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What do you get
when you blend a successful orthodontist, a marketing professional and
incredible entrepreneurial zeal? A wireless startup, of course! A few weeks
ago, I spoke to Padmaraj & Swati Angolkar at length, at their beautiful
home in Bellevue, with a gorgeous view of the city and the mountains. The
Angolkars are Indian-Americans by choice, but downright Mumbaikars at heart! It
was delightful to chat with them about their latest start-up venture. Wisetec
Inc. was formed two years ago along with a third co-founder and the company's
CTO, Shaskant Patel. These entrepreneurs recognized the need for
cost-effective, reliable methods of interfacing industrial and scientific
sensors to data acquisition, test, measurement, and instrumentation systems,
seamlessly and without wires.
Affectionately
known as Raj, he migrated to the US nearly two decades ago, earning his
graduate degree in dentistry from the University of Oklahoma, before settling
down in Seattle. Prior to that, Raj attended St.Xavier's College and Nair
Dental College, both in Bombay. For the past 15 years, Raj has led a successful
dental practice as an orthodontist, with clinics located in the Kent and Renton
areas. Raj has published in professional journals and lectured at national
orthodontic meetings. When asked why, Raj replied in a quintessential
entrepreneurial tone, "I've been fortunate enough to operate and run a
dental business successfully. Having been in private practice for many years,
in a sense this was my first entrepreneurial experience." When pressed
further, he continued, "My grandfather was a successful businessman. I
really want to try doing something different and creative." Add a liberal
dose of passion to Raj's creativity gene and an incredible zest for a new
business adventure, and Raj was off acquiring broad knowledge of industrial
sensor networks and various wireless protocols.
The immediate
goal of Wisetec is to provide wireless transfer of sensor data. Specifically,
the challenge is to develop a product line allowing sensor data to interface
with various wireless modules (802.11b or cellular) and develop software
interface to network multiple sensors, in order to form a wireless sensor
network. In addition to the CTO, Wisetec has a formidable team in place,
including experts on the wireless modules, networks and software interfaces.
Swati rounds off the business team with another director of business
development. According to Raj, "We have an excellent core team and we're
on track to develop and produce the most robust and cost effective industrial
wireless sensor data acquisition product line and be a leader in wireless
sensor networks."
Raj readily
admitted that he is not the brain behind the start-up's technology but coupled
with Swati, they are certainly the heart of the operation. As chairman, Raj
continues to motivate and strategize the venture. As CEO, Swati complements
Raj's enthusiasm with her keen business experience. In addition to possessing
an MBA with a marketing focus, she spent time at Infospace Inc., gathering
valuable marketing and business development experience. Both credited TiE
Seattle's monthly events as a major source of networking.
Among their
contributions to the regional community, both have donated time and money to
the Hindu Temple, recently inaugurated in Bothell. "I believe faith lies
within each of us; one need not visit the temple for hours on end to exhibit
faith." Plus, Raj is an active co-founder of the Indian American Political
Action Committee (IAPAC). "Our immediate goal is not so much to enter
mainstream politics, but rather to create an Indian presence within the
political establishment." What one thing would you change, if you had a
magic wand? Thoughtfully, Raj replied, "I would make this a perfect world,
a world without discrimination, in every sense of the word".
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