Abhilash Sonwane

Co-Founder

Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India27 yrs 9 mos experience
Most Likely To SwitchHighly Stable

Key Highlights

  • Pioneered India's first Unified Threat Management solution.
  • Led EdTech startup to 250k+ users before acquisition.
  • Invested in multiple innovative tech startups.
Stackforce AI infers this person is a Cybersecurity and EdTech innovator with extensive experience in product management and startup growth.

Contact

LinkedIn

Skills

Core Skills

Product ManagementLeadership DevelopmentSoftware DevelopmentNetwork SecuritySoftware Project ManagementProduct Development

Other Skills

Team ManagementAgile MethodologiesTeam LeadershipWeb ServicesPre-salesSecuritySolution ArchitectureFirewallsCross-functional Team LeadershipTeam BuildingStrategic LeadershipTechnical LeadershipVisionary

About

Funding and helping product based tech based product start-ups grow. My goal is to make startup funding a positive-sum game for founders, investors and customers. I built my first product in 1998. It allowed users to access popular web email sites Hotmail & NetAddress using legacy mail clients over POP3 & SMTP protocols. In 1999, I helped set up the first private ISP of India. Continued the Internet focused products journey by building one of the world’s first shrink wrapped web based email products used by hundreds of ISPs across the globe in early 2000s Conceptualised and led the development of the world's first Layer 8 (patented) network firewall appliance. It sold across 150+ countries among the top 5 products in the world. The product was recognised as visionary by Gartner. Conceptualised, designed and led development of 7 B2B products that sold globally. Led cross cultural dev teams spread across 3 continents integrating technologies and teams Cofounded Pedagogy, a B2C EdTech startup. Led it through the pandemic to 250k+ users, now acquired by Vedantu. I enjoy long distance running (Half marathons, Marathons & Ultra marathons) and have deep interest in Vipassana meditation. Both have had a deep impact on the way I look at life and take life decisions. Currently, on a mission to help founders achieve their maximum potential through product innovation.

Experience

27 yrs 9 mos
Total Experience
4 yrs 7 mos
Average Tenure
8 yrs 10 mos
Current Experience

Pedagogy

2 roles

Co-Founder & Director

Dec 2020 – Mar 2021 · 3 mos

Co-Founder & CEO

May 2017 – Nov 2020 · 3 yrs 6 mos

  • A subscription based study platform that gives students access to all popular books and study material to prepare for NEET, JEE, NET exams.
  • The intelligent Pedagogy.study platform helps students practice MCQs 5x faster than what they would do normally. It also helps them memorise facts and formulae through a combination of flashcards based test and revision
  • Rates amongst the top 100 EdTech companies in South Asia
  • Acquired by Vedantu
Product ManagementSoftware DevelopmentAgile Methodologies

Early stage technology startups

Angel Investor

Jun 2017 – Present · 8 yrs 10 mos · India

  • Investing and mentoring Tech startups that excite me with their goals and vision.
  • Portfolio:
  • Corpository
  • Kazam EV
  • NeuroPixel.ai
  • Macmerise Celfie Design
  • Hoopr.ai
  • Esports XO
  • Oorjaa
  • Celcius
  • Freed
  • Urvann
  • Emgage
  • NurseryLive
  • ShipTurtle
  • Angel Investor at Inflection Point Ventures, Mumbai Angels
Product ManagementTeam ManagementLeadership Development

Sophos

VP of Engineering

Jan 2015 – May 2017 · 2 yrs 4 mos

  • Integration of the Cyberoam product team and product into the Sophos ecosystem.
  • Building Sophos XG, the next generation network security product of Sophos across 3 continents
Network SecurityTeam ManagementSoftware Project Management

Cyberoam technologies

Sr. Vice President - Products & Technology

Mar 2011 – Dec 2015 · 4 yrs 9 mos

  • Netgenie, Home Wireless Router, first of its kind home network security and parental control product, ahead of its times
  • Cyberoam acquired by Sophos Technologies, leading to LSE listing of Sophos Technologies
Network SecurityProduct DevelopmentTeam Leadership

Elitecore technologies ltd.

2 roles

Vice President Of Product Management

Promoted

Jan 2006 – Mar 2011 · 5 yrs 2 mos

  • Conceptualized, designed and developed:
  • Cyberoam, India’s first UTM, Next Generation Firewall, World’s first Identity based Firewall, rated as visionary product by Gartner, sold in 150+ countries
  • iView, Open Source SIEM. the Intelligent Logging & Reporting solution providing organizations network visibility across multiple devices to meet the requirements of regulatory compliance.
Product ManagementSoftware DevelopmentAgile Methodologies

Software Architect

Dec 1999 – Dec 2005 · 6 yrs

  • Designed and developed multiple products enabling Internet productivity:
  • Built a packaged webmail product allowing ISPs, corporates and portals launch their own Web based email, 500+ installations across the globe
  • 24online, an ISP in a box solution allowing cable operators & hospitality industry to launch Internet services, 5000+ installations across the globe
  • Eplex, a CRM and ticket management software suite designed for multiplexes and entertainment zones
  • Bandwidthshaper, a bandwidth management software allowing layer 7 traffic management, first of its kind to be developed in India
Software DevelopmentWeb ServicesAgile Methodologies

Icenet technologies pvt. ltd.

Software Engineer

Dec 1998 – Dec 1999 · 1 yr

  • Helped set up the first digital ISP of India.
  • Built the Icenet Helpdesk Applet to help ISP subscribers troubleshoot connectivity issues and raise support tickets. One of the first in the country.
Software DevelopmentWeb Services

Saltriver info system pvt. ltd.

Software Engineer Intern

May 1998 – Nov 1998 · 6 mos

  • Built a POP3 and SMTP interface allowing Hotmail and NetAddress users to check their email using legacy email clients without a browser
Software Development

Education

Indian Institute of Management Bangalore

SPM — Software Project Management

Jan 2006 – Present

Gujarat University

Masters — Computer Applications

Gujarat University

Bachelor's degree — Science

St. Xavier's School, Gandhinagar

High School

Mt. Carmel School, Gandhinagar

Primary & High School

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