Join our Waitlist for Expert Advice!

How This Former IBM Director Received a Backing From The TATA group Crayon Data's global 'Taste Graph' data identifies customer tastes and preferences for its clients to have deeply personalized customer interactions.

By Sandeep Soni

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media.

Entrepreneur

SURESH V SHANKAR (55), FOUNDER, CRAYON DATA

Among the league of companies which have kept their high growth under the radar for quite some time is Singapore and Chennai-based big data company Crayon Data. Launched by former director at IBM - Shankar has been a big data and digital evangelist for over a decade. Further, he has been the point person in creating disruptions in the way businesses in banking and hospitality sectors use data for intelligent business decisions. For instance, Crayon Data's global "Taste Graph' data identifies customer tastes and preferences for its clients to have deeply personalized customer interactions. "This happens at an anonymized level that protects privacy for customers and ensures security for our clients," says Shankar. A bank, for example, uses its product Maya to identify the most relevant merchants and offers to send to their customers instead of spamming them with one-sizefits-all messages.

In a span of five-and-a-half years, Shankar has built a staggering customer base of over 500 million globally. That's among the reasons for Tata Group Chairman Ratan Tata and Infosys co-founder Kris Gopalakrishnan to back him. Being picked up as one of the top 10 software start-ups in the world in 2014 was another major highlight for him. The platform and proposition offered by Crayon Data is, however, scalable across industry verticals. The company's Yoda platform helps enterprises to personalize sales messaging for small and medium enterprises' prospects. "Our proprietary Taste Graph, our patents in the areas of understanding tastes, and putting them to use for enterprises are two big entry barriers for others," he adds.

DRIVING ENGAGEMENT

LAUNCH June 2012

MONTHLY IMPRESSIONS 1.1m

GROWTH 230% (2018 projected over 2017)

HEADCOUNT 70

NO. OF PATENTS 4

Sandeep Soni

Former Features Editor

Side Hustle

At 16, She Started a Side Hustle While 'Stuck at Home.' Now It's on Track to Earn Over $3.1 Million This Year.

Evangelina Petrakis, 21, was in high school when she posted on social media for fun — then realized a business opportunity.

Business News

Remote Work Enthusiast Kevin O'Leary Does TV Appearance Wearing Suit Jacket, Tie and Pajama Bottoms

"Shark Tank" star Kevin O'Leary looks all business—until you see the wide view.

Health & Wellness

I'm a CEO, Founder and Father of 2 — Here Are 3 Practices That Help Me Maintain My Sanity.

This is a combination of active practices that I've put together over a decade of my intense entrepreneurial journey.

Growing a Business

Why 'Founder Mode' is Not a One-Size-Fits-All Solution to Leadership

The founder-driven approach can boost a business's growth, but transitioning from "founder mode" to a balanced leadership style is essential for sustained success and scaling.

Growing a Business

PR vs. Marketing — Which One Delivers Better ROI for Your Business?

PR builds trust and credibility over time, while marketing drives short-term sales through targeted campaigns, making both essential for business success, depending on goals and budget.

Business News

San Francisco's Train System Is Still Run on Floppy Disks. It May Finally Get an Upgrade.

Officials approve a $212 million plan to replace its wildly outdated train control system.