Siddharam Shingshetty’s Entrepreneurial Journey: From IT consultancy to SaaS innovations
Siddharam Shingshetty, founder of Riktam Technologies, has built his career on bold choices—from establishing IT consultancy services to building innovative SaaS products simultaneously.
Snapshot
Siddharam Shingshetty, better known as Sid, is a Solapur, Maharashtra, native who discovered his entrepreneurial spirit early in life. While pursuing a degree in Computer Science, he developed a GRE prep tool that laid the foundation for his tech-driven business ventures. Although he initially started his career at TCS, Sid soon left the corporate world to launch his own company, Riktam Technologies, in Hyderabad in 2007.
Sid’s vision and adaptability helped him grow Riktam from a mobile app development firm to a full-service IT consulting business with over 100 employees. Along the way, not all of Sid’s ventures were successful—his social networking platform, GroupGala.com, and RemoteTeachers.com, an online learning platform launched during the pandemic, faced challenges and ultimately didn’t take off. These experiences taught Sid valuable lessons in timing, scalability, and aligning with market needs.
Subsequently, Sid ventured into product development and found success with TigerSheet, a no-code platform that simplifies application building for businesses, and Zinterview.ai, an AI-powered interview platform.
Check out the Deep Dive section for the detailed career journey.
Career highlights
GRE Software success (2006-2007): Sid’s first entrepreneurial success came from selling GRE prep software, which opened the door to future ventures.
Founding Riktam Technologies (2007): Leaving TCS, Sid capitalized on the mobile app boom and scaled his company to serve diverse clients.
Products that didn’t take off (2008-2020): Sid launched GroupGala.com, a social networking platform, and RemoteTeachers.com, an online learning platform. Both failed, but they taught him valuable lessons about timing, scalability, and market competition.
Product expansion (2016-2022): Sid launched TigerSheet (no-code platform) and Zinterview.ai (AI-powered recruitment platform), continuing to push innovation.
X-factor
Sid believes that COURAGE was his defining Career Growth X factor. It was this courage that enabled him to leave a stable corporate job, embrace uncertainty, and pursue his passion, even in the face of failure.
Deep Dive
Siddharam Shingshetty’s entrepreneurial journey began in Solapur, Maharashtra, where a passion for technology first sparked his vision. Born in a region where resources were scarce, Sid’s love for innovation and problem-solving set him apart early on. After completing his degree in Computer Science and Engineering in 2002, he identified a challenge during his own GRE preparation—vocabulary was a key hurdle. Determined to overcome this challenge, Sid developed a GRE prep tool himself to tackle the problem. This tool, initially built for personal use, proved to be so effective that he quickly saw its commercial potential. Sid successfully sold his software to GRE coaching institutes across India, marking his first taste of entrepreneurial success. This early win laid the foundation for what would become a career defined by risk-taking and technological vision.
Despite the initial success, Sid didn’t settle. Recognizing that education was just the beginning of his journey, he pursued an MBA in IT and Finance from ICFAI, Hyderabad, graduating in 2005. This was a pivotal time in his career, as Sid briefly ventured into the corporate world by joining Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) as a business analyst. However, it didn’t take long for him to realize that the corporate path was limiting for someone with entrepreneurial ambitions. After just one year, Sid made the bold decision to step away from a stable career, diving into the uncertain but thrilling world of entrepreneurship. His next venture would become the launching pad for his future success.
In 2007, Sid founded Riktam Technologies, a company initially focused on mobile app development, just as the mobile revolution was beginning to take off. Sid’s ability to foresee trends came into play when Apple released its iPhone API in 2008. Understanding that mobile apps were the future, Sid immediately pivoted his company to focus on app development. This decision paid off immensely as Riktam rapidly grew from a small two-person team to a full-service IT solutions provider. Over time, Riktam began offering custom software development and digital transformation services, helping clients across industries modernize their operations.
