From a very young age, I’ve been curious about how things work. I always found comfort in having a toolset, which I used to open up toys to see what was inside and how they worked. I remember opening up a toy car to see how the wheels turned, then smashing a motor with a rock and discovering magnets and copper wires. It was fascinating. I also remember the scolding (and occasional beatings) for breaking my new toys totally worth it, by the way.
This curiosity didn’t stop. I was obsessed with exploring. When my science professor told me plants produce oxygen, I emptied a water bottle, stuck in a leaf, and waited to collect some O2 only to taste the flavor of dead leaves. That hands-on learning eventually turned into a passion for engineering. I pursued a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering. I know I know I skipped a lot in the middle, but hey, this is my startup journey, not my life story.
Chapter 1: The 9-to-5 Awakening
I landed my first job as a Graduate Engineering Trainee at JK Tyres, managing chemical formulations for green tires and dipping processes. It wasn’t what I imagined. I felt like my curiosity was being smothered under a pile of monotonous tasks. Being the explorer I am, I tried suggesting new techniques to improve the processes. But, as expected, those ideas were met with resistance because “R&D costs money.” At the same time, I was dealing with personal struggles, and eventually, I decided enough was enough.
I handed in my resignation. The HR department, impressed with my performance, offered me a position closer to home. But I had made up my mind I wanted a different path. So, I left behind a stable paycheck to dive into the unknown.
Chapter 2: Back to Roots and Reinvention
I moved back to my hometown, Chamarajanagara. With no basement to experiment in, I set up shop in my room on the first floor. My routine? Eating, sleeping, gaming (League of Legends), and contemplating life. My family had always been into forest-related work my uncle, his father, and grandfather were forest contractors who transported logs to sawmills. I grew up visiting forests, especially the Biligiri Ranganatha Swamy Temple Tiger Reserve (locals call it BRT Tiger Reserve).
My brother had also quit his job and started Kimzuka Solutions Pvt Ltd. He was working with the forest department, supplying solar lamps, GPS devices, and camera traps for tiger censuses. Seeing his passion for wildlife conservation, I decided to join him. We dived headfirst into conservation projects, including developing a custom camera trap system for tiger monitoring. Did we know how cameras worked? Nope. Electrical engineering background? Nope. Passion? Hell yes!
We poured all our profits into developing 100 camera trap prototypes, pitched the idea to the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), and even ran field tests. The NTCA loved it, but reality hit hard when we ran out of funds. I raised $30k from my family to keep it going. Then came COVID-the global chip shortage killed our dream. We were out of money and stuck in a loop of uncertainty.
Chapter 3: Pivot and Fight Back
Just when we were at our lowest, I got a call from IFS officer B.P. Ravi—the legend himself. He was the member secretary for the Zoo Authority of Karnataka at the time. The lockdown had created a massive crisis zoos had no visitors and, therefore, no revenue. He asked if we had a solution. Boy, did I have solutions!
I pitched an idea for an app that allowed people to adopt zoo animals online. With celebrities and politicians inaugurating it, the app became an instant success, raising much-needed funds for the zoos. That’s when I decided to start my own company Aves Infotech LLP (yes, I designed the logo myself).
We focused on building digital solutions for wildlife conservation. What started with one product quickly expanded. Zoos started asking for more solutions like ticketing systems, CRM for animal inventory, veterinary care tools, and even self-check-in kiosks during COVID-19. I was spitting out products like crazy, and my team, none of this would have been possible without my incredible team. They weren’t just contributors; they were the backbone of every solution we delivered. Their dedication, creativity, and ability to adapt under pressure turned ideas into reality. Together, we built products that didn’t just solve problems, they set new standards for efficiency and impact in wildlife conservation.
Today, our solutions power 12 zoos, 5 national parks, and 2 bird sanctuaries across 4 states.
Final Thoughts
What did I learn through all this? Human connection matters. Being a good leader isn’t about knowing it all; it’s about empowering others. I learned how to negotiate with industry leaders, handle delicate situations, and most importantly, stay humble.
I know I’ve rushed through a lot here, but this gives you a glimpse into my journey. Each product has a deeper story, and if you’re curious, let’s grab a coffee, I’ll tell you all about it.