“It is Always a People-Driven Ecosystem”: Prateek Saxena on Building Appinventiv and Its Culture at Scale

1) I’ve heard about Appinventiv quite a few times through friends and colleagues - what’s it like experiencing the journey from the inside, as the founder driving it all?

I'm glad that you heard about Appinventive. I'm very happy to hear that. And the journey has been very rewarding, very fun, and full of excitement. And what makes it more interesting is that what we thought of as a small idea among a few friends, 10 years back, has now evolved into a very strong tech powerhouse that is working with global customers. 

2) Your career spans 15 years of massive shifts in the global tech landscape. Looking back, were there specific moments or pivotal decisions early in your journey that fundamentally altered your leadership philosophy and laid the groundwork for Appinventiv’s success?

There have been many defining moments. When you launch a startup, you are juggling immense challenges with high aspirations; you simply want to grow and succeed. One specific memory stands out from the very beginning. We were operating out of a small apartment owned by my partner. We honestly had no clear roadmap for where we would be in six months. We were fueled purely by energy and a drive to build something, ready to move in every direction.

Then, suddenly, one of our initial customers sent a message saying, 'Hey guys, I want to come visit you at your office in India.'

Our immediate reaction was panic. We thought, 'Oh my God, we don't actually have an office.' We had to figure out how to handle it fast. We immediately scrambled in all directions to find a space. In just one week’s time, we managed to find a good office, renovate it, and successfully welcome him there.

That single event had an immediate impact. If that request hadn't come in, we likely would have kept working in that small apartment, just managing to survive. But because we took it as a challenge and addressed it immediately, we unlocked exponential growth. Shifting into a professional environment allowed us to build a true culture-driven workspace, which phenomenally changed the experience.

There are many stories I could recall, but that was a true game-changer. It happened at exactly the right time, just as we were starting to build the organization. That moment effectively laid the foundation for Appinventiv as the institution it is today.

3) Appinventiv is now a powerhouse with over 1600 employees. Can you share some of the early challenges and how you navigated through them to build such a successful company?

Managing people might be considered the toughest job, but from my perspective, it is one of the most interesting jobs in the world. It enables you to exchange ideas, discuss aspirations, and understand different perspectives and personalities. As an entrepreneur who finds joy in interacting with people and nurturing relationships, I don't view building and scaling large teams as a burden.

In fact, once you understand individuals and build a culture that empowers them to bring out their best, it becomes incredibly fun to see people rallying around you and working closely with you.

What worked best for us from the very beginning was establishing a strong, culture-driven organization. Our goal was to build a place where people spend the best professional moments of their lives.

It is a very satisfying experience because even former employees, who have moved on to other organizations, often tell us when we meet that their time at Appinventiv was the best experience of their careers. Ultimately, finding the right people, retaining them, and providing them with the right culture and environment is what matters most.

4) Appinventiv has a global presence. Can you share your experiences and strategies for successfully entering and expanding into new markets?

That’s an interesting question, right from the beginning, we were fortunate to work with customers across the globe. Our focus was on a unique approach: solving real business problems for enterprises and startups rather than just writing code. We observed closely where we could create a massive impact, and once we identified a successful niche, we scaled in that direction—solving similar problems for other organizations in the same industry.

This enabled us to pick interesting use cases specific to a geography or sector and go very deep, ensuring we became subject matter experts in that space. This gave us a lot of confidence and maturity, allowing us to position ourselves as strong consultants and technology partners. We identified key regions—specifically the US and the Middle East, where we could drive the most impact, and we went all in.

For example, early in our journey, within just the first year, we worked with a startup on a very interesting product. We worked hard with them for about six months through the design and launch phases. Fortunately, the founders gained significant traction in their region, and that success brought visibility back to us. People started asking the founders, 'Which tech agency is working with you?'

That recognition was the catalyst. We realized this specific geography was a 'greenfield opportunity' for us. Since we now had credibility, we used it to acquire larger enterprise customers in the region.

