- Sowmiya Sri Mani
As the tech capital of India, Bangalore bustles day and night with billion-dollar start-ups. In fact, it’s known as a premier global technology hub where, every day, it seems like a new business flourishes. However, one story stands out from the rest.
Damodar Puthiya, Vice President of Digital Solutions at Aziro, remains one of the most inspiring underdog stories in Indian business.
Puthiya knows his story and its impact all too well, as he shares: “With my life story — coming from a humble family background — growing up, I became an extremely passionate entrepreneur.”
Passionate is an understatement. Puthiya is not just involved in Aziro; he’s also a serial founder in the business and technology space, proving time and time again that the right mix of determination and technical skill can deliver unprecedented results.
Born in Puttur a small town near Mangalore. He moved to Bangalore post his BTech Engineering degree. Bangalore was where graduates flocked to for jobs, and he was soon immersed in the fast-paced space of technology and innovation. Instead of settling for one of the numerous comfortable corporate jobs available, however, Puthiya dreamed bigger than his peers. As a result, in the 2010s, he co-founded Mobinius Technologies.
Mobinius Technologies is a technosolutions company that primarily focuses on web and app development. Later, the company expanded into specialized areas such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, IoT, DevOps, and full-scale digital transformation services. All of this – and more – was possible thanks to his sheer determination. He bootstrapped the entire company from a modest 2BHK apartment. There was no great corporate funding, venture capital, or outside investors. In fact, there was barely enough space for the entire team to work on their respective projects.
Still, Puthiya persevered. His approach made all the difference in contributing to greater growth, as he explains: “Though we were a small company, whenever we got involved, we were able to build long-lasting relationships.” He believed in one thing: they could solve real customer problems better than anyone else in the game.
And so they did. What began as a tiny operation in an apartment building quickly transformed into a formidable player in India’s competitive tech landscape. At its peak, the organization had approximately 126 members and generated approximately USD 2.3 million in revenue.
Mobinius began to attract larger players in the industry. They delivered complex transformation projects to giant companies, where he proved that his visionary yet deeply practical approach set the company apart.
Today, Puthiya delivers the solutions needed and reviews them to ensure all solutions and deliveries are as predictable and transparent as possible. He’s owned up to being customer-obsessed — and the rest of the company has followed in his shoes. He points out a discrepancy between many engineers who work on projects, and suggests a pivot: “A lot of times we assume solutions without thinking from the customer's point of view, and that would not really solve the customer problem. That's something we have learned. It's always best to look at it from the customer's perspective.”
He further continues: “When you wear the customer's shoes, that's when you're able to provide the right solutions that actually work for them. That's the kind of experience I've learned from these challenges.”
By understanding problems from the client’s perspective, any team can move forward with a clear goal that aligns with what’s actually needed, rather than what the team thinks might be. That, plus maintaining honest communication and never overpromising results, has led to work ethic principles that he still swears by today.
He believes in integrity, emphasizing, “I'm a man of my word. Saying something is more powerful than any contract. Don't over-promise.”
This no-nonsense approach won the trust of some of the world’s biggest companies. He managed to get fintech companies to modernize their platforms and gateways. He worked with Neuroglee to create patient- and doctor-facing mobile applications for a healthcare startup addressing neurodegenerative diseases.
For Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, Mobinius was tasked with developing a comprehensive platform to automate the creation and management of standard operating procedures (SOPs) for a global pharmaceutical giant. Instead of sticking with fragmented, manual workflows, Puthiya helped build a centralized platform that streamlines every process into one platform with compliance checkpoints and structured templates aligned with global regulatory standards. The platforms that Puthiya builds ultimately strengthen operational efficiency, reducing error and non-compliance.
Puthiya dipped his toes into building with artificial intelligence. He deployed AI teams that solved complex challenges across Schneider Electric's energy and industrial automation platforms.
Then he managed to onboard the company giant Amazon, where he built and maintained multiple applications automating back-office operations and delivery center management, leading to ongoing multi-year engagements.
He recalls some of the main reasons for their success: “Wherever we've been working, we emphasize open, honest communication, asking great questions to understand deeply, listening carefully and responsively, timely follow-ups, a lot of proactiveness, active communications, and maximum clarity so we can have clear planning with no assumptions. This kind of multiple aspects of the process we've adopted over the entire journey of customer projects and executions.”
