A small group of Indian immigrants who worked at Oracle and Google have gone on to found and lead some of Silicon Valley’s top enterprise software startups, including Nutanix, Glean, and Rubrik, which just went public. These immigrants, who attended prestigious Indian Institute of Technology schools, learned business basics quickly and launched successful companies with combined market values in the tens of billions. Their success has been a result of their hard work, technical expertise, and immigrant drive.
Rubrik, which recently went public at a valuation of $5.6 billion, has been a bright spot in the otherwise slow market for public exits over the past few years. Its CEO, Bipul Sinha, believes in building a generational company with no finish line. The success of Rubrik is not only a major achievement for its founders but also a welcome liquidity event for investors. Many of these immigrant founders are already working on new startups, such as Glean and WisdomAI, with the support and guidance of their peers.
The close-knit group of highly technical immigrant founders and executives have a strong entrepreneurial bond, often co-investing in and advising each other’s companies. They have formed a unique culture that has contributed to their success. While they may not consider themselves as famous as the PayPal Mafia, their network of founders has made a significant impact in the tech industry. As they continue to succeed, they serve as examples for a new generation of Indian programmers and founders.
The founders of Nutanix, Rubrik, and other successful startups share a common background of attending IIT schools and working at Oracle and Google. They have overcome challenges and setbacks to build successful companies, often collaborating and competing with each other. Despite their busy schedules, they remain connected through barbecues, birthdays, and morning commute calls. Their success has shown that with the right combination of technical expertise, immigrant drive, and strong education, success can come from anywhere.
The immigrant founders have embraced mentors from outside their Indian roots and have worked hard to change the paradigm of Indian immigrants deferring to others in launching startups. They have actively invested in advising the next generation of founders to keep the entrepreneurial spirit alive. While most of the founders are now naturalized U.S. citizens, they still maintain a sense of cultural connection, with Hindi still heard in the hallways of their companies.
As the founders continue to succeed and inspire others, they understand the importance of giving back and serving as role models for the next generation of entrepreneurs. They are actively supporting and investing in new startups, encouraging talent to leave and start their own businesses. Their success stories have inspired a new wave of Indian founders, creating a cycle of mentorship and collaboration that continues to drive innovation in Silicon Valley and beyond.
