NASSCOM EMERGEOUT Startup 7: Sushil Chaudhary, Mann-India

Sushil Chaudhary is the CEO and Managing Director of Mann-India Technologies, a Red Herring Top 100 Global IT company 2008 award-winning Indian software company with a LATAM focus. Sushil worked in various managerial capacities with several corporate houses, but the drive for an entrepreneurial initiative was what he really sought. So Mann-India Technologies was born in 2000 three years after Sushil’s graduation. The company has received accolades for its business model and unique business methodology. The company believes in a business model wherein the company sets up base in a country in Latin America and then gathers an ecosystem of local vendors and local qualified professionals to render services locally and internationally.

This model ensures that Mann-India helps in “Growing the Pie” wherever it goes rather than purely competing with local players. In addition, Mann-India perceives a foray into any new geography as an investment in people and in the region rather than a cost arbitrage operation.

Born to parents who placed integrity and values above all else, Sushil carried their influence all through his formative years. After qualifying as an engineer and gaining a few years of experience in the field, Sushil set up Mann-India with a view to creating not only excellent businesses but also with the hope of keeping alive the family tradition of values and goodwill. He finished B.E. from the National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirappali in 1997.

Mann-India Technologies was set up in the year 2000 in answer to growing needs of computerization of all systems in India and saw a quick growth that catapulted them to the international scene within a few months of their inception. Moving to near East countries while alongside gaining considerable experience within India, Mann-India was quick to spot the growth potential of the LATAM region. Mann-India was one of the first companies from India to start exploring the IT market need in the LATAM region.

After a couple of years of studying the market and the region, Mann-India began its first project in Panama where it implemented the first mobile banking system with cable and wireless. The web-based retail product for Colon free zone-based company was created in one year’s time.

Soon, Mann-India started a software factory to support Government decree 3390 (open source software initiative for all the Government departments) in Venezuela. In year 2007, Mann-India helped banks like the Banco Central de Venezuela to carry out remediation of the local currency form Bolivar to Bolivar fuertes. With the vision to emerge as the largest IT service company from LATAM region, Mann-India is commencing operations very soon in Colombia, Chile, and Argentina.

Sushil, with strong roots in values, has also succeeded in creating a successful business model of taking IT services to Latin America and creating a strong local presence in the LATAM region. He shares his entrepreneurial viewpoints with NASSCOM EMERGEOUT Startup Initiative.

1.        Why did you take up entrepreneurship journey?

Sushil: To create difference in lifestyle and contribute to the society. I could sense India's growth story and wanted to be part of this growth. I always wanted to have an unique place to work where freedom and innovation is the mantra of life.

2.        What keeps you going (how and where do you find your motivation levels)?

Sushil: The size of the opportunity in front of us. Information tehcnology itself is a big motivation to continue. And at Mann-India internally, the energy level of the young team and their willingness to rule the world is also a big motivation.

3.        What is your advice to wannabe entrepreneurs in India?

Sushil: Try finding the right reason to start your venture and institute a right value system. Once you define these two steps, then with the right team, one can achieve success.

4.        What success means to you and your organization?

Sushil: To achieve set goals, sustain growth rate, and inspire people to join your group.

5.        What are your learnings from the failures?

Sushil: So far we never failed, because we never overcommit to our customers and we always invest a lot both in terms of time and money to ensure before adding any new service line.

Sushil has set up the right systems in place like not overcommitting to customers and good planning for growth. With right value systems, Sushil has also sustained business in the less-explored LATAM region.

As part of the Indian startup NASSCOM EMERGEOUT initiative, five entrepreneurs have shared their views. To know what they are, please visit the links given below.

1. Kishore Mandyam of PK4 Software, http://bit.ly/cVfVRp

2. Anil Pagar of Spadeworx, http://bit.ly/ct4m4H

3. Ajay Sharma of Shristi Software, http://bit.ly/ciV7OW

4. Pallav Nadhani of InfoSoft Global (FusionCharts), http://bit.ly/9VhDWY

5. Manoj Srivatsava of Hanu Software, http://bit.ly/9FKdXv

6. Sriram Raghavan of Comat, http://bit.ly/dtDbvh

NASSCOM EMERGEOUT Conclave, Chennai, April 30, 2010

NASSCOM EMERGEOUT conclave comes to Chennai on 30 April 2010. With “Nurturing the IT DNA in India’s growth sectors” as its theme, the conclave’s objective is to help understand what opportunities do the growth sectors present for you and how you can tap into these emerging opportunities.

Mr. Bharat Goenka, founder, Tally Software is the keynote speaker. The story of Tally was started with a belief and vision of one man – Mr. Bharat Goenka. A truly Made in India product Made for India. Would you miss hearing him?

Please register for the conference here.

–Contributed by Venkatesh Krishnamoorthy, Chief Evangelist, YourStory