A Revolutionary IT Story: The Rise of Infosys with Narayana Murthy

Source: Financial Times

Is it possible to establish an IT empire from scratch in India with an initial investment of ₹10,000? Narayana Murthy did exactly that, with clarity, courage, and a team that aimed for long-term success. Infosys was not built just to earn profits, but to show how India can lead in technology, quality, and values on the global stage. Explore the revolutionary IT story of Infosys, from a small software firm to a global IT force under the leadership of Narayana Murthy.

Narayana Murthy Biography: Early Life and Career

Source: Infosys

Narayana was born into a Kannada-speaking middle-class Deshastha Madhva Brahmin family. After completing his schooling, he went to the National Institute of Engineering for pursuing a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering. He completed his master’s degree from the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur in 1969. 

Narayana Murthy started his career by working at IIM Ahmedabad as a research associate and then later as the Chief Systems Programmer. There, he designed a BASIC interpreter for Electronics Corporation of India Limited and also worked on India’s first time-sharing computer system. 

He then started a company called Softronics, which faced failure after about a year and a half. Therefore, he started working at Patni Computer Systems in Pune. In 1981, Narayana, with six software professionals, established Infosys. His wife, Sudha Murthy, offered the initial capital of ₹10,000 for Infosys. 

Narayana Murthy at Infosys

Narayana Murthy served as the CEO of Infosys from 1981 to 2002. In the initial time, they faced many challenges, but with the economic reforms of 1991, they experienced a remarkable growth in the IT sector. Narayana designed and implemented many global delivery models for IT services outsourcing from India. They expanded their services globally, offering consulting, software development, and other engineering services. After 2002, he stayed connected as the chairman of the board till 2006. After 2006, he became the Chief Mentor, and in 2011, he was recognised as the Chairman Emeritus at Infosys. 

Narayana has also been recognised as the director on the boards of DBS Bank, Unilever, ICICI and NDTV. He is a member of the advisory boards and councils of several educational and philanthropic institutions, such as Cornell University, Ford Foundation, the UN Foundation, ESSEC, and many more prestige institutions. 

He is also on the strategic board, which advises the national law firm, Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas, on strategic policy and governance issues. He also serves as a member of IESE’s International Advisory Board [IAB]. In 2000, Narayana was awarded the Padma Shri and in 2008, with Padma Vibhushan by the government of India. 

Narayana Murthy as an Author

Narayana has written some noteworthy books, which are: 

• A Better India: A Better World
• A Clear Blue Sky: Stories and Poems an Conflict and Hope
• The Wit and Wisdom of Narayana Murthy
• Mere Business Mantra

Infosys: Company Overview

Source: Wikipedia

Establishment of Infosys

Source: Infosys

In January 1981, Narayana Murthy and six software engineers were discussing how they could create a company to write software code. Thus, after six months, Infosys Consultants Private Limited was established in Pune. With Narayana’s leadership, they were able to sign their first client deal with Data Basics Corporation in New York. In 1983, they shifted their headquarters to Bengaluru to witness the growing IT ecosystem and enjoy the benefits of Special Economic Zones [SEZs]. 

Rise of Infosys: Achieving Milestones

1985–1995

In 1987, Infosys opened its first international office in Boston. The company went public in 1993 and was renamed Infosys Technologies Limited. Infosys shares were listed as American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) on NASDAQ in 1999, later moved to NYSE Euronext to attract European investors.

In 1994, they opened a development center in Fremont and in 1995, their first European office in the UK. They also expanded to Toronto and Mangalore.

1995–2005

In 1996, Infosys established the Infosys Foundation. By 1997, they had expanded to Toronto and earned a CMM Level 4 certification. In 1998, Infosys launched its enterprise solutions division.

By 1999, Infosys reached $100 million in revenue and achieved CMM Level 5 certification—becoming the 21st company worldwide to do so. They expanded to Germany, Sweden, Belgium, and Australia, and opened new development centers in the U.S.

In 2000, revenues crossed $200 million. They expanded in France, Hong Kong, Canada, and the UK. Infosys also launched Finacle™, a banking solution developed by their subsidiary, EdgeVerve Systems.

