Faced harsh financial struggles, sold two companies…, now the CEO of one of India’s leading companies, he is…, his business is…

Deepak Sahni, a self-made entrepreneur from Delhi, is the founder of Healthians, one of India’s leading health check-up companies. His path to success was full of challenges. There was a time when financial problems forced him to leave college and take up a job. But Deepak didn’t let tough times break his spirit. He kept going, completed his education, and followed his dream of doing something meaningful in the healthcare space.

In 2015, he started Healthians, with the aim of making health check-ups simple and accessible for everyone. Today, the company is doing business worth crores and operates across more than 100 cities in India. Healthians has a strong team of over 3,200 people, including doctors and health advisors. The company runs several government-approved labs, with its largest lab located in Gurugram.

What makes his journey even more inspiring is that cricketer Yuvraj Singh believed in his vision and invested in his company.

Challenges faced by Deepak Sahni at a young age

Deepak grew up in Delhi. His father ran a business in hospitality and textile exports. But when Deepak was in Class 11, the business suffered huge losses, and the family’s financial condition worsened.

At just 19 years old, Deepak took a bold step. He borrowed Rs. 2 lakh from a relative and opened a computer hardware and repair shop. He had to stop regular college and completed his BCA degree through correspondence.

He worked hard to learn everything about computers. In the beginning, he even went out to distribute pamphlets to get customers. In just two years, he sold 120 computers and earned Rs. 10–12 lakh.

However, by 2003, big brands entered the market, and it became harder to compete. But Deepak didn’t stop here as he kept moving forward, and that is how his journey to success began.

Deepak Sahni’s journey into medical tourism and building Healthians

After gaining some experience in computer hardware, Deepak Sahni took a new step in 2004. He borrowed Rs. 3 lakh and started a software development company called SWT Services. His company mainly built websites and software for small businesses.

In 2006, a meeting with two doctors from Apollo Hospitals changed his path. Deepak started building websites focused on knee replacement and bariatric (weight-loss) surgeries. These websites helped attract international patients looking for affordable treatment in India.

The business was doing well, but by 2013, Deepak had a realization. He felt that helping people only after they became sick, and seeing them sell off property for treatment was not what he wanted. He called it a “negative business.”

In 2014, he sold both his companies for around Rs. 5 crore.

Starting a health check-up company

With encouragement from his wife, Deepak started a new diagnostic and health check-up company in late 2014. He saw great potential in preventive health care focusing on staying healthy rather than just treating illness.

In 2015, he renamed the company Healthians (registered as Expedient Healthcare Marketing Private Limited). The mission was simple: help people stay healthy by encouraging regular health check-ups and better lifestyle choices.

Now a multi-crore business

Starting Healthians was not easy. Deepak faced many funding rejections which is 12 in total. But things changed in 2015 when cricketer Yuvraj Singh, through his YouWeCan Foundation, invested Rs. 1 crore in the company. That trust and support became a turning point for Healthians.

Today, Healthians operates in over 100 cities across India, offering more than 1,600 health tests. By 2018–19, the company had already crossed the Rs. 100 crore revenue mark.

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