Vian Systems Inc is a startup floated by Vishal Sikka, who was formerly CEO of Indian software major Infosys. Vian systems has now raised capital of $50 million. The company is registered in Palo Alto, California in the US and the only information available from the filings the company has made in that country indicates that the company had made an offer of sale of its shares.
The identity of two persons who have purchased the shares has not been revealed. There is also a mention of “certain intellectual property assets” being contributed. Again, there is no clarity on what these assets could have been, in the context of the formation of the company.
There is no information on the nature of activities the company will carry on, but since Vishal Sikka is an AI specialist, it can be assumed that the company’s business will have something to do with that. Even the company’s website does not seem to indicate the business objectives of Vian Systems. The only suggestion being shared in the public is that the company will be more into product-solutions rather than offering any services. This is yet to be officially confirmed.
Vishal Sikka’s appointment to Infosys and a rather unpleasant exit three years later were both highlighted in the media. He was the first CEO of the company who had not been a promoter of Infosys. This was seen as a departure from the past and widely welcomed. Three years down the line, the founders themselves raised questions on his corporate governance practices and with N.R. Narayana Murthy one of the key founders and the virtual face of Infosys the world over raising the pitch, Sikka quit. The squabble was all over the media in full public glare.
For the record, Vishal Sikka holds a PhD in Artificial Intelligence from Stanford University and his last assignment before taking over as the CEO of Infosys was with SAP.