Ajeet Singh, an accomplished alumnus of IIT-Kanpur, has etched his name in the annals of Silicon Valley by creating two unicorn companies—Nutanix and ThoughtSpot. Born into a family of farmers in Uttar Pradesh, Singh’s journey from the fields of Western UP to the helm of billion-dollar enterprises is a testament to his tenacity and vision.
In a revealing podcast with Mukesh Bansal, founder of Myntra and Cult. Fit, titled ‘SparX by Mukesh Bansal,’ Singh shared the story of his remarkable entrepreneurial odyssey. Hailing from a family deeply rooted in agriculture, Singh’s father’s role as a research scientist kindled his fascination with science. Topping his class in Chemical Engineering at IIT-Kanpur marked the beginning of a journey that would redefine cloud computing and business intelligence analytics.
Following his academic triumphs, Singh pursued an MBA in Kolkata and embarked on a six-year stint in Bengaluru before venturing to the United States. Despite being the first engineer in his family, Singh, at first, did not envision a career in business. Initially drawn to management consulting after his MBA, Singh soon found himself disenchanted with the disconnect between PowerPoint presentations and real-world impact.
Joining i2 Technologies in Bengaluru, Singh focused on supply chain planning software. Subsequent roles at Honeywell and Oracle paved the way for his entry into the startup ecosystem in the Bay Area. Emphasizing the significance of maximizing learning and cultivating relationships with skilled individuals early in one’s career, Singh underscored the transformative power of these experiences.
Nutanix, a cloud computing giant significantly influenced by Singh, has achieved a valuation exceeding $6 billion. Additionally, ThoughtSpot, specializing in business intelligence analytics, boasts a valuation surpassing $4 billion. Singh’s commitment to technology and startups has been pivotal in shaping these companies, both of which have substantial teams in Bengaluru. His ventures’ global presence spans Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Thiruvananthapuram, with a robust team of 400 global R&D employees.
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Adopting a no-headquarters culture, Singh has actively worked against the misconception that essential work is centralized at a headquarters. From his wealth of experiences, Singh maintains a discerning approach in selecting collaborators—co-founders, investors, or team members. His journey from Western UP’s agricultural fields to Silicon Valley’s cutting-edge landscape serves as an inspiring narrative, illustrating the transformative power of education, perseverance, and a relentless pursuit of one’s vision.
