Advertisment

Soota takes on big-timers with Happiest Minds

author-image
CIOL Bureau
Updated On
New Update

BANGALORE, INDIA: Former MindTree chairman Ashok Soota's latest venture Happiest Minds Technologies Private Limited was launched in Bangalore today.

Positioned as a new generation IT services company, Happiest Minds will offer services and solutions in new, emerging technologies, such as cloud computing, social media, mobility, analytics and security.

Advertisment

“The evolving technology landscape provides opportunities and an entry strategy for new players like Happiest Minds. These new technologies enable IT to become more for transformational enterprises and measurable in terms of its business impact,” said executive chairman Ashok Soota at the launch.

“Happiest Minds will be differentiated by its sharp focus on these technologies, focused solutions, people brand, deep domain expertise and non-linear growth.”

12 co-founders behind the IT services company

Advertisment

Vikram Gulati will serve as the chief executive officer and managing director of the company, which has as many as 12 co-founders. “They will go on to become Executive Council members,” said Soota.

Of the 12 founders in the board, 7 are from his old company MindTree, while three are from Wipro and one from Infosys

The 12 member team- Ramakanth Desai, Co-CEO, IT services business; Puneet Jetli, Co-CEO, IT services business; Salil Godika, chief strategy & marketing officer and industry group head; Dattatri Salagame, COO-IT services business; Joseph Anantharaju, CEO, software products engineering business; Aurobinda Nanda, COO, software products engineering business; Prasenjit Saha, CEO, infrastructure management services and security business; Raja Shanmugham, chief people officer; Raja Sekhar, head, Engineering and Business Excellence; Venkateshan.K, finance controller.

Advertisment

With S.R. Gopalan as its only independent director, the company has already made 60 offers.

“With the proliferation of new emerging technologies, the next generation IT services will require an integrated approach to deliver business solutions,” said Gulati.

Following its launch, the company would focus on mobility — 'It has become a given' — devices and security. “We will help our client select emerging technology and design solutions as well as manage their infrastructure better,” added Gulati.

Advertisment

Soota, however, made it clear that they are not going to venture into the hardware segment. “We would be going public in due course,” he stated.

According to him, the company has already got a client, which COO of Software Product Engineering Business Aurobinda Nanda said was from his domain. “We have a first customer. We have raised our first invoice and it's not from any of our previous companies,” said Soota.

Happiest Minds will be headquartered at Electronics City and would have bases in the US, the UK as well as the rest of Europe, Singapore and the Middle-East. “Our facility in Bangalore will be spread over 55,000 sq. ft,” said Soota, adding that they have plans to fan out to other overseas markets later.

Advertisment

They would have their US offices at New Jersey, Bay Area and Seattle, CEO (Software Product Engineering Business) Joseph Anantharaju told CIOL.

Company to be funded with Rs.200 cr from VCs: Anantharaju

He also informed that the company would be funded with approximately Rs 200 crore, including from venture capitalists. “We are holding active discussions and should be able to finalize the deal in 30-45 days.”

Advertisment

While there are rumours about Soota taking on MindTree, which he quit early this year, and his ex-employer Wipro Technologies, the industry veteran brushed them aside. “We will compete with everyone, and not one or two companies, in particular,” he explained.

The fears of recession doesn't seem to bog Soota down. “If you look at it, some of the world's greatest companies were launched at times of recession. Moreover, we don't see any impact of the slowdown on our business.”

CEO Gulati also concurred with his senior colleague and said that such a scenario would help them focus sharply.

Advertisment

The Happy Logo

On Monday, the company also unveiled its logo, which was designed by Jemin Shingala. It was picked out of 1,400 submissions in a public contest by a jury, comprising R. Sridhar, founder of IdeasRS; Geetha Narayanan, founder-director, Srishti School of Art Design and Technology; Rukmini Krishnaswamy, director, Spastic Society and Jessie Paul, CEO, Paul Writer, with Soota being the jury Chair.

The logo has been adapted by Shristi School of Design to ensure ease of usage and trademarkability. It has won Shingala a prize money of US$2000.

tech-news