(Jun 18, 2025) Entrepreneur. Technologist. Sports visionary. Philanthropist. Sanjay Jupudi wears many hats. “I don’t believe in separating things to find balance. Instead, I integrate everything. My approach has always been to align my business, philanthropic efforts, and passion for sports in a way that they complement and strengthen each other,” the Texas-based business-leader shares with Global Indian.
That drive traces back to his childhood in Bhimavaram, a small town in southern India, where Sanjay was already turning ideas into action. He created a lending library using storybooks collected during family travels, carefully binding them into volumes and renting them out to neighbourhood kids. On another occasion, he and a friend transformed their staircase into a makeshift planetarium by blacking out the walls, suspending hand-drawn planets from strings, and charging entry for narrated tours of the solar system.
Even then, he wasn’t just playing, he was organizing, packaging, and delivering experiences. The instinct to build systems, connect with people, and lead with imagination was there from the start.
Years later, that same mindset would shape Sanjay’s rise as the co-founder of Qentelli, a company driving AI-powered digital transformation, and the founder of another AI-based product venture. His ventures span five geographies, employ 1,200+ people, and serve hundreds of global clients. He is also the founder of Kaarika, an infrastructure development company focused on shaping modern urban projects.
But Sanjay’s impact goes further. As co-owner of professional teams in cricket, kho kho, pickleball, and rugby, the entrepreneur is part of making India’s sporting future better. Under his leadership, the Southern Superstars clinched the cricket championship title in 2024, while the Chennai Quick Guns, the Kho Kho team finished as proud runners-up. His latest sporting venture includes entry into Rugby 7s through the Hyderabad Superstars, and he continues to explore the fast-emerging world of pickleball, a sport he had, as a child, unknowingly reinvented with sponge balls and plastic rackets.
At the same time, he leads philanthropic efforts aimed at transforming a million lives from schoolchildren in Hyderabad to patients in remote villages during the COVID crisis. Through his family foundation and Qentelli’s CSR efforts, Sanjay addresses critical social issues such as hunger, healthcare access, digital education, and sustainable livelihoods.
From Bhimavaram to the world
Born in Bhimavaram, a small town in Andhra Pradesh, Sanjay hails from a third-generation business family associated with the Indian film industry. While his father and grandfather were involved in nearly every facet of cinema except producing, Sanjay took a different path. His early education was shaped by boarding schools across India, instilling a sense of independence and self-discipline from a young age.
One of the most pivotal turning points in his career came while interning in Bangalore. He stumbled upon a newspaper advertisement for Amdocs which was a job post accompanied by a striking beach photo and a caption that read, “Do you want to work here?” Though under qualified by the listed experience, he applied anyway. After a six-to-seven-hour written test that covered aptitude, technical knowledge, and learning agility, he secured the role. This job took him to Cyprus, opening doors to a global career.
“Amdocs became my foundational learning ground,” Sanjay recalls. “It was a melting pot of cultures, colleagues from around the world, and immense professional challenges. Ironically, I learned more about India while working abroad than I ever did while living in India.”
Later, his work took him across Germany, Ireland, the UK, and ultimately, the United States. There, he juggled a day job at AT&T with a startup role during nights and weekends before deciding to pursue entrepreneurship full-time. In 2015, he founded Qentelli and another AI based product company, both bootstrapped ventures built from personal savings, driven by passion rather than deep pockets.
Cultural shifts and leadership lessons
Transitioning from India to Europe came with its own learning curve. “In India, everything is shaped by scarcity—jobs, resources, opportunities. There’s always a sense of urgency and fierce competition,” he says. Europe, by contrast, introduced him to a work culture that emphasized balance, mutual respect, and thoughtful planning.
One incident that enhanced his leadership approach occurred during his first project at Amdocs. When asked if he knew a particular programming concept, Sanjay hesitated, worried that admitting ignorance would make him appear unqualified. His manager responded, “I don’t expect you to know everything. If you tell me what you don’t know, it helps me plan the project better.” That moment changed how Sanjay approached learning and collaboration.
Another powerful memory came from an office kitchenette. “I saw a coffee spill and ignored it. Moments later, the regional head walked in, cleaned it up himself, and left without a word,” he recalls. “That moment reshaped how I see leadership, ownership, and community.”
