What Makes a 40 Under 40 Recognition Truly Credible? CMI's Research-Led Selection Framework Explained

India / Global — 2025: Every year, countless business awards celebrate emerging entrepreneurs and executives. Yet the real challenge lies in ensuring that recognition is based on measurable merit rather than popularity or public visibility. To address this challenge, Coherent Market Insights (CMI) served as the Research Partner for ET Edge 40 Under 40 – South Edition 2025, developing a structured methodology to identify South India's most outstanding business leaders under the age of 40.

At the leadership summit, Mohit Shrivastava, AVP – Research & Consulting at Coherent Market Insights, presented the research framework behind the selection process, demonstrating how data, verification, and independent evaluation were combined to create a transparent and balanced recognition platform.

Establishing a Strong Foundation

The initiative focused on recognizing exceptional leaders from Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Puducherry, and Lakshadweep—regions that continue to drive India's growth across technology, manufacturing, healthcare, financial services, consumer industries, and emerging business sectors.


The research began by defining clear eligibility standards. Candidates were required to be below 40 years of age as of October 31, 2025, hold a significant leadership position such as Founder, Co-founder, CEO, Managing Director, or an equivalent executive role, and demonstrate sustained business leadership within South India.

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