WiJungle: Karmesh Gupta on Building a Global Network Security Powerhouse from India
In the fragmented world of cybersecurity, where enterprises often juggle 25 different vendors for 25 different problems, Karmesh Gupta saw an opportunity for unification. As the Co-founder and CEO of WiJungle, Karmesh has built a comprehensive network security gateway that allows organizations to manage their entire digital defense through a single window. It's a "Made in India" solution that is already serving customers across 27 countries, proving that India is ready to lead the global product revolution.
Karmesh’s entrepreneurial spirit was ignited early. In 2013, while still in college at LNMIIT, he explored various domains, including a stint with the Rajasthan Royals IPL team and an internship at Lucidius. His first major venture in 2014—a free Wi-Fi startup—was a trial by fire. Despite significant media coverage, the business failed, leaving Karmesh and his co-founder cousin, Pravin, with a 50-lakh loss. "We didn't give up," Karmesh reflects. "We turned to IT services to pay off the debt, serving clients like Patanjali and Indian Railways, before returning to our true passion: building a global product."
The Problem: Distributed Architecture
Enterprises currently face a "distributed architecture" nightmare in cybersecurity. Managing dozens of vendors kills scalability and drains budgets. WiJungle solves this by offering a unified platform that cuts investment costs by up to 60% while simplifying management. "We wanted to build something where multiple aspects of security could be handled through a single window," Karmesh explains.
India as a 'Product Nation'
Karmesh is a vocal advocate for India's transition from a service-oriented economy to a product-centric one. While giants like Infosys and TCS set the stage for India's IT prowess, he believes the future lies in building intellectual property. "We have been a mercantile nation, importing tech and keeping a small margin," he notes. "To reach a $5 trillion GDP, we must build world-class products and export them globally. Cybersecurity is one area where Indian product companies are already frontrunners."
He identifies six key industries that will form the backbone of India's economy in the next decade: Fintech, Cyber Security, EdTech, Healthcare, AI/ML, and Blockchain. WiJungle is positioning itself to be a leader in this "Industry 4.0" revolution, aiming to be among the top five global product companies in its category.
Building from a Tier-2 City
Operating out of Jaipur initially presented challenges in terms of talent and exposure. "You miss the leverage of a metro city," Karmesh admits. "In a metro, you avoid many mistakes just by being in the ecosystem." However, the team’s persistence and focus on global standards allowed them to overcome geographical barriers. Today, WiJungle leverages talent from across the country to maintain its rapid growth curve.
Lessons in Perseverance
For Karmesh, entrepreneurship is not about a single "eureka" moment but about the grit to survive the "sine wave" of business. He emphasizes that founders should focus on proving themselves as entrepreneurs rather than just making one idea work. "Ideas may or may not succeed, but your intent to be an entrepreneur must be permanent," he says. This mindset helped him navigate two significant failures before finding massive success with WiJungle.
Karmesh's Playbook for Aspiring Founders
- Identify a Large Market: Don't build for a niche that can't scale. Ensure your problem space is big enough to support a billion-dollar company.
- Learn from Others' Mistakes: Don't try to figure everything out on your own. Tap into the experience of those who have built before you.
- Hire for Synergy: Skills are important, but energy and mindset alignment are crucial. Your team must be as passionate about the problem as you are.
- Break the 'Paycheck' Addiction: True entrepreneurship begins when you stop looking for the security of a salary and start taking ownership of the entire P&L.
The Future of Cyber Security
With geopolitical shifts and the rise of digital dependencies, Karmesh sees cybersecurity becoming even more central to national and corporate strategy. WiJungle is continuing to innovate, integrating AI and ML to stay ahead of evolving threats. The goal is to make India the epicenter of the global Industry 4.0 revolution, providing secure, reliable, and unified technology to the world.
WiJungle at a Glance
- Global Presence: Serving customers and partners across 27+ countries.
- Impact: Reducing enterprise security investment costs by up to 60%.
- Recognition: Karmesh featured in Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia (Youngest in Enterprise category).
About the Guest
Karmesh Gupta is the Co-founder and CEO of WiJungle. A graduate of LNMIIT and a recognized leader in the cyber security space, Karmesh was featured in the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in 2020. He is a serial entrepreneur who has navigated the highs and lows of the startup world with remarkable resilience. Karmesh is a champion of the "Product Nation" movement and is dedicated to building world-class technology from India for the global market.
WiJungle is a unified network security gateway that offers a comprehensive suite of security features—including Firewall, VPN, WAF, and Load Balancer—on a single platform. Designed to simplify digital defense for enterprises and SMBs, WiJungle provides a scalable, cost-effective, and easy-to-manage solution for modern cybersecurity challenges.