From two laptops to a ₹1.5-crore business: Tamil Nadu entrepreneur builds software company in his hometown

Arumugam founded Yaa Creations, headquartered in Rasipuram, after spending nine years working in Chennai's information technology sector. His journey from a salaried software professional to an entrepreneur was shaped by personal challenges, financial uncertainty and the determination to establish a technology business in his home district.

His professional career began in 2011, when he joined a software start-up in Chennai as a junior developer, earning a monthly salary of ₹3,500. Over the next nine years, he gained experience in software development, client management and project execution, eventually rising to the position of technical lead. Health-related difficulties eventually prompted him to leave Chennai and return to his hometown, where the idea of starting his own venture took shape.

With financial assistance of ₹1 lakh from his brother, Arumugam initially set up the business by purchasing two laptops and renting a co-working space in Chennai for ₹10,000 a month. He secured an initial software development assignment and hired a developer, but finding a steady stream of clients proved difficult.

The Covid-19 pandemic dealt another setback to the fledgling venture. With projects drying up and operating expenses mounting, Arumugam shifted operations closer to his native village in February 2020. He restarted the company with two employees, but the prolonged disruption pushed him into debt of approximately ₹5 lakh.

Instead of abandoning the business, he decided to take up a wider range of assignments to sustain operations. Yaa Creations gradually expanded its work across website development, mobile applications, customised software solutions, surveys and digital services. Its project earnings grew from ₹3 lakh in the first year to ₹7 lakh, ₹10 lakh and subsequently ₹30 lakh in the following years, according to reports based on a YourStory profile.

The company has since grown to a workforce of 26 employees and serves clients in seven countries, including Sri Lanka, Singapore, Malaysia, Qatar and Germany. Its assignments have also extended to public institutions, with projects involving student surveys for Tiruppur Municipal Corporation and a QR-code-based visitor identification system for Salem Medical College Hospital.

By 2025, Yaa Creations had undertaken projects worth ₹1.5 crore. The company has also expanded its technical capabilities to include advanced software products and mobile applications incorporating artificial intelligence.

Arumugam's journey highlights how technology entrepreneurship can take root in smaller towns, without necessarily depending on the infrastructure and business ecosystem of metropolitan cities. What began with borrowed money, two laptops and a modest assignment has grown into an enterprise with an international client base, creating employment opportunities in Namakkal district.

His experience also demonstrates the importance of technical expertise, adaptability and persistence in building a business through uncertain economic conditions.