AI is just making the rounds in the mid-2020s for many of us, but there are visionaries who have long been working with and making use of AI to break technological glass ceilings. In this success story, we are featuring one trailblazer who built a groundbreaking AI company from next to nothing in terms of capital and resources, sold it at a lucrative deal, and has since spent his life pouring encouragement and mentorship into uplifting the next wave of ambitious entrepreneurs.
From his humble beginnings as part of a farming family to being one of the most respected voices in India’s tech ecosystem, Damodar is known not just for his early innovations but also for what he’s achieved since his big exit. Not only is he part of Mobinius, but he’s also one of the brains behind CAWI.AI, a groundbreaking conversational AI platform.
In this article, we sit down with Damodar for an in-depth conversation about life after the sale, transforming traditional industries with practical AI, and why mentoring young founders has become his true passion.
Q: Damodar, congratulations on the successful exit of Mobinius Technologies in 2019. Many founders dream of that moment. So, what was it like stepping into the role of Vice President of Digital Solutions at MSys Technologies — which is now part of Aziro — after selling your own bootstrapped company?
Damodar Puthiya: Thank you so much. It’s been a dream, you’re right, and it’s amazing so far. The acquisition by MSys was a proud moment for the rest of the company and me. If anything, it validated years of hard work building Mobinius. We built it from scratch, from just a tiny apartment, with no external funding or capital. It was such an exciting moment to see how far we’ve come in Mobinius.
But to tell you the truth, the real excitement came later. It started right after I joined as the new Vice President of Digital Solutions. It was a new role, but it gave me a much bigger canvas to work on. Instead of running a smaller team, I had greater influence on the state of large-scale enterprise AI and digital transformation projects for global clients — across multiple industries. I’m able to contribute to more, essentially, and it’s been incredibly fulfilling.
At Aziro, I’ve driven strategic initiatives combining artificial intelligence, machine learning, automation, cloud solutions, and enterprise mobility at a much larger scale. The transition allowed me to focus purely on what I love most: solving complex customer problems and enabling real business growth without the day-to-day operational pressures of running a startup. It’s been incredibly fulfilling to apply the lessons from building my own company at an enterprise level.
Q: Since the 2019 acquisition, you’ve made a significant impact, helping non-tech companies adopt intelligent automation. Can you share some examples of the transformations you’ve led in manufacturing, energy, healthcare, and other traditional sectors?
Damodar Puthiya: Yes, absolutely.
One of the biggest challenges I saw and still see is that many non-tech companies hear about AI these days but have no idea how to make it practical and useful for their business. They’re often scared off by hype, high costs, or past bad experiences with vendors who over-promise and under-deliver. Too many people see AI as this new thing that will fix everything in their operations, or that it’s too unreliable to use. It’s neither of those things. AI is a tool, and how we leverage and use it is up to us.
In the years since our exit, my team and I have worked closely with companies in manufacturing, energy, healthcare, construction, and similar sectors to implement practical intelligent automation. We focus on ensuring the AI tools we have are deployed specifically for their intended use and benefits.
One good example is how we’ve worked with energy and industrial automation giants to implement a system that enables them to modernize complex platforms. Overall, it dramatically reduces operational inefficiencies.
In pharmaceuticals and healthcare, we’ve automated standard operating procedures (SOPs), patient workflows, and back-office processes that used to eat up enormous time and resources. At the end of the day, efficiency is the cornerstone of success, and that’s what we try to deliver.
The results speak for themselves: clients typically see significant cost reductions — sometimes 30-40% in certain operational areas — while achieving much faster scalability. We focus on predictable delivery, proactive communication, and starting with automation before layering on advanced AI. This “automation-first” approach removes the usual headaches of missed timelines and surprise bills. Companies that once struggled with manual processes now run smoother, leaner operations and can compete globally without massively increasing headcount.
Our clients have achieved success after success since our collaboration, and we proudly share that success with them.
Q: What makes your approach to enterprise AI transformation different from the typical tech consultant?
Damodar Puthiya: I’ve always believed in wearing the customer’s shoes. You don’t think like the consultant, or the engineer — you think like the customer. As the client, you ask: what is needed? What must be done? You apply those answers to your job as the tech consultant, and it delivers more promising results than you think.
Coming from a bootstrapped background, I know how painful it is when a vendor over-promises or disappears when things get tough. My style is very hands-on and practical, and I take pride in that. We never say “yes” just to win a project — if something will take longer or needs more resources, I’m upfront about it. That way, we don’t waste each other’s time. If the project aligns with another company, so be it.
Every step of the day, we maintain maximum clarity and honest communication. I believe in building long-term partnerships instead of one-off projects. Many of our engagements that started as small automation pilots have turned into multi-year strategic relationships. This trust-based model has been key to helping traditional industries successfully adopt AI without the usual chaos or disappointment.
