Usually building something

Currently in Chennai, India

Global

enterprises

trust

me

with

how

the

world

sees

them

I’ve helped companies raise over $500M, bootstrapped Maayasthra into a 50+ person design company, and spent the last decade working at the intersection of design, business, and ideas.

Currently in Chennai, India

Learn More

Iridescent holographic human figure glowing against a dark cosmic background.

Motion-blurred person walking outdoors beneath a dramatic blue sky wearing orange-toned clothing.

The Short Version

A few things I care about

Yoshi & Yuki

Yoshi and Yuki are my two adopted Indies: naughty, affectionate, treat-obsessed, full of sass and just as socially awkward as I am.

Movies

I love good cinema. We often turn the studio into a little theatre, projecting films onto a huge white wall.

Maayasthra Seva

Through Maayasthra Seva, every new retainer gives us another opportunity to support a cause we genuinely care about.

Provok’d

Our next experiment outside Maayasthra. Led by Harish, Provok’d is a streetwear label built around confidence, personality and refusing to blend in.

Slowing Down

Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about slow living, mindfulness, spirituality, wellbeing and what actually makes a good life.

Good Conversations

Some of the best ideas, opportunities and friendships in my life started with a simple conversation.

About me

I’ve had a fantastic journey so far, picking up a little wisdom, perspective, and plenty of stories from every canon event along the way. I’m confident I’ll be one of the most interesting people you meet, simply because I have some insane stories to tell. Life has been a wild ride, and through it all, I’ve learned to count my blessings, practise gratitude, and look for the silver lining. I believe that with courage backed by consistency and discipline, anything is achievable.

About me

I work where the stakes are highest

About me

About me

I work where the stakes are highest

My Rule of Thumb

A few principles I tend to live by

I care a lot about why something is being done. When the intent is right, decisions become clearer and the work usually follows.
01 — Purpose First
I’ve never believed that working longer automatically means working better. Think clearly, use your time well, and put your energy where it actually makes a difference.
02 — Work Smart
You can be ambitious, demanding and incredibly driven without being unkind. How you make people feel matters just as much as what you achieve.
03 — Stay Kind
Not everyone is going to see things the way you do, and sometimes no amount of explaining will change that. Be clear where it matters, but ultimately, being true to yourself matters more than being understood by everyone.
04 — Be Okay Being Misunderstood
Pretending makes life unnecessarily complicated. Being yourself makes it simpler. If being genuinely you costs you something, there’s a good chance it was never really yours to begin with.
05 — Choose Authenticity
I believe what is truly meant for you doesn’t need forcing. Do your part, let go of what you can’t control, and trust that what belongs in your life won’t pass you by.
06 — Trust What’s Yours
What you put into the world tends to come back around. Mistakes happen, but when you know you’ve done wrong, own it, make it right, and do better next time.
07 — Karma Keeps Score
Spend your time where you are respected, valued and treated fairly. No opportunity, relationship or room is important enough to keep shrinking yourself just to belong in it.
08 — Choose Your Environment
Everyone gets a different hand, so comparison rarely makes sense. Focus on what you have, stay in your own lane, and try to get a little better every day. Even 1% adds up.
09 — Play Your Cards Well
More Thoughts
Every now and then, a thought sticks around long enough that I feel like writing more about it.
Read My Writings

I care a lot about why something is being done. When the intent is right, decisions become clearer and the work usually follows.
01 — Purpose First
I’ve never believed that working longer automatically means working better. Think clearly, use your time well, and put your energy where it actually makes a difference.
02 — Work Smart
You can be ambitious, demanding and incredibly driven without being unkind. How you make people feel matters just as much as what you achieve.
03 — Stay Kind
Not everyone is going to see things the way you do, and sometimes no amount of explaining will change that. Be clear where it matters, but ultimately, being true to yourself matters more than being understood by everyone.
04 — Be Okay Being Misunderstood
Pretending makes life unnecessarily complicated. Being yourself makes it simpler. If being genuinely you costs you something, there’s a good chance it was never really yours to begin with.
05 — Choose Authenticity
I believe what is truly meant for you doesn’t need forcing. Do your part, let go of what you can’t control, and trust that what belongs in your life won’t pass you by.
06 — Trust What’s Yours
What you put into the world tends to come back around. Mistakes happen, but when you know you’ve done wrong, own it, make it right, and do better next time.
07 — Karma Keeps Score
Spend your time where you are respected, valued and treated fairly. No opportunity, relationship or room is important enough to keep shrinking yourself just to belong in it.
08 — Choose Your Environment
Everyone gets a different hand, so comparison rarely makes sense. Focus on what you have, stay in your own lane, and try to get a little better every day. Even 1% adds up.
09 — Play Your Cards Well
More Thoughts
Every now and then, a thought sticks around long enough that I feel like writing more about it.
Read My Writings

