Reshaping the Pharma Sector with Technology: The Vision of Axtria's Jaswinder Chadha

From Aspiring Soldier to Entrepreneur

Jaswinder Chadha, also known as Jassi, didn't initially set out to be an entrepreneur. His early ambition was to follow in his father's footsteps and join the army. However, after just one term in the course, he made the pivotal decision to enroll at IIT Delhi, inspired by his mother, Tarvinder Chadha, who earned a Ph.D. in Mathematics from IIT Delhi in 1968. His journey has taken him a long way since then.

Changing Perceptions of Life Sciences

Jassi recognizes that a career in the life sciences industry isn't often viewed as glamorous, particularly among software engineers who don't typically dream of working in this sector. He acknowledges that historically, the life sciences industry in India has struggled to attract the best talent, and he sees this as a problem. To address this, Axtria took a proactive approach by collaborating with educators and trainers to develop curricula. In 2013, the Axtria Institute (AI) was established to facilitate learning and development for its employees. Today, AI boasts over 400 trainers and has awarded more than 50,000 certificates for technical skills, including SQL, Python, machine learning, artificial intelligence, and Power BI. According to Jassi, the in-classroom training at AI is akin to attending a university to earn a degree.

Innovation and Transition to SaaS

Axtria, initially a sales consultancy for pharmaceutical companies, aimed to distinguish itself from competitors by incorporating software and technology. In 2013, the company transitioned to a software-as-a-service (SaaS) model and introduced Axtria Sales IQ, now its flagship product. Axtria now offers five flagship products, including Sales IQ, Customer IQ, and Marketing IQ, all designed to assist pharmaceutical companies in various aspects of their business. The company has a strong focus on data and offers products like DataMAX, a cloud-based platform that helps pharmaceutical companies extract, secure, and analyze their data for actionable insights. Notably, 50% of Axtria's revenues come from these products, and more than 12% of its workforce is actively involved in product innovation and development.

Future Plans

Axtria's future plans involve doubling down on data models and creating a cloud-based product that pharmaceutical companies can use for data-driven drug development. Jassi envisions a future where drug companies have in-house data specialists who can use these tools to prepare and analyze datasets for innovative drug discovery. The company is in the process of hiring 1,000 people for its new Pune office, many of whom will work on product-based activities. Additionally, Axtria is opening another office in Hyderabad.

In 2021, Axtria secured $150 million in funding from the Bain Capital Opportunities Fund, marking its first-ever institutional funding round. Jassi notes that none of its investors have exited the company to date.

While Jassi enjoys traveling with his family twice a year, retirement isn't on his horizon. He expresses his passion for what he does and the fulfillment he derives from his successful journey.