Vijigi: Powering India’s Tech Sovereignty in Aerospace & Auto

In a world dominated by technological dependencies, one Indian startup is building the core of machines that move the world, while drawing inspiration from the spiritual legacy of Swami Vivekananda. Vijigi, founded in 2022 and incubated at iCreate, is transforming aerospace and automotive electronics with a simple mission: build India’s technological backbone for national and energy security.

A Vision Rooted in Dharma and Determination

For the founder and CEO, Meet Kalola, the seeds of Vijigi were sown early. As a school librarian in a tier-4 town, he often read about Swami Vivekananda’s vision of India as a guiding light for humanity. That philosophy never left him. Even during his studies at a top U.S. university and a pivotal stint at a hydrogen-based semi-truck startup, the goal was always to return to India and build.

"Swami Vivekananda once said India is a lamp to humanity. That conviction became my compass," he reflects.

The Meaning Behind ‘Vijigi’

Vijigi draws from the Sanskrit word Vijigishu, meaning an intense desire to live a long, prosperous, and pride-filled life. The startup's mission reflects this ethos by solving two deeply strategic challenges: energy security and national sovereignty. With its roots in Ahmedabad and Pune, Vijigi aims to reduce India’s foreign oil dependency and secure technological self-reliance in critical systems.

Building the Brain and Nervous System of Machines

Vijigi’s work lies in building safety-critical embedded systems, the "brains" and "nervous systems" of vehicles and aircraft. From avionics platforms that go far beyond cockpits to integrated automotive systems, Vijigi designs technology that tackles complexity holistically, not piecemeal. Its platforms reduce weight, improve adaptability, and future-proof machines.

What sets them apart is not just their engineering muscle, but the mindset. "We’ve started from a clean slate. No legacy systems, no bureaucracy, just fresh thinking and deep technical rigor," says the founder.

The Core Team: Built on Trust and Technical Firepower

The founding team includes the CEO’s wife, a final-year Chartered Accountant, and two industry veterans—Mehul Bhavsar and Kushal Dalsania—who returned to India from global careers at companies like John Deere, Patni, Samsung, Rockwell and TCS and with them bringing highly relevant experience in the safety critical embedded technology domain having several patents under their name, showcasing the technical caliber & problem solving abilities. All four share a mission-driven commitment to national progress.

Operating from Ahmedabad and Pune, Vijigi’s 18-member team is structured across systems engineering, hardware, and software. They aim to grow to 100 engineers in the next six months as they ramp up ambitious product timelines.

Niche Today, Mainstream Tomorrow

Currently, Vijigi serves aircraft and automotive OEMs in highly specialised segments. But the long-term vision is broad: to create platforms that, like smartphones or PCs, eventually proliferate across sectors such as manufacturing. In India alone, the avionics market is valued at over $5 billion, with automotive electronics exceeding INR 3 lakh crore.

Their B2B model allows for tailored platform licensing, white-box, grey-box, or black-box, depending on OEM needs. As customer relationships deepen, scalability follows naturally.

Staying Bootstrapped, Building Bold

Despite the capital-intensive nature of deep tech, Vijigi remains bootstrapped, generating revenues through high-value partnerships. One such partner, a major North American OEM, underscores their global credibility, although specifics remain confidential due to NDAs.

Their efforts have garnered notable recognition, including winning EVangelise-23, India's largest EV innovation challenge, and being honoured in 2024 by the Chief Minister of Gujarat for significant contributions to sustainable energy.

Under the Radar, Ahead of the Curve

Rather than chasing headlines, Vijigi prefers execution. Their early U.S. experience in zero-emission vehicles and complex embedded systems taught them the value of strategy over spectacle.

"We know which market to tackle first, and why. We execute quietly, but relentlessly," says the founder. For aspiring entrepreneurs, the founder offers a quote by Swami Vivekananda: "Take risks in your life: if you win, you lead, if you lose, you guide."

He adds, "Pick a mission that’s bigger than you. Entrepreneurship is about giving 120%—and that extra 20% is what makes the journey worthwhile."

The Long Game: Institution-Building for India

The vision ahead is clear: complete the current projects over the next five years, earn global certifications, and establish India as a hub for embedded innovation. Long term, their sights are set on ensuring India’s energy and national security by doing "whatever it takes."