Latest news with #VAAGSystems
New Indian Express
02-05-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
SMEs to benefit as US's Netgear opens software centre in Chennai
CHENNAI: Netgear, a California-based networking equipment company, has expanded its footprint in India with the opening of a new software development centre in Chennai, a move it says will accelerate its push into AI-powered and cloud-based solutions for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs). The announcement follows Netgear's acquisition of local software firm VAAG Systems, whose engineers and intellectual property will form the foundation of the new centre. The company plans to more than triple the size of the team over the next 18 months, with over 100 new employees expected to join the Chennai office. 'Small businesses want enterprise-grade reliability without enterprise-grade complexity,' said Pramod Badjate, president and general manager of Netgear's business division. 'Our investment in AI and software is about simplifying that experience - making powerful networks work intuitively and reliably, without a steep learning curve,' he said. Founded in 1996, Netgear has traditionally been known for its consumer and prosumer networking devices. But as businesses increasingly shift to hybrid work environments and cloud-managed networks, the company is recalibrating its strategy to cater to SME customers who demand scalable, user-friendly connectivity, a release said. While the company has not disclosed the value of the VAAG deal, executives said the acquisition is primarily talent- and-IP-driven, aimed at speeding up innovation cycles. For Chennai - already home to development hubs for major tech firms like Zoho, Freshworks, and Cisco - the arrival of Netgear adds further momentum to its emergence as a key node in India's AI and cloud innovation ecosystem.
Time of India
01-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Netgear acquires India's VAAG Systems to boost software development capabilities; bets on AI
NEW DELHI: US-headquartered Netgear has acquired India's VAAG Systems to boost its in-sourcing of software development capability. The Chennai-based firm's executive team, research and development (R&D) specialists and engineers will subsequently join the Wi-Fi gear maker and drive Netgear's new Chennai-based 'Software Development Center', according to a joint statement on Friday. 'Over the next three years, the company plans to accelerate its investment in R&D to enhance its current business offerings. The first key milestone is the acquisition of VAAG Systems, a creator of cutting-edge embedded and cloud software solutions based in Chennai, India,' Netgear said in the statement. The companies, however, did not disclose the financial terms of the deal. Sudarsan Vasudevan, co-founder & CEO, VAAG Systems, in a LinkedIn statement Friday, said, 'I'm humbled to share that I'll be joining Netgear as Vice President of Software. I believe management's true purpose is to scale trust, and I'm excited to extend the culture we built at VAAG to larger teams at Netgear.' The new team brings expertise in working at multinational telecom and technology companies, including Qualcomm, HP, Cisco, and MaxLinear, and will focus on leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) for small and medium enterprises– a segment that grew by over 15% in terms of revenue for Netgear in Q4 2024. The Wi-Fi products maker has projected a double-digit growth for 2025 for its 'Netgear for Business' unit, which serves small and medium enterprises. 'Networking is no longer just about being online; it's about leveraging that connection to drive innovation, collaboration and experiences,' said CJ Prober, CEO, Netgear. 'In this next era of Netgear, we are stripping away complexity, removing friction, and reimagining what business networking can be so that our customers don't just keep up with change, they lead it.' 'Current networking solutions don't meet the needs of small and medium enterprises. They're stuck with either complex, overpriced systems meant for larger companies or fragmented solutions that don't integrate well and lack proper support,' said Pramod Badjate, president & GM, Netgear for Business. Badjate added that Netgear is addressing these challenges by offering an integrated solution that is easier to deploy and manage for managed service providers (MSPs) and small IT departments alike. The San Jose-based company said it will also expand into the commercial, broadcast, and residential audiovisual (AV) segments to cement its positioning at the intersection of AV and IT.
