~ Kilowott has inked MoUs with five technical education institutions in Goa to skill Goan youth and make them employable.
~ The Porvorim-based IT firm has employees globally and is in three continents: Asia, Europe, and North America.
At a time when concerns are being expressed about ‘brain drain’ from Goa, especially the flight of the coastal state’s IT-trained youth departing its shores for employment, a homegrown technology firm, Kilowott, recently celebrated its 10th anniversary, marking a decade of innovation, resilience and global growth.
Founded in 2014, Porvorim-based Kilowott, which has a business footprint in three continents namely Asia, Europe, and North America, was started with a vision to bridge digital capabilities between Norway and India. Over the years, the company, which currently employs 300 plus IT professionals in Goa, has grown into an IT powerhouse offering end-to-end digital solutions, including customer experience (CX) design, augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR), and next-gen technologies like analytics, artificial intelligence (AI) and (Internet of things) IoT.
“With over 300 employees and having completed more than 2,500 completed projects globally, Kilowott continues to push the boundaries of digital transformation from right here, in Goa, where our roots belong. The company remains focused on creating innovative, tailored solutions that positively impact businesses’ growth and profitability,” according to Aaron Fernandez, co-founder of the IT company, which has a strong presence in the Scandinavian region. Kilowott was founded by Aaron and his two younger brothers, Judah and Caleb, all of whom hail from Saligao.
While Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has repeatedly underlined the drain of young, technically skilled talent from Goa, only last month state Information Technology Minister Rohan Khaunte said that the government was in the process of aligning industry and academia for “reducing brain drain and creating opportunities for local youth, with the goal of achieving 100 percent employment for our college graduates”.
In its bid to skill and make Goan youth employable, Kilowott has inked MoUs with five local educational institutions, namely the Don Bosco College of Engineering – Fatorda, Padre Conceicao College of Engineering – Verna, Shree Rayeshwar Institute of Engineering & Information Technology – Shiroda, Agnel Institute of Technology and Design – Assagao and Agnel Polytechnic – Verna.
The MoU mandates that the five institutes will collaborate with Kilowott to enhance the quality and technical skills of students through exposure to industries, promote the role of information technology in the automation revolution, link education and the world of work effectively, increase employability by providing technical exposure, strengthen the relationship between the institutes and industries and align industry requirements with college curriculum.
The IT major’s recent 10th anniversary celebration in Goa, brought together a diverse group of attendees, including Kilowott’s associates, trusted partners and members of the Kilowott team, from both Asia and Europe. The celebration highlighted Kilowott’s journey over the past 10 years, showcasing its achievements, global collaborations and commitment to delivering cutting-edge IT solutions.
Speaking on their partnership with Kilowott at the 10th anniversary, a consultant from Norway said “Since 2015, I have greatly valued Kilowott’s strong Norwegian roots, which create a unique culture where work and play coexist. Their commitment to quality and partnership is remarkable, with high-caliber developers, skilled project managers and an impressive ability to scale and adapt.”
Visionary brothers Hartvig and Konrad from Norway, creators of an innovative app and platform centered on psychology and self-development, reflected on their journey with Kilowott, describing it as “a positive and enriching experience that has supported our growth.”
Fernandez attributes Kilowott’s success to its ability to navigate challenges, including early capital constraints and the global COVID-19 pandemic, through a commitment to sustainable growth and teamwork.
As Kilowott celebrates this milestone, the Porvorim-based company remains committed to its mission of fostering innovation and empowering IT talent from Goa.
