Jay Vijayan
{{Short description|Indian-American entrepreneur}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Jay Vijayan
| image = Jay Vijayan.jpg
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_name = Jayaprakash Vijayan
| birth_date = {{birth based on age as of date|48|2020|10|29}}
| birth_place = Madras, Tamil Nadu, India
| citizenship = United States
| education = University of Madras (B.Sc., M.Sc.)
| occupation = Founder & CEO, Tekion Corp
| parents =
}}
Jayaprakash "Jay" Vijayan (born {{birth based on age as of date|48|2020|10|29|noage=1}}) is a US-based entrepreneur, engineer, inventor, and investor. He is the founder and CEO of Tekion Corp, a SaaS company based in the United States. Prior to founding Tekion, he served as chief information officer (CIO) at Tesla Motors. He also worked for VMware and Oracle.{{Cite web |last=Mathur |first=Nandita |date=2020-10-21 |title=Tekion joins the unicorn club |url=https://www.livemint.com/companies/start-ups/former-tesla-cio-jay-vijayan-s-startup-tekion-turns-unicorn-11603280432589.html |website=Mint |language=en}}{{Cite news |date=September 20, 2024 |title=Will be profitable by 2025, a higher priority than IPO: Tekion CEO Jay Vijayan |url=https://www.moneycontrol.com/technology/will-be-profitable-by-2025-a-higher-priority-than-ipo-tekion-ceo-jay-vijayan-article-12826073.html |work=Moneycontrol}}
Early life and education
Jay was born in Chennai, into a Tamil family, to K. Vijayan and V. Umadevi. His father operated a computer science training and coaching institute in the city.{{Cite news |title=Meet Jayaprakash Vijayan - The man who keeps Tesla charged up |url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/passenger-vehicle/cars/meet-jayaprakash-vijayan-the-man-who-keeps-tesla-charged-up/articleshow/45210800.cms}} Jay completed his education at AVM Matriculation and Avichi Higher Secondary Schools. Subsequently, he pursued his higher studies at the University of Madras in Chennai, where he earned both a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science degree.{{Cite news |last=Ahmad |first=Samreen |date=2020-10-21 |title=Former Tesla CIO Jay Vijayan's start-up Tekion joins unicorn club |work=Business Standard India |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/former-tesla-cio-jay-vijayan-s-start-up-tekion-joins-unicorn-club-120102101176_1.html}}
Career
Jay started his career at Bahwan CyberTek before moving to Singapore and finally to the United States.{{cite news |last1=Balachandran |first1=Manu |date=October 29, 2020 |title=How Jay Vijayan—a Politician's Son, Geology Grad And Former Tesla Techie—built The World's Newest Unicorn |language=en |work=Forbes India |url=https://www.forbesindia.com/article/take-one-big-story-of-the-day/how-jay-vijayana-politicians-son-geology-grad-and-former-tesla-techiebuilt-the-worlds-newest-unicorn/63813/1}} After a brief stint at Bahwan CyberTek, he joined City Developments Limited, a private company headquartered in Singapore, and also completed Oracle database certification programs. He worked at Oracle in the US from 1999 to 2007 as a programmer, and later a senior manager.
