His digital dreams exchange

Jignesh Shah, founder of the Multi Commodities Exchange, is on his way to ruling the electronic transaction space.

Who’s that guy?

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A serial entrepreneur, he is at present the founder and chief executive officer of Financial Technologies Group and managing director and CEO of Multi Commodities Exchange (MCX), India’s top commodities bourse.

Is that all?

He is from a Gujarati business family, but was keen not on the family business. At 39, he has achieved success very early. An electronics engineer, Jignesh worked at Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) from 1990 to 1995. In 1995, at age 28, he started Financial Technologies along with colleague Dewang Neralla. MCX was floated in 2003 with investments from State Bank of India and others.

Impressive. How did he manage that?

The BSE stint showed him the best and worst of bourses. He was asked to study top international bourses, which helped him gain domain knowledge to back his technological background. When he started on his own, he focused on patented products and research in software for the financial sector.

His group has seven companies already, exchanges in Dubai and one coming up in Mauritius. Shah is keen to work in all areas of digital transactions, just about anything that can be sold and digitally delivered. Credit cards, bonds, media… this is just the beginning.

Do tell him

India will be the global trading hub.

Don’t tell him

Profit out of body shopping. You are an infotech company, so look for income-tax sops.

Email Suman Layak: suman.layak@hindustantimes.com