9 Indian origin business tycoons in the US: Where did they study?
The American startup ecosystem has long been a magnet for ambitious minds from around the world—but few communities have left as deep an imprint as Indian-origin entrepreneurs. These founders haven’t just risen through the ranks of established corporations; they’ve built billion-dollar companies from scratch, pioneering technologies that power everything from smartphones and space missions to cybersecurity and data infrastructure.Armed with top-tier engineering degrees from institutions like the IITs and advanced education from global universities, these innovators turned bold ideas into global enterprises. Their journeys—often starting in modest towns across India—reflect a powerful blend of education, risk-taking, and long-term vision.Here’s a closer look at 10 Indian-origin founders in the US who’ve made their mark on the global business map—and where their journey began academically.
Jay Chaudhry : Founder and CEO, Zscaler
Education:
- BTech – IIT BHU
- MS in Computer Engineering and MBA – University of Cincinnati
Jay Chaudhry built Zscaler into a cybersecurity powerhouse from the ground up, taking it public in 2018. Born in rural Himachal Pradesh, his journey from a small government school to Silicon Valley IPO is powered by relentless innovation and a clear academic foundation in engineering and business. He also founded and sold four companies before Zscaler, proving his formula works.
Vivek Ranadive: Founder, TIBCO Software
Education:
- BS & MS in Electrical Engineering – MIT
- MBA – Harvard Business School
Ranadivé built TIBCO Software into a real-time data leader, used by Wall Street and big enterprises. Originally from Mumbai, he moved to the US to attend MIT at 17. His blend of engineering and business enabled him to create a platform that changed how companies made real-time decisions. Later, he became the first Indian-origin owner of an NBA team, the Sacramento Kings.
Naveen Jain : Founder, Infospace, Moon Express, Viome
Education:
- BTech – IIT Roorkee (formerly University of Roorkee)
- MBA – XLRI Jamshedpur
Naveen Jain first found success during the dot-com boom with Infospace, once one of the most valuable internet companies. He later shifted to moon exploration through Moon Express and preventive health via Viome. His academic training in engineering and business management gave him the versatility to shift between tech, space, and biotech entrepreneurship.
Romesh Wadhwani: Founder, SymphonyAI & SAI Group
Education:
- BTech – IIT Bombay
- MS & PhD in Electrical Engineering – Carnegie Mellon University
Romesh Wadhwani founded Aspect Development, which he sold for $9.3 billion, and went on to create SymphonyAI, a group of AI-powered software companies serving various industries. His education in advanced engineering laid the groundwork for his understanding of enterprise systems and product development at scale. Today, he’s also a leading philanthropist in education and digital skills.
Sanjay Mehrotra: Co-founder, SanDisk
Education:
- BS & MS in Electrical Engineering – University of California, Berkeley
- Executive Education – Stanford University
Mehrotra co-founded SanDisk in 1988, helping make flash memory storage mainstream in consumer electronics. While he currently serves as CEO of Micron Technology, his true entrepreneurial legacy is rooted in building SanDisk into a multi-billion-dollar company. He holds over 70 patents, many based on the technical expertise acquired through his Berkeley education.
Kanwal Rekhi: Co-founder, Excelan | Serial Angel Investor
Education:
- BTech – IIT Bombay
- MS in Electrical Engineering – Michigan Tech University
- MBA – Santa Clara University
Kanwal Rekhi co-founded Excelan, a networking company acquired by Novell, and became one of the first Indo-American tech entrepreneurs to take a company public on NASDAQ. He later became a prolific investor and helped establish TiE (The Indus Entrepreneurs), supporting startup founders of Indian origin. His academic path gave him both the technical core and strategic insight needed to navigate Silicon Valley.
Dheeraj Pandey: Co-founder, Nutanix | Founder, DevRev
Education:
- BTech – IIT Kanpur
- MS in Computer Science – University of Texas at Austin
Pandey co-founded Nutanix, a pioneer in hyperconverged infrastructure, and led it to a successful IPO. After stepping down, he launched DevRev, a new-age platform connecting product-led teams directly with customers. His technical training from IIT and UT Austin shaped his deep product focus and engineering-first approach to company building.
Ragy Thomas: Founder & CEO, Sprinklr
Education:
- BE – Pondicherry University
- MBA – NYU Stern School of Business
Ragy Thomas built Sprinklr into one of the world’s leading customer experience platforms, serving clients like Microsoft and McDonald’s. From a small-town engineering degree to an NYU MBA, he represents the growing number of founders who blend local academic roots with global ambition. Sprinklr went public in 2021, cementing his status as a next-gen enterprise software founder.
Ash Ashutosh: Founder, Actifio (acquired by Google Cloud)
Education:
- BTech – IIT Kanpur
- MS in Computer Science – Penn State University
Ashutosh founded Actifio, a data virtualisation company acquired by Google Cloud in 2020. Prior to that, he built Serano Systems (acquired by Vitesse) and served in leadership roles at StorageNetworks and HP. His technical education from IIT and Penn State gave him the foundation to build scalable, enterprise-focused tech companies that attracted global acquirers.
