May – Innovator
Janahan Rajaratnam, of Valari Solutions, helps small/medium businesses compete in today’s modern tech world. They help tech founders create products and services that disrupt industries and can support you in any stage to bring your ideas to life. Keep reading to learn more!
Every business has a story, tell us yours.
My story has a pretty simplistic beginning in the sense that I didn’t realize entrepreneurship was my passion. I was not exposed to entrepreneurship growing up and it wasn’t until podcasts really started taking off that I was able to learn my love of and appreciation of tech startup founders. I was absolutely hooked by the ability for a single person to come up with an idea, put together an exceptional team, and absolutely disrupt an industry – one single person. This is when I was “bit” by the entrepreneurial bug and knew I wanted a change in my life. I decided I no longer wanted to be a cog in the wheel at the slow moving corporation I was working for. I took the leap into entrepreneurship full time and started Valari Solutions by providing any technology service our clients needed. This included building marketing website, social media, digital marketing, hardware deployments, networking, and much more. Over the years I got more involved with the local tech startup scene and we shifted to focusing on developing custom iOS, Android, and web apps. We recently started growing the team with an engineering and design team in Sri Lanka, where I was born. The team is now in place and it’s pedal to the metal for growing the company to be what I know it’s capable of.
You were chosen as this month’s Innovator Member. What does being an Innovator mean to you?
Never accepting the status quo, no matter what industry you are in. Always looking to improve your product and service offerings to keep up with the ever-changing needs of your clients and the global landscape.
No one likes to brag about their business, but if you HAD TO . . .
Valari Solutions is unique to other local app development firms in that we also have a social mission. We are providing jobs in a country (Sri Lanka) that has been war-torn and deprived from economic development for nearly 30 years. Some of our engineers used to travel 2-3 hours a day on a crowded bus to get from their home to work; they are now able to work remotely and regain all that time to spend with their families. By utilizing the teams in Sri Lanka, we are able to provide services with equivalent quality at a fraction of the cost locally.
We learn from our mistakes, especially in business. Give us some words of wisdom.
Carve out time each week to nurture your own business or side projects. It’s easy to put our clients’ needs first and prioritize them above our own business’ needs but it’s equally important to make time for you.
What “teacher” has made the most impact on your life and why?
Both of my parents have made the most impact on my life. It’s amazing what they were able to accomplish here in the US, fleeing a war-torn country and not able to speak a word of English; their achievements have made me very humble and grateful. They taught me that excuses are for suckers and that opportunities are there for people that are willing to put in the work.
What might someone be surprised to know about you?
I was born in Sri Lanka and my family migrated to the US as refugees when I was 2.5 years old.
If you could have only one super power, what would it be and why?
The ability to not have to sleep as there is never enough hours in the day!
What’s the most interesting thing you’ve read or seen this week?
TEDx Talk – How to Multiply Your Time | Rory Vaden Most people use two-dimensional thinking to manage their time; Importance on one axis and Urgency on the other axis in order to help prioritize. This talk introduces the concept of a third dimension: Significance.
Why do you choose to WORK AWESOME at OffiCenters?
I choose OffiCenters for their reasonable costs and friendly staff. I’m able to schedule meetings with clients anywhere in the metro that is convenient to them while not having to deal with parking! The OffiCenters’ staff is amazing at making not only yourself but also your clients feel welcomed and comfortable, which is vital in growing our business.
In addition to our Member Directory, how else can people CONNECT with you?
E-mail: janahan@valarisolutions.com
Phone: 952-222-8092
Website: www.valarisolutions.com
Instagram: @valarisolutions
