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ISB degree, ex-IAF pilot saved many in 2004 tsunami. Who is Vijay Arisetty, founder of MyGate?
When the
2004 tsunami
struck the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, one man flew his chopper into the heart of the disaster zone, saving hundreds of lives. That man was
Vijay Arisetty
, an
Indian Air Force
pilot and
Shaurya Chakra
awardee. Today, he's trading cockpit controls for code and communities. As the founder of
MyGate
—a digital platform transforming urban gated societies—Vijay is on a new mission: making city living safer, smarter, and more connected for millions of Indians. But how does a warzone-trained helicopter pilot go on to lead one of India's fastest-growing proptech startups? His journey is anything but ordinary.
A decorated soldier turned entrepreneur
Vijay Arisetty's story begins with intense discipline and service. Trained at the prestigious National Defence Academy (NDA), he went on to serve in the Indian Air Force for over a decade as a helicopter pilot. During his time in uniform, he undertook critical rescue missions and peacekeeping operations both in India and abroad. His bravery during the 2004 tsunami earned him the Shaurya Chakra, one of India's highest peacetime gallantry awards.
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But a sports injury changed everything. It forced him to step away from the cockpit and into civilian life. Seizing this unexpected transition, Vijay enrolled at the
Indian School of Business
(ISB), Hyderabad, where he pivoted into the corporate world. He eventually worked as Vice President at
Goldman Sachs
, but something was missing—a deeper purpose.
The birth of MyGate
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In 2016, armed with military precision, corporate experience, and entrepreneurial vision, Vijay launched MyGate—a digital solution for managing gated communities. The idea was sparked by a simple observation: the everyday experience of apartment living was broken. Security processes were outdated, communication between residents and management was inefficient, and local service discovery was clunky at best.
Joining Vijay in this ambitious venture were Abhishek Kumar (IIT Kanpur, IIM Ahmedabad, ex-Goldman Sachs) and Shreyans Daga (IIT Guwahati, ISB). Together, the trio left cushy jobs to build something meaningful from scratch.
What began as a gatekeeping app has evolved into a full-fledged ecosystem. According to its website, MyGate now facilitates everything from entry validation and package deliveries to property purchases and helpdesk ticketing. It handles a staggering 720,000 requests per minute and has processed over 6 billion entries across housing societies in India.
More than just tech—it's about trust
What sets MyGate apart is not just its tech stack, but the real-world grit behind it. Vijay's military background helped shape the platform's emphasis on discipline, security, and reliability. Meanwhile, his corporate stint brought in the finesse required to scale in India's complex urban infrastructure.
The app is currently valued at Rs 1,670 crore and is used by millions. But for Vijay, the mission is still personal. MyGate isn't just about digitizing doors; it's about security, empowering residents, and building real communities.
