Biography of Arun Jain: Founder and CEO of Intellect Design Arena -Entrepreneur
Journey of Arun Jain:
Early Days and Education
Arun Jain began his academic journey at Harcourt Butler
Higher Secondary School in 1974, before pursuing a BSc in Electronics
Engineering from Delhi College of Engineering, graduating in 1983. These early
years helped shape his analytical thinking and planted the seeds for his future
entrepreneurial path.
The Entrepreneurial Spark
In 1986, Arun launched his first major entrepreneurial
venture by founding Nucleus Software. This marked the beginning of his journey
in the financial technology industry. It was his first step towards creating IT
solutions tailored for the financial sector.
Launching Polaris – A Game Changer
In 1993, Arun founded Polaris Software Lab, which would go
on to become a major player in financial technology. Under his leadership,
Polaris recorded a CAGR of over 100% between 1993 and 2000. He built it into a
robust IT firm specializing in consulting, services, and product development
for global financial clients.
Global Growth and Major Acquisition
In 1999, Polaris became a publicly listed company,
signifying its maturity and growth. Just three years later, in 2002, Arun led
Polaris in acquiring Citigroup’s software business in India, marking the largest
transaction of its kind at that time. The integration was successful and
transformative for the company.
Biography of Arun Jain: Founder and CEO of Intellect Design Arena-Entrepreneur #startup#age#net worth#investor#shark tank#Intellect Design Arena story
Intellect Design Arena is Born
In 2014, Arun demerged Polaris to create a new entity—Intellect
Design Arena—a specialized FinTech company focused on building world-class
products and platforms for global financial institutions. This company embodied
his passion for using Design Thinking to simplify and solve complex problems.
Driving Innovation through Design Thinking
Arun believes that Design Thinking is not just a
technique—it’s a science, a philosophy, and a way to drive meaningful change.
For him, asking the right questions is more important than finding quick
solutions. At Intellect, Design Thinking connects business, technology, and
operations, helping banks and institutions innovate effectively.
Creating a Future-Ready FinTech Company
Intellect quickly gained a strong global presence. It became
a cloud-native, multi-product financial platform, working with 325+ financial
institutions in 57 countries. With tools powered by AI, ML, and predictive
analytics, Intellect helped revolutionize how banks approach customer
engagement and operations.
Launching eMACH.ai and Purple Fabric (2023)
In February 2023, Arun introduced eMACH.ai, a comprehensive Open
Finance platform based on First Principles Thinking. This was followed by the
creation of Purple Fabric, the world’s first Open Business Impact AI Platform,
designed to align business impact with enterprise priorities using AI-driven
strategies.
Empowering Rural India – Mission Samriddhi (2016–Present)
In 2016, Arun launched Mission Samriddhi, a social impact
initiative focused on the holistic development of rural India. Using the
principles of Design Thinking, this mission works with local communities and
government bodies to solve real-world challenges and create scalable,
sustainable solutions.
Igniting Young Minds – Ullas Trust (1997–Present)
Back in 1997, Arun founded the Ullas Trust to inspire
students from economically challenged backgrounds. The Trust has since impacted
over 2,60,000 children across India, instilling in them the “Can Do” spirit and
providing essential life skills and career guidance to help them pursue their
dreams.
Promoting Design Thinking in Education and Society
Arun has also established the School of Design Thinking, an
institution that trains professionals, students, and leaders in the Design The
Thinking© methodology. He is a strong advocate for spreading this approach
across academia, industry, and government to unlock human potential and
creativity.
Recognition and Leadership Across Platforms
Over the years, Arun’s contributions have earned him several
accolades, including the Dronacharya Award by TiECON Chennai, the Lifetime
Achievement Award by CII, and the Amity Excellence Award. He has also served as
the Chairperson of IIIT Ranchi from 2020 to 2023, mentoring young minds in the
tech space.
Author, Advisor, and Visionary Leader (Present Day)
Today, Arun is not just an entrepreneur but also an author,
mentor, and national thought leader. His books—UnMukt, Digital:
The Art of The Possible, and From Teenager to Achiever—capture his
philosophies on growth, innovation, and youth empowerment. His deep commitment
to building institutions, shaping mindsets, and solving real problems continues
to inspire the next generation of leaders.
Timeline Summary:
- 1974–1983:
Schooling and Engineering degree at Delhi College of Engineering
- 1986:
Founded Nucleus Software
- 1993:
Launched Polaris Software Lab
- 1999:
Polaris went public
- 2002:
Acquired Citigroup’s software business in India
- 1997:
Founded Ullas Trust
- 2014:
Formed Intellect Design Arena
- 2016:
Started Mission Samriddhi
- 2020–2023:
Chairperson, Board of Governors, IIIT Ranchi
- 2023:
Launched eMACH.ai and Purple Fabric