To summarize, our growth came from having a very close understanding of what was working and what wasn't. We identified the strategies and opportunities that yielded results, and then we simply found ways to expedite that scale. That, I believe, is the most important factor.

5) Appinventiv has just completed a remarkable decade of hyper-growth. As you look toward the next ten years, how do you envision 'Appinventiv 2.0'? What are the strategic pillars that will define your growth over the coming decade in this rapidly shifting tech landscape?

In the world of technology, a ten-year horizon is incredibly broad, especially when you see how AI has fundamentally shifted the way we work and think in just the last year alone. However, I break our roadmap down into three core areas of scale:

• Global Expansion: We are going deep into the geographies where we already have a strong presence. This means investing in top local talent and building an ecosystem where we work in close proximity to our customers to deliver the best value.
• Technology Leadership (AI): We are investing heavily in the AI space. But we aren't just chasing the hype; we are focused on delivering ROI-driven AI strategies. We want to help our clients stay ahead of the technology curve by solving real-world use cases with tangible business results.
• People & Culture: As we scale, we are doubling down on empowering our team. This goes beyond just technical upskilling; we are focusing on holistic growth—mentoring, guidance, and even physical health and wellness.

The next 3 to 5 years look very promising. Personally, my role will evolve into more of a strategic mentor. I want to ensure the leaders driving our scale have the right tools, processes, and systems to bring out the best in themselves and the organization.

6) You mentioned how AI has taken the industry by storm in just the last year. But technology cycles move fast. Do you see AI and autonomous agents as a permanent foundational shift for the next decade, or will the current hype eventually plateau into something more utilitarian?

Predicting the next 10 years is incredibly difficult; frankly, given how fast AI is evolving, even predicting the next 3 to 10 months is a challenge. But one thing is certain: AI is here to stay, and it is bound to have a massive impact on everyone’s life as it becomes increasingly intelligent and capable of complex problem-solving.

However, the biggest challenge enterprises currently face is seeing a return on their investment. Research shows that a very small percentage of companies have actually realized the ROI from their AI initiatives. That is exactly where we are focusing our efforts.

When we help enterprises plan their AI strategy, we don't just implement technology for the sake of it. We take complete ownership to ensure that whatever use cases they pick—across whatever departments—are strictly ROI-driven. It has to be methodical, scientifically processed, and scalable. It’s not enough to say, 'Everyone is doing AI, so we should too.'

Beyond the financials, we also focus heavily on security and guardrails—aspects that often go unnoticed in the rush to innovate. Through our consulting practice, we ensure our customers invest wisely, securing their data while maximizing value. Ten years is a long time, but even in the next one or two years, we are 100% bound to see a massive transformation in how we live and work.

7) No matter the topic, you always pivot back to the value of your team. This aligns perfectly with your LinkedIn presence, where you are very vocal about redefining corporate culture. What drives this passion? Is this a strategic business choice, or does it stem from a personal belief about how work should be?

It stems from the fact that I haven't always been an entrepreneur. Ten years ago, I was an employee myself, and I was fortunate to be part of organizations with very strong cultures. I was blessed to work with mentors who gave me the right guidance, knowledge, and a platform to utilize it.

Because of that background, understanding people, their needs and their aspirations—and building an environment that gives them the best possible experience is my top priority. Ultimately, you have to realize that whatever organization you build, it is built around people. It is always a people-driven ecosystem.

That is why I invest so much of my personal time in asking: 'Are we the kind of organization that talent wants to work with? Are we the kind of partner our customers enjoy working with?'

It all comes down to how well we hire, train, and nurture top-quality talent. And it goes beyond just the employees; their families are also a massive part of what impacts the organization. This topic is very close to my heart. I try to work closely with everyone in my team, and I will always be vocal about the necessity of building a top-notch culture.

Beyond my own experiences, there is a book I always recommend to every entrepreneur called No Rules Rules. It offers a fantastic deep dive into Netflix's unique culture. Reading it gives you a completely different perspective on how culture-driven organizations can actually scale and succeed. It is definitely a must-read in my opinion.

