Industry: Aerospace & Defence

After 17 successful years as a scientist with DRDO, Radhika P founded Pinaka Aerospace in 2007 to bridge the gap between cutting-edge technology and practical solutions in India’s defense and aerospace sectors. Radhika’s journey began with a BSc in Hyderabad and an MSc in Computer Science in Mysuru, leading to her role in DRDO where she worked on electronic warfare and communication intelligence systems. Her entrepreneurial venture, Despite challenges such as high entry barriers and funding difficulties, Pinaka Aerospace has thrived, providing vital solutions for national defense.

Note to Readers: Germ of an Idea is a series about the entrepreneurial idea — how it was conceived, shaped and launched, detailing the early days filled with uncertainty and apprehension, the bold steps taken and the eventual success. The series hopes to inspire thousands of potential Indian entrepreneurs who are on the cusp of starting up or have ventured recently or are in schools and colleges dreaming of turning founders

There is something about pivoting and Acharyas. In his early 40s, Arabinda Acharya left his insurance job in Bhubaneswar to chase his dream to get a doctorate. The mid-career shift to academics proved to be hugely beneficial. At 58, Dharitri Dwivedy started her non-profit which is thriving.

Years later, when their son, Amrit Acharya, had to design a business pivot, it was a case of history repeating itself, and also the beginning of a billion-dollar journey.

Zetwerk, originally thought of as a software as a service (SaaS) business, needed a pivot to succeed. Amrit and his co-founders decided to turn into a B2B manufacturing marketplace. Today, the company is at $2.7 billion