Biography of Amod Malviya: Co-Founder & CEO of Udaan- Indian Entrepreneur
Story of Amod Malviya:
Early Education and Career Beginnings
Amod Malviya, a name synonymous with innovation in the
Indian startup ecosystem, embarked on his professional journey after completing
a degree in electrical engineering from the prestigious Indian Institute of
Technology, Kharagpur. Known for producing some of the finest engineers in the
country, IIT-Kharagpur served as the foundation for Amod's deep technical
knowledge. His early career involved stints at several small companies where he
began honing his engineering skills. These experiences laid the groundwork for
his future successes, giving him a solid understanding of both the technical
and business aspects of technology-driven companies.
Early Career and Foundation
Amod began his career in 2002 as an Associate Systems
Consultant at i2 Technologies, where he worked for two years. He then joined
Itellix Software Solutions as a Software Engineer, where he contributed from
2004 to 2006. These roles provided him with a solid foundation in software
engineering and systems consulting, which he later applied to his leadership
positions in various companies.
Climbing the Ranks to Vice President of Engineering at
ApnaPaisa.com
Before his tenure at Flipkart, Amod was the Vice President
of Engineering at ApnaPaisa Pvt Ltd (formerly Apnaloan.com) from September 2007
to April 2010. In this role, he created a high-performance engineering team
that developed platforms for various personal finance products. Earlier, as a
Senior Software Engineer at Riya Internet Technologies from March 2006 to
August 2007, Amod was responsible for designing and maintaining core
infrastructure and scaling visual research algorithms.
After his initial roles in smaller firms, Amod's career took
a significant turn when he joined ApnaPaisa.com, a prominent online platform
for financial services in India. Here, he ascended to the role of Vice
President of Engineering. This position was pivotal as it allowed him to lead a
team of engineers and develop critical aspects of the company’s technological
infrastructure. His time at ApnaPaisa.com not only showcased his leadership
abilities but also his talent for creating scalable and efficient systems,
skills that would prove invaluable in his subsequent ventures.
The Architect Behind Flipkart’s Technology Backbone
Before Udaan, Amod served as the Chief Technology Officer at
Flipkart from June 2014 to July 2015. During his time at Flipkart, he was
instrumental in building long-term technology differentiation and leading the
recruitment of top-tier architects and data scientists. His leadership journey
at Flipkart began in April 2010 as a Senior Engineering Manager, where he built
a team of passionate engineers and co-authored the company's web infrastructure.
Amod Malviya’s most notable early career achievement came
when he joined Flipkart, India’s leading e-commerce platform. As Chief
Technology Officer, he was instrumental in building the technology backbone
that supported Flipkart’s rapid growth. Under his leadership, the engineering
team at Flipkart developed systems that could handle the massive scale required
for the company’s operations. His work ensured that Flipkart could smoothly process
millions of transactions, manage vast inventories, and deliver a seamless
shopping experience to customers across India. Amod's contributions were
crucial to Flipkart becoming a household name and a leader in the e-commerce
industry.
Founding Udaan: A New Venture in B2B Commerce
After leaving Flipkart, Amod co-founded Udaan, a B2B
marketplace that has redefined the landscape of business-to-business commerce
in India. Udaan was conceived as a platform to connect manufacturers,
wholesalers, traders, and retailers directly, streamlining the supply chain and
cutting out unnecessary intermediaries. Amod Malviya is a Co-Founder and
Engineer at Udaan, a company he helped establish in April 2016. Udaan's mission
is to simplify business operations in India by making B2B commerce more
accessible and efficient. Amod and his team believe that B2B is the new B2C in
India, recognizing the crucial role played by over 50 million small and
medium-sized businesses (SMBs) in driving the Indian economy. These SMBs are
the entrepreneurial backbone of the country, and Udaan aims to leverage the
internet as an equalizing platform, empowering millions of entrepreneurs across
India.
The idea was revolutionary, and Udaan quickly gained
traction in the market. Within just 26 months, Udaan achieved unicorn status, a
testament to the effectiveness of its business model and the team’s execution.
Amod's role as a co-founder was crucial in shaping the technological
infrastructure that enabled Udaan to scale rapidly and efficiently.
Amod Malviya: A Visionary with a Net Worth of INR 3500 Crore
As a result of his ventures, particularly Udaan’s success,
Amod Malviya has amassed a considerable fortune, with a net worth estimated at
INR 3500 crore. This financial success is a reflection of his deep
understanding of technology and business, as well as his ability to innovate
and lead in highly competitive markets. Amod’s wealth, however, is not just a
measure of his financial acumen but also of the value he has created for
countless businesses and entrepreneurs who use Udaan as a platform to grow and
succeed.
The Influence of IIT-Kharagpur on Amod’s Ideology
Amod Malviya’s education at IIT-Kharagpur played a
significant role in shaping his professional ideology. The rigorous academic
environment and exposure to cutting-edge technologies fostered a mindset that
valued innovation, problem-solving, and the practical application of knowledge.
Amod has always emphasized the importance of engineers as creators and
differentiators in the business world. He believes that engineers should not be
judged solely by the code they write but by their ability to solve complex
problems and create impactful solutions. This belief has guided his approach to
building teams and developing products throughout his career.
