Unicorn start-up Acko’s co-founder Varun Dua is a MICA alumnus. The insurtech start-up Acko joined the unicorn club in October 2021 with a $255 million fundraise in a Series D round led by General Atlantic and Multiples Private Equity. Speaking about the role MICA played in his entrepreneurial journey, Dua said: “The best thing about a place like MICA is the diversity of people and how it encourages healthy discussions among faculty members and peers. I was lucky to have many such discussions around music, sports, brands, and so much more with my batchmates. So MICA to me was and is a springboard.”

Acko, founded by Dua and Ruchi Deepak, is a digital platform for insurance products with over 70 million customers, clocking a run-rate of $150 million in premiums. Shailendra Raj Mehta, President and Director, MICA, said, “I congratulate the Acko team with the confidence that more alumni will emulate their success in the years ahead and bring laurels to their alma matter.”

Preeti Shroff, Dean, MICA, said, “Dua recently addressed the next generation of MICAns, and reminded them of the hard work, humility and persistence in launching and expanding Acko. He attributed the success of becoming a unicorn company to the strong team around him and emphasised the value of nurturing people. “