(October 10, 2025) From the stimulating classrooms of IIT Madras, and later University of Toledo in Ohio to the innovation hub of Detroit, entrepreneur Radha Krishnan has built a successful global journey, blending engineering expertise with entrepreneurial foresight. As the founder and president of Detroit Engineered Products (DEP), an engineering solutions and product development company, he has been transforming the way products are designed. Through the power of AI, machine learning, and advanced simulation technologies, he is making innovation faster, smarter, and more efficient.
Launched in Troy, Michigan, in 1998, his venture DEP has grown into a multi-million-dollar enterprise with a team of over 500 professionals spanning the USA, Germany, Spain, Italy, France, China, Korea, Japan, and India. Central to this growth is MeshWorks, DEP’s pioneering Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE) platform that has reimagined the process of product development dramatically shortening design cycles and enabling engineers to translate complex ideas into practical, high-impact solutions.
From Madras to the United States
Radha Krishnan’s journey began with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from IIT Madras, followed by a master’s from the University of Toledo, Ohio. His time in the U.S. not only exposed him to advanced engineering practices but also to a culture of collaboration, entrepreneurship, and adaptability.
“My years in the U.S. taught me that technology is only half the story, the rest lies in systems, teamwork, and bringing innovation to market,” he tells Global Indian. These lessons became the foundation upon which he would later build Detroit Engineered Products, a company deeply rooted in both technical excellence and global collaboration.
Starting his career with Tata Consulting Engineers, Krishnan went on to work with EaSi in Michigan and General Motors, where he mastered the nuances of global delivery, large-scale product development, and customer-centric design. “By the late 1990s, I felt ready to pursue my entrepreneurial vision,” he says. “In 1998, I founded DEP in Troy, Michigan, with a mission to reimagine CAE processes and accelerate innovation in engineering design.”
That vision soon bore fruit. By 2000, DEP launched MeshWorks, which has since evolved into a comprehensive CAE design and optimisation platform. The company expanded its global footprint with offices in India (2000, 2019, 2023), China (2010), Brazil and Japan (2016), and partnerships across continents.
Along the way came a series of industry firsts: the in-cylinder combustion sensor (2014), the Microtrailer urban utility platform (2015), and a battery sensor for EVs (2023). The introduction of automotive electrification capabilities in 2020 marked a turning point, combining product design, development, and a custom CAE module in MeshWorks. Most recently, in 2024, DEP integrated AI/ML-driven optimisation and generative AI, pushing the boundaries of data-driven product development. This evolution, he says, reflects not just DEP’s growth but his own — a journey rooted in curiosity, resilience, and a relentless pursuit of innovation.
Tech talk
DEP was founded to address a critical industry pain point: slow and rigid product development cycles. Manufacturers needed a smarter way to innovate faster, reduce costs, and meet demanding performance targets. MeshWorks, launched in 2000, was the answer — cutting simulation cycles from days to hours.
Over the years, it evolved into a comprehensive CAE ecosystem integrating design, simulation, optimisation, and automation. Today, with AI and machine learning embedded, MeshWorks is revolutionising how the automotive world develops products.
“AI automates tasks like mesh generation, parameter optimisation, and design morphing, while ML leverages past simulations to improve accuracy and reveal new possibilities,” Krishnan explains. “This allows companies to run faster design iterations, virtually validate prototypes, and reduce time-to-market, all while building safer, lighter, and more sustainable vehicles.” At DEP, the mission is simple yet powerful: to engineer possibilities. AI, he believes, is the key to taking that vision even further.
Learning from every step
Every organisation Krishnan worked with left an imprint on his professional philosophy. From Tata Consulting Engineers, he learnt discipline and fundamentals; from EaSi, the intricacies of global delivery and balancing speed with quality; and from General Motors, the art of managing innovation at scale.
“These experiences gave me a holistic view of engineering,” he says. “They also convinced me that agility is as important as scale in today’s fast-changing industry.”
MeshWorks, in particular, remains close to his heart. It was born from his conviction that CAE tools must evolve beyond mere solver-prep utilities. “I spearheaded its creation,” he shares, “guiding its vision and working hands-on with our early teams to ensure it became a true engineering platform. Even today, I stay deeply involved in its roadmap because MeshWorks represents DEP’s very philosophy of speed, flexibility, and democracy in CAE.”
Lessons and more
For young entrepreneurs, Krishnan’s advice is to stay curious, keep learning, and embrace failure. “Engineering is as much about mindset as it is about math and models,” he reflects. “Ask the right questions, explore technologies like AI and digital twins, and look beyond the immediate problem to the bigger picture. Real innovation combines technical depth with empathy for the end user.”
To Radha Krishnan, being a global citizen means bridging borders rather than just crossing them. “It’s about carrying India’s strengths in education, values, and resilience into the global arena, while learning from best practices around the world. Indians bring adaptability, creativity, and perseverance — a mix that, when paired with international exposure, creates immense global impact.”
Overcoming challenges
Building DEP from scratch in Detroit’s fiercely competitive environment was far from easy. “Credibility and resources were constant challenges,” Krishnan admits. “We overcame them through persistence, trust, and consistent value delivery.”
Scaling globally without compromising quality required investment in people, systems, and processes. “The CAE industry demands constant reinvention,” he adds. “Every challenge became a learning curve, shaping DEP into a stronger, more resilient organisation. The obstacles you face as an entrepreneur are not roadblocks. They are the training ground for resilience and innovation.”
The drive to innovate
Krishnan finds inspiration in solving real-world problems that impact industries and people’s lives. “What motivates me daily is seeing how DEP’s innovations help clients build better, safer, and more efficient products,” he says. Mentors, colleagues, and even competitors have influenced his outlook, reminding him that innovation is not about resources but resourcefulness.
“If you can nurture curiosity, persistence, and courage, you’ll find a way forward even when the odds seem against you,” he reflects.
The road ahead
Looking ahead, Radha Krishnan envisions evolving MeshWorks into a next-generation, AI-driven, multiphysics CAE platform that delivers faster, smarter, and more sustainable solutions. His focus lies on strengthening research, partnerships, and collaboration with academia and global talent, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in CAE.
“By championing open standards and interoperability, we aim to create a more connected and innovative ecosystem,” he says. “In the long run, our goal is to make DEP synonymous with intelligent, accelerated engineering shaping industries, not just serving them, and inspiring the next generation of engineers to dream bigger.”
- Follow Radha Krishnan on LinkedIn
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