A mechanical engineering graduate, I stepped into the world of software driven by one simple fascination: how technology can transform lives. That curiosity shaped a journey of building companies, leading teams, and solving real problems in Data & AI. Beyond work, I serve with Seva Bharathi, practice yoga and mindfulness daily, and believe that a truly healthy life is built from the inside out. This blog is where I share stories from all of it: ordinary moments, extraordinary lessons.
The Beginning: An Engineer Who Asked “What If?”
I didn’t set out to become a technology entrepreneur. I graduated in mechanical engineering, curious about how things work, engines, systems, structures. Post my under graduate studies, I joined Infotech Enterprises (now called CYIENT) and working for the Engineering Services Core Group working on shipping PoCs for global clients at rapid speed. Within me there was a hidden curiosity how the software that I was using works. That led me into TCL/TK and PERL scripting. This software interest, it changed everything. I became fascinated by a single question: what if technology could do for people what machines do for industry, multiply effort, remove barriers, and unlock potential?
That question never left me. It became the thread running through every chapter of my life since.
Building Something from Nothing
In the early years, I founded iD’sign Technologies: starting with just four people and a belief that small teams with the right focus could solve meaningful problems. We tried untangle several problems of engineering colleges with an ERP that uncovers their several problems and which expanded to clients serving in energy, healthcare, education, manufacturing, retail, and e-commerce. We even created a niche software product for electrical utilities in Nigeria, a reminder that good ideas have no geographical limits.
Growing the team from 4 to 40 taught me more than any classroom could. I wore many hats: sales, recruitment, strategy, customer relationships, product development. I made mistakes, course-corrected, and kept going. That season of life instilled in me a deep respect for the grind of building something from nothing.
A New Chapter: The Entrepreneur Who Stayed
When iD’sign Technologies was acquired, I faced a crossroads that many founders know well: what comes next? Should I continue with Sparity, or move on, and what I expected to be a transition turned into one of the most fulfilling decades of my life.
At Sparity, I found that the entrepreneurial spirit doesn’t have to die when you join a some other organization: it simply finds new expression. Over 11 years, I worked along with a team that transformed Sparity as a Data & AI-first IT partner, guided global clients through AI-powered transformation, and partnered with Microsoft and Databricks on initiatives that shaped multi-million-dollar outcomes.
But more than the business results, what I carry from these years is the lesson that great companies are built on great relationships: and that true leadership is measured by how many people you help grow.
Service: Giving Back to the Community
Work and achievement, on their own, have never felt complete to me. Service is where I find a different kind of fulfilment.
I actively contribute to Seva Bharathi, an organisation rooted in selfless community service. I serve on the board as a treasurer however my core focus is raising funds for Seva Bharathi’s projects and organising a marathon: Run for a Girl Child. Working alongside dedicated volunteers has reinforced something I deeply believe: that the real measure of a person is not what they accumulate, but what they give. Every act of service, however small, is a reminder of our shared humanity.
Wellness: A Practice, Not a Destination
Healthy living, for me, is not a trend or a phase: it is a daily commitment. I practice yoga, fitness, and mindfulness as anchors in my routine, alongside intentional eating habits that support long-term wellbeing.
I’ve come to understand that the body and mind are not separate from the work we do or the lives we lead, they are the foundation of it all. When we invest in our inner health, everything else becomes clearer, more sustainable, and more joyful.
Why This Blog?
This blog is not about presenting a polished version of success. It is about honest reflection: on the choices made, the lessons learned, the relationships that shaped me, and the values I try to live by.
If you are a fellow or an aspriting entrepreneur, a professional navigating your own crossroads, someone interested in service or wellness, or simply a person looking for stories that feel real: I hope something here resonates with you.
Thank you for being here. Let’s walk this journey together.
Harish Cholleti 