SOFTware success for hard-earned investments

Aiming to be a global brand with a plan to reach 500 centres globally in next five years via franchising, is STC Technologies software testing and training brand. Thirumal Raj, Director, STC Technologies talks about the company’s future expansion plans.

Abha Garyali (AG): Share your entrepreneurial journey with us. How has it been so far?

Thirumal Raj (TR): STC Technologies was founded in the year 2000 with a passion towards Software Testing Services. It is a self funded organisation spread across with 12 location of direct centre operations and 20 locations of satellite presence all over India. After a decade of experience in Software Testing Education and Certification the company would now like to expand itself globally and create larger network through the franchise model.

AG: What was the motivation behind starting STC Technologies? When and what inspired the company to take up franchising?

TR: The global demand and need of skilled manpower in Software Testing inspired me to start STC. Today the worldwide Software Testing market is $120 billion and India accounts for 45 per cent of this. We need nearly two lakh professional skilled testers in India every year. We are catering to more than 270 clients all over India where they recruit STC trained and certified candidates. With growing demand we have not able to supply these candidates though our own one centre. This motivated us towards franchising and made us expand rapidly.

AG: How is STC Technologies different from other software training centres? What is its USP?

TR: We are the largest Software Testing Education company with pan India presence. Our USP is that we deliver certification programs and not courses. Therefore, we deliver certified resources to the market. We have long term associations with most of the top IT & MNC companies in India to recruit freshers trained from STC. We have exclusive placement division called STC Vserve to place trained candidates. The company is also supported by its own testing company called STC ThirdEye Technology.

AG: What are your views regarding the future of STC Technologies in India? Do you foresee a great demand in this sector in future years?

TR: As mentioned earlier we foresee very large demand in the sector. With time testing services will see huge potential. As per Microsoft benchmarking, for every developer the company needs the equal number of testers.

AG: What are the opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs in software training?

TR: Partnering with a branded and established company like STC, which has over a decade of experience can be a privilege to aspiring partners.

AG: Where do you aspire to take the brand in the next five years?

TR: STC will be a global brand and plan to reach 500 centres globally in next five years.

AG: How many franchisees do you presently have in India and in which cities? What are your future expansion plans?

TR: We have 12 branches signed up recently in Tamil Nadu, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Mumbai. We are looking to expand with 100 centres through franchising before end of 2011.

AG: What are the qualities and the criterion for the selection of your prospective franchisees? How much investment and area is required by them?

TR: We are searching for partners who have passion towards training business. The investment pattern may differ according to different models. We have our franchise models of with and without infrastructure. Therefore investment will vary for both these models.

AG: What are the challenges that can be faced by the company? How can these challenges be overcome?

TR: Software training is a recession free business. Adopting new strategies will overcome any challenges that may be faced.