Commercial Noida at 13:15, 24 October 2024

2024-10-24T13:15:30Z

New page

{{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]] ([[Bachelor of Science|B.Sc.]], [[Master of Science|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}})<ref name=":13132" /> is a US-based entrepreneur, engineer, inventor, and investor. He is the founder and CEO of [[Tekion Corp]], a [[Software as a service|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 Corporation|Oracle]].<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref>

== Early life and education ==
Jay was born in [[Chennai]], into a [[Tamils|Tamil family]], to K. Vijayan and V. Umadevi. His father operated a computer science training and coaching institute in the city.<ref name=":13132" /><ref name=":1212">{{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}}</ref> Jay completed his education at AVM Matriculation and Avichi Higher Secondary Schools. Subsequently, he pursued his higher studies at the [[University of Madras|University of Madras in Chennai]], where he earned both a [[Bachelor of Science]] and a [[Master of Science]] degree.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

==Career ==
Jay started his career at Bahwan CyberTek before moving to Singapore and finally to the United States.<ref name=":13132">{{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}}</ref> 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.<ref name=":13132" /> He worked at Oracle in the US from 1999 to 2007 as a programmer, and later a senior manager.<ref name=":13132" />

In 2007, Jay left Oracle for [[VMware]], a California-based [[cloud computing]] and [[Hardware virtualization|virtualization technology]] company, where he served as senior director from 2007 to 2012.<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref> He led the application development of all business applications for VMware.<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref> In 2012, VMware reported a revenue of US$3.77 billion.<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref>

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.<ref name=":13132" /> He is credited with building Warp, Tesla's home-grown [[Enterprise resource planning|ERP system]]. It integrates e-commerce and back-end management software, designed to support Tesla's direct approach to selling and servicing cars.<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref>

In early 2016, Jay left Tesla to found Tekion Corp, a [[Software as a service|SaaS]] company that operated in [[stealth mode]] up until late 2019. Tekion is a cloud technology company focused on the automobile retail industry.<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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/}}</ref> In 2020, Tekion Corp raised $150 million as part of its series C funding round led by private equity firm [[Advent International]].<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref> In July 2024, Jay announced that his company raised $200 million from [[Dragoneer Investment Group]], bringing its valuation to over $4 billion.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

Car companies such as [[General Motors]],<ref>{{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}}</ref> [[Hyundai Motor Company|Hyundai Motors]], [[Renault–Nissan–Mitsubishi Alliance|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.<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref>

Jay served on the board of [[NIC Inc.]], a digital government service provider for U.S. federal and state governments,<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

== 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 America|Federation of Tamil Sangams of North American]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jay Vijayan: TiECon Midwest 2016 |url=http://archive.tiecondetroit.org/2016/jay-vijayan.php |website=archive.tiecondetroit.org}}</ref>

Jay has several patents granted by the [[United States Patent and Trademark Office]] (USPTO).<ref>{{cite news |title=Vijayan; Jayaprakash Patent Filings |work=uspto.report |url=https://uspto.report/company/Vijayan-Jayaprakash}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Patents Assigned to TEKION CORP - Justia Patents Search |work=patents.justia.com |url=https://patents.justia.com/assignee/tekion-corp}}</ref>

In 2023, he was recognized as an Automotive News All-Star for Digital Retail by Automotive News.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

==Personal life==

{{As of|2014|November}}, Jay lives in Palo Alto with his wife and two children.<ref>{{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}}</ref> He leads Tekion’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts through different activities.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

==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]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Vijayan, Jay}}
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:University of Madras alumni]]
[[Category:Businesspeople from Chennai]]
[[Category:American people of Indian Tamil descent]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Indian chief executives]]

Jay Vijayan - Revision history

Commercial Noida at 13:15, 24 October 2024