I care a lot about why something is being done. When the intent is right, decisions become clearer and the work usually follows.
01 — Purpose First
I’ve never believed that working longer automatically means working better. Think clearly, use your time well, and put your energy where it actually makes a difference.
02 — Work Smart
You can be ambitious, demanding and incredibly driven without being unkind. How you make people feel matters just as much as what you achieve.
03 — Stay Kind
Not everyone is going to see things the way you do, and sometimes no amount of explaining will change that. Be clear where it matters, but ultimately, being true to yourself matters more than being understood by everyone.
04 — Be Okay Being Misunderstood
Pretending makes life unnecessarily complicated. Being yourself makes it simpler. If being genuinely you costs you something, there’s a good chance it was never really yours to begin with.
05 — Choose Authenticity
I believe what is truly meant for you doesn’t need forcing. Do your part, let go of what you can’t control, and trust that what belongs in your life won’t pass you by.
06 — Trust What’s Yours
What you put into the world tends to come back around. Mistakes happen, but when you know you’ve done wrong, own it, make it right, and do better next time.
07 — Karma Keeps Score
Spend your time where you are respected, valued and treated fairly. No opportunity, relationship or room is important enough to keep shrinking yourself just to belong in it.
08 — Choose Your Environment
Everyone gets a different hand, so comparison rarely makes sense. Focus on what you have, stay in your own lane, and try to get a little better every day. Even 1% adds up.
09 — Play Your Cards Well
More Thoughts
Every now and then, a thought sticks around long enough that I feel like writing more about it.
Read My Writings

A little about me

Turned a rough hand into a pretty good story

I started working at 17 without any grand plan beyond getting really good at what I did. What began as small freelance gigs to provide for my mother and me slowly became something much bigger. Freelancing led to internships, internships to part-time roles, and before long, I found myself in full-time and eventually C-level positions.

But I always felt I could do more. I wanted the creative freedom to build things my way, make my own decisions and see how far I could take them. That eventually became Maayasthra. What started with Harish and me has since grown into a 50+ person multidisciplinary design company working with global enterprises.

A decade in, I’m still very much a work in progress. I’m curious, ambitious, ridiculously optimistic, and probably incapable of settling for something just because it’s good enough. I like building things, meeting interesting people, chasing ideas that refuse to leave my head, and hopefully leaving people a little better than I found them.

Occasional Writing

Things I wanted to put into words

Things I wanted to
put into words

Vijayalagar Venkatesan on optimism, entrepreneurship and building Maayasthra

How Being Ridiculously Optimistic

Became My Competitive Advantage

Vijayalagar Venkatesan on kindness, strength, emotional intelligence, and integrity

Being Kind Has Been Expensive.

I’d Still Choose It.

Vijayalagar Venkatesan on comparison, ambition, success, and contentment

Important Reminder:

There Is Always a Bigger Fish

Vijayalagar Venkatesan on what employers and recruiters look for in job candidates

What Employers Actually

Look For in a Candidate

Work Highlights

A few examples of what Maayasthra can produce

Velora

AI-Powered, Made Simple

Velora

AI-Powered, Made Simple

STRYDE

Move With Purpose

STRYDE

Move With Purpose

LIORA

Modern Luxury, Timeless Form

LIORA

Modern Luxury, Timeless Form

RiskProfiler

AI-Powered External Risk

RiskProfiler

AI-Powered External Risk

SignalOS

Intelligence That Drives Decisions

SignalOS

Intelligence That Drives Decisions

NexaCare

Connected Healthcare, Simplified

NexaCare

Connected Healthcare, Simplified

Built for companies that expect more from design

A dedicated design team is integrated into your business operations. Focused on clarity, precision, and consistency. Built to handle complex and high-value work. Delivered with uncompromising quality.

Redefining Design Experience

with Maayasthra

Built for companies that expect more from design

Redefining Design Experience

with Maayasthra

Proven at Scale

Trusted by
Trillion Dollar Companies

Build Together

Partner with
Maayasthra

Partner with Maayasthra

Choose how you’d like to work with us.

Project-based work or ongoing design support.

Clear structure and defined expectations.

Choose how you’d like to work with us.

Project-based work or ongoing design support.

Clear structure and defined expectations.

Define

Scope, deliverables, and timelines aligned and approved.

Define

Scope, deliverables, and timelines aligned and approved.

Execute

Structured design process with reviews and revisions.

Execute

Structured design process with reviews and revisions.

Deliver

Final files prepared and handed over for implementation.

Deliver

Final files prepared and handed over for implementation.

Selective Partnerships

Design support

for companies that

operate at scale

Limited Intake Only

Start a Partnership

Consistent output.

Integrated design teams.

Consistent output.

Built for ongoing requirements.

Integrated design teams.

Built for ongoing requirements.

Monthly Design Retainers

Ongoing design support through a dedicated team integrated into your workflow.

Built for companies that require continuous, high-quality design output.

Ongoing design support through a dedicated team integrated into your workflow.

Built for companies that require continuous, high-quality design output.

Starting from

$9,000

/ month

Dedicated design team assigned to your account

Priority execution and faster turnaround

Continuous support across brand, product, and digital

Structured communication and regular updates

Flexible scope aligned to evolving requirements

Consistent quality across all deliverables

One-Time Projects

Structured design engagements for clearly defined requirements. Ideal for projects with a fixed scope and timeline.

Clearly defined scope and deliverables

Minimum engagement value starting at $4,000

Fixed timeline with milestone-based execution

Professional coordination and delivery

Highly responsive project support

Revisions included within the agreed scope and direction

What We Do

Services

Maayasthra works across brand, product and digital, from focused projects to long-term design partnerships

One of the Things
I’m Most Proud Of

Success means more when shared meaningfully. Through Maayasthra Seva, we dedicate 9% of every new retainer’s first month to causes that need support. It’s one of the most meaningful things we’ve built.