Arvind Parthiban quit his job at Freshworks in 2017 to start SuperOps.ai, an AI-based information technology management SaaS platform for managed service providers. The startup has seen a 300% growth in customers and raised $29.4 million in its latest round..
Arvind Parthiban started SuperOps.ai in 2020 with Jayakumar Karumbasalam, an AI-based information technology management SaaS platform for managed service providers (MSPs). The startup has seen a 300% growth in customers and raised $29.4 million in its latest round. Arvind’s passion for fitness, health, and sports has helped him become a better leader. His social media feed is filled with posts of him doing difficult yoga poses and other physical endurance feats, which he believes helps him become a better leader.
Arvind surrounds himself with people who are different from him, presenting a different way of looking at life and leadership. He leans more toward gut-based decisions, often describing this approach as being akin to Captain Kirk, as opposed to the logical and analytical Spock. He emphasizes the importance of adopting a CEO’s perspective when making decisions, as it is essential to adopt a CEO’s perspective rather than approaching it from an individual lens.
A close support group, including Freshworks Founder and CEO Girish Mathrubootham, whom he considers his “best friend,” provides clarity and advice when he needs it. Arvind plays a similar role to other founders when they reach out to him, as exceptional founders often have close mentors and friends who provide support during challenging times.
In summary, Arvind Parthiban’s journey as a startup founder has been marked by his passion for fitness, health, and sports, as well as his ability to surround himself with diverse individuals who offer different perspectives on life and leadership. His close support group, including Freshworks Founder and CEO Girish Mathrubootham, serves as a reminder that entrepreneurship is not about taking risks or getting caught up in personal ideas.
Arvind, an engineer by accident, began his career with a friendship with Girish, who was working at Zoho. They began discussing routers and Arvind realized that Girish had more knowledge of technology than he did in coding. This mutual admiration led to a friendship that continues today. Arvind has also converted Girish into a Chelsea fan, a story he learned from a coach from England who was a Chelsea fan.
Arvind’s early years were primarily in Bengaluru, but due to his father’s business, his family moved to Hosur. He pursued a Bachelor of Engineering in Computer Science and Engineering at SMEC, Anna University in Chennai. He became an engineer by accident, wanting to escape to the USA. During the waiting period for his results, he sought part-time work at Zoho, which became his home.
Zoho became his primary source of learning and growth, and Arvind reconsidered his plans to go to the USA. He adopted a ‘learn by doing’ approach, where even failure was acceptable because it provided valuable learning experiences. In 2015, he ventured into building Zarget, a SaaS-based conversion rate optimization firm that provided solutions for SMBs. However, he soon realized the product was disposable software, so he had to decide whether to pivot and develop a new product or merge with a larger player like Freshworks.
In 2017, Arvind sold Zarget to Freshworks, leading the product marketing team and having plenty of opportunities to learn and grow. His tattoo on his arm reminded him of his ultimate goal.
Today, Arvind advises other founders to position their companies right in the current competitive landscape. He believes that having two engineers starting a company is not enough, and entrepreneurs should have high conviction but also flexible persistence. He wants his second entrepreneurial journey to be one for the long run, building a business that lasts.
Conclusion
Arvind Parthiban founded SuperOps.ai in 2020 with Jayakumar Karumbasalam, an AI-based information technology management SaaS platform for managed service providers (MSPs). The startup has experienced a 300% growth in customers and raised $29.4 million in its latest round. Arvind’s passion for fitness, health, and sports has helped him become a better leader. He surrounds himself with diverse individuals who offer different perspectives on life and leadership, often adopting a CEO’s perspective when making decisions. His close support group, including Freshworks Founder and CEO Girish Mathrubootham, provides clarity and advice when needed.
Arvind’s career began with a friendship with Girish, who was working at Zoho. He pursued a Bachelor of Engineering in Computer Science and Engineering at SMEC, Anna University in Chennai, and became an engineer by accident. In 2015, he ventured into building Zarget, a SaaS-based conversion rate optimization firm for SMBs. In 2017, he sold Zarget to Freshworks, leading the product marketing team and having plenty of opportunities to learn and grow.
Arvind advises other founders to position their companies right in the current competitive landscape, believing that having two engineers starting a company is not enough. He wants his second entrepreneurial journey to be one for the long run, building a business that lasts.
