College Days
During my studies, my primary goal was to secure a placement during campus hiring and to settle down. However, I was always a studious individual passionate about science and engineering. Though my undergraduate degree was in Electrical and Electronics engineering, my curiosity led me towards computer science, particularly computer networking. This fascination introduced me to the Open Source and Linux world back in 1999.
Wearing a T-shirt from a Linux Developer Conference in Bangalore in Feb 2000.
Employee Days @ Infosys, or should I say Intrapreneur Days
Graduating just after the September 11, 2001, attacks meant the placement season was one of the toughest ever. In hindsight, that very challenge pushed me to explore more options before finally joining Infosys in 2003. Even as I began my career there, I knew entrepreneurship was my true calling. I am eternally grateful for the comprehensive training I received at Infosys, encompassing both soft skills and technology. The true experience, however, was in understanding how to see business as a value creation tool for us and the ones around us – that tag line “Infosys – Powered by Intellect & Driven by Values” stuck with me. While I originally thought I’d take the leap towards Entrepreneurship at 35, life steered me to embrace that dream much earlier—at 26.
Becoming a First-Generation Entrepreneur in 2007
When I returned to India in 2007, I deliberately let my French Resident Permit expire and chose not to pursue H1B or Canadian work permits. My sole focus was to start Kalycito and see it thrive. I’m sure my partners had even bigger dreams, but together, we charted a path forward.
My entrepreneurial spirit truly ignited when the Science & Technology Entrepreneurial Park at PSG College of Technology encouraged us to seek seed funding and build long-term products with sustainable business models. Essentially, Kalycito was multiple startups in one—balancing high-value services for overseas clients and the creation of innovative products for the domestic market on the other.
A video from 2017 – our 10th anniversary
Overseas, our work was deeply rooted in cutting-edge domains like Time Sensitive Networking. We were making a living out of IoT even before the term became mainstream, and Industry 4.0 before it was widely recognized. We reached a high point in 2019, when every major company in our industry recognized us, and almost every one of them had incorporated deliverables from our initiatives into their products.
A couple of videos from 2019
All good things have a season, and the pandemic brought a close to ours. After 15 successful years, we made the thoughtful decision to shut down—not sell—with careful planning and ample support to help our team of about 50 employees transition smoothly.
A gallery full of good memories
As is often the case in journeys like these, some chose to stay connected and lend their support to my future ventures, while others moved on. The relationships built during those years continue to be a source of strength for everything I do now.