Q: Beyond your corporate role, you’ve become a powerful mentor to India’s next generation of entrepreneurs. You’re guiding more than a dozen startup founders — what kind of advice do you give them, especially around acquisitions, valuations, and scaling?
Damodar Puthiya: Mentoring has become one of the most rewarding parts of my journey, especially after the exit. I currently mentor around 10–15 founders actively, and many more reach out informally to me, as I partner with them.
I’ve gone through the entire cycle. I started by bootstrapping, building an AI product, winning over clients like Amazon, and eventually exiting. I know that I know a lot, and can leave an impact on others with practical, battle-tested insights. I share my knowledge on both common and specific topics, including how to value your company during acquisition talks, when to raise funding versus staying bootstrapped, how to negotiate founder equity, how to build strong customer relationships, and how to avoid common scaling pitfalls.
With everyone I meet and mentor, I always stress ethics, long-term thinking, and focusing on real customer problems rather than chasing hype. You have to ensure long-term, reliable deliverables. Many of these young founders are first-generation entrepreneurs like I was, and I know what it’s like to be in their position. So as a mentor, I help them navigate everything from hiring the right team to preparing for due diligence in an acquisition. Seeing them grow, raise funds, or even exit successfully is incredibly satisfying — it feels like extending the impact of my own journey.
Q: You’re primarily in leadership roles. How would you describe your leadership style, and what is it like to work with you for your projects?
Passion informs my leadership first and foremost. I’m not here to boss you around, or make you bend to what I think is best — I’m here to share my passion with you; a passion we both share. I'm largely driven by passion for technology, and that's what excites me the most. For example, if I'm working on a solution, I may not even get any sleep. A lot of times I get deeply involved. I've written some complex queries to solve problems overnight, even in my dreams. That's how deeply passionate I am about technology and developing AI platforms for businesses.
That being said, I think I’m deeply hands-on. I like being able to work for every project, and I like to see whoever’s on my team to enjoy the process alongside me. I tackle every problem alongside them. I drive from the front.
I like to tell my team that it's okay to make mistakes and be practical, but learn from them. Be genuine with yourself and others. It's okay to say no or ask for more time sometimes. Negotiation is not about one person winning and the other losing — it's always win-win. That will establish long-term relationships with employees, customers, and most importantly, the team. The team's success is my success. I strongly believe that. And one more: I'm a man of my word. Saying something is more powerful than any contract. Don't over-promise.
Q: You also regularly serve as a panelist and judge at college startup events. Why is inspiring young talent so important to you?
Damodar Puthiya: India has enormous entrepreneurial energy, especially among students and young professionals. When I visit colleges and judge startup pitches, I see so much raw talent and brilliant ideas. But many lack practical guidance on execution, go-to-market strategy, or building sustainable businesses.
I love sharing my story and my humble beginnings, from helping on my father’s farm and studying in a government hostel to building and exiting a tech company. It shows that extraordinary success is possible even with humble beginnings. My goal is to help them avoid the mistakes I made early on and accelerate their learning curve. If even a few of them go on to create jobs and innovative solutions, that creates a massive societal impact.
Q: Looking back, how has your own remarkable journey — from poor farming family to successful exit and now influential leader and mentor — shaped your vision for technology’s role in society?
Damodar Puthiya: My background taught me resilience, humility, and the value of hard work. Technology, especially practical AI and automation, has the power to level the playing field. It can help traditional businesses grow efficiently, create better jobs, and solve real problems without requiring massive capital.
After the exit, I realized I could have even greater impact by sharing knowledge and helping others succeed. That’s why mentoring and guiding the next wave has become such a big part of my life. I want to see more Indian tech leaders emerge — ethical, customer-focused, and capable of building globally competitive companies. Ultimately, their success is my success.
Q: Final question — what advice would you give to other founders who have just exited their companies and are wondering “what’s next”?
Damodar Puthiya: Don’t stop. Use the experience, credibility, and freedom that come with a successful exit to create an even bigger impact. Whether that’s taking a senior leadership role in a larger organization, starting something new, or mentoring others — keep contributing. The tech industry needs more leaders who are willing to give back and help the ecosystem grow. For me, combining enterprise transformation work with active mentoring has been the perfect next chapter. It keeps me energized and allows me to pay forward the opportunities I received.
About the Author
Sandra Kelembeth is an experienced content writer known for her strong attention to detail and clarity in communication. She specializes in crafting engaging, well-structured, and informative content across various topics. Her writing focuses on breaking down complex ideas into simple, easy-to-understand language, making information accessible to a wide audience. With a reader-first approach, she aims to educate, inform, and empower individuals to make better, more informed decisions through clear and impactful storytelling.
.webp)
