The Human behind Nagarro: From Dibrugarh to a $1.3-billion deal

Manas Human, co-founder of Nagarro, has taken a remarkable journey from the small town of Dibrugarh in Assam to the bustling Frankfurt Stock Exchange, playing a pivotal role in the evolution of one of the world’s foremost digital engineering firms. As Persistent Systems plans to acquire Nagarro for $1.3 billion, Human views this moment as a significant turning point in the tech landscape. Human's story is deeply personal. In 2022, he made the profound decision to change his surname from Fuloria to Human, a move he described in a personal essay as an affirmation of his belief: "Whatever other identities I may have, I am human first." His upbringing in Dibrugarh, time spent in Iraq, and later years in Delhi shaped his worldview, culminating in advanced studies, including a PhD in supply chain management from IIT Delhi and a master's degree from Stanford University. In the 1990s, while residing in California, Human found his passion for software development, noting, "Everybody spoke the same language. Everybody spoke the language of code." This passion led him and a group of fellow entrepreneurs to merge two small companies, ultimately founding Nagarro. The name originated from a Robert Ludlum novel, which described it as "spirits emerging and spirits coming together," a fitting metaphor for the collaborative spirit they sought to embody. Initially, Nagarro's growth was gradual; it took five years to reach $1 million in annual revenue and twenty years to surpass $150 million. However, the company experienced exponential growth thereafter, reaching nearly $1 billion in revenue within just seven years, marking it as one of the fastest-growing entities in the digital engineering sector. Originally part of the German IT services group Allgeier, Nagarro was independently listed in December 2020, allowing it to focus on its mission of delivering exceptional engineering outcomes. Human emphasized the importance of agile, skilled teams over traditional staffing models, maintaining a decentralized and non-hierarchical structure that preserved their startup culture. With the impending acquisition by Persistent Systems, Human sees this as a pivotal moment in the tech industry. Reflecting on his role in the future of Nagarro, he stated, "The most important thing is not roles or titles. The most important thing is that the baby you have grown reaches great heights. I am very much here." His journey, intertwined with Nagarro's ascent, underscores his commitment to identity, leadership, and the company’s promising future.