank You Fund of £16 million (Dh80m), which was announced in conjunction with Deliveroo's £8 billion (Dh40bn) stock market listing earlier this year.

The £10,000 (Dh50,000) payment is made to those riders who have completed the highest number of orders in each market.

There are also riders who will receive payments of £1,000 (Dh5,000) and £500 (Dh2,500).

All riders who have worked with Deliveroo for at least one year and completed 2,000 orders will receive £200 (Dh1,000), the company said when it announced the scheme.

The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl, 48V hybrid

Transmission: eight-speed automatic

Power: 325bhp

Torque: 450Nm

Price: Dh289,000

Our legal columnist

Name: Yousef Al Bahar

Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994

Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers

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Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026

1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years

If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.

2. E-invoicing in the UAE

Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption. 

3. More tax audits

Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks. 

4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime

Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.

5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit

There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.

6. Further transfer pricing enforcement

Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes. 

7. Limited time periods for audits

Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion. 

8. Pillar 2 implementation 

Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.

9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services

Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations. 

10. Substance and CbC reporting focus

Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity. 

Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer

THE CARD

2pm: Maiden Dh 60,000 (Dirt) 1,400m

2.30pm: Handicap Dh 76,000 (D) 1,400m

3pm: Handicap Dh 64,000 (D) 1,200m

3.30pm: Shadwell Farm Conditions Dh 100,000 (D) 1,000m

4pm: Maiden Dh 60,000 (D) 1,000m

4.30pm: Handicap 64,000 (D) 1,950m

Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
CONFIRMED%20LINE-UP
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Try out the test yourself

Q1 Suppose you had $100 in a savings account and the interest rate was 2 per cent per year. After five years, how much do you think you would have in the account if you left the money to grow?
a) More than $102
b) Exactly $102
c) Less than $102
d) Do not know
e) Refuse to answer

Q2 Imagine that the interest rate on your savings account was 1 per cent per year and inflation was 2 per cent per year. After one year, how much would you be able to buy with the money in this account?
a) More than today
b) Exactly the same as today
c) Less than today
d) Do not know
e) Refuse to answer

Q4 Do you think that the following statement is true or false? “Buying a single company stock usually provides a safer return than a stock mutual fund.”
a) True
b) False
d) Do not know
e) Refuse to answer

The “Big Three” financial literacy questions were created by Professors Annamaria Lusardi of the George Washington School of Business and Olivia Mitchell, of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. 

Answers: Q1 More than $102 (compound interest). Q2 Less than today (inflation). Q3 False (diversification).

The specs: 2019 Audi A7 Sportback

Price, base: Dh315,000

Engine: 3.0-litre V6

Transmission: Seven-speed automatic

Power: 335hp @ 5,000rpm

Torque: 500Nm @ 1,370rpm

Fuel economy 5.9L / 100km

Updated: February 09, 2024, 8:07 AM