Vinay M K

Leading India's innovation in drone technology across enterprise logistics, agriculture & defence.

• Achieved DGCA Type Certification for ATVA-1 hybrid cargo drone (2kg payload, 60km range), enabling advanced logistics operations.
• Secured certification for Vihaa agricultural drone, resulting in 40% reduction in pesticide use and a sevenfold improvement in efficiency.
• Led development of ATVA-2 (>6kg payload) and a Multi-50 heavy-lift platform, expanding capabilities for drone logistics.
• Pioneered BVLOS capabilities with RF, LTE, and satellite communications, establishing infrastructure for nationwide drone logistics.

Built and scaled a 13-member Product Management team while driving AI-driven product development and compliance.

• Built and scaled a 13-member Product Management team, enhancing product development and delivery capabilities.
• Deployed AWS-based PII blurring (MobileNet) to achieve GDPR/CCPA compliance, safeguarding sensitive data for global operations.
• Developed advanced transformer models for real-time road-condition and weather estimation on in-vehicle devices, improving predictive analytics.
• Launched AI-driven risk detection (AI-12 device) across LATAM, expanding market reach and enhancing vehicle safety solutions.
• Led the successful integration of DryvAmigo into Lytx India's GCC hub, streamlining operations post-acquisition.

Founded and led DryvAmigo, developing an edge AI-based Driver Monitoring System that achieved Product-Market Fit and was acquired by Lytx.

• Founded and led DryvAmigo, developing an edge AI-powered Driver Monitoring System (DMS) for detecting drowsiness, distraction, and inattention.
• Secured strategic partnership with Qualcomm for a CES 2019 showcase, demonstrating automotive NPU integration.
• Achieved Product-Market Fit (PMF), culminating in a successful acquisition by Lytx, validating market value and innovation.

Co-founded PathPartner Technologies, driving product strategy and innovation as VP Products across various deep tech verticals.

• Co-founded PathPartner Technologies and served as VP Products for 15 years, driving strategic product development and growth.
• Created and launched Zoapi, a meeting-room SaaS solution, which was successfully acquired by WeWork India.
• Incubated In-Cabin DMS technology, which later spun off as DryvAmigo, demonstrating entrepreneurial vision.
• Delivered HEVC/H.265 codecs for global OEM multimedia servers, establishing a strong presence in video compression.
• Headed multiple machine learning, computer vision, and deep learning projects on leading processors (Qualcomm, TI, Intel).
• Built robust IoT and multimedia platforms, expanding the company's product portfolio across diverse industry verticals.

Managed audio engineering teams, delivering audio codecs to leading mobile OEMs and generating significant recurring revenue.

• Managed audio engineering, delivering codecs to 7 out of 10 top mobile OEMs and achieving significant market penetration.
• Generated $1.5M in Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) through strategic product and client management.
• Led a 15-person engineering team, achieving zero attrition over 5 years through effective leadership and mentorship.

Contributed to policy and initiatives aimed at improving road safety through technology and advocacy.

• Actively participated in the FICCI Road Safety Sub-committee since 2019, influencing national safety policies.
• Leveraged expertise in AI/ML and automotive technology to recommend solutions for enhanced road safety.

Provided strategic guidance and technical expertise to venture capital firms and emerging AI startups.

• Advised DeepTech VCs on investment strategies and due diligence for AI-focused ventures.
• Mentored AI startups on product roadmap, technology stack, and market positioning, fostering growth and innovation.

Contributed to the strategic direction of the Indian product ecosystem and mentored emerging deep tech startups.

• Served as a Product Council Member for NASSCOM (2021-2023), shaping initiatives for the Indian tech product landscape.
• Provided mentorship to DeepTech startups, fostering innovation and guiding product development strategies.