In 2007, Jay left Oracle for VMware, a California-based cloud computing and virtualization technology company, where he served as senior director from 2007 to 2012.{{Cite web |date=April 29, 2019 |title=HyreCar names former Tesla CIO Vijayan to board |url=https://www.autoremarketing.com/ar/hyrecar-names-former-tesla-cio-vijayan-board/ |website=Auto Remarketing}}{{Cite web |last= |last2= |first2= |title=HyreCar Appoints Former Tesla CIO to Board of Directors |url=https://www.autorentalnews.com/330706/hyrecar-appoints-former-tesla-cio-to-board-of-directors |website=Auto Rental News}} He led the application development of all business applications for VMware.{{Cite web |last=Loizos |first=Connie |date=2020-10-22 |title=This former Tesla CIO just raised $150 million more to pull car dealers into the 21st century |url=https://techcrunch.com/2020/10/21/this-former-tesla-cio-just-raised-150-million-more-to-pull-car-dealers-into-the-21st-century/ |access-date=2024-01-09 |website=TechCrunch |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Rogers |first=Bruce |title=Ex Tesla CIO Jay Vijayan Builds Tekion To Improve Car Buying Experience |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucerogers/2023/05/02/ex-tesla-cio-jay-vijayan-builds-tekion-to-improve-car-buying-experience/ |access-date=2024-01-09 |website=Forbes |language=en}} In 2012, VMware reported a revenue of US$3.77 billion.{{Cite news |title=VMware posts first billion dollar quarter |url=https://www.edgemiddleeast.com/business/587724-vmware-posts-first-billion-dollar-quarter |work=Edge Middle East}}{{Cite news |last=PK |first=Jayadevan |date=2014-11-20 |title=Meet Jayaprakash Vijayan - The man who keeps Tesla charged up |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/meet-jayaprakash-vijayan-the-man-who-keeps-tesla-charged-up/articleshow/45210800.cms?from=mdr |access-date=2024-01-09 |work=The Economic Times |issn=0013-0389}}
From 2012 to 2016, Jay served as the CIO at Tesla Motors. In this role, he reported directly to CEO Elon Musk. Jay and his team were responsible for managing Tesla's digital and information systems. He is credited with building Warp, Tesla's home-grown ERP system. It integrates e-commerce and back-end management software, designed to support Tesla's direct approach to selling and servicing cars.{{Cite news |last=King |first=Rachael |date=2016-04-04 |title=Tesla Motors CIO Leaves to Launch Stealth Startup |url=http://blogs.wsj.com/cio/2016/04/04/tesla-motors-cio-leaves-to-launch-stealth-startup/ |access-date=2024-01-09 |work=Wall Street Journal |language=en-US |issn=0099-9660}}{{Cite news |last=King |first=Rachael |date=2014-05-15 |title=At Tesla, Software Takes the Driver's Seat |url=http://blogs.wsj.com/cio/2014/05/15/at-tesla-software-takes-the-drivers-seat/ |access-date=2024-01-09 |work=Wall Street Journal |language=en-US |issn=0099-9660}}
In early 2016, Jay left Tesla to found Tekion Corp, a SaaS company that operated in stealth mode up until late 2019. Tekion is a cloud technology company focused on the automobile retail industry.{{Cite web |last=Mathur |first=Nandita |date=2020-10-21 |title=Tekion joins the unicorn club |url=https://www.livemint.com/companies/start-ups/former-tesla-cio-jay-vijayan-s-startup-tekion-turns-unicorn-11603280432589.html |access-date= |website=mint |language=en}}{{Cite news |title=Longtime Tesla Motors CIO Jay Vijayan has formed a stealth startup |url=https://techcrunch.com/2016/04/04/longtime-tesla-motors-cio-jay-vijayan-has-formed-a-stealth-startup/}} In 2020, Tekion Corp raised $150 million as part of its series C funding round led by private equity firm Advent International.{{Cite web |last=Mathur |first=Nandita |date=2020-10-21 |title=Tekion joins the unicorn club |url=https://www.livemint.com/companies/start-ups/former-tesla-cio-jay-vijayan-s-startup-tekion-turns-unicorn-11603280432589.html |website=Mint |language=en}}{{Cite news |title=Tekion turns unicorn with $150 million funding led by Advent International |work=The Economic Times |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/funding/tekion-turns-unicorn-with-150-million-funding-led-by-advent-international/articleshow/78788507.cms}} In 2021, Tekion secured $250 million in a Series D financing round from Alkeon Capital and Durable Capital, resulting in a valuation of over $3.5 billion.{{cite news |date=5 October 2021 |title=Tekion raises $250 m in Series D |language=en |work=Business Line |url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/info-tech/tekion-raises-250-m-in-series-d/article36844743.ece}}{{cite news |date=5 October 2021 |title=Tekion raises $250mn in Series D funding round; valuation nearly triples |work=Business Standard |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/tekion-raises-250mn-in-series-d-funding-round-valuation-nearly-triples-121100501196_1.html}} In July 2024, Jay announced that his company raised $200 million from Dragoneer Investment Group, bringing its valuation to over $4 billion.{{Cite news |date=2024-07-17 |title=Tekion raises $200mn from Dragoneer, valued at $4 bn |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/tekion-raises-200mn-from-dragoneer-valued-at-4-bn/articleshow/111793188.cms |access-date= |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}