Amod’s Perspective on the Commoditization of Technology
One of the key insights that Amod has shared over the years
is his perspective on the commoditization of technology. He argues that in
today’s world, technology has become increasingly accessible and standardized.
Tools, frameworks, and platforms that once gave companies a competitive edge
are now widely available, reducing their ability to serve as differentiators.
According to Amod, this shift means that engineers need to go beyond the basics
of coding and infrastructure development. They must focus on innovative
thinking, problem-solving, and the ability to foresee and address future
challenges. This mindset is what separates a great engineer from a good one.
Biography of Amod Malviya: Co-Founder & CEO of Udaan- Indian Entrepreneur/ Investor.Startup/Success story of Amod Malviya/Life story of Udaan & Amod
Engineers as Innovators, Not Code Monkeys
Amod Malviya has often spoken about the distinction between
true engineers and what he calls "code monkeys." During a conference,
he posed a series of questions to developers, challenging them to think about
their roles in the creation of products. He asked whether they saw themselves
as mere executors of instructions or as individuals responsible for the success
and failure of the products they worked on. He emphasized the importance of
taking personal accountability for the outcomes of one’s work and understanding
the impact of the products on users. For Amod, this sense of ownership and responsibility
is what defines a real engineer and entrepreneur.
Connecting Engineers with the Real World
Amod believes that many engineers today are disconnected
from the real world, spending too much time in the abstract realm of technology
and not enough time understanding real-world problems. He argues that this
disconnect limits their ability to identify and capitalize on opportunities for
innovation. In contrast, non-technical entrepreneurs often succeed because they
are more attuned to the needs and inefficiencies of the market. They identify
problems and then seek out technical co-founders to help develop solutions.
Amod encourages engineers to break out of this bubble, engage more with the
real world, and use their technical skills to create meaningful change.
The Importance of Accountability in Engineering and
Entrepreneurship
Accountability is a recurring theme in Amod Malviya’s
philosophy. He stresses that engineers and entrepreneurs alike must take full
responsibility for the products they develop. This means not just building a
solution but also continuously refining it based on user feedback and market
demands. Amod believes that this iterative process of development, combined
with a willingness to own up to the consequences of one’s decisions, is
essential for success in the startup world. By being accountable, engineers can
ensure that their products are not just technically sound but also genuinely
valuable to users.
Tool Crafting: A Key to Startup Success
In addition to technical skills, Amod highlights the
importance of tool crafting in the startup ecosystem. He advises entrepreneurs
to explore and utilize the wide array of tools available to them, which can
significantly enhance their efficiency and effectiveness. For those starting
new ventures, these tools can provide a solid foundation upon which to build
their businesses. For established companies, continuously updating and refining
their toolsets is crucial to staying competitive. Amod’s emphasis on tool
crafting reflects his broader belief in the power of technology to drive
innovation and success in the business world.
The Role of the Internet in Indian Startups
Amod Malviya attributes much of the success of Indian
startups to the transformative power of the internet. He notes that the
internet has vastly expanded the distribution capabilities of businesses,
enabling them to reach a broader audience than ever before. This has lowered
the barriers to entry for new entrepreneurs and sparked a wave of innovation
across various industries. However, Amod also cautions that this increased
accessibility means that competition is fiercer than ever. Entrepreneurs must
not only identify inefficiencies in the market but also act quickly to
capitalize on these opportunities before others do.
Competition and Innovation in the Indian Startup Ecosystem
The competitiveness of the Indian startup ecosystem is
something Amod Malviya both acknowledges and embraces. He believes that
competition is a driving force behind innovation and value creation. In a market
where many people are identifying the same inefficiencies, the challenge is to
develop the best solution in the shortest amount of time. This pressure pushes
entrepreneurs to be more creative, efficient, and customer-focused. Amod sees
this dynamic as a positive aspect of the startup environment, as it ensures
that only the most effective and innovative ideas succeed, ultimately
benefiting society as a whole.
Amod Malviya’s Legacy: Pioneering Technology and
Entrepreneurship
Throughout his career, Amod Malviya has consistently
demonstrated how technical expertise, combined with innovative thinking and a
deep understanding of the market, can lead to extraordinary success. From
building the technology backbone of Flipkart to co-founding Udaan and achieving
unicorn status in record time, Amod’s journey is a testament to the power of
technology in transforming industries. His insights on engineering,
entrepreneurship, and the future of work continue to inspire a new generation
of engineers and entrepreneurs in India and beyond. Amod’s legacy is not just
in the companies he has built but in the impact he has had on the broader
startup ecosystem.
Timeline for Amod Malviya story
1998-2002:
Completed Electrical Engineering at IIT Kharagpur.
2002-2004:
Associate Systems Consultant at i2 Technologies.
2004-2006:
Software Engineer at Itellix Software Solutions.
2006-2007:
Senior Software Engineer at Riya Internet Technologies.
2007-2010:
Vice President of Engineering at ApnaPaisa.com.
April 2010:
Joined Flipkart as Senior Engineering Manager.
June 2014 - July 2015:
Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at Flipkart.
April 2016:
Co-founded Udaan, a B2B marketplace.
June 2018:
Udaan achieved unicorn status.
2024:
Amod Malviya's net worth estimated at INR 3500 crore,
continues to influence the startup ecosystem.
