For many engineering students, getting a job at Google is a dream. An MBA from IIM Lucknow is another milestone. A career at McKinsey & Company often completes what many would call the perfect career journey.But for Rohit Chennamaneni, these achievements were never the final destination.Instead of spending his career climbing the corporate ladder, the VIT Vellore graduate took a leap into entrepreneurship with three friends. They started with a small office, a handful of chairs and just 11 employees. Today, this startup, Darwinbox, is valued at over Rs 9.5 billion, making it Hyderabad’s first unicorn and one of India’s largest HR technology companies.His journey offers an important lesson for students: academic excellence can open doors, but courage is often what changes lives.
A VIT graduate who excelled far beyond academics
Rohit Chennamaneni completed his B.Tech from Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore, where he was not only known to academics.He graduated as runner-up from the University, but his achievements extended far beyond the classroom. He served as the Publicity Officer of Riviera, VIT’s flagship cultural festival, organized national level technical symposiums and represented the university in tennis, eventually becoming the vice-captain of the university tennis team and winning national level inter-college tournaments.Former classmates often describe him as someone who rarely appeared buried in textbooks, though he consistently ranked among the top academically while actively involved in sports, quizzes, campus leadership, and tutoring.These qualities would later become the foundation of his entrepreneurial journey.
From Google to IIM Lucknow and McKinsey
While pursuing engineering, Rohit worked as a search quality analyst at Google, gaining exposure to one of the world’s leading technology companies.After graduation, he joined the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Lucknow, where he completed his MBA and secured a place in the director’s merit list.His business career continued to gain momentum.He secured a pre-placement offer from Procter & Gamble after an internship in Singapore before joining McKinsey & Company, one of the world’s most prestigious management consulting firms.Over the next few years, he worked with large organizations, solving complex business challenges and building relationships across industries.From the outside, it seemed like the ideal career path.
The decision that changed everything
In 2015, Rohit took a decision that shocked many.Along with friends Jayant Paleti, Chaitanya Peddi and Vineet, he gave up his career as a well-paid consultant to create a startup.The odds were anything but favorable.The enterprise HR software market was already dominated by global technology giants such as SAP and Oracle. Earning the trust of big companies as a young Indian startup seemed almost impossible.The founders began their journey from a modest attic that reportedly had a bed, four chairs and a team of just 11 people.Instead of competing on size, they focused on solving real problems faced by organizations managing thousands of employees.
Building Hyderabad’s first unicorn
The result was Darwinbox, a cloud-based human resource management system (HRMS) platform powered by AI.The company began attracting large companies by offering modern, mobile-first HR solutions that simplified recruiting, payroll, employee engagement and performance management.Their early experience at companies such as McKinsey and EY also helped them understand business clients and build valuable business relationships.Over time, Darwinbox rapidly expanded across India and international markets.Today, the company serves several major organizations such as HDFC Bank, YES BANK, Kotak Life, BigBasket, TVS, National Stock Exchange (NSE), Vedantu and OYO among many others.The startup has since become Hyderabad’s first unicorn, with an estimated valuation of over Rs 9.5 billion.
An entrepreneur who believed in taking calculated risks
People who studied and worked with Rohit often described him as someone who remained calm under pressure, enjoyed solving difficult problems and inspired those around him.Former classmates recall his ability to combine analytical thinking with creativity, while peers have praised his mentoring and collaborative leadership skills.These qualities proved invaluable while building a company in one of the most competitive business software markets in the world.Instead of avoiding uncertainty, Rohit embraced it.
What students can learn from Rohit’s journey
Rohit Chennamaneni’s story reminds students that success is rarely defined by a single exam, degree or job offer.Academic excellence certainly helped him secure opportunities at Google, IIM Lucknow and McKinsey. However, his willingness to leave a comfortable career and pursue a challenging entrepreneurial dream transformed his journey.For engineering and management students preparing for their own careers, his story offers several lessons:• Build a strong academic foundation, but don’t limit yourself to the classroom.• Participate in sports activities, leadership and campus organizations.• Learn from each job before thinking about entrepreneurship.• Don’t be afraid to compete with the global giants if you have a better solution.• Sometimes the greatest opportunity lies beyond the safest career path.Today, Darwinbox is one of India’s biggest global HR technology success stories, proof that a small team with conviction can challenge industry leaders and create something extraordinary.Disclaimer: This article is based on publicly available information, professional profiles, company advertisements, interviews and other publicly accessible sources. Company valuation, career details and business milestones are subject to change over time. The article is for informational and inspirational purposes only.