In a world where professional development and networking are rapidly evolving, Shashank Murali emerged as a key figure reshaping how India’s young professionals learn, grow, and earn. As the co-founder of TapChief, Murali’s entrepreneurial journey reflects a deep understanding of career empowerment, digital connectivity, and the gig economy. His ability to blend technology with real-world impact has positioned him among India’s rising tech visionaries.

From BITS Pilani to Startup Success

Murali’s journey began at BITS Pilani, one of India’s premier institutions, where he cultivated a passion for problem-solving, business, and technology. It was during his undergraduate years that his interest in startups blossomed, fueled by an ecosystem that encouraged innovation and disruption.

Identifying the lack of access to expert mentorship, career opportunities, and a structured platform for freelancers, Murali and his co-founders envisioned a product that would solve a major gap in India’s evolving job market.

The Genesis of TapChief

In 2016, Shashank Murali co-founded TapChief, a platform designed to help professionals connect with industry leaders, find freelance work, and build meaningful networks. Unlike traditional job boards, TapChief offered a curated ecosystem of experts, enabling both one-on-one consultations and collaborative gigs.

The startup’s core features included:

• Expert Consultations: Professionals could book short sessions with mentors and leaders across industries.
• Freelance Market Access: Individuals could monetize their niche skills and gain independent project work.
• Skill-Building Resources: The platform offered courses and content aimed at continuous upskilling.

This hybrid approach—combining freelancing, mentorship, and learning—set TapChief apart in the crowded professional networking and ed-tech space.

Rapid Growth and Market Validation

TapChief quickly resonated with India’s growing community of millennial freelancers, side-hustlers, and early-career professionals. The startup tapped into the aspirations of a digital-first generation seeking flexibility, autonomy, and access to better opportunities.

By 2021, TapChief had:

• Over 150,000 registered professionals using the platform.
• Built partnerships with corporates, startups, and academic institutions.
• Facilitated thousands of paid gigs, contributing to the rise of India’s formal gig economy.

Acquisition by Unacademy

TapChief’s success did not go unnoticed. In February 2021, Unacademy, one of India’s largest online education platforms, acquired TapChief, integrating its offerings into Unacademy’s expanding portfolio of career and upskilling products.

The acquisition was strategic:

• It allowed Unacademy to diversify beyond test prep, offering career readiness tools.
• TapChief’s focus on freelance monetization and mentorship aligned with Unacademy’s mission of lifelong learning.
• The merger helped TapChief scale faster, reaching a wider audience of learners and working professionals.

This deal was a landmark moment in Indian ed-tech, showcasing how platforms rooted in career development were becoming as critical as those in academic tutoring.

Impact on India’s Gig Economy

Under Shashank Murali’s leadership, TapChief played a crucial role in promoting:

• Monetization of skills: Helping professionals generate income without full-time employment.
• Access to industry experts: Creating a mentorship culture across tech, marketing, finance, and more.
• Flexible learning paths: Empowering users to upskill and apply knowledge simultaneously.

In an increasingly project-based economy, TapChief offered a blueprint for how startups could unlock productivity and income generation outside the traditional corporate mold.

Challenges and Resilience

Like most startups, TapChief faced its share of challenges:

• Building trust in a fragmented freelance economy.
• Competing with larger platforms like LinkedIn, Upwork, and traditional staffing services.
• Scaling personalized services while maintaining quality.

Murali’s resilience and strategic vision helped the company evolve from a mentorship platform to a full-fledged professional empowerment ecosystem, eventually leading to a successful acquisition.

Future Outlook and Entrepreneurial Legacy

Though Shashank Murali’s post-TapChief plans remain under wraps, his influence on India’s startup and ed-tech ecosystem is well established. His work has:

• Inspired student entrepreneurs to pursue meaningful, tech-driven ideas.
• Created a scalable model for skill monetization in emerging markets.
• Highlighted the importance of mentorship, collaboration, and upskilling in modern careers.

As India’s digital workforce grows, Murali’s early bets on freelance-first platforms and career tools have set the tone for what future-ready professional ecosystems could look like.

Conclusion

Shashank Murali’s entrepreneurial journey is a masterclass in identifying gaps, building scalable tech solutions, and aligning vision with impact. From a college startup to a major acquisition by Unacademy, TapChief’s story reflects how purpose-driven innovation can reshape how professionals learn, grow, and earn.

As India charts its path in the global digital economy, Murali’s legacy will be remembered for championing career independence, tech-driven mentorship, and the gig economy’s next evolution.