Sridevi Aiyaswamy is an entrepreneur and is the founder of Sri Aiyaswamy solutions. Her company offers web porting, customized App development among other tech solutions to corporate and individual and corporate clients. Thanks to her leadership, the company now boasts of a global clientele and a growing market share. Sridevi’s success as a tech entrepreneur has a lot to do with her background. She has a BE in Computer Science from B.M.S College of Engineering. She also holds a Master of Science in Computer Science from San Jose State University.
After completing her studies, she entered the tech world and was a huge success at all the companies where she exercised her skills. One of her biggest career highlights is Ravel Software. She joined the company in 1995 as the VP for sales. She held this position until 1998 and in this period, she oversaw sales growth of 60% in just over a year. She was also credited with implementing an aggressive marketing campaign and expanding the company’s revenue streams. She left the company stable and successful and went on to have an equally successful stint at Strataserv. Sridevi joined Strataserv as the VP for client services in the year 2000, a role she held for 13 years. In this period, she oversaw major transformation, including revenue growth through investments in emerging technologies. It is this aggressive need for growth and her experiences in tech that has helped her drive Sridevi Aiyaswamy solutions to success.
Besides her efforts in the tech world, Sridevi is also a very charitable person. For the last five years, she has been a regular volunteer at Leave a Trail where she is involved in helping children with special needs.
How did you get started in this business?
I started this business as part of my goal for personal growth. I had been working at various tech companies for close to two decades and I felt like I needed to try something new and different. That’s when I decided to form Sridevi Aiyaswamy solutions and focus on a different angle of the market. I love tech and trying out new things within the industry felt like a nice move for personal growth and fulfillment.
How do you make money?
Our business model is simple. We develop mobile Apps and other web solutions and sell them. So far it’s working and the growth has beat my expectations.
How long did it take for you to become profitable?
Our business is primarily in services, which means we have very few fixed costs. For this reason, we were able to break-even in a year.
When you were starting out, was there ever a time you doubted it would work? If so, how did you handle that?
I never really had doubts about the success of the business. Having worked in tech for over a decade, I kinda knew what to expect and the risks involved. I am lucky to have started a business that is fully in line with my work experience.
How did you get your first customer?
We got our first client through a friend’s referral. I had been in the tech world for over 15 years before I formed this company. Naturally, this meant that word spread about my business quickly in my circles. I believe it’s the power of networking that played a role in getting the first client.
What is one marketing strategy (other than referrals) that you’re using that works really well to generate new business?
Google ads have worked well in generating new business for us. We are able to customize our ads to the specifications of our target market.
What is the toughest decision you’ve had to make in the last few months?
I have made many tough decisions in the past months. Most of them have been to do with cost management due to the COVID-19 crisis.
What do you think it is that makes you successful?
That would be my academic background and experience in tech. These two make it easy for me, to understand trends early and capitalize on them. They have also been invaluable in the marketing aspect of the business.
What has been your most satisfying moment in business?
My most satisfying moment was when we landed the first client. I felt motivated to put even more effort into the business.
What does the future hold for your business? What are you most excited about?
The future is bright. I am excited by the continued growth of the mobile App market since it forms a core aspect of our business.
What business books have inspired you?
I am most inspired by The Innovator’s Dilemma by Clayton Christensen. It has taught me a lot in my entrepreneurial journey.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
To my younger self, always follow your passion. Nothing feels as good as being paid to do something you love.
Are you willing to be a mentor? If so, how should someone contact you?
Absolutely. If anyone needs a mentor in tech, please send me a message on LinkedIn then we can plan on the way forward. The link is just below.