From the mountains of Himachal, to running a $17 billion cloud company 🔥
a quick look at the inspiring story of Jay Chaudhry, one of the wealthiest Indian Americans —
a quick look at the inspiring story of Jay Chaudhry, one of the wealthiest Indian Americans —
Jay is the founder and CEO of ZScaler, one of the hottest cybersecurity firms in the world right now and a big winner of the shift to remote work.
Since its IPO in 2018, ZScaler stock has shot up 8x.
Since its IPO in 2018, ZScaler stock has shot up 8x.
Jay’s beginnings however were as humble as they come.
Born in a village of 800 people, to parents who were small-scale farmers, his early life was poor in means but rich in love.
The family had no electricity or even running water until Jay was in his mid-teens.
Born in a village of 800 people, to parents who were small-scale farmers, his early life was poor in means but rich in love.
The family had no electricity or even running water until Jay was in his mid-teens.
He got his big break when he got into IIT BHU's electronics engineering program.
Time spent at BHU opened him up to a new world, starkly different from his rural background and set the stage for the next several laps in his life.
Time spent at BHU opened him up to a new world, starkly different from his rural background and set the stage for the next several laps in his life.
From there, Jay packed for the US when he got accepted into an MS program at the University of Cincinnati.
A scholarship from the Tata’s helped pay for his plane ticket.
He earned an MS and a part-time MBA from U Cincinnati.
A scholarship from the Tata’s helped pay for his plane ticket.
He earned an MS and a part-time MBA from U Cincinnati.
Post graduate school, Jay took up a job in tech.
But he soon realized he loved selling software more than sitting in front of a computer and writing code all day.
So cold emailing the Head of Sales for IBM in Cincinnati, Jay managed to get himself a junior sales job👏
But he soon realized he loved selling software more than sitting in front of a computer and writing code all day.
So cold emailing the Head of Sales for IBM in Cincinnati, Jay managed to get himself a junior sales job👏
Couple other jobs followed in the next few years, including gigs at Unisys and NCI, before the itch to start his own venture took over.
The timing seemed ideal too.
In 1996, the internet craze was just kicking off. Jay was intrigued by Netscape & others that were going public.
The timing seemed ideal too.
In 1996, the internet craze was just kicking off. Jay was intrigued by Netscape & others that were going public.
His first company was a simple security services venture called SecureIT— they would design, architect and deploy firewalls for clients.
Jay, a seasoned tech sales guy, handled business development and marketing while his wife, Jyoti, managed financials and operations.
Jay, a seasoned tech sales guy, handled business development and marketing while his wife, Jyoti, managed financials and operations.
No VC would touch the company because of Jay's limited business experience. So the couple put their life savings on the line.
In 1998, barely 2 years in, Verisign came knocking and acquired SecureIT for $70 million in stock.
Jay and Jyoti were multi-millionaires.
In 1998, barely 2 years in, Verisign came knocking and acquired SecureIT for $70 million in stock.
Jay and Jyoti were multi-millionaires.
Jay however was eager for round two.
This time he started CoreHarbor, selling clients a managed version of eProcurement software Ariba.
AT&T came knocking soon and bought the company in another blockbuster deal.
This time he started CoreHarbor, selling clients a managed version of eProcurement software Ariba.
AT&T came knocking soon and bought the company in another blockbuster deal.
Taking that money, Jay started his next venture — CypherTrust, which became much bigger.
CypherTrust was doing $100 million in sales and was on its path to IPO when Secure Computing Corp acquired it for $274 million in 2004.
That company would eventually be a part of McAfee.
CypherTrust was doing $100 million in sales and was on its path to IPO when Secure Computing Corp acquired it for $274 million in 2004.
That company would eventually be a part of McAfee.
In the next 2 years, Jay would go on to start another company Air Defense, which made software to secure corporate WiFi networks.
Motorola bought them out this time.
By now, Jay was a seasoned cybersecurity leader who had repeatedly proven his mettle.
Motorola bought them out this time.
By now, Jay was a seasoned cybersecurity leader who had repeatedly proven his mettle.
However, the best was yet to come.
Jay wanted to do something big this time — something that would leave behind a legacy.
Cloud was around the corner.
Exponential growth in web traffic and increasing devices presented employers with a series of new challenges to deal with.
Jay wanted to do something big this time — something that would leave behind a legacy.
Cloud was around the corner.
Exponential growth in web traffic and increasing devices presented employers with a series of new challenges to deal with.
Jay essentially saw 3 themes converging in the market —
1️⃣ Cloud apps were taking over
2️⃣ Information over the internet was exploding
3️⃣ Mobile devices would complicate security
How can we help enterprises handle new challenges coming from all this increasing traffic?
1️⃣ Cloud apps were taking over
2️⃣ Information over the internet was exploding
3️⃣ Mobile devices would complicate security
How can we help enterprises handle new challenges coming from all this increasing traffic?
ZScaler was born in 2007 — helping enterprises route traffic flow through distributed datacenters and scan for malicious attacks.
For almost 5 years Jay ran the ship using his own money.
Sears became one of the first big customers, buying the software for its 50,000 employees.
For almost 5 years Jay ran the ship using his own money.
Sears became one of the first big customers, buying the software for its 50,000 employees.
Then Lightspeed invested $38 million in 2012, promising to open sales and market doors to Lightspeed portfolio companies.
ZScaler raised another $110 million from TPG growth in 2015.
Revenues just exploded💥
ZScaler raised another $110 million from TPG growth in 2015.
Revenues just exploded💥
ZScaler rode the cloud wave right into the new decade.
In 2018, $ZS' blockbuster IPO raised nearly $192 million.
On day 1, stock popped nearly 106% 🔥
In 2018, $ZS' blockbuster IPO raised nearly $192 million.
On day 1, stock popped nearly 106% 🔥
Today the company has nearly 2,300 employees and a market cap of $17 billion.
Growing at ~45% rates, ZS brought in $430 million in revenues last year alone.
Growing at ~45% rates, ZS brought in $430 million in revenues last year alone.
Jay Chaudhry is worth $8 billion, making him one of the wealthiest Indian Americans on Forbes list.
Along with his family, Jay owns 45% of ZScaler.
His overnight success took more than 30 years to come to fruition and is a extraordinary inspiration for other entrepreneurs 🔥
Along with his family, Jay owns 45% of ZScaler.
His overnight success took more than 30 years to come to fruition and is a extraordinary inspiration for other entrepreneurs 🔥
Links to relevant reads on this subject 🤙
No holds barred discussion — alejandrocremades.com/jay-chaudhry/
Jay’s wiki — en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jay_Chaud…
Other —
forbes.com/profile/jay-ch…
scmagazine.com/home/security-…
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CipherTru…
sramanamitra.com/2013/06/25/a-s…
No holds barred discussion — alejandrocremades.com/jay-chaudhry/
Jay’s wiki — en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jay_Chaud…
Other —
forbes.com/profile/jay-ch…
scmagazine.com/home/security-…
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CipherTru…
sramanamitra.com/2013/06/25/a-s…
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