Olympeo
From childhood forts built with blankets to the dream of a white picket fence, the idea of ‘our home’ is deeply ingrained in us. It’s more than just bricks and mortar; it’s where memories are made and lives are lived. Buying a home is one of the most stressful life events, but it’s also one of the deep-seated needs for a place to call our own.
“A house is made of walls and beams; a home is built with love and dreams.”
The Indian real estate world is dynamic, and best known for its intense competition, evolving customer expectations, and a constant influx of new projects. Real estate developers face the challenge of constructing physical structures as well as building trust, navigating complex regulations, and adapting to shifting market trends.
Ruling this industry is Olympeo, a real estate development firm founded by Prabhat Ranjan. With a background in the real estate sector, Mr. Ranjan looked after a crucial need: providing high-quality homes at affordable prices. This vision to cater to the emotional significance of homeownership led him to establish Olympeo.
His entrepreneurial journey, marked by both successes and significant challenges—including economic shifts like demonetization, GST implementation, the NBFC crisis, and the COVID-19 pandemic—has instilled in him a strong sense of resilience and a focus on long-term strategic thinking. As a business leader, he champions transparency, functionality in design, and a commitment to exceeding customer expectations.
Olympeo is known for its thoughtful planning and meticulous execution. The company uses natural elements and open spaces in its projects, for best space utilization, natural ventilation, and optimal lighting. The company is now moving from affordable housing to service-oriented real estate, like bungalow projects, resort developments (like the Olympeo Retreat project in Karjat), and senior living communities, to provide comprehensive management and support for these properties.
In the spotlight is founder Prabhat Ranjan, CEO of Olympeo, in an interview in our prestigious “India’s Highly Regarded Real Estate Developer Firm to Watch Out-2025” edition. Learn from his insights and valuable lessons to make it the best company. Stay tuned.
Prime Insights: What motivated you to establish your real estate development firm, and what vision drives your journey?
My background is in real estate development, and I previously worked in real estate. I realized that this sector is crucial for both the economy and individuals. People often buy homes once or twice in their lifetime, making it a very emotional purchase. I felt there was an opportunity to provide high-quality homes at reasonable prices. With a vision to deliver good quality housing at a good value, we started our journey.
Prime Insights: Could you share some of the initial challenges you faced while entering the real estate development sector?
Real estate development is a unique journey with its own set of challenges. From land acquisition to getting permission, it is complex and time-consuming, mostly dependent on external factors like government agencies and stakeholders. Additionally, the market has changed in the past decade, making customer expectations more sophisticated. Execution remains another challenge as this sector is manpower-intensive and depends on numerous low-skilled stakeholders.
Prime Insights: How do you differentiate your brand as a real estate developer in the competitive market? What makes it unique?
We focus on thoughtful planning and execution. For instance, we use open spaces and natural elements for minimal disturbance to the site’s beauty. Functionality is key—our designs have natural ventilation, lighting, and proper space utilization. We also collaborate with experienced stakeholders to make sure the highest quality standards are met during execution. This focus on excellence and functionality sets us apart.
Prime Insights: How does your brand establish and uphold trust among your clients and stakeholders as a real estate developer?
Transparency is at the core of our operations. Even before RERA came into existence, we shared detailed project updates, including monthly construction progress reports. Our open office culture makes sure every department is well-informed, which helps our team confidently look after client problems. This communication builds trust in clients and stakeholders.
Prime Insights: Are there any new categories, or expansions planned for 2025 in your development projects?
Yes, 2025 marks a significant pivot for our company. We’re shifting from affordable housing to service-oriented real estate development. Our focus areas include bungalow projects and resort developments, where we build and manage these properties, ensuring long-term value for buyers. We’re also venturing into senior living projects, which is a highly service-driven sector. We believe that senior living has immense potential and are committed to providing comprehensive management and support for these communities.
Prime Insights: What’s the first impression you want customers to have of your real estate developer brand?
We want customers to see us as a trustworthy brand providing premium developments that combine luxury and convenience with a value buy proposition. Professionalism, credibility, and a solid track record are values we have, and we aim to partner with associates who share these principles.
Prime Insights: What has your journey as a real estate developer and entrepreneur been like so far?
It has been a rollercoaster ride, full of highs and lows. Initially, things went smoothly, and we saw huge success in sales and construction. However, external factors like demonetization, GST, and the NBFC crisis, followed by COVID-19, posed major challenges. These experiences taught me resilience and the importance of long-term thinking. Entrepreneurship has been a fulfilling journey, strengthening me emotionally and mentally.
Prime Insights: What are your future goals for the company as a developer for growth, innovation, and market presence?
Our focus is on service-based real estate. Innovation drives us—we’ve always ventured into areas with untapped potential, such as affordable housing and now senior living. Our senior living projects are among the largest in India, showcasing our commitment to pioneering developments. We’re also working on a destination resort in Karjat as part of our Olympeo Retreat project. Through product and service innovation, we aim to set new benchmarks in the industry.
Prime Insights: What advice would you offer to aspiring real estate developers and entrepreneurs in the industry?
Enter this industry with open eyes. While the sector provides great opportunities, it is capital-intensive and requires long-term planning. Developers should make sure they have adequate financial backing and realistic timelines to avoid stress. Real estate is a noble sector—customers interact with you during some of the happiest moments of their lives, and this sector provides an immense opportunity to create an everlasting legacy. As Peter Drucker says, ‘The best way to predict the future is to create it.’
