Srikanth Iyer stands as a beacon of entrepreneurial success in India’s dynamic startup ecosystem. As the co-founder and CEO of HomeLane, India’s premier tech-enabled home interiors brand, Iyer has redefined how people design their homes. His journey, spanning over two decades, is a compelling narrative of perseverance, innovation, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. From assembling computers in the 1990s to leading a company valued at ₹3,000 crore, Iyer’s story inspires aspiring entrepreneurs and industry leaders alike.
Srikanth Iyer’s entrepreneurial spark ignited early in life. He pursued computer science engineering at R.V. College of Engineering in Bangalore, where he was admitted through a sports quota as a state-level table tennis player. His academic journey continued with a postgraduate diploma in Software Engineering from Harvard University’s Division of Continuing Education, a program he credits for practical learning that surpassed his four-year engineering degree. “In that one year, I probably learned more than what I learned in the four years of engineering,” he recalls. This technical foundation became the bedrock for his future ventures.
Entrepreneurial Journey
First Venture: Total Solutions (1993)
Iyer’s entrepreneurial career began in 1993, at the age of 23, when he left his job at Wipro after just 90 days. “I felt I would be better off spending time on myself than working for anyone else,” he says. He founded Total Solutions, a company focused on assembling and selling unbranded computers. The venture achieved revenues of ₹6 crore, with profit margins of ₹5,000–₹6,000 per computer. However, as competition intensified and margins shrank, Iyer diversified into IT maintenance by 1997-98, recognizing that “It was too much of a risk to continue” in a commoditized market.
Second Venture: Edurite Technologies (2000)
In 2000, Iyer co-founded Edurite Technologies with Jawahar Doreswamy, aiming to revolutionize education through technology. “We wanted to use technology to bring the best teacher to the last student,” he explains. As CEO for seven years, he led Edurite to significant growth, culminating in its acquisition by TutorVista in 2007. Pearson later acquired the combined entity for $200 million in 2011, an “all-cash deal” that marked a milestone in Iyer’s career. He then served as CEO of Pearson India, growing its revenue 30-fold in four years. Yet, he found the role unfulfilling. “I worked as CEO for a year and I was a miserable failure,” he admits, prompting his exit in 2014.
Third Venture: HomeLane (2014)
In 2014, Iyer identified a new opportunity in the fragmented home interiors market. “If I could offer these things,” he thought, “I stand a good chance of building a pan-India brand”. He co-founded HomeLane with Rama Harinath, focusing on a technology-driven approach to deliver predictable quality, budget, and timelines. The early days were challenging, as Iyer notes, “It was a nightmare” due to his lack of expertise in interiors. Realizing that “Doing everything was not an option,” HomeLane pivoted to modular furniture, limiting options to 163 laminate colors for better execution. This strategic focus propelled HomeLane’s growth from ₹3 crore in FY15 to ₹268 crore in FY21, with a valuation reaching half-a-billion dollars.
Leadership and Philosophy
Iyer’s leadership philosophy centers on execution, customer satisfaction, and strategic focus. Inspired by the book “Uncommon Service,” he believes that “to be great at something, it’s okay to be bad at something else”. He prioritizes must-haves over nice-to-haves, emphasizing that getting things right trumps speed. “What matters most is to decide what you don’t want to do rather than what you want to do,” he asserts, a principle that has guided HomeLane’s disciplined approach.
Iyer also underscores the importance of company culture, noting that “culture multiplies everything.” His leadership style empowers employees to execute the vision effectively, fostering loyalty and collaboration. He draws inspiration from fellow entrepreneurs, stating, “Fellow entrepreneurs who have achieved so much with passion; I aspire to learn so much from them”. His grounded perspective on success—“success is very relative”—keeps him focused on meaningful impact.
HomeLane’s Impact and Current Status
HomeLane has reshaped India’s $20 billion home interiors industry by addressing pain points like high costs and poor service quality. Operating in 19 cities and delivering 25 homes daily, the company achieved profitability with a revenue run rate of ₹500 crore in FY22, targeting ₹1,800 crore by FY24. In 2025, HomeLane acquired DesignCafe in a 100% share swap deal, raising ₹225 crore from Hero Enterprise. The combined entity, valued at ₹3,000 crore, projects ₹1,000 crore in revenue by FY25, up from ₹761 crore, with plans for an IPO within 9-15 months.
Srikanth Iyer’s journey from a computer engineer to a serial entrepreneur is a masterclass in resilience and strategic thinking. His ability to pivot across industries, learn from setbacks, and build scalable businesses has made him a role model. As he continues to lead HomeLane and mentor startups as a Venture Partner at Capria Ventures, Iyer’s impact on India’s entrepreneurial landscape is poised to grow, cementing his legacy as a transformative leader.