8) So, talking about new overseas offices, what sort of challenges have you already faced or would you probably face to expand more globally?

The most challenging aspect for any organization is finding the right people at the right stage of the journey. You need team members who not only understand their roles and responsibilities but also deeply resonate with the organization's expectations.

Personally, I feel that as we scale geographically, identifying the right skilled talent at the exact right moment is what drives the next level of growth. That alignment of skill, timing, and geography is critical for our business.

9) The IT market is struggling globally. As the leader of the business division of Appinventiv, what unique approaches does your team employ to secure high-profile leads and clients? I mean, what’s the secret sauce of your team?

There are two ways to look at this. First, you need a robust process that enables customers to find you. Our marketing team is phenomenal in that space, ensuring we are always generating the right conversations.

But the second part addresses the industry struggle you mentioned. I learned from one of my mentors that there will always be external factors you cannot control—whether it's wars, economic crises, or market shifts. You have absolutely no power over those.

What you do have control over is your own knowledge, systems, and processes. If your focus is always on delivering value—in fact, delivering more value than the client expects—you become the indispensable partner capable of solving their problems. That mindset alone is enough to overcome any external barrier an organization might face.

So, while I agree there is a global impact right now, we have a choice. We can either waste time worrying about what is happening, or we can utilize this period to reinvest in our processes and technology to improve ourselves every day. We have chosen the latter. We are working hard to refine our strategies and provide a phenomenal experience. Ultimately, an organization only grows when customers find genuine value in it. That customer-focused approach is our secret sauce.

10) Many companies of your size have found it difficult to survive during the COVID period. You guys not just survived the same but grew at an exceptional rate. What were the major actions that you took that made it possible?

It was an unprecedented time that no one could have predicted, and I hope the world never has to go through it again. However, what worked for us was our speed of adaptation. Although we were vigilant about the news, we acted immediately.

Within just a day of the announcement, we set up a dedicated COVID support team and transitioned completely to a hybrid model. Moving from a highly collaborative office environment to remote work was a massive shift, but we mobilized quickly—ensuring staff reached home safely and delivering the necessary infrastructure and support systems to keep them operational.

On the business front, we observed that companies were forced to go online overnight. We capitalized on this by helping businesses drive those digital transformation initiatives, which opened up significant opportunities for us.

But perhaps most importantly, right at the start, we categorically announced a 'No Layoff' policy. Despite the overwhelming news globally, we stood by our word that layoffs would be the absolute last option. This gave our employees immense confidence and a morale boost. When the world is disrupted and you are sent home, if your professional support system wavers, it’s terrifying. By providing that stability, we ensured people felt secure.

Because of that trust, we didn't just survive; we thrived. In that single year, we doubled our revenue and added over 200 people to the team, all hired, trained, and onboarded virtually. It was a tough period, but through strong virtual mentorship and collaboration, we managed to scale significantly against the odds.

11) Appinventiv has been recognized with numerous awards, including 'App Development Company of the Year', ‘Times Business Awards’, 'India’s Growth Champions’, Deloitte’s Fastest 50, twice might I add and many awards too. Do you have a favourite or do they all have some memories attached to them?

All of these awards over the last decade have not only enabled us to become a better organization, but they have also placed a greater responsibility on our shoulders. Being recognized globally means the world is watching how we work, act, and transform the lives of our people and the organizations we partner with.

Every award is special because it reflects the team's collective effort, sweat, and aspirations. The Deloitte Technology Fast 50 was particularly special because it validated our growth—not just once, but twice consistently. The Times Business Award was equally phenomenal as it recognized our impact beyond just technology, acknowledging our business acumen as well.

However, what excites us the most is not just us winning, but when our customers win awards for the work we’ve done for them. That is what drives the real value. Ultimately, I believe an award is simply a byproduct of doing your best work and building a great culture. It makes us hungrier and more aspirational to keep raising the bar.