Puthiya stands proud with his work, and there’s no reason why he wouldn’t. He exemplifies good communication and initiative, the backbone of any good leadership. As he says: “We provide a lot of proactive communication with no surprises. As a person, I'm always aggressive at times and restless to make sure whatever we build for customers actually impacts them. That's how we've been able to grow with customers.”
As a result of Puthiya’s hard work, success came quickly to him and Mobinius, with the Deloitte Technology Fast 50 award in India being won three times. This award is not just for impeccable business growth, but also for the company’s ability to create meaningful employment opportunities and enable clients to scale efficiently through automation without inflating costs.
This success came with Puthiya’s relentless execution and a focus on practical technological implementation. As a result, Mobinius created substantial value for its clients, especially the giants we’ve mentioned, while prioritizing strong revenue growth. Prestigious awards are one thing, but it’s a long-lasting reputation for success in the tech industry. Nevertheless, both Mobinius and Puthiya achieved something remarkable for bootstrapped ventures.
Others took notice, including MSys Technologies, which eventually led to Mobinius Technologies' acquisition. The exit was structured around an upfront consideration of approximately USD 3.1 million, along with performance-based incentives that could result in additional consideration (up to approximately USD 1.5 million). Today, Mobinius is part of the Aziro Group, further contributing to its artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities. Puthiya remained in the company and transitioned to the role of Vice President of Digital Solutions. He continues to drive large-scale AI and digital transformation initiatives, as well as leading the teams he has with his own brand of innovation and care.
This deal is more than just a financial milestone, though one can’t deny that it’s a lucrative exit. Looking back at Puthiya’s history, you’d have to acknowledge how far he’s come from being the son of a farming family in Bangalore. He’s completely self-made, and it’s proof that anyone can come from humble beginnings and become an entrepreneur who can compete at the highest level in India’s tech landscape.
Puthiya is self-aware and credits his success to his passion for doing the right kind of work for his life. He shares: “I'm self-driven and motivated to do something impactful and successful, ultimately to build a successful and well-respected company. At any given moment, we're solving customer problems. That motivates me every day.”
It’s a combination of luck and skill that helps him succeed in the tech landscape. He is genuinely interested in his field and is hell-bent on making the most of it: “I'm very curious about technology and how it can impact people's lives,” he says. “Ultimately, it's about creating a meaningful and happy life with all the right intentions.”
Throughout his professional career, Puthiya has had peers who witnessed his growth. One of them is Lokesh Mullamajalu, Co-Founder & Former Chief Operating Officer of Mobinius Technologies, who says: “I have known Mr. Damodar Puthiya for over fifteen years — first as a co-founder, then as a colleague, and now as a peer I continue to hold in the highest regard. Over a decade of building a company together, I had daily, direct, and unfiltered visibility into his thinking, his decisions, and his contributions. What I observed was not simply a competent executive — it was an individual operating at the highest levels of technology leadership and innovation.”
Sharath Kumar TP, Vice President & Delivery Head of Mobinius Technologies, also agrees on the importance of Puthiya’s contributions, saying: “He was instrumental in acquiring and growing major customers across the United States and Europe, including significant marquee accounts such as Schneider, Amazon, Dutchview, and Neoroglee. He helped build these relationships from the ground up and contributed directly to the company’s commercial success and market credibility.”
Today, Puthiya is not one of those successes that simply bask in their own achievements. He makes an active effort to give back to others. He has a slew of people that he’s mentored, but he mentions 10 to 12 who've gotten on a level of actual impact: “Mentoring is a social thing I do. A lot of company founders and small startup companies always reach out to me. I'm in touch with them.
“People ask me for advice on various aspects — practical experience I've gained in my life as an entrepreneur and technology guy. So I mentor them on entrepreneurship and other aspects: evaluation during acquisition, whether to go for funding, founders' stake, and other topics.”
Puthiya’s journey, as we can all see, is nothing short of extraordinary. In an industry often dominated by well-funded startups and flashy valuations, his bootstrapped success proves that real substance, practical innovation, and honest leadership can still create lasting impact.
In today’s booming tech ecosystem, Puthiya passes on a legacy. He’s among the winners of India’s 100 SMEs list and won the Young Entrepreneur of Southern India award from the CII (Confederation of Indian Industry).
With the right vision and relentless execution, even the most unlikely founder can rise to the top.
About the Author
Sowmiya Sri Mani is a writer for Business Fortune, covering AI, Robotics, Software, Entrepreneurship, and Opinion. She delivers clear and engaging insights on emerging trends and industrial developments, helping readers understand the evolving landscape of technology and innovation.
