Biography of Ashwin Kandoi: Founder and CEO of Winjit -Entrepreneur
Biography of Ashwin Kandoi:
Ashwin Kandoi: A Chartered Accountant Who Dreamed in Code
In the quiet city of Nashik, Ashwin Kandoi began his journey as a Chartered
Accountant, graduating from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India in
2000. But beyond numbers and finance, he had a deep passion for technology.
Ashwin always believed in a mix of common sense and positive attitude, and that
mindset would later help him co-create something remarkable. Though trained in
finance, his heart always beat for building things with tech—and that blend of
skills became his greatest strength.
The Garage Dream: Founding Winjit
While still in his student days, Ashwin teamed up with Abhijit Junagade, an
engineer and MBA, to work on a flash animation project. The task intrigued them
so much that they did it from the garage of their homes. When they completed
the job, they realized they didn’t even have a company bank account to accept
payment. And just like that, Winjit Technologies was born—started as a passion
project that would later become a global technology player.
Early Days: From Services to Strategy
Winjit operated like many other IT service companies during its early
years—delivering software solutions to clients. It was a slow but steady
journey. Ashwin’s experience in finance and Abhijit’s engineering background
gave them a balanced approach to business. They focused on delivering value to
all stakeholders—customers, employees, promoters, and investors.
The Mobility Breakthrough
In 2009, the mobile revolution was beginning to take off, especially with
BlackBerry dominating the smartphone scene. Seizing this moment, Winjit built
its first consumer-facing mobile app: Hanuman Chalisa. The spiritual app
was a runaway success, with over 50,000 downloads across 65 countries within
just two weeks—without any advertising. This surprising win convinced Ashwin
and his team to focus on mobile solutions full-time.
Scaling Up with Music and Media Apps
With growing confidence in app development, Winjit soon began creating mobile
apps for media companies. One of their major clients was Times Music. Instead
of charging upfront fees, Winjit proposed a revenue-sharing model, ensuring
mutual success. The apps flourished, thanks to Times Music’s marketing and
Winjit’s tech prowess—a model that helped build long-lasting partnerships.
Enterprise Mobility: Serving the Giants
Beyond consumer apps, Winjit began working with global companies like Philips,
3M, and Levi’s, building enterprise mobility solutions. A key highlight was EBS
iNotify, a mobile app that helped Oracle users speed up their document
approval processes. Available on both Android and iOS, the app enhanced
business productivity and demonstrated Winjit’s capability in creating
efficient business tools.
Global Reach, Local Roots
From its humble Nashik base, Winjit grew to employ over 250 people. Despite
being a small-town company, it made a global mark, delivering projects in over
45 countries. For many employees, Winjit was their gateway to the world. One
team member recalled needing a new passport due to frequent international
travel—a testament to the company’s global presence and growth.
Upgrading to Microsoft Azure
By 2013, with a growing portfolio of consumer apps, Winjit needed a more
scalable and reliable backend. The team evaluated several options and
ultimately chose Microsoft Azure for its flexibility and support. Previously
hosted on fragmented servers including GoDaddy, moving to Azure allowed them to
streamline operations and manage bandwidth-heavy B2C apps more efficiently.
Biography of Ashwin Kandoi: Founder and CEO of Winjit -Entrepreneur# startup#age#net worth#investor#Winjit story#Ashwin Kandoi story#Winjit story
Expanding Horizons: IoT Takes Center Stage
Ashwin and his team soon realized that the future lay beyond just mobile apps.
In 2016, they launched the Winjit IoT Gateway Device Management (GDM)
platform, a full-fledged IoT solution. It could collect sensor data, stream it
live, store it offline, and provide open-source API access. With this, they
started supporting smart city use cases like parking and traffic
management—marking a big leap from mobile to smart infrastructure.
Winjit Today: Focused and Future-Ready
Today, Winjit is a recognized name in the world of IoT and enterprise
technology. With a strong foundation in software development, the company now
focuses on building customized mobility and IoT solutions. It has also raised
$2.93 million in funding and is currently valued at $16.6 million. Their growth
is backed by key investors like RIB Software and H.R.K. Enterprises.
Building with Passion and Purpose
Despite being the co-founder and director, Ashwin remains deeply involved in
daily operations and innovation. His leadership style is rooted in practicality
and optimism. Whether it’s finance, project management, or general operations,
he brings clarity and dedication to everything he does. Ashwin’s goal has
always been to create value—not just profit for everyone involved.
A Culture of Learning and Exposure
Winjit’s culture emphasizes learning, global exposure, and adaptability.
Employees are encouraged to explore international opportunities, work across
domains, and develop cross-functional skills. From fresh graduates to seasoned
professionals, everyone is challenged and supported to grow in their careers,
making Winjit a breeding ground for future leaders.
The Road Ahead: Tech, Talent, and Transformation
With more than two decades behind them, Ashwin and Abhijit now look to the
future. Winjit is doubling down on cloud technologies and IoT, while still
growing its mobile and enterprise software segments. From a garage in Nashik to
the global stage, the company’s journey is far from over. As Ashwin puts it,
“Technology is in a very interesting phase right now, and we’re buckled up for
the road ahead.”
Timeline of Key Milestones:
- 1996–2000
– Ashwin completes Chartered Accountancy
- 2000
– Winjit Technologies founded during college days
- 2001–2003
– Ashwin works as Financial Controller at ABB
- 2009
– Launches Hanuman Chalisa app; 50K+ downloads in 2 weeks
- 2010–2012
– Partners with Times Music and other media houses
- 2013
– Migrates infrastructure to Microsoft Azure
- 2016
– Launches IoT Gateway Device Management platform
- 2020–Present
– Expands to 45+ countries; explores deep tech like AI, cloud, and IoT
- Current
– Over $16.6M valuation and 60M+ app downloads
