Suparjya swain 
FEATURE: In a world quick to glorify overnight success, Mr. Veer Sagar’s journey stands as a powerful reminder that endurance, not speed, defines greatness. A pioneer in India’s IT and BPO landscape, Mr. Sagar’s life is a tapestry woven with innovation, perseverance, and unshakable optimism. At an age when most professionals look toward retirement, he launched Selectronic, one of India’s first third-party back-office service providers, proving that true entrepreneurs never really clock out—they evolve.
Born and raised during a time when entrepreneurship was neither glamorous nor encouraged, Mr. Veer Sagar carved an unconventional path for himself. After completing his Senior Cambridge at Lawrence School, Lovedale, he went on to earn a Bachelor’s degree from Nizam College and a Master’s in Science from Osmania University. Though his academic background wasn’t in business or technology, his early exposure to computers during his tenure at Dunlop in the 1960s planted the seeds for a career in tech.
Mr. Sagar’s entry into the world of information technology was, in many ways, serendipitous. Without any formal IT training, he was offered a marketing head role at a British technology company. That opportunity set the stage for future roles at companies like DCM, where he pushed the envelope by advocating for back-office services at a time when few understood their potential. Disillusioned by corporate resistance to innovation, he made a bold decision—to go solo.
In 1997, at the age of 55 and with limited savings, Mr. Veer Sagar founded Selectronic, envisioning a pioneering business where Indian professionals would remotely transcribe medical records for U.S.-based doctors—an idea well ahead of its time, especially in an era when the internet was still nascent in India. However, the road was far from smooth. When a U.S. partner abruptly withdrew, taking both clients and employees, Mr. Sagar was left with 120 staff on payroll, no business, and just enough funds to cover one month’s salaries.
But giving up was never an option. He began consulting to raise funds and restructured his operations. Selectronic eventually flourished, thanks to its proprietary software and a three-shift system that maximized efficiency. Today, the company stands as a testament to Mr. Sagar’s belief that trust, integrity, and persistence can transform any crisis into opportunity.
Trust, in fact, is the bedrock of his leadership philosophy. For Mr. Sagar, trust is absolute—once broken, it cannot be repaired. This principle has guided his relationships with clients, employees, and partners. He emphasizes open communication, accountability, and emotional intelligence in business dealings. Employees are encouraged to own their mistakes and learn from them, while clients are treated not as revenue streams, but as collaborators in growth.
Even after the success of Selectronic, Mr. Sagar’s entrepreneurial spirit remained undimmed. During the pandemic, he launched a YouTube channel, Learn with Veer Sagar, and authored a book titled Failure is Not an Option, chronicling his life’s learnings. Yet, perhaps his most audacious project to date is Criconet, a platform that blends sports and technology to democratize cricket coaching in India. With features like live telecasts of local matches and remote coaching for aspiring cricketers, Criconet is steadily building a community of over 300,000 users.
What makes Criconet unique is not just its technological edge but its social vision. Mr. Sagar sees it as more than a startup—it’s a movement to bring grassroots talent into the spotlight. He envisions a time when a child in a remote village can receive the same training and exposure as one from a metropolitan city, leveling the playing field through digital means.
As Chairman of the Electronics and Software Export Promotion Council (ESC), Mr. Veer Sagar continues to champion innovation across India. He believes cities like Bhubaneswar are poised to become tech and design hubs, particularly in sectors like SaaS, agri-tech, and sports analytics. He urges young entrepreneurs to resist the temptation of copying models from Bengaluru or Hyderabad, and instead focus on solving real, local problems.
He is also a staunch advocate for starting up later in life. While most entrepreneurial stories begin in garages and college dorm rooms, Mr. Sagar’s began in his fifties, armed not with youthful exuberance but with wisdom, stability, and experience. “I genuinely believe that starting late is an advantage,” Mr. Sagar says. “By that time, you know what not to do. You’ve made mistakes, you’ve seen failure, and you’re no longer driven by ego—you’re driven by purpose.”
To budding entrepreneurs, his advice is grounded in clarity and realism. “Don’t chase grand, sexy ideas. Start with a simple problem that affects people every day,” he asserts. “If you can solve a real issue—like delivering milk reliably to households or helping farmers use IoT for irrigation—you’re already on your way. The best ideas are often hiding in plain sight.”
Ask him what drives him even today, and his answer is disarmingly simple: happiness. “Never let your happiness be dependent on anyone or anything outside of you,” he says. “Your business, your money, your relationships—they come and go. But if you can master your own mind, you’ll never lose.”
At 80, while many would bask in the glow of a life well-lived, Mr. Veer Sagar is still building, still learning, still dreaming. His journey is not just a story of entrepreneurial success—it’s a blueprint for resilience, leadership, and the enduring power of belief.
