AgenciesBefore launching their first company together, Jay and Jyoti were already seasoned professionals in the tech world. Jay had worked with major companies like IBM, Unisys, and IQ Software, while Jyoti held a role as a systems analyst at BellSouth. Their shared professional background laid a strong foundation for what would become a powerful entrepreneurial alliance.
When Jay decided to pursue his dream of building a startup, he needed both financial backing and unwavering belief—Jyoti offered him both. She left her job and contributed her entire life savings to help launch SecureIT. Together, they pooled close to ₹4 crore, turning their joint commitment into a calculated leap of faith.
When Jay and Jyoti founded SecureIT in 1996, they were not just betting their life savings on an idea—they were launching a model of partnership that would carry them through four acquisitions and the eventual founding of Zscaler in 2008. “She comes from a strong finance background and MBA,” says Jay. “And I come more from an engineering, product background.”
He confesses, “I don’t know how to incorporate a company. She does. I’ve never figured out payrolls and benefits.” Even at home, the billionaire jokes, “I have no clue about our own financials.” It’s Jyoti who manages the books—and the balance.
Their success is not just technical; it's temperamental. Jay describes himself as a natural risk-taker, someone who’s “ready to jump off the cliff” when excitement kicks in. But Jyoti, calm and composed, plays the anchor. “She can pull me back,” he says. Her presence has helped keep their ventures measured and sustainable—especially in the high-stakes, high-stress startup ecosystem. For aspiring entrepreneurs, Chaudhry’s advice is disarmingly simple: “If you want to do a great startup, get your spouse involved as a partner.” In an era when many struggle to strike a work-life balance, the Chaudhrys have fused both worlds—and it’s working wonders. Born in a small village of 800 people in Himachal Pradesh, Jay Chaudhry’s early life was marked by scarcity. He walked miles to attend school and studied without electricity. Moving to the U.S. at 22, he earned multiple master’s degrees and held corporate jobs before venturing into entrepreneurship with Jyoti by his side.
Their journey from humble beginnings to Silicon Valley success is not just a business story—it’s a partnership narrative built on trust, shared vision, and complementary strengths.
Today, the couple lives in Reno, Nevada, and shares not just a personal life but a business legacy. Jay’s companies have been acquired by giants like VeriSign, Motorola, and AT&T. Zscaler, his cloud security brainchild, continues to be a market leader in zero-trust architecture. Through it all, Jyoti has been the quiet force beside the public face.