2005–2015

In 2005, Infosys recorded India’s largest international equity offering of $1 billion. In 2006, they crossed 50,000 employees and $2 billion in annual revenue. Narayana Murthy became Chairman and Chief Mentor, while Kris Gopalakrishnan became CEO.

In 2008, revenues reached $4 billion, and profits exceeded $1 billion. By 2009, Infosys became part of the Global Dow and had over 100,000 employees. They crossed $5 billion in revenue by 2010.

S.D. Shibulal became CEO in 2011. By 2012, Infosys acquired Lodestone Holding AG, a Swiss consulting firm. In 2013, Infosys began trading on NYSE Euronext in London and Paris.

In 2014, the company raised its dividend payout ratio and crossed $5 billion in cash reserves. Dr. Vishal Sikka became CEO and MD. In 2015, Infosys launched the $250 million “Innovate in India Fund” for startups and acquired Noah Consulting, Skava, and Panaya.

2015–2025

In 2016, Infosys launched Infosys Mana (now part of Infosys Nia), integrating machine learning and organizational knowledge. They also launched Skava Commerce and invested in Waterline Data, Stellaris Venture Partners, UNSILO, and TidalScale.

In 2017, they completed a ₹13,000 crore share buyback. Salil Parekh became CEO and MD in 2018. Infosys acquired Fluido, a Salesforce consulting firm, and signed an Advance Pricing Agreement with the U.S. IRS.

In 2019, they launched the Infosys Live Enterprise Suite. Acquisitions included Kaleidoscope Innovation, Simplus, and GuideVision. They also launched the Reskill and Restart initiative to help upskill the American workforce during COVID-19.

In 2020, they partnered with Vanguard to digitize retirement plans. In 2021, Infosys expanded to Calgary and launched Infosys Cortex, an AI-first customer engagement platform.

In 2022, Infosys acquired BASE Life Science and Oddity to strengthen its digital capabilities in Europe and Asia. In 2023, Infosys launched Infosys Topaz, an AI-first platform for accelerated business value.

As of FY25, Infosys recorded revenue of ₹162,990 crore, continuing to lead the IT consulting and services sector with a focus on AI, automation, and digital transformation.

Awards and Recognition

• In 2005, Infosys was selected for the Global MAKE Hall of Fame.
• In 2012, Forbes ranked Infosys among the world’s most innovative companies. 
• In 2019, Infosys ranked 3rd on Forbes ‘World’s Best Regarded Companies’ list. 
• Infosys was recognised as a 2020 ‘Top Employer’ in Australia, Singapore and Japan. 
• Infosys was recognised as a Global Top Employer 2021 by the Top Employers Institute.
• From 2023 to 2025, Infosys was awarded the Global Top Employer certification in 20 countries.
• Infosys is ranked in the top 3 IT Services brands in the world by Brand Finance. 
• Kantar BrandZ recognised Infosys as a Top 100 most valuable brand in the world in 2024.
• Infosys recognised as India’s Best Employers Among Nation-Builders 2024.
• For five consecutive years from 2021 to 2025, they were recognised as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies by Ethisphere Institute.
• In 2025, Infosys was recognised among LinkedIn’s Top Companies in India, the USA and Canada. 
• The Invest Karnataka 2025 Summit recognised Infosys as the largest IT employer in Karnataka. 

Conclusion

The rise of Infosys is a lesson in how vision and values can transform an industry. Narayana Murthy’s belief in transparency, excellence, and discipline helped Infosys grow from its first client in New York to becoming a global brand. Even after four decades, Infosys stands as a symbol of innovation and Indian IT excellence. As Narayana Murthy said, “Success is about making a difference, not a living.”

FAQs

Q-1 Who is the CEO of Infosys?
Salil Parekh has been the CEO of Infosys since 2018.

Q-2 Who is Narayana Murthy?
Narayana Murthy is the Chairman and founder of Infosys.

Q-3 Who is the wife of Narayana Murthy?
Sudha Murthy is the wife of Narayana Murthy.

Q-4. What is the net worth of Narayana Murthy in 2025?
As of 2025, Narayana Murthy’s estimated net worth is around 460 crores USD, according to Forbes.

Also Read: Wipro, TCS, or Infosys: Who Will Lead in the IT Race by 2025?