VENKATARANGAN THIRUMALAI

With over 25 years of experience in software services, I am Venkatarangan Thirumalai, a Founder Catalyst and an Honorary Microsoft Regional Director. My professional journey includes founding Vishwak Solutions in 1996, growing it into a globally recognized company with a presence in India, Seattle, and London. Additionally, I co-founded a fintech startup, introducing innovative business document management through Azure AI.

Renowned for my insights that cut through industry hype, I focus on creating user-centric technology solutions. I predicted the rise of mobile phones as primary computing devices in developing regions in 2003 and now anticipate a transition to omnipresent technology, surpassing traditional smartphones. My forward-thinking led to the creation of a machine learning-driven, patent-pending predictive news app.

As a Microsoft Regional Director since 1999 and an IEEE Senior Member, I am a respected speaker in technology and business circles. I have a proven track record in guiding startups, particularly in SaaS and Virtual Reality, from their foundational stages to successful scaling.

I am an advisor to the Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam International Foundation, actively participating in the House of Kalam, Rameswaram. Additionally, my passion for Tamil language computing drives my involvement with the Tamil Virtual Academy, assisting in their digital library and Tamil computing projects.

I am also an author, with my recent Tamil book on consumer technology, “Nutpam,” adding to my diverse accomplishments. Outside of my professional realm, I am a dedicated reader, film enthusiast, and blogger. My blog (venkatarangan.com) spans 20 years with over 4000 posts, engaging more than two million readers. Residing in Chennai, India, my work reflects a blend of technological expertise and cultural affinity.