As he moved from employee to entrepreneur, the responsibilities multiplied. “You’re now stewarding people, culture, vision, and risk. There are no guarantees, just conviction and the will to keep moving forward,” he remarks.
Sanjay Jupudi’s focus on emotional leadership became a cornerstone of his management philosophy. “During difficult times, I put on a brave face to shield my team, while balancing strength and vulnerability.”
Playing to win as a sports entrepreneur
Sanjay’s love for sports began in childhood, not just as a player but as an organizer. “I loved the pre-game planning—identifying strengths, building lineups, and bringing people together toward a shared goal,” he says.
That early fascination came full circle when he and his childhood friend Srinadh Chitoori invested in a team in the Ultimate Kho Kho league. Despite their lack of experience, they immersed themselves in every detail like drafting players, organizing logistics, and building support systems. Their team, the Chennai Quick Guns, reached the playoffs in their first season and went undefeated to the finals in their second.
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Buoyed by that success, they launched the Southern Superstars cricket team, which went on to win the championship in 2024. Their latest ventures include the Hyderabad Superstars in pickleball and a new Rugby 7s team, adding global appeal to their growing sports portfolio.
“Sports bring people together across regions, languages, and generations. The camaraderie, the competition, the raw emotion. It’s unlike anything else,” remarks the sports entrepreneur.
Giving with purpose
Sanjay’s philanthropic mission was sparked by a personal moment. It was the passing of his grandmother, who chose to donate her eyes at the age of 83. Her defiance of generational taboos left a lasting impact.
“That final act of selflessness deeply moved me and set me on a lifelong path of purpose: to positively impact one million lives,” he shares.
His first major initiative focused on cataract surgeries for underserved elderly patients in India. During the COVID-19 crisis, he worked with Stanford researchers to convert CPAP and BiPAP machines into ventilators. This effort saved thousands of lives across remote regions.
Closer to home, he adopted a government school in Hyderabad. “The infrastructure was in disrepair—leaky roofs, doorless restrooms, a rat-infested kitchen,” he recalls. With support from Qentelli and his family foundation, the school was transformed, offering digital classrooms, safe drinking water, and NGO-led remote teaching programs.
“Philanthropy isn’t just about giving. It’s about building systems that last,” says the entrepreneur.
An integrated life of business, sports, and impact
Rather than seeking balance, Sanjay integrates every facet of his life. Clients visiting Qentelli are invited to see the school in Hyderabad or witness hunger-relief efforts in Dallas. Employees volunteer for these causes and support the sports teams that Qentelli proudly sponsors.
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“It’s a circular model. Business growth fuels impact, and that impact inspires deeper purpose in business.”
His employees even get to train with professional athletes or mentor school children. “These aren’t side projects, they are part of who we are as a company,” he mentions.
AI with intention
Having built two technology companies, Sanjay sees AI as a tool with immense potential, when used with clarity and intent. “My approach to AI is rooted in practicality. Can it solve a meaningful problem? Can it elevate human potential?”
At Qentelli and his other business venture, AI is embedded in everything from test automation to enterprise transformation. Even beyond tech, the entrepreneur is exploring AI’s role in personalized education, athlete performance, and rural healthcare. “Real innovation isn’t about speed, rather it’s about direction,” he believes.
Plans to scale while remaining grounded
As Sanjay Jupudi scales his businesses and expands his sports ventures, he remains grounded in his larger goal. “Back when I started Qentelli, I invested every rupee, every dollar I had. But I also began giving back then—not after I had ‘made it’. That principle continues to guide me.”
His mission to positively impact one million lives remains front and center. Whether it’s in a startup hub, a stadium, or a schoolyard, Sanjay continues to build with heart.
“Today, I see everything I do whether it’s business, sports or philanthropy, not as separate pursuits, but as a unified mission to create value, enable people, and leave things better than I found them,” he says.
“If there’s one number I do want to see go down in the near future, it’s my golf score,” he signs off on a lighter note.
Truly inspiring to see Sanjay Jupudi blend tech, sports, and social impact so seamlessly.
Building with heart and leading with purpose in every step.
A role model for purpose-driven entrepreneurship!