From Local Roots to the World: Leap Ahead Founder Divya Multani is Building India's Global Business Gateway

Leap Ahead, founded in April 2026 by Divya Multani, has set out to build a global gateway for Indian businesses by enabling cross-border market access, partnerships and investment. In under three months the Jodhpur-born entrepreneur's startup has secured strategic investment from prominent investors and industrialists within just one month of its launch and already participated in business delegations and strategic engagements across India, Hong Kong, Singapore, Russia, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, China and London. The platform targets startups, MSMEs, exporters and growth-stage companies seeking market-entry, M&A and investor connections beyond India’s metros.

Direct quote

"Coming from Jodhpur, I understood that ambition exists everywhere, but access doesn't. Leap Ahead is building a global platform that connects businesses with international markets, strategic partners, investors, and new opportunities--regardless of where their journey begins," said Divya Multani Jain, Founder, Leap Ahead.

Context and early traction

Multani — described in company materials as a postgraduate dropout who developed her outlook through interactions with entrepreneurs and business leaders — launched Leap Ahead to address a persistent gap she observed: promising companies in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities lacking access to global networks and strategic opportunities that often accrue to metropolitan firms. The firm's stated mission is to ensure geography does not limit ambition and to enable Indian businesses from smaller cities to participate actively in the global economy.

Leap Ahead says it has already created relationships across multiple international markets and engaged with industry leaders, investors and trade organizations. The company lists participation in major business and innovation platforms and meetings across Europe, the Middle East and Asia, calling out a recent engagement with London's technology and innovation ecosystem as reinforcing its international network.

• Geographies where Leap Ahead has reported activity: India, Hong Kong, Singapore, Russia, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, China and London.
• Strategic institutional partnerships named by the company include the BRICS Chamber of Commerce & Industry (BRICS CCI), SCO Business Incubator, and the Electronics and Computer Software Export Promotion Council (ESC).
• Early advisory and backer profiles: Khurshed Dordi (Independent Director–State Bank of India, ex-MD Deutsche Bank) serves as an advisor; Ankita Sachdeva (Joint Director–BRICS CCI) is a strategic advisor; Sushil Sharma, Chairman of Marwari Catalysts Group, is cited as a supporter.
• Company focus areas: export promotion, merger & acquisition facilitation, investor access programs, trade collaborations and market-entry initiatives.

Advisors and backers have framed Leap Ahead as filling a clear ecosystem need. "The future belongs to businesses that can build trusted global connections. Leap Ahead is creating that bridge, enabling meaningful cross-border collaborations and international growth," said Khurshed Dordi. Ankita Sachdeva added, "Leap Ahead combines a strong vision with decisive execution. Its ability to identify a market opportunity and build credibility so quickly gave us the confidence to support its journey from the very beginning." Sushil Sharma commented, "India's next generation of globally successful businesses will increasingly emerge from Tier 2 and Tier-3 cities. What these businesses need is access... Leap Ahead is addressing this need with remarkable speed and clarity."

Outlook

With strategic investment secured within weeks of launching and a roster of international engagements and institutional ties, Leap Ahead is positioning itself as an international business acceleration platform for non-metro India. The firm's next steps, as outlined in its public materials, include scaling global delegations, expanding investor access programs and deepening partnerships to convert early credibility into sustained deal flow for startups, MSMEs and growth-stage firms pursuing cross-border expansion.