But entrepreneurship is never without setbacks. In 2008, Sid launched GroupGala.com, a social media platform designed to help college alumni stay connected through group chats and networking. While the idea had merit, the rapid rise of Facebook made it impossible for Sid’s platform to compete. Technical limitations and the dominance of larger players in the space forced Sid to shelve the project. Despite the failure, Sid walked away with invaluable lessons about timing, market competition, and the critical importance of having the right infrastructure.
Undeterred, Sid continued to innovate. In 2016, he launched TigerSheet, a no-code platform that allows small and medium-sized enterprises to build internal applications without needing extensive programming skills. The platform quickly gained traction due to its affordability and ease of use, helping businesses streamline their internal processes. With TigerSheet’s success, Sid proved his knack for identifying gaps in the market and solving real-world problems with technology.
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, Sid saw yet another opportunity.
He developed RemoteTeachers.com, an online platform aimed at connecting learners with teachers worldwide, especially during the height of global lockdowns. While the platform showed promise in the short term, the reopening of physical learning spaces led to a significant drop in demand. The platform ultimately couldn’t sustain growth, but this failure reinforced a critical lesson for Sid—the importance of aligning product offerings with long-term trends rather than short-lived phenomena.
Sid’s persistence paid off with the launch of Zinterview.ai in 2022. This AI-powered recruitment platform was designed to revolutionize the hiring process, automating human-like interviews and generating detailed evaluation reports for organizations. By leveraging artificial intelligence, Zinterview.ai helps companies streamline their hiring processes, reducing bias and making recruitment more efficient. This innovative product quickly gained traction, cementing Sid’s place as a forward-thinking entrepreneur.
Through his journey, Sid’s career highlights the impact of bold decision-making and adaptation. Despite facing failures, Sid has continued to pivot, learn, and grow. His story highlights how technology can solve real-world problems, inspiring aspiring entrepreneurs to take calculated risks and adapt to change.
Day-to-Day Life as an Entrepreneur
As the founder of Riktam Technologies and the visionary behind multiple products, Sid’s day-to-day life as an entrepreneur is dynamic and ever-evolving. His mornings often start with a cup of tea before diving straight into work, with days frequently stretching well beyond 14 to 15 hours, especially when focusing on new product development. With Riktam Technologies on autopilot, thanks to a capable team, Sid dedicates much of his time to ventures like TigerSheet and Zinterview.ai. From brainstorming innovative ideas and strategizing go-to-market plans to guiding product development teams and meeting clients, Sid juggles a variety of tasks.
Message for budding entrepreneurs: Should you take the leap?
Sid’s message to aspiring entrepreneurs is clear: the space for entrepreneurship is far from saturated, and there’s always room for fresh ideas, especially in emerging areas of technology. While established sectors like food delivery and social networking might feel overcrowded, opportunities abound in rapidly evolving fields such as AI, no-code platforms, and automation. For those considering entrepreneurship, Sid emphasizes the importance of identifying market gaps and being ready to adapt quickly to changes.
He advises budding entrepreneurs to focus on solving meaningful, real-world problems with technology and to approach the journey with passion and determination. While the path is challenging, it is also immensely rewarding for those willing to embrace uncertainty and think creatively. The future, according to Sid, belongs to those who dare to innovate and take calculated risks.
Engage and Grow
Sid’s journey offers valuable lessons for those aspiring to break into entrepreneurship. Here are a few resources he recommends:
"The Lean Startup" by Eric Ries – An essential guide for launching and managing startups.
"Crossing the Chasm" by Geoffrey A. Moore – A must-read for entrepreneurs looking to scale their tech products.
Where to find Sid?
That’s it for this week’s story!
Key takeaways for aspiring entrepreneurs
Taking calculated risks can open up opportunities you never imagined.
Failure is not the end—every setback is a chance to learn and grow.
Staying adaptable and aligning with market trends is crucial for long-term success.
Focus on solving real-world problems to create meaningful impact.
Building a strong team allows you to scale and explore new opportunities.
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