B.V.R. Mohan Reddy: The Engineer Who Put Hyderabad on the Global Tech Map

Long before Hyderabad became synonymous with global technology outsourcing, aerospace engineering, and digital services, B. V. R. Mohan Reddy was quietly laying the groundwork. Unlike the flamboyant dealmakers or headline-hunting billionaires, Mohan Reddy represents a rarer breed of Indian CEO: the institution builder who chose depth over hype.

In 1991, at a time when India’s technology sector was still finding its feet, Reddy founded Cyient (originally Infotech Enterprises) in Hyderabad. The city then lacked the global credibility enjoyed by Bengaluru or Mumbai. Infrastructure was basic, international clients were sceptical, and “engineering services outsourcing” was not yet a recognised category.

Cyient changed that.

Instead of competing in commoditised IT services, Reddy focused on high-value engineering domains—aerospace, transportation, utilities, and geospatial services. This strategic clarity helped Cyient become one of the first Indian companies to provide mission-critical engineering work to global aerospace majors, power utilities, and telecom operators.

Under his leadership, Cyient grew steadily without the boom-and-bust cycles that defined many tech firms. More importantly, it established Hyderabad as a credible hub for deep engineering talent, not just back-office IT work. Several engineers trained at Cyient went on to seed startups, lead global engineering centres, and strengthen the city’s technical ecosystem.

Beyond business, Mohan Reddy played a pivotal role in shaping Hyderabad’s industrial policy and education ecosystem. As a founding force behind T-Hub, he helped mentor early-stage founders and pushed for collaboration between academia, startups, and industry—years before “startup ecosystems” became fashionable.

He later served as chairman of NASSCOM, where he advocated for product innovation, ethical leadership, and long-term thinking—often warning against short-term valuation obsessions.

In a city now celebrated for unicorns and venture capital inflows, B.V.R. Mohan Reddy’s contribution stands apart. He built capability before capital, reputation before valuation, and people before scale.

For Hyderabad’s tech story, his legacy is foundational—even if rarely celebrated.