Pickright Technologies: Archana Elapavuluri on Wealth Management for the Masses
Breaking an addiction is never easy, but for Archana Elapavuluri, Co-founder and CEO of Pickright Technologies, the hardest one to kick wasn't caffeine or sugar—it was the monthly paycheck. After a stellar 20-year career at giants like HCL, Oracle, and NIIT, Archana stepped into the uncertain world of entrepreneurship to solve a problem that plagues millions: how to make hard-earned money grow without being an expert in finance.
Archana’s journey began in a small town in Andhra Pradesh, where she was raised with the traditional mindset of "study, get a job, and settle." But her thirst for experience took her across the globe—from Silicon Valley to Europe. "I spent years Monday to Friday traveling, meeting clients, and learning how business is conducted globally," Archana reflects. "That exposure taught me that the best teachers are your surroundings. You need to listen, absorb, and observe."
The Three Addictions
Archana identifies three primary addictions in life: Drugs, Carbs, and the most dangerous one—the Paycheck. "The minute you are out of your paycheck, you stop looking forward to the first of the month for yourself, and start struggling to ensure you pay your team's salaries. It's a fundamental mindset shift that every true entrepreneur must undergo."
The Failure That Built a Success
Before Pickright, Archana founded 'Want Handmade,' an e-commerce platform for artisans. While it scaled to 7,000 SKUs, it eventually failed due to the complexities of logistics and fragile goods handling in India. "I lost a lot of capital, but I gained priceless lessons," she admits. "I learned that execution and operational depth are more important than just having a supply of products." This experience led her to join the core team at shopex, where she honed her skills in scaling a startup before finally launching Pickright in 2019.
Investing: Moving Beyond the Bank Account
Pickright was born out of Archana's own struggle to find trusted investment advice. "I was drawing a fat paycheck in the US, but I didn't know where to put it. Everyone just said 'mutual funds,' but they didn't take off," she explains. Pickright aims to be the "intelligent gateway" for the masses, using AI and ML to profile users and provide personalized, self-directed investment paths across diverse asset classes.
The goal is to bring wealth management to the "next billion" who currently leave their savings in low-interest bank accounts. By connecting these users to a trusted ecosystem of advisors and automated execution, Pickright is turning "saving" into "growing."
Archana's Three Rules for Hiring
- Attitude Before Aptitude: Skills can be taught, but a "startup attitude"—the drive to get things done yesterday—is innate.
- Comprehension is Key: In a fast-paced environment, there is no time for repetition. A team member must understand exactly what is meant the first time.
- Hire Smarter or Equal: "Never recruit someone just to satisfy your ego," Archana warns. "If your team isn't as smart or smarter than you, you haven't done your job well."
The Future of Hyper-Personalization
Archana predicts that the next five years of fintech will be dominated by hyper-personalization. Just as Netflix knows your favorite genre, financial platforms will understand your risk appetite, life stage, and aspirations at a granular level. Pickright is positioning itself at the forefront of this trend, moving away from "one-size-fits-all" products to bespoke financial journeys for every Indian professional.
Pickright Journey
- Experience: Founded by a team with 20+ years of tech and financial expertise.
- Focus: AI-driven, self-directed investment for young professionals (22-40 years).
- Growth: Scaled from 4 to 11+ core members in its first year.
About the Guest
Archana Elapavuluri is the Co-founder and CEO of Pickright Technologies. An engineer by training and a visionary leader, she has over two decades of experience in global tech consulting and architecture. She is a passionate advocate for women in tech and a frequent speaker on wealth democratization. Archana also volunteers her time teaching science and mathematics to government school children, believing that education is the bedrock of future innovation.
Pickright Technologies is an intelligent fintech platform that empowers individuals to take control of their financial future. By leveraging advanced data analytics and a trusted advisory network, Pickright provides personalized investment solutions that help users build and manage wealth efficiently in a complex global market.