Founders & Directors

Ketan Bakshi is one of the founders of Neilsoft and has over three decades of experience in the engineering & IT industry. During the initial years in his career he worked on several microprocessor-based industrial automation systems projects. He was instrumental in launching the first IBM-PC compatible system (Neptune) in India in 1984 and has focused on the CAD/CAM and Engineering segments since 1986. He has worked in various capacities in technical, marketing, sales, and management functions prior to founding Neilsoft. Mr. Bakshi has a Bachelors Degree in Electrical Engineering and Masters in Computer Science.

He is a member of India-based NASSCOM's Executive Council (2009-11) and leads several initiatives to leverage India's 'engineering services' strengths as part of the global workshare (hybrid) system.

A firm believer in non-feudal structure, respect for the rights of all shareholders, transparency, and empowerment of people, he has helped create a company in which day-to-day operational decision making is de-centralized and ethical behavior is the norm at all levels.

Rupa Shah is one of the founders of Neilsoft and has over 25 years of experience in accounts, finance, audits, commercial, and regulatory matters. Her experience includes managing the accounting function for major accounts while at New India Assurance Company and stints in taxation and investment management areas prior to co-founding Neilsoft.
Mrs. Shah is a graduate from Mumbai University and a qualified Chartered Accountant.

Shirish Sathe is one of the founders of Neilsoft and has 25 years of experience in engineering and CAD modeling / tooling. He has worked in various engineering capacities for companies abroad and in India in the manufacturing & construction industries.
Mr. Sathe holds a Bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering.

Venetia Kontogouris is the Managing Director of Trident Capital. Before joining Trident, Venetia was an executive from 1983 to 1995 of Dun & Bradstreet Corporation and related entities including IMS Health Incorporated and Cognizant Corporation. She was also President of Enterprise Associates, LLC, the venture capital division of IMS Health Incorporated. Venetia's current directorships include Neilsoft, Advantec, DepotPoint, Invention Machine Corporation, MeMedia, Microland, Outsource Partners International, Odyssey Logistics & Technology, Questra Corporation, Sphere, Teranode Corporation, Vidavee and board observer to Vurv (which acquired People Business Network).

Venetia earned her B.A. from Northeastern University and her M.B.A. from the University Of Chicago Graduate School Of Business.

Chirag Bakshi manages the Wireless Messaging Products/Business group at VeriSign and has recently taken on the Content & Messaging Strategy role. He represents VeriSign on the MMA(Mobile Marketing Association) North American board.
Prior to joining VeriSign, Mr. Bakshi was Chief Operating Officer at Unimobile where he helped the company build a world-class scalable and robust Wireless Platform. Before Unimobile, Mr.Bakshi was General Manager at Electronics for Imaging (EFI) where he established a very successful Network Graphics Server Business Unit , and Director of Engineering at Apple Computer where he was responsible for the Apple Color LaserWriter line of products . He developed distributed PBX Switch Software for Rolm Corp. in the early part of his career. Mr. Bakshi holds a M.S. degree in Computer Science from the University of Michigan and a M.S. degree in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University. He earned his B.S in Electrical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology in Bombay. He holds U.S. Patents in the Operating Systems and Wireless applications field.

Mr. Satyen Patel is currently the President and CEO, Kanusul Capital LLC. Prior to joining Neilsoft, he was the Founder & Vice Chairman of Scandent Group, a Private Equity fund and Executive Vice-Chairman, Cambridge Solutions Ltd, an IT and BPO company listed on the Mumbai Stock Exchange.
Mr. Satyen Patel has held senior management positions with several multinational companies in the US and Singapore. His previous directorship's include a non-executive Directorship with 3i plc Asia Pacific (PE/Venture Fund) as Director of Strategic Development for Grand Met/Pillsbury Company in Minneapolis, Director of International Business Development with Pepsi Cola International in New York and Managing Director of Nike South East Asia & South Asia to name a few.