Car companies such as General Motors,{{Cite web |title=GM to launch EV digital retail tool powered by Tekion |url=https://www.autonews.com/retail/gm-launch-ev-digital-retail-tool-powered-tekion#:~:text=GM%20was%20an%20early%20investor,franchised%20dealerships%20in%20late%202019. |website=Automotive News}} Hyundai Motors, Renault–Nissan–Mitsubishi, Exor, the parent company of Stellantis, which owns Citroën, Fiat, Jeep, Maserati, Ram Trucks, as well as Ferrari, and BMWi Ventures have also invested in Tekion.{{Cite web |last=Loizos |first=Connie |date=2021-10-05 |title=Tekion, the automotive retail platform headed by a former Tesla CIO, just tripled in value |url=https://techcrunch.com/2021/10/05/tekion-the-automotive-retail-platform-headed-by-a-former-tesla-cio-just-tripled-in-value/ |access-date=2023-11-03 |website=TechCrunch |language=en-US}}{{Cite news |date=2020-10-22 |title=Former Tesla CIO Jay Vijayan's Tekion turns a unicorn with $150 million funding |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/150mn-round-values-cloud-co-tekion-at-1bn/articleshow/78799591.cms |access-date=2023-11-03 |issn=0971-8257}}
Jay served on the board of NIC Inc., a digital government service provider for U.S. federal and state governments,{{Cite web |title=About NIC (EGOV) and eGovernment Solutions {{!}} NIC |url=https://www.egov.com/who-we-are.html |access-date=2021-02-05 |website=www.egov.com}}{{cite news |last1=High |first1=Peter |date=19 June 2018 |title=Former CIOs Of Tesla And The U.S. Government Join Board Of NIC |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/peterhigh/2018/06/19/former-cios-of-tesla-and-the-us-government-join-board-of-nic/?sh=7e476de22b5e |work=Forbes |language=en}} and also sat on the advisory board at Sibros, an over-the-air platform connected to vehicle systems, in the past. He is currently the Chairperson of the Board at Tekion Corp.{{cite news |last1=Garsten |first1=Ed |date=July 19, 2021 |title=Tesla Ties Leads To German Solar Electric Car Company Choosing Sibros Connectivity Platform |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/edgarsten/2021/07/19/tesla-ties-leads-to-german-solar-electric-car-company-choosing-sibros-connectivity-platform/?sh=1b8caa8138a3 |work=Forbes |language=en}}
Awards and recognition
In 2014, Jay received the Tamil American Pioneer – Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in Engineering/Science from the Federation of Tamil Sangams of North American.{{Cite web |title=Jay Vijayan: TiECon Midwest 2016 |url=http://archive.tiecondetroit.org/2016/jay-vijayan.php |website=archive.tiecondetroit.org}}
Jay has several patents granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).{{cite news |title=Vijayan; Jayaprakash Patent Filings |work=uspto.report |url=https://uspto.report/company/Vijayan-Jayaprakash}}{{cite news |date=24 December 2020 |title=3d Vehicle Model Data Capturing and Retrieving for Vehicle Inspection, Service and Maintenance |work=FreePatentsOnline |url=https://www.freepatentsonline.com/y2020/0402327.html}}{{cite news |title=Patents Assigned to TEKION CORP - Justia Patents Search |work=patents.justia.com |url=https://patents.justia.com/assignee/tekion-corp}}
In 2023, he was recognized as an Automotive News All-Star for Digital Retail by Automotive News.{{Cite news|url=https://www.autonews.com/awards/2023-automotive-news-all-stars-0|title=2023 Automotive News All Stars - Automotive News|date=|work=Automotive News|access-date=2023-05-12|language=en}}
Personal life
{{As of|2014|November}}, Jay lives in Palo Alto with his wife and two children.{{Cite news|last=PK|first=Jayadevan|title=Meet Jayaprakash Vijayan - The man who keeps Tesla charged up|work=The Economic Times|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/meet-jayaprakash-vijayan-the-man-who-keeps-tesla-charged-up/articleshow/45210800.cms?from=mdr|access-date=2021-06-27}} He leads Tekion’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts through different activities.{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=2024-09-01 |title=Tekion and Praana adopt tiger at Bannerghatta Biological Park |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/tekion-and-praana-adopt-tiger-at-bannerghatta-biological-park/article68586140.ece |access-date= |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}
Further reading
- [https://canadianautodealer.ca/2022/07/jay-vijayan-founder-ceo-tekion-corp-visits-canadian-auto-dealer-for-a-sit-down-interview/ Jay Vijayan, Founder, CEO Tekion Corp visits Canadian auto dealer for a sit-down interview]