The Intrepid Innovator

 

- Ashutosh Gotad

Vinay Kalantri belongs to the immensely successful Balaji Group of Companies, which is owned by his father, the equally well-known Vijay Kalantri. The Kalantris originally belong to Merta, Rajasthan—a city that has great historical significance since it was here that Meerabai, the poetess and the most popular devotee of Lord Krishna, was born. During his formative years, the family already had a successful business. His father Vijay Kalantri had incorporated Balaji Group of Companies in 1985 that has made its mark in a wide array of fields like textiles, trading, IT, telecom, project advisory, financial services and infrastructure projects. Its flagship company, Balaji Infra Projects Limited (BIPL) is a leading infrastructure developer with interests in ports, rail, road, SEZ, power and other infrastructure projects. So what led Vinay to choose a different path when he could have taken over such a remarkable legacy?

“I am a second generation businessman with a strong belief that entitlement comes only with performance,” says Vinay in reply. “I have always wanted to lead from the front, and hence since my teenage years, I have been into businesses, either helping my family, or dabbling in a few ventures on my own. I started businesses and exited them at great valuations. But I have always aspired to be a technology entrepreneur.”